How to Prepare Elf Sisters Donburi (1)
The night deepened, but sleep wouldn't come.
"Still, this place is just so... stifling."
I took a walk around the inn to calm my frustrated heart. For us elves, who had grown up our whole lives under the presence of our mother world tree, this environment shrouded in demonic energy was unbearably oppressive. Especially around the mansion where the monsters had lurked—the demonic energy clung thickly there, leaving not a single trace of green anywhere nearby.
Maybe I should head back now.
With a sigh, just as I turned toward the inn, my senses caught a faint trace of life's energy seeping through the unpleasant fog of demonic mist.
"Huh?"
I hurried to the water's edge, scooped up some soil, and dug out the seed hidden beneath it.
"Oh my god, a seed that's still holding onto its life force..."
It was miraculous vitality. Impressed that this seed had endured decades of demonic energy, I decided to infuse it with my power.
"Bloom."
Into the damp soil by the river, stained red like flowing blood, I poured the spirits' power. The seed, buried under the dark crimson earth, sprouted a cute little shoot, empowered by the natural energy blooming from my hand. With just this small help, it overcame the demonic energy and unfurled its fragile life.
"Whoa..."
"Estelle? What are you doing out here?"
"Ah, Sis!"
Lost in admiration of the tiny sprout, I was startled when Lora appeared behind me and pinched my cheek.
"Oh dear, Estelle. How could you wander out alone in the middle of the night like this? You scared me half to death!"
Her scolding came with a relieved expression, her eyes filled with warm affection.
"Eek! Sorry, Sis."
"Sneaking off without a word in the dead of night... goodness."
"Heehee... I can handle myself just fine, so don't worry so much."
"Sigh, to me, you're still just a little kid."
"Tch, come on, Sis. That's just how you see me. I'm a hero of the Elvnia Kingdom and the continent's greatest spiritist!"
Lora was always so kind, doting on me endlessly despite me being a full head shorter than her, treating me like the cutest thing ever.
"Oh yeah, Sis! I found something amazing. Even in this mansion area polluted by demonic energy, there was a seed still alive!"
I proudly showed her the sprout I'd coaxed to life.
"Oh, really?"
"Isn't it wild that a seed survived in soil like this? Look, Sis. Such a pretty little shoot."
Lora smiled brightly and gazed lovingly at the tender green sprout her little sister had nurtured.
"Heehee, it's the exact same color as you, Estelle."
She cupped the sprout in her hands and teasingly compared it to my hair.
"You think so? Heehee."
She stared at the sprout in her palm as if it were precious, her expression turning wistful.
"...If the Demon King falls, this land could receive our mother world tree's blessing too, right?"
"...I hope so."
I buried myself in her arms, acting spoiled. Unlike the eerie air of the demon realm, her warm body heat put me right at ease.
"Estelle, you little spoiled brat... How could I not treat you like a kid?"
She stroked my hair as she spoke. In her gentle, loving voice, she asked,
"Feeling anxious, aren't you, Estelle?"
"...Yeah, Sis."
She slowly rubbed my back, soothing me. I could hear the steady thump-thump of her small heart.
"Don't worry, Estelle. Your big sis is right here. As long as we're together, nothing can hurt you."
With her soft, reassuring words, she always calmed me down and hugged me tight whenever I got scared. That was why I could keep my composure even separated from our kin and the mother world tree. Without her, I never would have had the courage to join this frightening journey to slay the Demon King.
With Sis by my side, I feared nothing—that's why I'd gladly set out with her to save the continent. Sure, bunking with those repulsive, filthy short-lived races wasn't ideal, but for Sis, I could endure it.
"I'll take this little one as a souvenir, heehee... It'd be great if we could bring it back home."
As long as I had Sis, I could weather any trial.
"It's late, Estelle. Time for bed?"
"Yeah! Sis."
I took her hand and headed back to the inn. The tiny life we'd left in the cursed land fit perfectly into a flowerpot in our room. Even amid this grueling journey, we could create beautiful memories.
As we left the mansion behind, we got lucky passing through an area where the demonic energy was thinner.
"What incredible luck. The Demon King's castle is sucking in the demonic energy so strongly that this area's unusually sparse. It's like a demonic vacuum formed here."
The magic tower lord explained the phenomenon with fascination.
Whatever the reason, encountering lush green plants again refreshed my spirits. The crisp scent of phytoncides from the trees, the cool dampness of soil kissed by morning dew, the pleasant warmth. This little forest, born from the thin demonic energy, tricked us into feeling like we'd escaped the cursed land entirely.
As we joyfully strolled the verdant forest path for the first time in ages, I witnessed something infuriating.
Leon Sodus, the hero from Lucas Kingdom, was eyeing Lora Sis with a lecherous gaze.
That insolent human doesn't know his place...
Leon Sodus. A male human who was weirdly popular with the other humans. I couldn't fathom what the other human heroes saw in him, but to me, an elf, his appeal was utterly baffling.
