Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Shadow of Corin (5)
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Callisto couldn't believe the sight unfolding before her eyes. The brooch attached to the shabby human's cloak was unmistakably *that*.
The Proof of the Flower, bestowed upon elven heroes who accomplished noble deeds—and among them, the most exceptional ones.
According to the knowledge Callisto possessed, fewer than ten noble souls in all of Lüset's history had received the Proof of the Flower. And even the most recent had been over two hundred years ago.
Yet this human of all people had the Proof of the Flower?
Callisto doubted her own eyes. It must just resemble it, she thought. But that notion vanished in a single second. No elf would fail to recognize the Proof of the Flower. It was the dream and glory of every elf. The Proof of the Flower wasn't merely identified by its shape. It emanated an auspicious energy—the blessing of the "Queen" that any elf would hold in pride. Only a complete fool or someone deranged would miss it. Or both. Fortunately, Callisto was neither foolish nor unhinged.
Which left only one possibility...
*Stolen?*
Of course, that was wrong too. Callisto already knew better. The Proof of the Flower was such an immense honor that it was typically safeguarded not by individuals, but by entire houses. Stealing it was impossible. Even among elves, few ever laid eyes on the real thing—humans wouldn't even know it existed.
-Shrrrr...
The green gem intricately embedded in the leaf-shaped brooch gleamed brilliantly yet nobly under the sunlight. Struck by its beauty, Callisto swallowed unconsciously.
The Star Emerald, harvested from the shooting star that fell on the night Lüset's first queen was born. This exceedingly rare and beautiful gem's light was so mystical that even the arrogant dwarves couldn't help but praise it.
*How in the world...*
Callisto trailed off, staring blankly at the human. He had been shoved aside by her but had gotten back up, now brushing the dust from his clothes. Just to be sure, Callisto scrutinized him again, but he appeared utterly ordinary—no different from the "pathetic" humans she always encountered.
"...What are you?"
Finally, Callisto composed herself and addressed the "ordinary" human before her with proper courtesy. It was the first time since leaving Lüset. The human tilted his head curiously at her sudden change in demeanor, then grinned and replied.
"Theodore. Druid."
* * *
-Take this token with you.
-It bears the name of Dianthe.
-The elves will not forget your help.
-And we will return the favor.
-Anytime, anywhere.
I recalled the words Dianthe spoke as she handed me the brooch in Lüset. Anytime, anywhere, the elves would help me. And sure enough, this arrogant elf's attitude had flipped in an instant.
*I never imagined it was such a big deal.*
Then again, it was natural I hadn't known its significance. After leaving Lüset, I hadn't encountered any elves. There'd been no chance to witness its power... So I'd been using the brooch purely as a brooch.
*Who knew I'd see its power here.*
The elf's gaze was fixed on my brooch. Her serious expression made her thoughts obvious. How had a mere "human" obtained it? Had he stolen it? Was it fake? She was suspicious. Yet she also knew it was real, which must be confusing her.
"You seem very interested in my brooch."
"......"
I lightly touched the beautifully sparkling green leaf-shaped brooch and straightened it. An auspicious energy still flowed from it—like the fresh, clean scent of pine needles.
"If you want to talk more, we should move somewhere else."
"......"
"How about it? The innkeeper where I'm staying is an excellent cook."
The elf hesitated for a moment, then nodded with a reluctant yet bewildered expression. Ha, the brooch was proving its worth in an unexpected way. As expected from the queen—nothing ordinary about her.
We headed to the inn. As we walked, I racked my brain on how to coax this elf into joining us. With the brooch, gaining her trust should be easy...
*But I don't know how far she'll go to help.*
Dianthe had said the elves would return the favor, but I had no idea to what extent. If it was just running a simple errand, that'd be a problem.
*If I can just pry it out of her and get her to join for this mission...*
Fortunately, it was still early, so the inn's first-floor dining area was empty. The innkeeper asked why we'd returned so soon but greeted us enthusiastically—clearly thrilled to have customers this early. She served us glasses of sugarcane milk as usual and took our orders.
