Chapter 79: The Elf Family

We exterminated all the Golden Bugs, but the Spirit Tree didn’t seem to have regained its power yet. Well, I didn’t think it would recover that quickly, but we can’t dawdle here either. The more the dispel potion is delayed, the more the damage spreads.

“However, the other materials haven’t been gathered yet either, right? Shouldn’t we just wait until the Spirit Tree regains its power? I feel taking imperfect materials would be worse.” “Mu, ugh…”

Frustrating, but Arisa-san is right… Until other materials are gathered, no matter how you think about it, it will take two more days or more. Even if only we return with the materials, we’ll end up waiting anyway. Then, better to receive the material leaves after the Spirit Tree recovers even a little. I understand that, but…

“For now, please stay at my house tonight. We will offer our utmost hospitality.”

Being told so by Rexrum-san, the village chief, we had no choice. As recommended, we decided to impose on Rexrum-san’s house for a night. Befitting the Chief’s house, Rexrum-san’s house was on a tree larger than other houses. Climbing the spiral staircase attached to the tree, planks are laid around the tree like a pedestrian deck.

“This way. Please, come in.”

The place we were guided to was a house made by hollowing out the tree trunk. Hollowed out, but it doesn’t seem like it was scraped or carved with axes or chisels. How should I put it, as if something in the shape of a room was placed beforehand, and the tree grew from below filling the gaps around it. And after growing, that something was removed? Something like that. Can’t explain well… You know photos where large trees near guardrails or iron fences swallow them during growth? If you remove the swallowed object from that state, it looks hollowed out cleanly… like that. If it was made as I predicted, didn’t this house take a tremendous amount of time to make…? Well, maybe it’s not a significant time for elves.

“Welcome. I am Rexrum‘s wife, Eva.” “Umm, welcome. I am Rexrum‘s daughter, Eltiria.”

Welcoming us at Rexrum-san’s house were a female elf who looked in her early twenties and an elf girl not yet ten. Ah, this child. Eltiria-chan. The sick girl appearing in the game. As expected, there was another daughter. In the game, Estelle cures this child’s illness and obtains the ‘Leaf of the Spirit Tree’. Or rather, Eltiria-chan looks almost unchanged from the appearance in the game though…

“Umm, Rexrum-san, at what age do elves become adults?” “Let’s see… around 150 years old, perhaps. There may be slight differences depending on the clan. Is there something…?” “How old is Eltiria-san?” “Exactly 90 years old. Koho.”

Ninety years old. Older than any of us. Umm, the game world is ten years later, so she was a hundred years old at that point… Elves age slowly, was it? And appearance stops changing around twenty-something. Enviable. We decided to have dinner at Rexrum-san’s house. Arisa-san secretly asked, ‘What about poison testing?’, but Kohaku-san guaranteed it was fine because he was there. Apparently, he can tell by smell if poison is present. Is it okay? Is your nose not numb from the smell of Habanero earlier…? The served dishes were bean soup, coleslaw salad, stir-fried bird meat and vegetables, grilled mushroom skewers, nuts, baked apples—a menu that makes you think you’d lose weight if you ate it every day. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen a fat elf yet… Is it because they eat like this, or is it a racial trait of agelessness that prevents getting fat? Patrick-san and the two subordinate knights are eating silently, but we felt subtle. Grateful for the hospitality, but as expected, the taste is thiiiin. Mostly salty. Wanted butter and sugar for the baked apple… Everyone who knows the meals of the Ducal House in the Royal Capital probably thought it was bland too. Though they don’t say it out loud. Maybe I’ll take out some sweets and eat them when I return to my room later… Or rather, let’s bring them out here. Since we are in the position of asking for Spirit Tree leaves, as a thank you. I took out snacks from the storage pochette and offered them to Eva-san and the ladies. Alcohol for Rexrum-san.

“Delicious! Sweets from the Royal Capital are this delicious!”

Mutilia-san is excitedly munching on snacks—mogyu mogyu. No, those aren’t Royal Capital sweets. Not sold over there.

“This is really delicious! Koho, koho.”

