Differing Growth
Elena Legrian was meeting with Gaic, the Dark Elf elder, in the reception room. She was looking at the soap Gaic had placed before her.
"My goodness…… Is this really soap?"
"It is."
"Did you truly make this soap yourself?"
"Yes. We crafted it by specially processing unique herbs and flowers."
"Good heavens, the scent is wonderful."
The soap released a rich floral fragrance. It felt as though a single flower bloomed before her, and simply breathing it in brought comfort to both body and mind.
'Far more fragrant than anything the Alchemy Guild produces.'
"We have many other varieties as well. Would you care to see them?"
Gaic began pulling various soaps from within his robes. Dozens emerged from his garments. Elena stared in astonishment.
"H-How did so many soaps appear from there? And you carry them all with you?"
"Hm? Do ordinary people not carry multiple types of soap at all times?"
Ordinary people most certainly did not.
"In any case, we contracted with Lord Albert to produce soap."
"I saw the agreement. However……"
Elena had read the labor contract and checked the salary listed at the bottom. She had suspected as much, and her suspicions proved correct.
"22 gold…… Does my brother harbor some grudge against the number 22? Why does he keep using 22 gold?"
"You saw the salary, then."
"Is this amount truly acceptable?"
"It is sufficient."
"Why? If you can make soap, surely you could ask for more……"
"Hahaha, that is simply how things turned out. Still, it is fine."
Gaic offered a small, slightly awkward smile.
"The kindness I received from him is so immense that even a lifetime of labor would not suffice to repay it. Moreover, we can live safely here, can we not?"
"Ah……"
"That alone is enough."
His gentle tone and expression carried the weight of years of hardship endured to protect his family and his clan. As elder, he had fought desperately for their survival. Now, having finally found sanctuary, he appeared at peace—yet a trace of self-reproach lingered at having to entrust his people's fate to another. Even so, he accepted it. He was the elder responsible for them all.
"Now that we no longer need to flee, nothing could be better."
"That is admirable."
Elena could not help but admire him. This was the image of the lord she aspired to become—the elder who guided an entire people.
"I understand. Since you will be working for us, I will ensure you receive proper treatment."
"Ah, and please speak casually with me."
"Pardon? But how could I……?"
"Hahaha, I am now a subordinate of the lord. Establishing a clear hierarchy would be best. Furthermore……"
Gaic recalled Albert. Before this meeting, Albert had offered advice accompanied by thinly veiled threats.
"If you do not speak casually, I may incur Lord Albert's wrath. Therefore, please treat me informally."
After a brief hesitation, Elena nodded.
"……Very well, then."
When Elena extended her hand, Gaic studied it for a moment before nodding with an "Ah~" and clasping it firmly.
"I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise."
The arrival of the Dark Elves brought a stir to the territory.
"Elves again this time?"
"Judging by their skin, they appear to be Dark Elves."
"Goodness…… I never expected to see elves here……"
"They are truly beautiful, though."
Curious onlookers inevitably gathered. Dark Elves, both men and women, possessed such striking beauty that they were often called the race of beauty. Unlike the pale elves, they radiated a healthy, vibrant allure. It was a sight pleasing to the eyes.
"……"
"……"
The Dark Elves could not conceal their discomfort beneath the humans' gazes. It was only natural.
'Do they think we are spectacles?'
'Tsk. If it were up to me, I would overturn everything……'
Unless one craved attention, being stared at with such curiosity was far from pleasant. They had braced themselves, yet the displeasure was difficult to hide. It felt as though they had become monkeys in a zoo.
'Still……'
'We must endure.'
'We have to live here.'
'We can tolerate this much discomfort……. If we leave even this place, we have nowhere else to go.'
They had no choice but to endure—for survival. To live, they could accept being spectacles.
[What do you intend to do?]
"About what?"
[Will you leave them like that?]
[Let the Dark Elves become mere spectacles?]
[You will not intervene?]
"I have no particular intention of doing so."
[Why?]
"Because it is not my concern."
Albert, watching the scene from afar, answered the System's questions plainly.
[Is it not Lord Albert's concern?]
[You are the one who brought the Dark Elves here.]
[You bear responsibility for protecting your workers!]
[(ง •̀_•́)ง]
"I have responsibility, but it is not my duty. That is not something I should handle."
Albert drew a clear line.
"Since I brought them, I should provide a certain level of care……"
As he spoke, Albert spotted someone and grinned.
"But that is not my role—it is the lord's duty. They are now residents of Legrian Territory."
"What exactly are you doing right now?"
"H-Huh, ah, Lord Aiden!"
"Eek!?"
