The Chief Of The Elf

“Jonah, we’ve arrived.”

“Whoa…!”

Beyond the forest lay a beautiful clearing bathed in gentle sunlight.

Tiny homes stood atop the trees surrounding a clear, shimmering spring, and in a flower-filled square, long-eared, fair-faced children played tag happily.

Then—

“Oh! Lady Titancia. Welcome to our village.”

“Huh…?”

A young Elf appeared before them and knelt.

He had called Titancia “Lady.” Jonah glanced at her in surprise.

“Stop that. I’m just Titancia. Titancia Figbloom.”

“Ah, yes. But it does not change the fact that you are the Chief’s daughter.”

“Enough.”

Even though Titancia denied it, the youth continued speaking, and her normally unreadable face twisted in displeasure.

Her reaction alone confirmed his words were true.

“Then Lady Cia, why have you brought a filthy human into the sacred Elf v—!?”

“Silence.”

The moment he cast a disdainful glare at Jonah and tried to speak, Titancia raised her bow and aimed it at him.

He felt the killing intent and quickly shut his mouth, though his eyes remained hostile toward Jonah.

“…Jonah, I’m sorry. Many Elf are arrogant because they descend from fairies and look down on humans. I should have told you beforehand.”

“Ah—T-Titancia, please don’t apologize!”

Seeing her clearly saddened, Jonah hurried to act like it was no big deal.

“Besides, even if you explained it earlier, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. Because you’re the complete opposite—you’re incredibly kind.”

“Jonah… you really are a good boy.”

“W-wah!?”

Overcome with emotion, Titancia hugged the smiling Jonah tightly.

It was so sudden Jonah cried out in surprise.

Just then—

“I heard noise outside, and of course… it was you.”

Standing there was a beautiful woman with the same verdant hair and eyes as Titancia, accompanied by two older Elf. Her presence radiated an almost divine aura.

“Mother…”

“I already received a message from Colette. We’ll speak inside the residence.”

With that, she turned on her heel and walked ahead with her attendants.

“Jonah, let’s go too.”

“Y-yes. But maybe I shouldn’t—”

“No. We need to ask Mother about the Fairy Forest. And these idiots might try something against you.”

“……”

Glared at by Titancia, the young Elf quickly lowered his eyes.

It was easy to imagine the problems Titancia was worried about, so Jonah chose to accompany her.

“I-it’s huge…!”

The Chief’s residence was a grand wooden manor built into an enormous tree—larger than any other in the village.

Jonah couldn’t help admiring it aloud.

“Jonah, hold on tight.”

“Huh? W-waah!?”

Titancia scooped Jonah into her arms and ran gracefully up the tree.

Though startled at first, the pleasant rush of wind made Jonah smile almost immediately.

“Since you enjoyed it, I’ll do it again sometime.”

“Y-yes!”

At the entrance, Titancia said this and Jonah nodded happily.

Though inwardly, he hoped next time she would carry him in a less embarrassing way.

And then—

“Now then, you two, wait outside.”

As soon as Jonah and Titancia entered, the Chief ordered her attendants to leave.

“B-but—”

“Oh? Are you saying you would interrupt my first conversation with my daughter in quite some time?”

The Chief spoke sharply, leaving no room for argument.

Reluctantly, the attendants began to leave—

“Hey. You, human—out.”

“Indeed. You would disturb the Chief and Lady Titanc—”

“He is here for a different matter. Do not speak out of turn—leave.”

“……”

The attendants had grabbed Jonah’s shoulder to drag him out, but the Chief’s piercing glare froze them.

Even Titancia emitted killing intent.

Terrified, the attendants hurried out.

“Sigh… truly, I’m getting tired of this.”

Her previously authoritative demeanor softened, turning into a weary sigh.

“Yet you’re the one who refuses to fix this situation, Mother.”

“…Yes, I know.”

Titancia’s sharp stare made the Chief turn away awkwardly.

“Um…”

“I apologize for earlier. The village has… several circumstances to consider.”

Jonah timidly spoke up, confused by her drastic change in attitude, and the Chief apologized with a troubled expression.

Seeing how distressed she looked, Jonah almost felt sorry for her.

“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I am Quylindra Alverich, Chief of the Elf.”

With that, the Chief—Quylindra—smiled gently.