Episode 81
After the elf who had fainted woke up, we began moving again.
Perhaps because I could see spirits, he suddenly started using honorifics with me.
"Anyway, that's why it's unbelievable, I tell you. It's an extremely rare occurrence even in elf history. It's not for nothing that I'm this excited. Even the High Elves-nim would be surprised. If I tell Her Majesty the Queen, she would definitely..."
I should have just let him remain unconscious during the journey.
How can he talk nonstop without taking a break?
Should I knock him out even now?
"Hmm..."
I clenched and unclenched my fist while staring at the back of the elf's head as he walked a step ahead.
His exposed neck looked perfect for a strike.
Just as I clenched my fist tightly and was contemplating one more time...
"We've finally arrived."
The elf turned to look back.
He pointed with his hand toward a gigantic tree.
"This is the elf kingdom. The large tree in the center is the World Tree. We call it the Nest, but I'm not sure what humans call it. You can call it whatever you're comfortable with. And I'll find you a place to stay right away, so how about heading there?"
Though I was somewhat tired, I shook my head firmly.
"I know an elf - would it be possible to meet them first? The reason I came all the way here was to meet that elf."
The elf looked at me with surprise at my answer.
"An elf? It's unexpected that you know an elf. If you tell me their appearance or name, I'll find them for you. Ah, of course, if I don't know them..."
"Eri. Eri."
I cut off the elf before he could launch into another long explanation.
"Eri? Eri... That sounds familiar."
The elf furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment.
As if something came to mind, he tilted his head and furrowed his brow deeply.
"Is it because he talks so much that he thinks a lot too?"
Kaira, who had been quietly observing, approached me and muttered.
I nodded at her words.
"I think so too. How can someone talk to themselves that much? If we had arrived just a bit later, I might have actually knocked him out."
"You should have. Then I would have knocked out the other elves nearby too."
"Should I have... Well, we arrived safely anyway."
I slowly looked around the elf kingdom we had finally reached.
The trees generally grew incredibly tall, as if reaching the sky, with widespread branches and leaves covering the heavens.
Sunlight filtered through like rain, carrying warm energy as it descended.
'There are... so many animals too. I can hear birds singing nonstop.'
Instead of ominous sounds, animal cries came from all directions.
Though it was the same forest, it was different from the Forest of Temptation in this aspect.
"Surprisingly, they don't build houses in the trees. Since they're elves, I thought they'd build treehouses."
At my casual remark, Kaira chuckled.
"Then do dwarves dig caves to live in, and beastkin sleep on the ground? Actually, elves build houses very diligently. They say it's important to build houses that can coexist with nature to show them off."
"So that's why they built them like that? They're kind of..."
They gave the feeling of having run out of materials halfway through construction and just covering them with whatever natural materials were available nearby.
Put nicely, they're nature-friendly; put bluntly, they don't even look like houses.
I'd rather get a tent instead.
"Yeah, I guess so."
When I eventually gave up on explaining, Kaira also nodded as if convinced.
"By the way, where is that fox-eared girl? If we've arrived, she should come running out to greet us. They're really unprepared for receiving guests."
Aron, who had been quietly guarding us, also stared intently at the World Tree.
"Right. Someone like Eri should have already noticed we're here. I hope nothing happened? Could she be facing discrimination for being a Dark Elf?"
"No way. I don't know much about elves, but they got along well in the forest, right?"
"That was in the forest. There, if you don't stick together, you'll just die. Whether you like it or not, if you don't unite, you'll become magical beast food."
Eventually, tired of waiting, I poked the elf's arm again.
The elf, who had been muttering to himself nonstop, jumped in surprise and looked at me.
"Eri is a Dark Elf with enormous breasts."
"A Dark Elf? Then there's no way I wouldn't know. I manage and guide most elves who enter the forest. It should be absolutely impossible for anyone to enter without me knowing. Especially if they're a Dark Elf."
"So you're saying you've never seen her?"
"Yes, at least in the last 10 years since I became the forest gatekeeper, I haven't seen her. If she came earlier than that, you should ask the previous gatekeeper rather than me. Would you like me to guide you if needed?"
Ten years ago would be around when Aron first became a mercenary.
It hasn't even been 5 years since we parted ways with Eri.
"It wasn't that long ago. At most... about 2 years ago."
"Hmm, 2 years? Then definitely not. There's no way I wouldn't know about something that recent. Maybe if it was 20 years ago, I might not know."
Elves definitely have a different sense of time.
Kaira, who had been watching from the side, subtly interjected.
"Then during that time, have any non-elf races entered the forest? Even if not Dark Elves, humans or beastkin would be fine."
"Hmm, I remember about 3 instances. Once when humans came after the empire defeated us when I was young. Then about 10 years ago, a large group of beastkin came. The most recent visitors were people wearing cloaks."
