Elf

“Woody-sama, this is bad! The elves have arrived!”

“So it finally came to this…”

One of the village officials Maton had hired came running over, making a racket as he rushed toward us.

Seeing how flustered my subordinate looked, I was oddly calm instead.

I had prepared thoroughly for this moment.

We were fully armed with Element Fruit, and the Sandstorm members were in peak condition.

I had also prepared a large number of Tree Guardian Beasts for defense, and since my surplus Smile Points had been used to create Wood Golems, a huge number of Wood Golems were also standing by inside the Harvest Bag.

Preparations were perfect.

Even if it came to fighting them, I had put everything in place so we wouldn’t be easily trampled.

“I hoped it wouldn’t come to fighting.”

“Yeah. Peace was best. I just wanted us to talk it out somehow…”

Given the bad blood between elves and dark elves, something was bound to happen sooner or later.

Thinking that, I hurried over at a brisk pace, careful not to offend them—.

“Thaaat’s why I said bring out whoever’s in charge! If elves from Bibi Village have come all this way for you, you’re telling me useless little humans like you are supposed to handle it?!”

Even though I had rushed over, their mood had already soured badly.

Ah—oh no… what did I do, what did I do?!

If this turned into a war…

“Please calm yourself, Woody-sama. It is not yet time to panic.”

I chewed the leaf that was offered to me.

A cool, mint-like fragrance passed through my mouth and shot straight up my nose.

“It was Mononogi Leaves for restoring alertness. They were a bit expensive, but… I was glad I bought them from Ran-san.”

Aira squeezed my trembling hand.

And because we were touching, I noticed something I hadn’t wanted to notice.

Her hand was trembling too.

That fact, more than anything, fired me up.

I steadied myself, braced my resolve, and headed to the elf.

“H-hello there…”

“And who are you?”

“I am Woody, the lord who governs this entire region.”

“The lord… So the important person finally showed up!”

The first elf I had ever seen was beautiful—like a sculpture.

Pointed ears, blue eyes like inlaid gems, and a straight-bridged nose.

Her features were so perfectly arranged it was almost frightening, and I felt myself nearly overwhelmed.

If I weren’t already used to Miria-san and the other dark elves, I might not have been able to speak.

“I am Utena Bibi Fontutu Gabil, from Bibi Village…”

After that, a string of words kept pouring out.

Was all of that her name?

If so, it was ridiculously long. I had heard that elves—who cherished their village, clan, and family—tended to have long names, but this was beyond anything I’d imagined.

She was still introducing herself even while my mind was racing like this.

I had been told elves took pride in their names, but there was no way I could remember it after hearing it only once.

“You can just call me Utena-san!”

“Phew… Then I’ll call you Utena-san.”

“Now then, I have something to say!”

Utena-san sharply pointed a finger.

What she pointed at was— the World Tree, which had grown larger and larger and was already becoming this village’s symbol.

“That World Tree—do something about it. Right now!”

“Do something… what do you mean exactly?”

“Because of that thing, the leylines are in chaos and my village is in serious trouble! If you don’t deal with it soon…”

Elves didn’t think highly of humans.

That was what I’d been told, so I expected far worse, but while Utena-san’s tone was harsh, I didn’t feel that much hostility from her.

If anything, she seemed… panicked.

“Wait a moment, forest folk.”

“What? I’m talking to this guy right n— Wait, the Divine Bird!? I-I beg your pardon!”

Simurg-san made a swift, dignified entrance.

Seeing him, Utena-san bowed her head as if all her earlier bluster had been a lie.

Simurg-san looked my way and gave a quick wink.

…Right.

Because he treated me so casually, I kept forgetting—or rather, I had forgotten—Simurg-san was the Divine Bird.

But thank goodness… With Simurg-san mediating, it looked like we might be able to speak with the elves peacefully.

Thank you, Simurg-san.

I’ll give you an extra serving of World Tree Fruit later.