The residents who had been watching the Dark Elves could not help but startle at Aiden's sudden appearance. Seeing their flustered expressions, Aiden frowned.
"Should you not be working at this hour?"
"Ah, no…… Well, you see!"
Just as one resident attempted to reply, Aiden raised a hand to silence him. Flex! His powerfully developed pectoral muscles twitched, radiating vigorous life force.
"Right, Braum, you agree as well. Yes, yes, Bry, I share the same sentiment."
Aiden conversed with his ample pectoral muscles.
Braum spoke.
[They appear idle! Behold that scrawny right pectoral muscle!]
Bry spoke.
[They lack exercise. Moreover, they seem negligent with protein intake. The left pectoral muscle weeps!]
"Precisely. So what must be done?"
In response, his trapezius muscle—raised high in indignation—answered furiously.
[Work them! Ensure they have no time for leisure!]
"I see."
Having concluded his intimate dialogue with his muscles, Aiden addressed the gathered residents.
"You lot will report to the guard post starting tomorrow."
"What!? W-What do you mean by that!?"
"Seeing you leisurely spectating instead of working tells me you have time to spare. I shall put that time to use with exercise."
"B-But……"
"Why? Do you object?"
Aiden's presence grew heavier. Simultaneously, his muscles surged, and veins thick as anacondas bulged outward. An overwhelming pressure filled the air—enough to steal one's breath merely by looking.
"If you have complaints, voice them anytime. I am always open. Dialogue is welcome."
"……"
'That dialogue……'
'With words…… or with bodies……'
Look at those twitching muscles. It was clear this was no ordinary conversation.
The muscles seemed to speak.
[How dare you talk back!?]
[Complaints? I shall burn away every last spark of resistance.]
[You will be worked.]
It felt as though they could hear the muscles' voices.
"Incidentally, refusal is not an option. If you fail to appear…… I will come for you personally."
"Eeeek!!"
"Disperse at once."
At Aiden's commanding order, the residents scattered in a panic back to their duties.
Once they departed, Aiden approached the Dark Elves. Sensing his approach, they raised their guard. Among them, Ivy asked with visible tension.
"W-Who are you?"
"I am Aiden, captain of the guard in Legrian Territory."
"G-Guard captain?"
"Correct."
"W-With that face and physique?"
Such talent wasted? She could not comprehend it. Look at that fierce countenance. That face belonged not to a benevolent guardian of order, but to one who would disrupt it.
'What muscles……'
'Is he even human? His arms are thicker than my thighs.'
His muscles were so enormous that one might mistake him for an ogre from a distance.
'Yet he differs from those who merely bulked up.'
Ivy could not help but feel tense. The overwhelming presence and pressure emanating from Aiden made it clear he was anything but weak.
'Would arrows even pierce those muscles……'
His broad pectoral muscles, vast as the ocean, looked sturdy enough to deflect arrows with ease. His fists were the size of her head; a single blow might burst it like a watermelon.
"Why? Do you have a problem?"
"N-No. A-Anyway, th-thank you for your assistance."
"I merely performed my duty."
"Your duty……?"
"To protect the residents and ensure they may live comfortably within the territory. That is the duty of the guard captain."
"Residents……"
"If any difficulties arise, come to the guard post at any time."
With those words, Aiden turned without hesitation and returned to the guard post. There were still people there awaiting his training.
After he left……
"Hello."
Elena had arrived.
"You are……"
"I am Elena Legrian. I currently serve as head of the Legrian family and lord of this territory."
"Gasp!"
"You are that person's……"
The Dark Elves hurriedly bowed to greet her, but Elena raised a hand to stop them.
"It is fine. There is no need for such formality."
"But……"
"Since you are not yet accustomed to it, you need not follow human etiquette."
"……"
A gentle voice. A warm tone. Look at those eyes—they held such warmth that they felt like sunlight. At this point, doubt was inevitable.
'Whom does he resemble?'
'Father's side? Mother's side?'
'At this rate, we ought to verify whether they are truly blood-related……'
It was difficult not to question if they were truly siblings. They were polar opposites. Their eyes, expressions, and voices shared nothing in common. A blood test seemed urgently required.
"B-By the way, what brings you here……?"
"I was watching from afar."
"Watching what……?"
"Why did you remain still?"
"Pardon?"
"When people looked upon you with curious eyes, why did you stay silent?"
The Dark Elves, including Ivy, were taken aback by Elena's question, as though they had not expected it.
'What is her intention? Is she mocking us……? No, that cannot be it.'
Looking into her eyes, Elena held no mockery or teasing intent. She had simply asked: Why had they remained still? Why had they only endured?
