The Festival
The Elf Village was in the middle of preparing for a festival.
No matter how insular and quiet the elves were as a race, they couldn't simply sit on their hands after shattering the plot of a High Demon, slaying the fiend himself, purifying the corruption of the World Tree, and witnessing the birth of a new Avatar of Nature in the process.
...To be frank, it felt like their excitement weighed far more heavily on the last part, but regardless.
"Ahem, cough..."
"Hm-hmph. Ahem! Cough, hack!"
At the unending chorus of dry, theatrical coughing, I glanced over my shoulder to find Vivian and Cecilia eyeing me with thoroughly mischievous grins.
"......"
I knew perfectly well why they were acting like that.
Even though I knew full well how pathetic the soundproofing was in these elven huts, I had gone entirely overboard last night. Naturally, the girls staying right next door had heard every single detail of our activities.
What on earth had gotten into me to make me lose my mind like that?
Was it the liquor?
Damn that booze. Maybe I ought to swear off drinking for good this time.
...Then again, thinking it over, there was no need to go to such extremes.
"You absolute animal..."
"......"
Weller glared daggers at me and spat out a venomous curse, but having no defense whatsoever, I could only keep my mouth shut. It wasn't quite humiliating enough to make me want to die, but it was certainly embarrassing. Shameless though I was, even I possessed a shred of decency. To have little girls overhear our frenzied night of debauchery... I couldn't bring myself to hold my head up.
"Ahem-hem! Wheeze!"
"Koff! Hack, hack! Cough!"
I glared at the two brats as they continued their absurd coughing fits just to bait my attention, then finally let out a heavy sigh.
"Haah... What do you two want?"
"W-whatever do you mean, Brother? We just happened to get some dust caught in our throats, that's all."
"Indeed. Perhaps because the elves have been scurrying about so briskly, the air is rather dusty today."
"......"
These little rascals, seriously.
I narrowed my eyes at them, but they merely smirked and feigned absolute innocence.
"Haah..."
When they overheard the elves going at it before, their faces had turned bright red and they couldn't do a thing. Why was their immediate reaction to mock me when it was my turn? I took a swig from my bottle and lit a cigarette.
Right then, Vivian sidled closer and whispered in a low voice.
"So, Brother. Who is going to be your primary wife?"
"......"
I certainly hadn't expected a question like that from her. I thought she would remain young and innocent forever... Had she already reached the age where she cared about such things? Well, thinking about it, it was about that time. She was right at the age when puberty hit.
"What primary wife? Forget it. I have no intention of picking one."
"What?! What do you mean by that... Brother! If you say things like that, the older girls will be heartbroken! You have to establish a proper hierarchy so the primary wife and the concubines don't end up fighting!"
"...Where did you even learn something like that?"
"Arpe told me! She said things like that happen all the time in the Imperial Palace!"
I shot a sharp glare toward Arpe, only to find her glaring back at me with murder in her eyes.
"Hmm..."
Overwhelmed by her sheer intensity, I quietly averted my gaze. She had been staring at me like that since early morning. Apparently, taking liberties with Nemeth—who belonged to her—and watching me, her supposed 'friend,' fool around with other women hadn't sat well with her at all.
"...Don't worry. A fight isn't going to break out."
"Really? Why are you so sure?"
"Well... who knows? It's a secret."
"Hey, that's cheating! Tell me!"
"I don't share secrets with bratty little sisters who tease their big brother."
"Eeeek!"
As I pressed my palm down firmly onto the crown of her head, Vivian flailed both arms, puffing out her cheeks in a grumpy sulk.
"Sir Alzen. I have something to say as well."
"...What is it now?"
Cecilia, who had been listening to our banter, placed her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows in stern reproof. I had a strong feeling this was going to be an enormous headache, but since running away wasn't an option, I gave her a response anyway.
"They say true heroes possess a passion for romance, and as the champion of the Goddess, it may be natural for you to embrace multiple women—yet there is still a line you must not cross!"
"Are you lecturing me now...?"
I slumped back and took another gulp of alcohol, causing Cecilia's glare to turn even sharper.
"To ensure no stain falls upon the Goddess's holy name, you must carry yourself with dignity, staying upright and righteous at all times!"
"...Cecilia. Isn't it a bit late in the game for you to be preaching that?"
I gave the bottle and the cigarette in my hands a little wave, then gestured with my chin toward my disheveled collar. Cecilia instantly froze stiff.
"U-uh, well, no! That and this are two entirely different matters!"
"How on earth are they different?"
"Just practice moderation! Do you understand?!"
"...I'd rather not take behavioral advice from someone who eavesdropped on other people having sex."
"S-s-sex...?! Ahem! I-I was not eavesdropping! You seem to be laboring under a misunderstanding!"
"Are you seriously going to play dumb right to my face...?"
"I'm not playing dumb! Even when I covered my ears, the sounds carried right through! What was I supposed to do?! I only heard it because I had no other choice!"
"......"
At a complete loss for words, I clamped my mouth around the bottle's neck and guzzled it down like a trumpet.
"...Ah, and there is one more thing."
"Phaaah. What now?"
"Um... please pay a little more attention to Wendy."
"...Wendy?"
At the unexpected name, I tilted my head and shifted my gaze. Wendy was currently engaged in conversation with Muriel, Rebecca, and the others. They were too far away for me to catch what was being said, but the atmosphere seemed quite serious.
"What about Wendy?"
"Are you truly asking because you don't know?"
Seeing her stare back with genuine reproach, so unlike her earlier teasing, I clicked my tongue. Precocious little brat.
