Back to Elvenheim
"The Great Forest......"
It had been just ten days since they left the imperial capital Asrian. Thanks to Wolrang's absurd speed now that he'd grown, they already had the Great Forest in sight.
"The main road was actually slower, huh."
Unlike the pesky bandits and thieves, the orc warriors had shown Tiny reverence at first sight and cleared the way without hesitation. The power of his fame was enough to make them ignore even passage customs.
If I had this kind of influence in the Empire, I wouldn't even worry about the temple.
As Tiny walked on with such idle thoughts, he suddenly noticed Luna standing stock-still.
"What's up?"
"Hm......"
"Pushing too hard?"
Shadow movement was an impressive technique with minimal mana cost relative to its utility, but it still consumed some. He'd heard that even when dealing with a marquis-class beast, Ventus, she'd nearly collapsed from exhaustion after lurking for over a week to seize the perfect moment. And since her skills were still immature, the current pace might have been a bit much after all.
"No, I'm fine. Let's go."
Her expression as she answered suggested it wasn't that.
Then it must be......
Tiny's gaze lingered briefly on her small, pointed ears, which he'd deliberately ignored until now.
An appearance where elven traits were still distinctly visible. Unless it was some rare manifestation of distant ancestral blood, she was probably a half-elf.
Meaning one of her parents was an elf......
Half-elves weren't welcome in Elvenheim. Elves believed mixed blood tainted their purity. If anyone was discovered hiding impure heritage after birth, they were exiled on the spot.
"I know. Honestly, it's foolish and inhumane. Plenty of young elves thought it was wrong, but even knowing that, we couldn't change it. We couldn't break long-held tribal customs."
"Or maybe...... it's all just excuses. We never truly fought to change it. Is this why we're being punished now......?"
He recalled Estina's bitter expression from his past life's memories.
Elves thought half-elves were born from lustful human men violating pure elven women. It wasn't entirely baseless, given elves' near-absence of sexual desire outside of reproduction. But it didn't explain cases from elven men and human women, or when an elven woman truly loved a human man.
And even if a child came from something regrettable.
What sin does that child bear?
To Tiny, raised as an orphan beggar in the back alleys without parents, the elves' standards were utterly repulsive.
If Luna was one of those cases too.
"Sis, by any chance......"
"Hm?"
"No, never mind."
Tiny might seem utterly clueless from his actions, but that was just a side effect(?) of his effort to live boldly in the world. No one else might acknowledge it, but a beggar-born like him couldn't lack street smarts. He didn't want to carelessly bring up something that might hurt her.
"If you don't wanna go to Elvenheim, we don't have to. It's not like we absolutely must."
Wooong.
Pababapak.
With those words, Tiny channeled mana again to shake off the dust and grime accumulated on the journey—a performance anyone could appreciate.
A technique requiring extreme precision in mana control regardless of realm. And Tiny knew Luna had that level of sense and talent too. So this was a subtle appeal.
But Luna gave a wry smile and shook her head.
"Maintenance, needed. I know too."
A mana shower might brush off dust and grime, but it was temporary. Maintaining non-transcendent gear or artifacts required more than that, and washing body and mind with real water felt far more refreshing. Plus, a proper bed instead of camping was essential at least once, considering the rough road ahead.
"Heard Elvenheim, doesn't chase away, proper visitors. It's fine."
Tiny's face hardened slightly at her words.
Meaning......
As he'd suspected, Luna had likely been exiled as a half-elf.
Seeing Tiny's troubled expression, Luna patted his shoulder reassuringly instead.
"It's okay. I had, a dad. He passed soon, though."
"......"
So her mother was still in Elvenheim? Abandoned by her mother, father died young?
That's even more pitiful!!
Tiny sighed inwardly but forced a smile outwardly. He couldn't find the right words.
Imagining how a lone half-elf girl like Luna had been treated young in the human world was hard enough. Discrimination against mixed blood wasn't unique to elves.
No.
Humans are worse.
Humans were the only race that could interbreed with others. He didn't know why the gods made it so, but most such hybrids inherited all their parents' strengths. Half-elves grew fast like humans and were mostly spirit mages or sorcerers. Their lifespan was half an elf's, but that still rivaled long-lived dwarves—superior by human standards.
And humans openly distrusted such "talented" hybrids just for being different.
What did she go through to end up in the palace?
He had many questions, but only one thing to say now.
"......You had it rough, Luna."
Tiny forced a bright smile and pulled her into a hug.
"Guh!? ......Luna, not sis......"
Startled by the sudden embrace, Luna reflexively spat her habitual line. That reaction genuinely made Tiny laugh for the first time in their talk.
So he stroked her now much smaller head with a smile.
"Yeah, sis."
"......What're you saying."
Luna huffed, shoving him away, her flushed face oddly cute. An awkward comrade in his past life, distant blood in this one. Feeling how he'd altered the twisted fate made him oddly happy.
But one thing needed clarifying.
"If your mom is in Elvenheim......"
He meant to suggest looking for her, but Luna shook her head firmly.
"Don't remember. No name, no memories. Just heard, from dad when I was baby."
