The mountain elf whom Ursa brought with her.
Her name is Teteto.
By blood, she is apparently related to Hiterto, one of Ya’s subordinates.
Like Ya and the others, Teteto’s clan was forced to leave their home due to food shortages and had been wandering from place to place.
Recently, they encountered the group led by Ursa and finally found a place to settle.
After hearing about Ya and the others, Teteto came to Big Tree Village.
「I asked Ursa-sama for a favor and was allowed to accompany her here. Please forgive this sudden visit. Though it is late, this is a gift of greeting」
Teteto, who had collapsed from exhaustion, had recovered, so I received her greeting.
A gift of greeting, meaning a present brought during a visit.
She offered me a small wooden box.
Inside was a pendant.
「It is a treasured heirloom that my clan has protected and passed down for generations. Please accept it」
Heavy, heavy, heavy.
Not in weight.
The sentiment behind it is heavy.
This is not the sort of thing you bring as a visiting gift.
The mountain elves of the village, who had been watching from behind, were beginning to stir as well.
It must be something important.
I appreciate the thought, so please take this back.
Ah, no, returning it is not an option.
Um…
Then I will accept it for now and…
Please take good care of Ursa.
Consider this an advance payment for that.
I said that as I handed it over.
Good, she accepted it.
Thank goodness.
And if you are going to tear up because you are happy to have it returned, then do not offer it in the first place.
No?
You are crying because you are happy that I was considerate?
……
Let us end this topic here.
-0-
Now then, once again, I will leave Teteto in Ya’s care.
Hm?
What is it, Ya?
Things in the village that Teteto must not see?
Is there anything like that?
Ah, the herb field, perhaps.
Loo did say that there were dangerous herbs there.
Rather than saying she must not see it, perhaps it is better to say she must not go near it.
As for the rest…
What should we do about the teleportation gate?
The existence of the teleportation gates in the village is, in principle, kept secret from outsiders.
Teteto can be trusted, but if she is not going to settle in this village, then it would be better to keep it secret.
…You are right.
Understood.
We will keep the teleportation gate a secret.
As long as we do not take her to the dungeon where the teleportation gate is installed, it should be fine.
The Multi-Purpose Humanoid Heavy Machine (Arti Horse)?
It is fine if she sees that.
There is even talk of lending one to Ursa’s base.
More importantly, the Multi-Purpose Humanoid Heavy Machine is so conspicuous that I do not think it can be hidden anyway.
-0-
Ursa will be staying in the village for a while.
Hakuren and Zabuton have been taking Ursa all over the place.
She was here until spring, though.
I suppose they are thinking that since Ursa will probably leave again soon, they should make the most of the time they have.
Hakuren asked Ursa to help with classes.
Something like a teaching assistant.
The children have taken a liking to her.
Hakuren is all smiles as well.
And Hiichirou is also doing his best because he wants to help Hakuren.
It is heartwarming.
As for Zabuton, she has been having Ursa try on new outfits and making adjustments to them.
I caught a glimpse of them, and Ursa looked dignified in the new knight’s uniform.
The gothic lolita outfit was not bad either, but clothes that allow her to move freely suit Ursa better.
Oops, Zabuton spotted me.
You want me to try something on too?
Ah, I do not mind, but changing in the same room as Ursa is out of the question.
Yes, Ursa is at that age now.
Even between parent and child, you have to be considerate about such things.
Fufufu.
I am aiming to be the kind of father his daughter does not hate.
-0-
Night.
When I noticed that neither the mountain elves nor Teteto had shown up for dinner, I went to check on them.
「Oh, Village Chief. Look at this. When this one falls, this mechanism moves, then this ball rolls…」
Teteto and the mountain elves were completely absorbed in building domino setups.
「Dinner?……Ah!」
There is no need to panic. We saved some for you.
For the mountain elves as well.
「As expected of Village Chief!」
Not me. The oni maids prepared and set it aside for you.
Make sure to thank them.
Also, no staying up late.
And no mechanisms that make loud noises either.
「Okaaay」
The reply is good enough, at least.
-0-
The following evening.
The mountain elves came to consult me about how Teteto would return home.
Originally, Teteto had planned to simply accompany Ursa when she left.
However, Ursa would be staying in the village for a while.
Teteto had not planned on a long stay.
She said that about twenty days would be manageable, but anything longer would make her worry about the clan she had left behind.
Not because they lacked ability, but because they had only recently joined Ursa’s faction, and she was concerned that they might have problems with the people around them.
The city that serves as Ursa’s base is where Teteto needs to return.
There is no direct airship route there from Village Five, but one can get close.
The rest of the journey would be on foot… no, perhaps, like Ursa before, we could arrange a special airship flight from Village Five.
After all, she would probably be taking a great deal of gifts and supplies with her.
The problem is how to get from this village to Village Five.
Since the policy is to keep the teleportation gate secret from Teteto, we cannot use it.
Transport her through the teleportation gate while she is unconscious?
Let us not be so rough.
I would also rather not have her put to sleep with magic.
Hmm.
We could send her to Doraim’s nest using the universal ship or airship in the village, and from there she could walk to Village Five…
No, that would take too much time.
There are demon beasts and monsters along the way too, so it would be dangerous.
Having Hakuren or Rasuti escort her is… difficult.
Hakuren probably would not want to leave the village while Ursa is here, and Rasuti has children to look after.
It would also be difficult to ask Dors, Girar, or Raimeiren.
There are matters of status and position to consider.
Ah, there is Doraim.
How about having her ride on Doraim to Village Five?
Eh?
That will not work?
She rode with Rana-san, so riding a dragon should be fine, right?
Riding a dragon was beyond what she had expected?
When Ursa said they would go together, she felt unable to refuse and had no choice but to ride.
She lost consciousness twice during the trip.
I see.
Hm?
Ah, after seeing Rana-san’s fight with Dors and Girar, as well as Hakuren and Grafaroon’s mock battle, it only made things worse.
Ah…
Since they were near the village, they had actually been holding back quite a lot.
In any case, having her ride on Doraim to Village Five is out of the question.
……
What should we do?
Wait for Rana-san to come?
Rana-san could transport her with teleportation magic without needing her to ride.
Though I have no idea when she might come.
Even Ursa said she did not know.
Apparently, when Ursa returned, she had planned to use an airship from Village Five rather than rely on Rana-san.
Hmm.
This is a problem.
We had not reached a conclusion, but the issue was resolved when Beezel, who can use teleportation magic, arrived.
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