Camping Out
In the heart of the Elf Kingdom stood the World Tree, its massive branches stretching high into the heavens.
The vitality of this World Tree was proof of the dryad's well-being—the spirit and guardian of the forest—and a sign that its blessing still protected these woods.
Standing alongside the World Tree, the grand royal palace boasted a majesty that rivaled the tree's own imposing presence.
"Your Majesty, Princess Illuen has arrived."
In the Queen's office on the highest floor of the palace...
The guard's announcement echoed, and soon after, Illuen stepped inside, breaking out in a cold sweat despite the mild weather.
"Y-Your Majesty... I hope you have been well. I came as soon as I heard you were looking for me..."
The Queen possessed long, lustrous golden hair that flowed down to her thighs, and a beauty rare even among elves, let alone humans. She paused her work on the stack of documents on her desk and looked up at the approaching Illuen.
"It has been a while, Illuen."
"Yes..."
Unlike human monarchs, elves did not practice hereditary succession. Upon ascending the throne, the reigning Queen would select the most outstanding high elf to be the next successor.
However, this did not guarantee they would actually become the Queen.
It was a strict meritocracy. Only after building a reputation, achieving great deeds, and passing rigorous trials to prove their capability to rule could one officially inherit the right to the throne.
"Have you spent this time reflecting on your actions?"
"Yes..."
"I called you because of the ongoing war in the western continent. We have received reports that refugees are flooding into the north."
"I see."
"As a candidate for the succession, you must understand the importance of harmony with humans better than anyone..."
"Yes. I understand completely."
"Prevent any humans from entering the forest without permission, but set up a refugee camp outside our borders and ensure they are well cared for."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As the Demon King's forces laid waste to the western kingdoms, even the mighty Eryther Empire began to crumble. Consequently, the western refugees fled toward the nearest northern kingdoms.
The Elf Kingdom was no exception. They were struggling to keep the cold, starving refugees from encroaching upon their sacred forest.
Rather than simply driving them away, the Queen sought to foster harmony with humanity. She planned to establish refugee camps outside the forest boundaries to provide them with food and shelter.
"Ah, and one more thing..."
"Yes?"
"I heard you visited the elf forest that recently caught fire. Did you meet the Hero?"
"Ah... yes... yes..."
"I also heard there is already a half-elf in the Hero's party. Were you aware of that?"
"...Yes..."
Cold sweat beaded on Illuen's forehead. Her pupils dilated with anxiety, and she bowed her head even lower to hide her trembling expression from the Queen.
"If you hadn't made that mistake three years ago, you could have joined the Hero's party this time as well... Wouldn't that have been wonderful?"
"......I am sorry."
"Well... bringing up the past will only tire us both. I won't speak of it further. Focus on moving forward."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Illuen, already flustered by the Queen's subtle reprimands, felt her brow furrow. But the Queen's next words threw her into a complete panic.
"Oh, and are you aware of the fire that broke out in that forest?"
"Ah... yes... yes. I-I am aware."
"It was such a beautiful forest. What a tragedy. The dryad seems deeply grieved by this incident as well..."
"......"
"Instead of returning so quickly, why didn't you stay to help with the restoration efforts?"
"I-I apologize. I had duties to attend to here..."
"To become the next Queen, visiting disaster areas to comfort the grieving forest spirits and elves is a very effective way to build support."
"Yes. I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty."
With every word the Queen spoke, goosebumps broke out along Illuen's neck. She could only pray, desperately wishing for this moment to end.
"I plan to send investigators soon to determine the cause of the fire. Perhaps I should go myself then to comfort the elves of that forest."
"Y-You are sending people there?"
"Yes. A forest that was like a treasure to us has burned down. We must uncover the exact cause to ensure such a tragedy never happens again."
"What?! B-But... that was just a natural forest fire..."
"My, it seems you have already conducted your own investigation, Princess?"
"......"
The Queen maintained a relaxed demeanor, but her eyes never left Illuen. Her gaze was sharp, pressing Illuen as if she already knew the truth.
"Furthermore, I intend to reopen the investigation into the massacre of the half-elf village from ten years ago."
"What!!!?"
"An anonymous informant recently claimed that a group of far-right elf supremacists were the masterminds behind that massacre..."
"B-But... Your Majesty... wasn't that case officially closed as a monster raid...?"
"It was. Because we chose to believe someone's word. However, now that new information has come to light, we must investigate again, shouldn't we?"
"......"
Illuen stood frozen, her face contorted in sheer panic, looking as though she might burst into tears at any moment. Whenever her eyes met the Queen's, she flinched and quickly looked away, only making herself look more suspicious.
