Chapter 11
The next day.
A grand feast was held in Edellia.
The feast was being held thanks to the Black Wolf extermination, which had made the morning paper.
Elves are a long-lived race, living for hundreds of years.
As a result, most elves tend to grow indifferent to everything as they age.
But wow.
The article reported that, for the first time, the World Tree had failed to stop outsiders from entering.
And that the intruder had been defeated by a Hero from legend!
The bored elves couldn’t let an event worthy of the history books pass without throwing a feast.
Some even suggested making the day a public holiday.
All throughout the feast, people talked nonstop about the Hero’s party that Riella had brought with her.
‘Is that the Hero?’ ‘Yeah, I heard Riella brought him.’ ‘That girl? Well, I never.’ ‘Oh my, he’s handsome!’ ‘You don’t stand a chance anyway, so give up, you old hag.’ ‘What? You menopausal old bat!’ ‘You are too, you bitch!’
Bickering.
The bustle of the crowd filled the air.
Children ran all over the streets, enjoying the feast.
Even the mysterious flower petals falling from the sky seemed to be there to celebrate the occasion.
Yubel had never experienced a feast like this before, so everything felt fascinating.
For now, Yubel had let their guard down a little, too.
Hmm. They’re throwing a feast just because they caught one mercenary group? Do they have money to burn?
Well, I’m not complaining.
As Yubel wandered around, they ran into the little girl whose tail they’d touched before.
“Big sis! Do you remember me? I’m sorry I touched your tail back then!”
Big sis.
I hadn’t noticed at the time because I was so flustered.
But hearing it now felt pretty awkward.
“Yeah, it’s okay. Did you come to enjoy the feast?”
“Yeah! I had no idea you were so amazing, Big Sis! When I grow up, I want to be a mage just like you!”
I hadn’t really worked that hard, though.
And I couldn’t use that many spells.
Besides, the Hero seemed to value firepower, so I’d have to keep seducing him from now on.
That was the only way I could avoid getting kicked out of the Hero’s party.
You might get seduced and then assaulted by the Hero, you say?
I wasn’t worried about that at all.
Who’d ever think of doing that to me?
I had to be kind and ladylike.
The Hero might react to my female body for a moment, but he’d never want to take me to bed.
The reason Yubel had come to think this way went back to their first-ever blind date.
The first woman they’d ever truly clicked with had hurled a torrent of abuse at them at the end of the date, leaving Yubel traumatized.
After that day, Yubel came to hate people who were two-faced, just like that woman.
But what about Yubel themselves? A woman on the outside, a man on the inside.
They’d come to believe that no one could possibly want to assault someone like them.
“That’s right… You can grow up to be a wonderful mage just like me. I, the mage of the Hero’s party, guarantee it.”
I hope you don’t end up like me. Find a good person and live a happy life.
“Yay! You’re the best, Big Sis! Just you wait! I’m going to study hard starting today!”
The girl ran off to her mother with a childlike smile.
She has a mom, huh.
Ah, I’m not making fun of her for having a mom. Why do I keep doing that?
While Yubel wandered the streets, where the feast was in full swing,
they looked back and saw Se-on and Riella chatting.
“Se-on, thank you! I knew you’d come save me!”
“I wasn’t the only one who did their best. Tell Yubel that, too.”
“I already told Yubel! You’re saying the same thing they did.”
Riella looked as lively as she had when they first met, now that she was out of the underground prison.
Riella really did look best when she was smiling.
She’d been so downhearted at the thought of being banished from Edellia again, but now she was sincerely thanking the Hero’s party.
Still, it’s a bit much to see her clinging to the Hero with those huge breasts.
Look, the Hero’s even grinning lecherously.
I want to kill him.
The veins on the back of Yubel’s hand bulged.
Even so, Yubel didn’t rush over to stop them.
It wasn’t because they’d given up on Riella.
They just had the faintest hope that maybe, just maybe…
Maybe the Hero really wasn’t a dangerous person.
That sliver of doubt was what kept Yubel from acting.
It was all thanks to the month they’d spent with the Hero.
The Hero had grown close to all sorts of elves while volunteering.
He’d helped Riella when she was in trouble and brought her smile back once again.
Yubel had seen him summon the courage to face a situation where he could have died.
So Yubel had started to think that maybe they’d misunderstood him all this time.
“Sigh… Fine. I’ll give it a try.”
This time, I’m going to ask him seriously.
“Hero.”
Yubel’s fingertips trembled faintly.
They waited for the Hero’s answer.
“Hm? What’s up, Yubel?”
The Hero looked at me and asked.
Should I say it? Now? …I’ll say it.
“About your skills… could you stop using them?”
“…”
The Hero looked flustered by the sudden request, lost in thought.
I said it.
This is a major turning point.
Yubel gently rubbed their chest.
They were trying to calm their heart, which was beating a little faster than usual.
If you tell me you won’t use your skills anymore, then I—
“Sorry.”
A cold refusal.
…Ah.
What a stupid thing to think.
“I can’t do that.”
Right.
Of course.
You’re the Hero.
You can’t give up an opportunity like this.
But, Hero, do you know…?
Then, we—
“Yeah. Sorry for bringing it up.”
We’re enemies.