Ivy bit her lip lightly before answering.
"……You already know. We are outsiders. Moreover, we are Dark Elves, not humans……. If we cause trouble here……"
She did not finish, yet Elena understood. They were anxious. If problems arose, they might be expelled…… Or discriminated against as a different race……. Fear and unease had kept them from voicing complaints.
"We have nowhere else to go but here. Therefore……"
"It is all right."
"Pardon?"
"I may not fully grasp your thoughts and feelings, but it is all right."
"What do you mean by that?"
Elena smiled warmly, like spring sunlight, understanding their anxious hearts.
"You have now been officially registered as residents of our territory. As lord, I will not arbitrarily cast out my people."
As lord, Elena spoke to fulfill her duty—so the Dark Elves could live with peace of mind and greater comfort.
'I am the head of the Legrian family and lord of this land. They are now my territory's residents.'
People she must protect. Her father had always said:
'Anyone who enters my fence must be protected. A lord possesses a vast fence and must safeguard many. It may be difficult and painful at times…… but still, you must protect them. That is what it means to be a lord.'
"You need not endure in silence. You did not come here to become spectacles, but as residents seeking this territory as fellow people."
Elena gently took Ivy's hand. Her warmth and passion seemed to flow through their clasped fingers.
"You need not shrink away. You need not bow your heads. You need not watch your step. Stand tall with your chest out, straighten your back proudly, and hold your heads high with confidence."
Her strong conviction lent power to her voice, inspiring belief in those who listened.
"As residents of Legrian Territory, you may enjoy your rightful rights. Should anyone peek, stare, or harass you again, exercise those rights."
She was telling them they could proudly assert their rights as residents of Legrian Territory.
Ivy, suppressing the emotion welling within her, asked in a trembling voice.
"What…… what should we do?"
"The first step is dialogue. If that fails, inform the guard post, and the matter will be resolved."
"The guard post……"
"Ah……"
At that moment, a memory surfaced in their minds.
'I merely performed my duty.'
'To protect the residents and ensure they may live comfortably within the territory. That is the duty of the guard captain.'
'If any difficulties arise, come to the guard post at any time.'
The guard captain's words echoed in their thoughts.
'He had already acknowledged us as residents.'
The young lord before them was doing the same. Recognition from another carried far more trust than any signature on a contract. Being acknowledged brought a strange feeling—a sense of comfort, as though they had stepped inside a great fence. A strong feeling of belonging and solidarity welled up.
"If it truly does not work, I will protect you."
"Why…… go so far……"
"I am the lord. Naturally, I bear the duty to protect my residents. I am merely fulfilling that duty."
"Ah……"
Admiration escaped their lips. The strong trust in her voice rippled through the Dark Elves' hearts like a stone cast into a calm lake.
Originally, they had not intended to do this. No, they had not even considered it. Yet this might be the first and last time.
Thud.
Ivy and the other Dark Elves quietly knelt before her. Elena's face showed surprise.
"W-Why are you suddenly……? Such formality……"
"If you fulfill your duty as lord, then we are merely fulfilling ours as residents."
Ivy quietly raised her head.
"Showing respect and courtesy to the lord as residents is a virtue we must naturally possess."
Looking upon the Dark Elves, Elena smiled.
"I look forward to working with you."
It was the moment the still-inexperienced Elena took a step forward as lord.
And……
"Good. Things are progressing well."
Albert watched the scene with a satisfied smile. He looked every bit the older brother proud of his younger sister's growth.
[You seem pleased?]
"Naturally."
In an instant, Albert's smiling lips twisted, making him resemble a villain plotting some sinister scheme.
"Now those fellows will not be able to flee so easily, will they?"
[Huh?]
"I can exploit them to my heart's content. Seeing them display such loyalty, they will not run away claiming soap-making is too difficult, right?"
[……]
"I worried they might form a union if things grew tough, but I suppose I need not concern myself with that."
He had hired them all for 22 gold. Even Albert considered it a meager wage—one that would spark outrage from labor associations and union protests in their world. Even with room and board provided, 22 gold was the sort of sum where conscience and common sense fled hand in hand. It was bad enough to warrant being branded a black company in the news.
"Kuhuhuhu, now then, how shall I work those fellows…… First, I must construct a soap factory. I will place their homes in a corner and build a grand factory……"
While Elena took a step forward as lord, Albert took another step forward as a corrupt employer.
[(つд｀)]
The System thought to itself. He had chosen the wrong master. It seemed his sighs had been increasing lately—was that merely an illusion?
"Uhahahaha!!! I will work them! I will work them to the bone!"
……
It did not appear to be an illusion.