I ordered a plate of fried mushrooms, three sandwiches, and three glasses of apple juice. A choice tailored for an elf who didn't care much for meat.
The sandwiches soon arrived topped with tomatoes, olives, and thick slices of cheese. The tomatoes had been grilled in olive oil until golden, amplifying their sweetness, while the heat melted the cheese just enough to ooze enticingly. Topped with salty olives. A clean, delicious sandwich even without meat. I took a big bite, chewed, swallowed, and asked the elf.
"By the way, what's your name?"
"......"
"We should at least know each other's names. We're eating together."
"......Callisto."
Callisto. Not a name I'd heard before. No family name meant she wasn't elven nobility, of course. A commoner, or perhaps even from the lower classes... Which explained why she'd left Lüset to work as a mercenary in the Empire.
Callisto took only the tiniest nibble of her bread. She didn't seem to enjoy the very act of "eating." Then again, elves didn't place much importance on meals. They had fine cuisine and dining culture, but they shunned the mental laxity that came from the pleasure of "gourmet" indulgence. Most meals were just Rémve cookies, Rémve bread, or simple salads.
*Truly admirable... or just stubborn...*
Callisto looked like a veteran mercenary, so she'd likely been eating appetite-suppressing Rémve food for years. She should have drifted from elven customs and discovered the joy of eating... Yet here she was, eating like it was torture. Poor thing.
*A sandwich is best when you stuff your mouth full and munch away—that's how you maximize the flavor.*
I glanced at Elle. Sure enough, her cheeks were puffed out like a hamster's as she chomped on her sandwich. Eating so heartily—adorable. I'd make sure to feed her plenty at dinner too.
Callisto set her half-eaten sandwich down. Just then, the innkeeper brought the fried mushrooms and apple juice.
Fried mushrooms from Corin's Forest, dipped in a sweet-and-sour sauce, were a delicacy known only to those in the know. I transferred some of the thinly battered, crisply fried mushrooms onto a plate and placed it before Callisto.
"Mushrooms from Corin's Forest are very tender and aromatic. No animals eat them in the woods, so they grow delicately. Not as fine as Lüset's, but similar in taste."
"......"
"Go ahead."
I popped a fried mushroom into my mouth before the hesitant Callisto could respond. Crunch—the crispy batter shattered, releasing the mushroom's fragrant juices. Chewy and substantial, more like scallops than mushrooms. Damn, delicious. So good! The sweet-and-sour sauce cut through any greasiness perfectly—felt like I could eat them forever.
Callisto bit into a mushroom without sauce. Unlike the sandwich, she seemed to like it and started eating heartily. Hm, eating them plain means she prefers simple flavors. Salt and pepper it is. I pushed the salt and pepper her way, then gulped down my apple juice.
"Whew."
"......Not bad."
"Suits your taste?"
"For human food."
No wonder—elves find meals heavy on meat quite taxing. And she couldn't just hunt for good restaurants. This one must've had a rough time away from Lüset. Eating's the most important thing...
"Listen while you eat."
"......"
"It's a long story."
Finally, down to business. Callisto looked at me with a tense expression.
I gave Callisto a concise rundown of events in Lüset: the slumbering queen, the riot in the dark elf village, the elders' rebellion. Having been away from Lüset for so long, she knew the queen hadn't appeared but was unaware of the dark elf village incident or the elders' revolt.
*Well, it's not the sort of thing you'd spread around.*
In a way, it was Lüset and the queen's dirty laundry. No one would've bothered telling Callisto, far from home. Only nobles would even know the full story...
"So you..."
"......"
"...saved Her Majesty. No, 'Lüset' itself..."
"Uh... yeah, I guess?"
"That's why Her Majesty granted you the Flower Emblem."
Callisto spoke far more deferentially and politely now, gazing at the brooch—no, at *me*.
"...I apologize for failing to recognize you and being rude."
"No need for apologies..."
"Please, grant me the chance to assist you."