Chapter 7
A dark underground dungeon.
A floor too cold to sit on and tightly shut iron bars.
And Yubel, absolutely furious.
“Could you explain what the hell is going on? Hm? Riella?”
She was smiling, but not really.
“Ehehe... S-Sorry...”
“No!! Explain it already!”
For the record, it was only natural for Yubel to be this angry.
She'd followed an elf who said she'd treat them at her home, only to suddenly become an accomplice to an arsonist and wind up in prison.
This was one hell of a betrayal.
“Uwaaa... I'm sorry! Don't be mad...”
At Yubel's demonic fury, Riella ducked behind Se-on.
Thinking of Se-on as her superior, she instinctively put herself under his protection.
But Se-on had no excuse either.
He was the one who'd suggested trusting Riella.
“Phew... So, Lady Riella, why did you set the World Tree on fire?”
For now, calming down was the smart thing to do.
Acting on emotion was for children.
I couldn't stoop to Riella's level.
“Uuuh... Well... The World Tree said something mean to me...”
“Huh? The World Tree? Where do you get off lying—”
“It's true! I can hear plants talking...”
After that, Yubel and Se-on heard how Riella had ended up setting the World Tree on fire.
The truth of the incident was shocking!
The World Tree had done nothing wrong!
Riella had gone to talk to the World Tree that maintained the barrier around the Elf Kingdom.
Surprisingly, Riella could actually speak with the World Tree.
So the World Tree had said, ‘You foolish child, you mustn't come here without permission.’
And Riella had used a fire spirit to set it alight, crying, ‘Foolish? Uuuh, the World Tree said something mean to me!’
“……”
In the end, it was Riella's fault for being an idiot who fixated on a word instead of its meaning.
That left her no excuse.
Was she going to end up branded an arsonist?
Just then, an elf with an air of authority appeared beyond the bars.
“Riella, why have you come back after being banished?”
“Dad!! Uuuh, I thought I was allowed to come home now...”
The elf was Riella's father.
Riella has a dad?
Ah, this isn't a parent-insult joke.
I was just surprised because I'd never seen him when I played the game.
“Call me Elder. But why have you returned after only a month, when you were banished? What are you plotting? Do you not value your life?”
“Hic, sob...”
At her father's cold response, Riella couldn't hold back her tears and began bawling.
“……”
Seeing the usually cheerful Riella cry made Yubel feel uneasy.
Hmm, I feel a little bad for her.
Riella didn't do it with any bad intentions, but her dad's being pretty cold.
Maybe it's a balance thing: cold father, fiery daughter?
“Um... I don't think Riella meant any harm. Could you let it go just this once?”
Unable to bear Riella's tears, Se-on spoke up on her behalf.
“I know. But it is a fact that Riella put Edellia in danger. Unless the people forgive her, there's nothing I can do.”
“Then let us catch those intruders! If the Hero's party Riella brought catches them, wouldn't that help her earn at least a little forgiveness?”
“……”
After hearing Se-on, the elf elder fell into thought for quite a while.
Then, at last, he nodded.
“You have about a month. If you can't catch them by then, we must assume they've already achieved their goal.”
“Understood. And... This may be presumptuous, but if we catch them, please let Riella call you Dad.”
“Hm?”
At Se-on's sudden suggestion, the elf's half-lidded eyes opened a little wider.
“Hmm... My name is Hadrien. I'm one of Edellia's three elders. As for that suggestion... I'll think about it.”
Hadrien, huh.
I'd never heard that name before.
An elder of the elves must be pretty high-ranking, right?
How come I'd never seen him?
“Yes. I'm Baek Se-on. I'll make sure to catch the intruders in time.”
“Good. I'll inform the people that the Hero's party has arrived. Do your best.”
Creeeak...
Hadrien opened the cell door and let Se-on and Yubel out.
So this is what getting released feels like? Nice.
Well, technically, we haven't done anything wrong.
You could even say we're victims who got tricked by Riella.
Clomp, clomp.
Once outside, Se-on and Yubel couldn't help but be surprised.
They'd been blindfolded on the way in, so they hadn't realized how enormous the Elf Kingdom was.
