Chapter 65
When one thinks of a festival, one usually imagines something grand, like fireworks exploding with a bang, or a dance troupe performing somewhere.
But the Elves' festival was not like that. It was simply about lighting a large bonfire, eating and drinking together, laughing, and chatting.
One might say that even their festival was modest, truly befitting Elves. For Franz, who didn't particularly welcome large crowds, it was actually a good thing.
Of course, even amidst all this, Franz was incredibly popular among the Elves.
“*Doongsil-doongsil* Franz—! This is delicious!”
As if it were a reward for giving them the *Doongsil-doongsil* ride, a small Elf brought him a skewer with a large piece of meat.
“Aren’t you going to eat any?”
“Not ‘you.’ My name is Lena.”
Perhaps displeased at being called “you,” the little Elf kindly told him her name.
*I wish they'd get my name right first.*
Well, I guess I should just think of it as a nickname. It sounds friendly, and that's good, right?
*...It is good, right?*
“Lena, aren’t you going to eat any?”
In the end, Franz called her by her name, as the child wished.
“Lena already ate a lot!”
“Was it good?”
“Yeah, super! It was super delicious!”
Lena giggled, delighted by something. And before long, she left Franz's side. She probably went off to play with her friends.
In the context of 21st-century modern kids, this felt a bit more age-appropriate. Running around outside instead of watching Pororo on a smartphone seemed more fitting.
How much time had passed since Lena left?
“*Doongsil-doongsil* Franz—!”
“*Doongsil-doongsil* Franz—!”
This time, the number of little ones doubled.
The little ones, who introduced themselves as Nayu and Rin, gave Franz some food, giggled, and ran away.
*Is this some kind of Elf tradition?*
A tradition of force-feeding food to befriended people to fatten them up.
Well, since it was all done with good intentions, he decided to just go with it. Refusing kindness wasn't something he could bring himself to do.
The problem was that the little ones weren't the only ones harboring such goodwill.
...To call it 'just' a problem would be a huge understatement.
“Th-thank you for last time…!”
“If it weren’t for Sir Franz, all of us would have become slaves.”
“Thanks to Sir Franz, we can enjoy today’s festival.”
The first to approach were the Elves who had almost become slaves. He understood they wanted to express their gratitude, but it seemed they were seriously mistaken about something.
“Even if it wasn’t I, Hera would have found a way to save you. I merely assisted Hera, after all.”
Hera was the one who formulated the plan based on information and personally rescued the Elves. All Franz did was deal with the bald pig and the mousetrap guy. Therefore, all credit for the deed rightfully belonged to Hera.
But the Elves' reactions were strange.
“Chieftain said it was all possible thanks to Sir Franz….”
“That’s right. Chieftain said it was thanks to Sir Franz.”
“She said nothing would have been possible without Sir Franz.”
He understood Hera’s intention. She must have been trying to be modest. As someone who valued gratitude, she would have been even more inclined to give credit to others.
*No, is that right?*
*Could she be brainwashing them behind the scenes?*
If it was Hera, whose thoughts had already turned *Slave*-like, it was entirely possible, making him even more suspicious.
Franz's gaze belatedly began searching for Hera, but she was quite far away, conversing with other Elves.
“…I’ll accept it with gratitude for now.”
In the end, Franz couldn't say anything and simply accepted the food the Elves offered.
Still, it was fine for now. He hadn't eaten before coming, so there was still room in his stomach. Plus, the food was delicious, so one could even say it saved him the trouble of going to get it himself.
Yes, it was definitely fine until other Elves started flocking to him.
“Thank you for saving the World Tree.”
“If it weren’t for Sir Franz, we truly….”
Following the Elves who enjoyed the *Doongsil-doongsil* ride, then the Elves who had almost become Slaves, and finally, those who wanted to repay him for saving the World Tree, food ended up piling up in front of Franz.
He understood their intention to express gratitude, but wasn't this a bit excessive? *What kind of culture repays kindness with food torture?*
As Franz pondered these questions, the person he had been waiting for finally approached.
“Franz, how is the food? Is it to your liking?”
Hera approached Franz, a faint smile playing on her lips. She then sat demurely on a chair, knees pressed together, and tucked her long hair behind her ear.
“Yeah, all the food is delicious.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried that Elf food might not suit your taste.”
“Yes, it’s delicious, but….”
Franz’s gaze drifted to the mountain of food piled in front of him.
Hera, shifting her gaze similarly, offered an embarrassed smile.
“My apologies. I did tell everyone to express their gratitude, but I didn’t expect… this.”