Her falling out with the Hero.
The annihilation of her forces and her subsequent flight from the Horon Kingdom.
The fire in the elf forest.
And now, the reopening of the investigation into the half-elf village massacre from ten years ago...
Illuen had no idea which fire to put out first. She hid her trembling hands behind her back and clenched her teeth in silent desperation.
After subjugating the Demon King's forces—well, actually, a boss-class monster called a Sand Worm—in the Fiore Empire, I headed back toward the Arzen Kingdom. Naturally, I was accompanied by Lucia and our newest companion, Irene.
Cutting straight through the elf forest would have been the fastest route, just as it had been on our way there. However, the thought of running into Illuen, who might still be in those woods, made me decide to take a detour, even if it took a bit longer.
Bypassing the forest meant traveling through the Erupe Kingdom, a tiny nation situated between the Fiore Empire and the Arzen Kingdom. It was so sparsely populated, with only a handful of villages scattered about, that we had no choice but to camp outdoors on our journey back.
"Lady Irene, would you like to try some of this?"
"......"
"Are you thirsty? Here, have some of this too."
"......"
Lucia offered Irene some snacks she had bought in bulk before we entered the Erupe Kingdom. Irene merely glanced at the food before turning her gaze back out the window, completely uninterested.
"I'll eat it, Lucia."
"Yours is right here, Carlos!"
Ever since we set off, the carriage had been quiet save for the conversations between Lucia and me. Irene hadn't uttered a single word.
Her only responses were occasional nods or brief, one-word answers.
Perhaps that was just her personality, but she seemed even more withdrawn since the Sand Worm subjugation.
Before that, she had at least engaged in brief, simple exchanges and greeted us.
"Sir Hero, it looks like we'll have to camp here for the night."
Roman, our coachman, slowed the carriage and spoke through the small window connecting to the driver's seat. Outside, the sky was beginning to flush red, signaling the approaching sunset.
"If we go any further, we'll hit the mountain pass. Camping there would be freezing at night, so I figured this would be a better spot."
The spot Roman chose was a flat clearing with a few trees to block the wind. Best of all, there was a stream running right beside it, making it the perfect campsite.
"I'll handle the cooking!"
Without waiting to be asked, Lucia quickly hopped down and began unloading the cooking utensils from the back of the carriage. Irene followed her out, but she stood there looking around, seemingly unsure of what to do.
"I will..."
"You should rest, Irene. I can help Lucia."
"......Then I will go gather some firewood."
If this had been my old party, I would have had to do everything—from gathering firewood to starting the fire and cooking the meal.
It was only natural, considering the party consisted of a Saintess who knew nothing but praying in a chapel, and an Imperial Princess and Elf Princess who wouldn't even deign to use their magic to light a fire.
Fine. Let's say I didn't mind doing the work.
But they couldn't even just eat what was given to them.
Saintess Emilia would claim she had to follow temple laws, demanding porridge one day, insisting on only bread and wine the next, and refusing certain foods depending on the date.
Princess Lydia, raised on the finest delicacies in the imperial palace, wouldn't touch anything that wasn't prepared to the standards of a royal chef.
And the elf Illuen... She had no problem stuffing her face with meat behind my back whenever we visited a town, yet she insisted that a noble high elf could only consume salads and seasonal fruits, demanding fresh vegetables even in the middle of a desert.
Compared to those wretched women, my current companions were absolute angels.
Lucia, who was already washing ingredients by the stream and preparing to cook after starting the fire on her own...
And Irene, whom I expected to just sit idly, but had gone off into the woods to gather wood of her own accord...
Drag... drag...
As I helped Lucia prep the ingredients, a heavy dragging sound caught my attention. I looked up to see Irene returning, dragging an entire uprooted tree behind her.
"Irene... Uh, what is that?"
"Firewood."
"Ah... So when you said you were going to gather firewood... you meant you were going to pull up a whole tree?"
"Yes."
"......"
Instead of her usual blank expression, Irene stood there looking slightly confused, as if she genuinely didn't understand what she had done wrong.
"Good job. You did great, but... freshly cut wood doesn't burn well. It won't give off much heat, and it'll just make a ton of smoke."
"Then what should I use?"
"Usually, we use fallen branches or dry, dead wood for campfires."
"......I'm sorry. I didn't know."
I never expected to see a dejected expression on Irene's normally emotionless face.
"It's fine. I'll go gather the rest. Can you help Lucia here in the meantime?"
"......Yes."
In the end, I had to head into the forest to gather the firewood myself. Still, compared to my old party, who wouldn't have even dreamed of helping, my heart felt remarkably light.