***
[Skill Points: 7]
After fighting the Black Wolves, I saw that my skill points had gone up to 7.
Do I get them by fighting strong enemies, after all?
No.
They’d increased because Yubel had discovered the pleasure of being exposed in the middle of a fight.
You lewd woman.
Anyway, Se-on thought the Hero’s skills were more useful than he’d expected.
When fighting the mercenaries, he’d used [Undress] to create openings with ease.
And [Adrenaline] let him unleash tremendous strength for a short time. It did have some side effects, though.
“…”
Se-on was now debating whether or not to unlock a skill.
It seemed suspicious to gain such extraordinary powers without paying anything in return.
Hmm, why was I summoned to this world?
I was looking for something when I suddenly lost consciousness…
And when I opened my eyes, I was here.
He put those thoughts aside for a moment and looked up. He saw elves waving to the Hero’s party.
And, farther ahead, Yubel’s retreating figure.
Yubel was smiling kindly as they spoke with a girl looking up at them.
For a moment, Se-on couldn’t take his eyes off the sight.
Had Yubel ever smiled even once during their adventures together?
“Se-on, thank you! I knew you’d come save me!”
A voice came from beside him.
When he turned, Riella had linked her arm with his.
I knew you’d save me, huh…
I did fight hard, but Yubel was the reason I’d survived that battle.
So you could say Yubel was the one who saved Riella.
Yubel deserved more praise than I did.
“I wasn’t the only one who did their best. Tell Yubel that, too.”
“I already told Yubel! You’re saying the same thing they did.”
The same thing…
Pfft.
I smiled without meaning to.
Yubel. Thank you.
For saving me.
You saved my life.
Thinking that, he looked toward where Yubel was.
When he shifted his gaze, he saw Yubel approaching with a flowing, graceful elegance.
As their ebony hair fanned out beautifully, the sight was breathtaking.
Those crimson eyes looking at me.
Whenever I looked into them, I felt as if a powerful attraction was pulling me toward them.
Could Yubel be a demon of lust?
Ah, demons really did exist in this world.
That was an incredibly rude thought.
I apologized to Yubel in my heart.
“Hero.”
Then…
Their captivating voice called to me.
“Hm? What’s up, Yubel?”
I called their name, too.
Yubel.
“About your skills… could you stop using them?”
Yubel made a request of me.
From her unusually serious expression, I could tell how long she’d thought about bringing it up.
Skills, huh…
I had a pretty good idea why Yubel was asking me this.
The Black Wolves incident from before.
I’d spammed my skills during that fight and nearly passed out and died.
I could still vividly remember the look on Yubel’s face as they shouted at me then.
She must’ve been worried about me.
And I was grateful for that.
But it was a request I couldn’t grant.
“Sorry. I can’t do that.”
The harder I pushed myself, the better I’d be able to protect you.
If I were strong, I wouldn’t end up in danger like that again.
Even if these powers seemed suspicious, I’d gladly use them for my companions.
“…”
But you…
Why are you making that face?
I want to see you smile.
“Yeah. Sorry for bringing it up.”
So please don’t look so sad.
***
“Hahaha! Se-on! Try this meat, too!”
Even after night fell, the excitement of the feast hadn’t died down.
Who would’ve thought we’d spend the whole day eating?
It felt like the elves and the Hero’s party had eaten nearly a week’s worth of food for the entire elven race.
On top of that, the elves were carnivores, so eating nothing but meat was starting to get old.
Ugh, I’m not usually like this.
Did changing bodies change how much I could eat?
“Ugh, Riella… I’m about to burst…”
The Hero seemed to have reached his limit, too.
Good grief. You were happy to stuff your face a minute ago.
Maybe Yubel’s appetite had shrunk, because they couldn’t eat much.
Secretly, that made them envious of how much Se-on could eat.
“But I still haven’t repaid you enough!”
“Isn’t this enough already? Hahaha…”
As Se-on refused Riella’s food, a shadow suddenly fell over them from behind.
“Looks like you’re enjoying yourselves.”
The shadow belonged to Hadrien.
“Oh, Elder. Yes, thanks to you, we’re having a great time. Thank you.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you. Edellia hasn’t felt this lively in ages, thanks to you. I’ll give you the sacred treasure as promised. And…”
When Hadrien looked toward Riella, she turned her head away with a sharp, “Hmph!”
Oh dear.
She hates him now.
“Ahem. R-Riella, congratulations on being released.”
What, did he come all this way just to congratulate her on that?
He was the one who put her in there in the first place.
The more I saw Hadrien, the more I realized he was a bit of a klutz.
“Riella, is there anything you’d like to eat…?”
What is he, a dog? Is he trying to lure her with food?
Huh?
She’s walking away.
In the end, Riella left.
“Elder, have you not seen Riella even once since she came back?”
Hadrien lowered his head, his shoulders drooping even further.
This guy is unbelievable.
I should leave him alone for now.
“You two. There’s something important I need to tell you.”
We stopped short.
We’d tried to leave and follow Riella, but Hadrien held us back.
“Uh… What is it?”
Hadrien’s expression looked strangely determined.
No way, right?
“Teach me how to get along with my daughter. I’m asking you.”
As he said that, Hadrien started to kneel.
This is driving me crazy.
Hadrien had asked them for guidance.