…It bothers me that Eltiria-chan has been repeating small coughs since earlier. Just slight choking coughs, but in the game, this child was bedridden coughing. I don’t want to think so, but has she been suffering since ten years ago? If so, Estelle‘s [Holy Miracle] should cure it.

“Hey, Estelle. Can you secretly cast healing magic on Eltiria-chan? It might be a troublesome illness.” “Eh? Yes, I can but…”

To distract Eltiria-chan, I took out a teddy bear bought from the pawn shop and presented it to her. That yellow guy wearing a red jacket.

“Uwaa! Thank you very much!”

While Eltiria-chan rejoiced, Estelle secretly approached from behind and cast healing magic on her back. Apparently, by adjusting the power, it can be cast without the recipient noticing. Since it takes time, I ended up taking out various things from the pochette to keep distracting Eltiria-chan. Eventually, Estelle behind Eltiria-chan nods slightly. Seems finished safely. Talked with Eltiria-chan for a while after that, but she didn’t cough like earlier even once. As expected of the ‘Gift’ called [Holy Miracle]. Saying goodnight to Rexrum-san who started drinking alcohol, we were guided to the assigned room. Of course, separate for men and women. The guided room was a simple room with just sofas, a table, and beds. There are four large beds here so a large number of people can stay. For children, two can sleep in one bed. So I proposed me, Estelle, Bianca, and Ritsu use two beds, and Arisa-san and Tanya-san use the remaining two, but…

“We cannot let the Young Miss sleep feeling cramped. We will sleep on the sofa, so Young Miss, please use this bed.”

Arisa-san started saying that. No no no. Not exactly cramped though. There are beds, so why sleep on the sofa. After much dispute, somehow got Arisa-san and Tanya-san to accept this condition. Tired even before sleeping. Now, shall I rest… thought so, but now Estelle, Bianca, and Ritsu started sparking—bachi bachi—over who sleeps with me. Why?

“Here, I, the ‘best friend’, should sleep together.” “What are you saying. As a guard, what do I do if I don’t sleep together.” “Though a newcomer, I cannot yield this role.”

Why? Why are you glaring at each other so seriously…?

“””Who do you wish for, Lady Sakuraile!?””” “Eh…? Anyone is fine though…”

When I answered so, the three knitted their brows—gumuu—and fell silent. No, anyone is the same, right? Unless someone has terrible sleeping posture, no problem I think…

“Shall we decide by cards here?” “Fine. Though I will be the winner.” “I absolutely won’t lose.”

In the end, the three started playing cards. Leaving me alone. I wanted to join too but… faaa… honestly sleepy to the limit. Maybe influenced by Kohaku-san curling up early on the sofa? Leaving the three enjoying cards aside, I changed into the jersey taken from the storage pochette and crawled into bed first. Everyone, don’t stay up late, sleep early…

◇ ◇ ◇

Waking up in the morning, Estelle was sleeping next to me. Apparently, Estelle won the card game. Peeling her off as she clung to me for some reason, I sat up from the bed—mukuri—and Arisa-san was already up and brewing morning tea.

“Good morning, Young Miss.” “Good morning. …Don’t tell me you didn’t sleep?” “I slept taking turns with Tanya.”

Tanya-san was sleeping in the bed over there. Seems they took turns staying awake. Wanted them to sleep properly, but since the two are also my guards, this might be unavoidable. Not enemy territory, but the story is elves don’t hold much goodwill toward humans. Natural to be wary. Rexrum-san’s family is friendly, but don’t know about other elves. Probably Patrick-san’s side was also taking turns keeping watch. To move immediately if something happens. Well, looks like nothing happened. …Nn? If sleeping in turns, one bed was enough, right? What was yesterday’s fuss… When I reached for the teacup to drink the tea Arisa-san brewed, I confirmed Samonia-sama’s crest on my right hand leveled up again. Eh!? Was there some level-up element yesterday? Coming to the elf village…? Or climbing the Spirit Tree? Ah! I see! Curing Eltiria-chan’s illness! Originally an event completed by Estelle and Leon. In the game, it was recovery from a more critical condition though. Fumu, all mysteries solved! This is a windfall (botamochi form the shelf). Getting a new store easily! In a good mood, I took a sip of the morning tea Arisa-san brewed.