*So you were the culprit. I had a feeling, but I didn't think it would actually be true.*
Franz swallowed those words along with the food. Hera had surely done it with good intentions, so it was awkward to say anything.
“Would you mind if I poured you a drink…?”
Hera said, picking up a small wooden bottle next to her.
Franz was quite fond of alcohol. What more could be said when a cold can of beer was a tired office worker's only joy?
Of course, he didn't like to drink excessively like an alcoholic. He just liked to drink until he felt pleasantly buzzed.
But,
*I don't remember drinking recently.*
Work at the Magic Tower had been too busy for that. The Former Magic Tower Lord hadn't handed over a single thing, so for the past year, he'd truly had to tackle everything alone. The Previous Magic Tower Lord must have been the same, so who was to blame, really?
Well, the Magic Tower had stabilized recently. He figured one day wouldn't hurt.
“Sure, pour me some.”
“Alright, I’ll pour it for you.”
As Franz picked up a wooden cup, which was a bit too large to be called a wine glass, more like a mug, Hera poured the alcohol.
“We Elves aren’t typically drinkers, but we have quite a knack for brewing. I think you’ll like it quite a bit.”
“Really?”
He wondered how many people had actually tasted elf alcohol. He might even be the first.
Franz, half-doubting, brought the cup to his lips.
It was a taste in which fresh and sweet fruit flavors blended well. It felt like an alcoholic beverage. Just as she proudly claimed, they certainly seemed to have a knack for brewing.
*If I drink this without thinking, I'll be out cold in no time.* Franz thought, smiling at the alcohol's warmth spreading through his body after so long.
“It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste. It makes me happy to hear you praise something my kin made.”
Hera beamed a bright smile.
How much time had passed since Hera and Franz sat side-by-side and began their meal?
Suddenly, Hera put down the spoon she was using, and spoke in a meaningful tone.
“Franz.”
“Yes?”
“Would you consider becoming the Elves’ Chieftain…?”
At her words, Franz’s hand, which had been moving, froze. Then, Franz turned his head to look at Hera.
“Are you drunk?”
“No…! I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol.”
She says something like that when she's not even drunk? That means she wasn't in her right mind to begin with.
“No. It doesn’t make sense for me, a Human, to be an Elf Chieftain in the first place.”
“I don’t necessarily think it doesn’t make sense, but….”
“Tell me. Let’s hear your reasons.”
Franz intended to hear her reasons first, then refute them. That would be quicker to make Hera understand.
“First, the biggest reason is that you are the only one who can hear the World Tree’s voice. Doesn’t the Goddess Church also revere the Saintess, who can communicate with the divine, as a very high-ranking individual?”
*...That's plausible?*
He had expected Hera to stubbornly insist without reason, but he was surprised that she actually came up with a proper justification.
But,
“…Still, isn’t Chieftain a bit too much?”
He could understand it to some extent if it were a High Priest/Priestess, but Chieftain was still a bit much. It was like saying someone who heard the Goddess's voice should sit on the Pope's throne.
“My thoughts are a little different. We Elves, from the beginning, are those who live to protect the World Tree and the Great Forest. And aren’t you the only one who can communicate with the World Tree? No matter how I think about it, I believe it’s right for you to govern us.”
He understood what she was saying, but….
*Still, taking on the title of Chieftain is a bit much….*
If it were a title like World Tree Guardian Captain instead of Elf Chieftain, he might have accepted it. But Elf Chieftain is literally the leader of the Elves, isn't he? Even if he were to take on the role of Chieftain, conflicts would inevitably arise unless he understood everything about them.
“Hera, Chieftain is still a no-go. Instead, explain the situation to the Elves and create a new position for me.”
“Understood for now. Since it seems to trouble you, we’ll put this matter aside for a bit.”
“Good, it’s a festival; let’s enjoy it. You’ve had a tough time too.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Clink—.
Franz clinked his cup against hers for now.
Franz becoming not just a Chieftain, but a Grand Chieftain above that, was a matter for a little later.
* * * * *
Late at night.
Franz, returning from the Elves' festival, arrived at the Magic Tower Lord's Office.
*I drank too much….*
Since it had been a long time since he'd had alcohol, he hadn't managed to control himself properly. Surprisingly, the alcohol seemed to have a high proof, making him feel drunk quickly.
The problem, perhaps, was that he hadn't returned alone.
“Franz, are you alright…?”
“Uh, I’m fine. I just… want to lie down.”
Franz returned with the Elf Slave, in a considerably drunken state.