I'd admit his face was aesthetically decent. But human ears were comically stubby. And swinging around that ridiculously huge sword must have bulked him up with so much muscle—he looked like he'd struggle to move freely through the trees. He loved meat, and his swordsmanship reeked of brute destruction.
Sis deserved a gentle elf companion. Not some meat-stinking human who didn't appreciate the sanctity of Mother Nature.
Since he'd been ogling Sis with those sleazy eyes, I took measures to ensure she wouldn't feel even a shred of fondness for him.
"Sis, that guy's been staring at me all weird!"
"Huh?"
Before he could protest, I vented to Sis.
"For real~ He was looking at me all pervy! Ugh, it gave me the creeps."
"...Is that true, Young Master Leon?"
Sis interrogated him in her flat, rapid tone. Her smiling eyes hid a sliver of fury peeking through her narrowed gaze. She was tolerant of harm to herself but hypersensitive to anything involving me.
Her opinion of him plummeted straight down from my single comment. Despite his frantic excuses, Sis didn't hide her icy stare. I knew that frozen smile only appeared when she was genuinely pissed.
"...We're still in a dangerous spot, so let's continue this at the inn later, Leon Sodus."
Nyah nyah~ Serves you right, heehee.
Savoring the flustered look on the short-lived male's face, I snuggled into Sis's arms.
Sis belongs to no one else—especially not some inferior short-lived race.
That evening felt unusually long.
"Sis... you're so late...?"
Apparently, the dumb short-lived one was getting an earful.
The moment we got back to the inn, Sis had left with a stern expression, saying she'd have a "serious talk" with Young Master Leon. But she was taking way longer than expected.
"Hmm... No way something bad happened, right...?"
I tried focusing on a book while she was gone, but my anxiety grew with every passing minute.
"What if those filthy humans are threatening Sis?"
Maybe they were ganging up on her while she grilled Leon. Or using sweet-talk to seduce my innocent Sis. Bad thoughts wouldn't stop swirling.
I stood up and headed to Young Master Leon's room. Just as I was about to burst in, I heard Sis's voice from the other side.
"...Yes, that's right, do it like that."
"...Heehee, like this?"
Sis's voice alternated with the man's. No hostility—just a friendly, harmonious vibe.
At least... it's not a bad atmosphere.
*Squelch*
Huh...? What was that sound...?
Something wet slapping against skin?
"Is this right...? I'm new to this. Ah, that's impressive."
"...Heehee, it's so big and heavy. How do you even—"
"It's tough at first, but once you're skilled, it's incredibly destructive."
"...Then, *smack*"
What the hell are they talking about...!
I was worried sick about Sis. Alone with some sleazy guy—what were they doing?
No way... are they doing something naughty...?
Forget manners—I was about to fling the door open.
"Oh my, Lady Estelle! What brings you here?"
The saintess popped up out of nowhere, beaming and blocking my path.
"Ugh, um... Saintess, not now—"
"Have you finally decided to hear the words of Lumina Goddess? I'm always welcome!"
More enthusiastic than usual, she gripped my hand like she wouldn't let go.
"Listen, I'm super busy right now!"
"When following the goddess's will is there ever a bad time?"
"Argh! I said I'm really busy! Let go!"
Ignoring the noises around us, she boomed her evangelism like an ad broadcast, her voice louder than ever—my ears hurt.
Finally shaking off the clingy saintess, I threw open the door.
"Leon, what are you—! Huh? Sis...?"
"It was fun today, Young Master Leon. Oh?"
Lora Sis was standing right by the door, as if about to leave.
"You scared me. Here to see me off, Estelle?"
She pushed me outside and quietly shut the door behind us.
...Like there was something inside I wasn't supposed to see.
"No, you were taking so long, I got worried..."
"Heehee, such a sweetheart, my little cutie!"
She was the same old Sis. Greeting me with her usual warm smile.
"Heehee... So, what were you talking about in there?"
"Hmm, just... this and that...? Oh, and about that forest incident earlier—he apologized sincerely, said it was a misunderstanding. Guess it was."
"R-Really...?"
As we walked back to our room, I asked about the weird sounds I'd heard right before entering.
"Right before I came in, what were you guys even talking about?"
"Before you got there...? Oh, that?"
Lora Sis smiled casually and explained.
"I tried out Young Master Leon's greatsword. You know I've only ever fought with a bow and dagger my whole life."
"Th-There were these weird squelching sounds..."
"Oh, that? It was the frog he keeps making the noise. So lively—it kept splashing against the tank. Squelch, smack, funny sounds like that."
"...I see."
Of course Sis wouldn't do anything naughty with some guy she barely knew. Must've been my over-worried imagination.
...Her clothes being a bit more disheveled than usual was surely just my imagination too.
It was regrettable that Sis was getting chummy with a short-lived race, but at least my fears hadn't come true. Relieved, I leaned against her and fell asleep like always.
"...Sis?"
In the dead of night, I woke to an odd emptiness. The sister who always slept beside me was gone.