We're supposed to find the intruders in all this?
Sigh...
Yubel's eyes went dark.
***
The Elf Kingdom, Edellia.
It was a nation that worshiped the World Tree as its king and had little contact with other races.
Partly because its territory lay deep in the forest.
And partly because of the World Tree's barrier, which no one but elves could pass through.
Of course, anyone could enter if they were given permission.
Anyway, because of this isolation, the elves were wary of the humans who'd invaded their land.
They were also curious about the Hero's party that Riella had apparently brought with her.
“Um, excuse me. Are you the Hero?”
“Hm? Ahaha, hello. That's right. I'm the Hero who was summoned this time.”
“Wow! You're really black, just like in the fairy tales!”
Children swarmed around Se-on.
They'd be shocked if they knew what kind of Hero he was.
“Hey, hey, Hero! Why did you come here? Is the Demon King here?”
“Waaah, the Demon King is scary. You'll defeat him for us, right?”
“Yeah. I'll definitely defeat him.”
The children shivered at the mention of the Demon King, but Se-on's words seemed to reassure them.
They're cute. The Demon King's right here, though.
As Se-on responded to them, even the children who'd been watching hesitantly began to crowd around.
Dash, dash.
Clustering together.
The children all clung to the Hero.
Watching them, Yubel felt her heart melt.
Aaaah, they're so cute!
I want to pinch their cheeks.
Why aren't they coming over to me?
Unlike Riella, who's mentally a child but busty, this cuteness hit with devastating force.
“But who's this next to the Hero? She has horns!”
“Wow, she really does. She looks like the Demon King from the fairy tales! Is that a tail?”
“Kyaaah!?”
A little girl suddenly grabbed Yubel's tail and tugged.
Ah, wait, ngh, that feels so weird...
Stoooop...♡
Grab!
The Hero grabbed the girl's arm firmly.
“Wait! Don't you see she's uncomfortable? That's enough now, okay?”
“Huh? Was she? She looked like she was enjoying it... Sorry, miss.”
“Ahehe... It's okay. Yeah...”
The children quickly lost interest and wandered off elsewhere.
But Yubel was still in a daze.
Ugh, that tail nearly did me in.
Still, she could've played with it a little longer. It felt kind of nice.
“Umm, Yubel? Is your tail...”
Se-on looked strangely restless.
Seeing him like that ruined Yubel's good mood.
Why does he keep sneaking glances at me?
Creepy.
“Hey. What're you looking at?”
“N-Nothing! Shall we go look for the mercenaries now? Ahaha!”
The Hero, acting strangely, hurried down the streets of Edellia.
Moving his arms and legs in sync.
What's with him?
Did he get drunk or something?
After they'd walked like that for four hours, the elves began stealing glances at the Hero.
It was an innovative way of walking, moving one's arms and legs together.
“Hey! Walk properly!”
Yubel couldn't take it anymore.
Maybe I'd gotten a little more sensitive since becoming a woman, but seeing the Hero walk like that beside me made my stomach churn.
“S-Sorry.”
“Sigh. Whatever. Do we have any money? I'm getting hungry.”
“The carriage fare was all we had. Unfortunately, we need to earn money before looking for the mercenaries.”
“Isn't there any need for that?”
“Hm?”
“That, um, Hardri... What was his name?”
“Elder Hadrien?”
“Yeah, him. Anyway, couldn't we eat at the elder's house? It's ridiculous to search around with no leads. Let's go ask him—and get some food while we're at it.”
Se-on considered it for a moment.
Then he nodded at Yubel's suggestion.
“You're right. Let's go see the elder again.”
And so, they went looking for Hadrien.
Hadrien was on the floor above the underground prison they'd been held in.
That was where the elves' elders' chambers were.
“So you're back here after five hours?”
“Yes. We had no leads on finding the mercenary group, so we wondered if you might have some information.”
“You sounded so confident you'd find them that I assumed you didn't need any leads. I'm a little disappointed.”
“……”
“I'm joking. You must be hungry, so come along. Let's eat together.”
That's a joke?
