A Warm Welcome

“Sniff… Forgive me, Woody-dono. I showed you such an embarrassing sight…”

Miria-san blushed as she apologized, lowering her gaze while rubbing the back of her head.

Beside her, Lulu-san looked equally embarrassed.

“Sorry, Woody-san. But the World Tree is that precious to us Dark Elves.”

“I see…”

I didn’t really understand, but I nodded anyway.

I almost tried to hide behind a polite, neutral smile… then shook my head quickly.

(What am I doing!? That’s not right at all!)

To snap myself out of it, I slapped both my cheeks.

The Dark Elves were now future residents of my land.

If the people living under my rule carried burdens or troubles, then as their lord, it was my duty to understand their circumstances—and act to help them.

“I’ve heard that Elves protect the World Tree. Do Dark Elves also have some connection to it?”

I knew the lore about Elves guarding the World Tree.

But Dark Elves lived in the desert.

I couldn’t imagine them living in a forest like Elves did.

Even after traveling the desert for so long, the only trees I ever saw were the ones I planted myself.

“Elves and Dark Elves were originally one people—the race known as the Progenitor Elves.”

“Our ancestors were guardians of the World Tree, just like the Elves of today.”

Their explanation made many things click in place.

Their similarity wasn’t superficial—it was literal.

Dark Elves and Elves had once been one single race.

More than a thousand years ago, a great war broke out among the Progenitor Elves over differing beliefs.

The victors continued to tend the World Tree.

The defeated Progenitor Elves were cast out and banished from the Sanctuary.

“So even Elves were like humans—fighting among their own kind.”

“Yes. In the end, people and Elves are the same. They can’t stop fighting. That’s karma. Deep, deep karma.”

“And after a long time, the Progenitor Elves split into two races. Those who remained with the World Tree became stronger and more blessed—the Elves. And the ones who lost its blessing, forced to walk on their own power… became us, the Dark Elves.”

Losing the blessing meant endless trials.

Their magic weakened.

Their lifespan shortened drastically.

The Elves shunned them, calling them the forsaken.

Humans and other demi-humans rejected them, too.

Without a home, they drifted from place to place until finally settling at the edges of the desert.

Thus began the long, harsh history of the Dark Elves—of Miria-san’s people.

And then, one day…

a single strand of hope reached them—

The rumor of Tree Village.

Coming to confirm that rumor must have taken immense courage.

I didn’t know the weight of their history.

I didn’t know what their people had endured.

But their courage—

that, at least, I knew I must never dismiss.

“You’ve been through… so much, haven’t you…?”

“—!?”

“I can only guess at the hardships you and your people endured. I’m sure my imagination can’t even compare to the reality of it.”

After so much pain… wasn’t it time for them to finally be rewarded?

As their lord, the one thing I could do was simple:

Make my people happy.

And if that could ease even a little of their suffering… then I wanted nothing more.

“Once again… welcome to Tree Village. As its lord, I warmly welcome you.”

“U… uuuh!”

Overcome with emotion, Miria-san threw herself into my arms!

“Eh—Miria-san!?”

“Sniff… h-hwaaaaaaaaah!!”

She cried like a small child, clinging to me.

I wondered whether I’d end up blushing about this later…

But for now, I simply placed my hand on her head— and gently stroked it.