41. [Special Edition] The Mu Tribe's Oath (The Journeying Elf)
This marks the start of a special edition. It's structured in three parts.
It took about twice as long to produce as usual. I hope you'll give it a read.
The city of Migurutto was governed by the four great houses.
The human Airarai House.
The dog-eared Wanland House.
The dwarf Skyrot House.
And the elf Starunion House.
Every year, the Senate elected two consuls from representatives of the four houses.
These days, however, one was always selected from the human house—a concession to the imperial capital's human society. With the Demon Kingdom's threat pressing from the east, a single city couldn't defend itself alone; they needed the empire's robust protection.
Migurutto had no dictatorial king. Governance fell to the Senate members—high-tax payers—and the two consuls.
Maamii Muume Moe Starunion, the eleven-year-old eldest daughter of the Starunion house and an elf girl, had multiple names: Maamii, Muume, and Moe. Her father, mother, and grandfather had all tried to name her, leading to five days of arguments before they settled on using all three.
Her father called her Maamii, her mother Muume, and her grandparents Moe. As a child, she struggled to remember her own name and was seen as forgetful, which got her excused from various noble duties like etiquette and speech. It had its perks.
She was on her way back to Migurutto from the Great Western Forest—a trip to show her face to the elf elders. The elf population had dwindled below three hundred. They were slowly marching toward extinction. Amid that, Maamii was the first child born in two hundred years, eleven years ago.
She had come downriver by boat to this port town of Fulft. From here, she'd transfer ships and head further east to Heiron, then travel overland to Migurutto. They'd stay in town until the connecting ship departed.
With her characteristically long elven ears, pale skin, silver hair cascading long, and the petite chest and bottom hinting at future growth, she slipped into bed in her negligee.
"...Can't sleep."
She spoke to her maid, Patricia, a flowerkin. At seventeen, Patricia had more developed curves than Maamii. Flowerkin grew flowers from stems mingled in their hair, blooming based on emotions, seasons, or time of day. Hers were tulips. In early spring, when she bloomed with many, she looked adorable—and smelled wonderful. Human lore claimed flowerkin arose from humans crossbreeding with flowers. Maamii thought it ridiculous; who would do something so perverse with plants?
"It's a common inn, so no helping it."
Even Patricia sounded fed up.
They'd planned to rent a noble villa. But it had been destroyed in a monster attack, or so they'd heard. What convenient timing. Maamii suspected harassment against non-humans. She'd check it out tomorrow.
This inn was among the town's finest. They'd tried to book the entire top floor's best rooms, but one was already taken.
Maamii had glimpsed the neighbor when entering: a drab middle-aged man. But he had a well-worn guide: a droopy-eared beauty with a slender build, pet-like build. She wore a light blue haori, arm covers, and necklace. Lesser known, but dog-eared warriors who found a lifelong master donned light blue items. The Wanland house did the same for knighting ceremonies with rings. She seemed meek, but her convictions were fierce.
Moans from the next room had been nonstop.
The reason neither could sleep.
"Patience. Just patience... Still, does it really feel that good?"
Patricia murmured. A single tulip bloomed in her hair.
"...Patricia?"
"Ah—sorry, Lady Moe. Anyway, let's sleep. You won't hear it then."
The woman's moans stopped.
"Ah, looks like it's over. Now we can sleep."
Patricia sighed in relief—but soon, different moans began.
"..."
Maamii and Patricia exchanged silent looks, then sighed.
This story takes place a short while in the future.
When Mash and his group visited the port town of Fulft on a caravan escort quest.
The sky was whitening. Dawn neared.
Maamii was in the courtyard, drawing well water to wash her face.
She'd barely slept, her head foggy, but the cold water cleared it.
"Puhah."
As she dried her face, the dog-eared girl from yesterday appeared.
"Good morning."
The girl bowed politely. Her voice—the first moans from last night.
"...Morning."
Maamii greeted back, yielding the water.
She looked up. Stars fading into the brightening blue sky.
"Stars look tiny, but they're really sun-sized or bigger. They're just so far away."