"Fine. I can't make any promises, but I'll keep an eye on her."
"Good. That is more than enough."
Nodding in satisfaction, Cecilia patted the still-pouting Vivian on the shoulder to soothe her before heading toward Wendy's group.
"...Sir Alzen. A word, if you will."
As if she had been waiting for that exact opening, Arpe approached, her voice pitched dangerously low.
"Now it's your turn...?"
This was turning into a colossal pain in the ass.
She droned on about how, since we were 'friends' who laid claim to parts of one another, I needed her permission before engaging in sexual acts; that taking liberties with Nemeth, her personal property, was entirely unforgivable; that we had to establish clear, binding ground rules here and now...
Shuddering at the sheer absurdity she delivered with such absolute gravity, I slipped away from the spot. Arpe naturally refused to let me escape, but with the aid of Nemeth—who blushed profusely as if thoroughly mortified—I barely managed to break free.
"Ehehe... You sure are popular, Lord Alzen!"
"...I really don't think 'popular' is the right word."
Offering a bitter smile at the cheerful comment from Pashtra, who had trotted after me, I watched the elves in the middle of their festival preparations.
"Connect the roots over here!"
"Got it. Does this shape look right?"
"Just a little higher... Ah, perfect. It fits!"
Living up to their reputation as a secretive and mystical race, even their preparations were far from ordinary. Firewood, the staple of any regular festival, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, every piece of required infrastructure was handled by living tree roots and branches moving on their own, or shaped through earth spirit arts. Whenever something heavy needed to be transported, or when water and fire were required, invisible spirits were summoned to do the work.
Combined with the graceful movements and ethereal beauty of the elves as they practically drifted through the air, the spectacle felt like watching a mystical, dreamlike play.
"Woooow..."
Listening to Pashtra's breathy sigh of admiration, I watched the elves in a daze. In the central clearing of the village, they were currently constructing a massive temporary structure. Built solely for the festival, it was essentially an open-air temple.
"...Seeing it in person really is something else."
It went without saying, but not a single artificial component was used in building the shrine. The sprawling roots and branches of nearby trees entwined seamlessly, while tables and chairs were raised directly from the packed soil through spirit arts. I had already known how it worked thanks to the game's setting material, but reading about it and witnessing it firsthand were worlds apart.
"Ah! Lord Avatar of Nature! What brings you all the way out here?!"
Just then, Latipi, who had been directing the construction, spotted me. She practically glided over, her eyes sparkling with delight.
"Uh, yeah... Just came by to look around. I've never seen an elven festival before."
"Is that so! Ah, if there is anything that displeases your eye, please do not hesitate to tell me!"
"No, nothing. Feel free to keep doing things your way."
"We are deeply grateful for your kind words! Ah, and... I had intended to deliver this message later, but..."
"Hm?"
Lowering her voice, she leaned in to whisper directly into my ear.
"The World Tree wished to convey words to you, Lord Alzen. Furthermore, it wishes to bestow a reward upon you for saving both itself and our people."
"Hmm, a message and a reward, is it...? Understood. I'll pay a visit once the festival wraps up."
"Yes!"
She answered briskly, looking up at me with a beaming, radiant smile.
"......"
It still felt a bit jarring. The Latipi I remembered was an aloof, taciturn, and cold-blooded huntress... yet right now, she was brimming with affectionate charm like an eager puppy. ...Then again, I preferred her like this anyway. Slipping my hand down, I gave her rear a gentle caress.
"Ah...! L-Lord Avatar... If you ever wish to relieve your desires, I am available whenever you please...! E-even right this very second...!"
Far from showing any displeasure, she seemed downright ecstatic, passionately assuring me that she was open to far more intense acts whenever I called upon her.
Damn...
It was almost enough to make me hesitate; she was so completely yielding it was dizzying. If even Latipi acted like this, did that mean virtually every elf in this village owed me absolute obedience? Even though I had already grasped the concept intellectually, feeling the reality of it sent a surge of exhilaration through my veins.
Having an overwhelmingly powerful race like the elves at my beck and call... At this point, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them my personal organization.
"Hmm..."
Until now, the Stanasila Ducal House had been my sole backer. But House Stanasila was hardly an unconditional ally, nor could I manipulate them entirely as I pleased.
"If push comes to shove... I might have to consider jumping ship. But their geographical and social standing poses a problem. To make more active use of the elves, I'd need to..."
"Lord Alzen. What are you brooding over so deeply?"
"Hm? Ah, it's nothing."
Pashtra's voice snapped me out of my reverie. Looking down, I found her clinging tightly to my arm, her cheeks puffed up into a full pout.
"Lord Alzen... am I not enough for you?"
"...Are you jealous?"
When I deliberately gave Latipi's rear another squeeze right in front of her, Pashtra's cheeks swelled even further.
"Yes! I am jealous! I want you to look only at me!"
"You actually think about things like that...?"
"Of course I do! I might be simple-minded, but that doesn't mean I just accept everything without a care!"
"Hmm... Fair enough."
Releasing Latipi's backside, I gave a sly grin and reached over to cup Pashtra's rear instead. ...The sheer volume between Latipi and Pashtra belonged to entirely different dimensions; rather than simply grabbing it, it felt more like my hand was sinking completely into plush softness.
"Lord Alzen...!"
Throwing her arms around me, she buried her face into my chest and nuzzled in deep. And so, wrapped in her warm embrace, we continued our stroll through the elven village, enjoying our brief little date.