Is this some kind of high-level elf humor?
Hadrien casually turned and led them to the dining room.
It had a long table and plenty of chairs, but no one was there besides Hadrien.
Yubel was impressed to herself.
Wow. I've never seen a dining room like this in my life.
But what do elves eat? Plants?
Maybe the plants elves eat are different.
I hope it's something like corn salad.
Hadrien took a seat, and Se-on and Yubel sat across from him.
Soon, food began to be placed on the table.
Meat. Meat. Meat. Meat.
Huh? Why is there nothing but meat on the table?
Where's my corn salad?
“Hm? Why aren't you eating? Is there something wrong with the meal?”
“No, um. Don't you have any vegetables or fruit?”
“I'm afraid we elves are carnivores. As those who serve the World Tree, we cannot possibly tolerate vegetarianism.”
“Oh.”
Well, the meat looks delicious.
Yubel didn't let it bother her and started stuffing her face.
Ooh! This is something else.
It just melts in my mouth.
Wait, don't they have any spices here?
The flavor's disappointing for such a good texture.
“Elder, so who exactly is this mercenary group?”
Clatter.
At Se-on's question, Hadrien set down his utensils.
“They're a mercenary group called the ‘Black Wolves.’ They appeared out of nowhere a year ago and grew rapidly. It seems they slipped in while everyone was putting out the fire on the World Tree. We haven't discovered why they infiltrated.”
Black Wolves? Ugh, that's so cringe.
How can anyone use a name like that?
I've read plenty of web novels, but this is a bit much.
“Do you know where they are now?”
Se-on continued asking, intending to get every bit of information he could.
Serious discussions like this weren't Yubel's specialty, so she just kept quiet and ate.
Smack, smack!
“Their last sighting was in the sparsely populated northern region. We sent troops there at once, but unfortunately, they got away. Their current whereabouts are unknown.”
Munch, munch. So in the end, he doesn't know?
With them talking nonstop, I feel too awkward to eat.
“……”
Fortunately, Se-on and Hadrien started eating again.
Yubel had been eating with such gusto that they'd gotten hungry.
“Ah, that hit the spot.”
“It did. Thanks to Yubel.”
After finishing their meal, Se-on and Yubel were about to set out again to look for the Black Wolves.
“Wait a moment. There's something I want to say.”
“Yes?”“Huh?”
Hadrien stopped the Hero's party as they stood up.
“What do you think of Riella?”
Stupi—
“We haven't known her long, but I think she's a kind and innocent friend.”
Se-on answered.
“Yes. Even though she's come of age, that child is still quite innocent. If things go smoothly, I'd like you to take her along on your adventures. Would that be all right?”
“Huh?”
Oops. That slipped out before I could stop myself.
If she comes with us, your daughter will be in danger.
Her body. Her virtue. All of it.
“Ever since she was young, she has had the mysterious ability to hear plants, so she couldn't get along with the other children her age. That's why her ‘mental growth,’ which elves undergo, has been delayed. I want to help her overcome that.”
Hadrien wanted to cure Riella's idiocy.
What's this?
Suddenly, Hadrien looks like a doting father.
“Anyway, that's why I'm making you this offer. Of course, as a reward... How about a sacred treasure passed down among the elves?”
They have something like that?
No, no, Riella's actually going to end up in the Hero's party!
“Ah, um, well. Shouldn't we ask the other elders what they think?”
“That's all right. Those fellows do nothing but loaf around. I handle all the administrative work, so they won't dare say a word to me.”
“But wouldn't it be rather dangerous for her to join the Hero's party?”
“I didn't raise Riella to be weak. I'll vouch for her abilities.”
How am I supposed to explain that the Hero is the most dangerous one?
That elder bastard seems to have made up his mind already.
Had this already been a done deal the moment he brought up the sacred treasure?
After hearing him out, Se-on seemed to make up his mind and spoke.
“Yes. We'll go on adventures with Riella. We'll do our best to help her mature, too.”
Aaaagh!
The Hero seized his chance and got in first.
Can I really protect Riella?
It looks like she's already lost her virginity, though...
Yubel felt like her stomach was turning.