The girl said while washing her face. Glossy fur, flawless skin and clothes—proof of a cherished master.
"...Yeah?"
"Light has speed too. A light-year is the distance it travels in a year. Some stars' light left thousands of years ago. It might shine from stars that no longer exist."
Maamii knew this. A classic transferred-hero pickup line. Her mother had endured it at galas whenever one appeared, stargazing.
"...Then go a thousand light-years away, and you'd see this world as it was a millennium ago."
"Is that so?"
The girl—who'd explained—now questioned back. Maamii grew curious about this peer-aged mystery. Actually, she'd been intrigued from the start. Plus, Maamii sensed stagnant mana in her—a curse.
"...I'm Patricia, elf as you see." Bonk! "...Ow."
A fist from behind. Patricia stood there. Maamii didn't like her full name much; Patricia sounded more noble. She'd played pretend as "Patricia" forever.
"Lady Moe, no lying."
"...Yes, sorry. Maamii Muume Moe Starunion. Use whichever—Maamii, Muume, or Moe."
She showed her character sheet. The dog-eared girl peered in.
"A mage... huh. I'm Fam."
Fam showed hers. Maamii had guessed same age, but Fam was three years older. Class: werewolf. Shockingly, free citizen. So she'd moaned willingly last night. And the sheet had unnatural mana flow—curse effect?
"...I gave my real name. You too."
Maamii asked Fam.
"Famimu Okita."
Okita: legendary hero from over a millennium ago who saved dog-eared kin from the apocalypse god with one blade. Died ignobly of illness. Many dog-eared took the name to honor her will.
"...Got it. Still calling you Fam."
"I'll call you Moe."
"...Why Moe?"
Fam picked it because Patricia used it.
"...Then we're proud Mu tribe from now on."
"Mu tribe?"
Fam didn't get it.
"...Names have 'Mu,' so Mu tribe."
"Understood." Fam nodded.
"...Mu tribe greeting—raise both hands."
Maamii raised hers in victory pose. Fam followed, confused.
"Muu," Maamii said.
"Eh? Ah, yes. Muu."
Fam flushed but matched her.
After breakfast, Maamii walked the town with Patricia and two guards.
To inspect the monster-damaged villa.
It was on the outskirts, built as a vacation home.
"Heard a rumor Rakushel-sama appeared near the capital. True?"
"...Dunno?"
Maamii replied to Patricia. Rakushel buzz filled Fulft.
"Saved a trio of adventurers, they say. One a dog-eared girl."
Maamii got the hint but doubted it.
They passed the arena: a plaza with stone benches.
"Lady Moe, the dog-eared girl from morning."
"...Patricia, she's Mu tribe."
Several groups trained with swords and magic. Patricia pointed to one.
Fam sparred a muscular female swordswoman.
"No shame? All those men watching..."
Bikini armor: scant cloth barely hid chest and hips. Muscles tanked hits. Wearers claimed the armor did. Fam charged bravely, her swift dual-wield slashes parried effortlessly by the woman's bastard sword.
Fam had talent, but couldn't match her.
"...Wake, who wins between you?"
Maamii asked one guard: Wake, a sturdy human midager.
"Lady Moe, we fight, think, function as a unit. No matter how clever or strong a female warrior, you'd stand last."
"...I want the fight outcome."
"First swing strips her chest cloth, second her bottom."
"...Patricia."
Patricia punched Wake.
Patricia handled daily affairs, Wake security—Maamii's most trusted. But both veered lewd sometimes. Patricia was that age; Wake should've known better, but he'd snap he was too. Five years back, Maamii asked him to teach her sex; he raged, Patricia punched. Their slips weren't serious. Even tulips meant probably not.
Maamii figured Wake would win. Couldn't imagine him losing swordplay.
"Her strength holds in real combat too. Mu tribe? She'd change there. Something..."
Maamii waited, but Wake trailed off.
They watched the spar awhile, then headed to the villa.
Thank you for reading.
To everyone who hits like, bookmarks, or rates—truly grateful.
It motivates me. I'll keep going.
Typos pointed out save me. Really, thank you.