She probably didn't want to meet even if she was there. Tiny wouldn't want to meet parents who abandoned him either.
Still.
"......Aren't you curious?"
"Not at all."
He didn't need her trembling eyes to know her firm denial wasn't sincere.
I'm an orphan too.
During beggar life, amid hardship and pain, he'd thought that. If his parents weren't dead but had abandoned him, why? Some unavoidable circumstance? And someday they'd come fetch him from this hell? He'd wished it.
Foolish hopes......
Thankfully, someone had soothed that pain and emptiness for him. But a lingering "what if" curiosity remained. He figured his parents were likely dead. But if alive, and he knew where, he'd want to hear why they abandoned him. Even in his past life at over thirty.
So for 19-year-old Luna......
Seeing his conflicted face, Luna stared straight into his eyes, emphasizing again.
"Anyway, absolutely not. Don't think weird stuff."
"......Got it."
He answered so, but.
If possible, I'll look into it. Even alone.
Tiny resolved silently, gazing skyward. He asked inwardly the one who'd soothed his childhood pain and emptiness, now in the heavens.
Erina sis...... That's right, isn't it?
An unforgettable face seemed to smile down from the sky.
* * *
Nothing hindered Tiny and Luna racing along the Great Forest's main path. Monsters popping out died before screeching.
"Elder wolf...? Ah, it's you! The one who helped Elvenheim. Follow us. We'll guide you."
Occasional elf rangers smiled at Tiny, offering unneeded guidance.
"No, thanks. We'll find our way faster. Carry on."
Declining their kindness even delayed them slightly.
Still, they reached Elvenheim's entrance and green vine walls in just a day.
Of course, not without hiccups. Knowing they headed to Elvenheim seemed to affect her psyche; Luna, who'd stuck to shadows fine, suddenly wanted to ride behind on Wolrang.
"Me too, wanna ride Wol. Looks cool."
"Absolutely not."
Tiny refused flatly. Even honor-bound Jenas had puked from Wolrang's ride on his back. He never wanted to see that again, but stubborn Luna was hard to handle.
And the result of her stubbornness was predictable.
- Uweeeek.
Luna slightly fertilized the Great Forest's ancient trees.
Of course.
"Erase from memory. Absolutely."
Pale-faced Luna glared murderously with her amethyst eyes.
"Ah, haha. What just happened?"
Tiny played dumb quick, averting trouble.
Luna swiftly changed topics too.
"That Estina, in Elvenheim?"
"Hm?"
"If elves, orcs moving big, need commander. She's, perfect."
Obvious deflection, but not wrong. Orc great warriors were honorary; they couldn't command tribes. But the World Tree guardian held elven military power like a true general.
But.
"Of course she's there. Don't worry."
"Why?"
"She has a massive eagle spirit, Kyllum. Crosses the continent in two or three days."
"Ah...... But communication......"
"Elves have spirits with unique abilities. More efficient than pricey one-use communicators, even in emergencies."
"......I see."
As Tiny said, Estina greeted them the moment they reached the vine walls.
"Whoa!"
"Real elf......!"
"That's elven metal......"
"Kinda hot...... right?"
Merchants and mercenaries outside gawked at battle-armored Estina, causing a stir.
"Oh, my friend Tiny! Good to see you! Huh!? Who's that next to...... Wait, that face......?"
Estina stared wide-eyed between Tiny and Luna.
Blood!?
Tiny frowned at faint bloodstains on her, but before he could speak, stone-faced Luna reacted first.
"Yeah, I'm half. So what?"
Daggers drawn, emanating killing intent.
Tiny chuckled, poking her side.
"Not that. Estina's from my memories too."
"Hm?"
Luna blinked confusedly as Estina continued.
"The Reaper for real...... But why together? As far as I 'know,' you two weren't close......?"
"True. 'Back then.' But things changed. Turns out family."
"......Family?"
Estina blinked between them; Luna finally caught the goodwill in her gaze, sheathed her daggers, and puffed her chest.
"Right. Tiny, my little bro. I'm the sis."
Her abrupt shift left Estina chuckling wryly.
"What even......"
"I'll explain soon. Wanna talk inside? Lots of eyes."
"Yeah. Got news to share anyway. Wait in my room? You know her? Ludele here'll guide you. Gotta wash up......"
Estina wryly showed her bloodstained armor.
"Sure. Long time, Lady Ludele."
Tiny smiled, greeting the silver-haired elf behind.
"See you soon."
Estina left first.
"Follow me, Sir Tiny and companion."
They followed Ludele into Elvenheim, ignoring stares from merchants and mercenaries.
As Ludele vanished ahead, Luna poked Tiny's side.
"Her room? Wash up?"
He got her implication from her sly look. Clearly "little brother marriage fever."
Why always this?
"......Not like that. Don't think weird, Luna."
He stated firmly, but it bounced off.
"World Tree guardian, capable, my bro."
"No!!"
"Mate elf, good too. Half-elf niece. I can raise well."
"I said no!"
Even yelling didn't faze her; fist clenched smiling, Luna muttered in her own world.