People wearing cloaks.
The only thing that comes to mind hearing that description is the Cult of the End.
Even if it's not the Cult of the End, hiding your identity like that wouldn't be for honorable reasons.
"Do you happen to know why those people came? Any information about who they met or where they went would be helpful."
"They met Her Majesty, checked the World Tree, and disappeared. Nothing else particularly noteworthy. We were suspicious too, but when we saw Her Majesty personally receiving them, we thought 'They must be guests invited by Her Majesty-nim' and left it at that."
"...I see."
There's definitely some connection.
However, the biggest problem is that we don't know what that connection is, nor do we know where Eri went.
Noticing my disappointed expression, the elf hastily added.
"But still! Originally, elves don't have perfect memories either. No matter how good our memory is, we make mistakes and forget things. So how about staying here for a while and investigating? I'll speak to Her Majesty-nim and arrange accommodations for you."
"Is that possible?"
"With your level of beauty and skills, Her Majesty-nim wouldn't refuse. Especially since you've come here through formal invitation, there's even less reason to refuse. And you can handle spirits too, right? Her Majesty-nim would definitely want to meet you."
Seeing that appearance is included in the conditions, these guys definitely have their standards.
Getting bonus points for being pretty when meeting the queen, no less.
I nodded lightly.
"Then could I ask you to do that? We'll find a place to stay in the meantime."
"Of course. I can help you with that much. While you're at it, head to 'Natural Wind' over there. That establishment has relatively more experience hosting outsiders. The elf working there is quite clever in many ways. Well, actually..."
I quickly distanced myself from the elf who was about to start another nonstop explanation.
Fortunately, when he starts explaining, he doesn't pay attention to his surroundings, making it easy to sneak away.
As we walked in the direction the elf pointed, Kaira grumbled.
"Are all elves like that? Then I don't think I could stand it. I think I understand why that fox girl complained about elves so much."
"No way. Eri isn't like that. Doesn't she speak rather softly and gently?"
"The problem is she says everything she has to say softly and gently."
"...That's true."
Kaira subtly clung to Aron's side.
She tightly wrapped her arms around his and pulled them against her flat chest, squishing them.
What is that cliff-like woman doing?
"Aron, the elves aren't as interested as I thought. Since they don't interact with humans, I thought they'd look at us with great interest. Don't you think?"
"That's..."
Aron also slowly looked around.
Though numerous elves were coming and going, not a single one showed interest in us.
Everyone had expressions like 'More humans.' That kind of atmosphere.
'Did they see people frequently before we came? That shouldn't be possible.'
In the game, the only character who successfully entered the Blue Forest after the game's starting point was the Hero.
And even he only entered with the help of an elf who completed the adventure with him.
"Could it be that other humans came before us? Maybe the Hero's party defeated the Demon King and came here."
At my words, Aron and Kaira shook their heads.
Both responded with skeptical attitudes.
"If they defeated the Demon King, there would already be a festive atmosphere. Leaving that aside, there's no way they'd have such a familiar reaction from just seeing a few humans."
"Right. And time-wise, they shouldn't be back yet. Regardless of their abilities, distance-wise it's impossible."
"Well, it would take years just to travel there and back."
I nodded at their attitudes.
If experienced people say so, I can't really argue.
"Anyway, we're here. This is 'Natural Wind'."
"Oh, it's written so we can read it? That elf from earlier wasn't completely lying, it seems."
Just then, an elf came out from inside the establishment.
The elf who saw us perked up her ears and tilted her head.
"You returned surprisingly quickly. I heard it would take about a year this time. Or not? Your outfits are slightly different, so you might be different people. Anyway, come in."
The elf muttered to herself and slightly stepped aside.
We immediately entered the establishment.
"It's ordinary."
"It feels like they brought an inn commonly seen in the empire exactly as it was."
"Right. Are you sure elves made this?"
The interior looked like an inn commonly seen even in the empire.
I thought since it was a space created by elves, it would be quite connected to nature, but it wasn't at all.
"This is where other races stay, after all. We can't force our lifestyle on them, so we made it like this."
The elf closed the door and came in.
She skillfully asked us.
"How long do you plan to stay? And how would you like the rooms? They're small, but we have about three rooms available."
"Just give us one room. We plan to stay together anyway."
"Is that so? Then here's the key. Meals will be provided when you come down at your convenience. Three meals a day are included, so please note that. And the soundproofing is good too? Since there are no other guests, you can enjoy yourselves comfortably."
My face flushed at the elf's casual remark.
It seems to others we look like a harem centered around Aron.
"Th-that's not it!"
I snatched the key and went up the stairs.
"Wow, she-wolf. How much pheromones are you emitting for an elf to say that?"
"Right. Mia seems really excited, doesn't she?"
Ignoring Aron and Kaira who were teasing me as they followed, I entered the room.