Arc-7 Ch-13

 “I am truly sorry. I have nothing suitable to serve to nobles…”

“Please do not trouble yourself. We are only here to ask a simple question.”

The interior of the house we were shown into was undeniably old and worn, yet every corner had been carefully tended. There was nothing unpleasant about it. Rather, it conveyed a quiet sense of diligence.

The single, spacious room served simultaneously as a living room, guest room, kitchen, and bedroom. Furthermore, much of the furniture arranged within was clearly excessive in both size and quantity for a woman living alone.

The possibility that Yumeria shared the house with someone else could not be dismissed. However, judging from the smaller items that matched the furniture she seemed to use on a daily basis, it was reasonable to infer that her cohabitant was a child.

Such nuances were perceptible only to a woman who had borne a child herself. Women live with an exceedingly sharp and unforgiving aesthetic sense when observing others of their own sex.

“Please, it is only cheap, coarse tea…”

The tea that was brought out was cloudy in color and carried a distinctive aroma. At the very least, I had no recollection of ever having encountered such a scent before. During the few seconds I hesitated, Leon lifted his cup and drank without pause. Following his lead, I cautiously brought my own cup to my lips and took a sip.

The tea was strongly bitter and astringent, yet not undrinkable. It was likely made from the lowest-grade tea leaves available on the market.

Judging from Yumeria’s apologetic demeanor, this was not an attempt to slight us. It was evident that this was the best hospitality she could offer to unexpected visitors, as she did not live a life in which tea was normally enjoyed.

For Leon, who had spent his childhood as the lowest-ranking noble and known poverty firsthand, this flavor was likely familiar. By the time roughly one-third of the tea in my cup had been consumed, Leon had already finished his.

Perhaps reassured by his reaction, Yumeria’s guarded attitude visibly softened.

The act of accepting and praising the food offered by one’s host is a universal courtesy, transcending era and nation alike. In this situation, it was likely the most effective way to ease her wariness.

Were it not for my consideration toward Yumeria, who was clearly older than I yet retained a youthful figure, an uncomfortable tightness would have settled deep within my chest. Leon is, at his core, earnest toward women. The only people he ever speaks harshly to are a very small number of those closest to him.

As a result, aside from frivolous individuals who indulge in baseless rumors, those who have interacted with him treat him with appropriate respect. The trust he has built within high society now torments my heart instead, though Leon himself is probably unaware of it.

“May I read the letter you received from Leon-sama?”

“Yes, of course.”

Encouraged by Leon, Yumeria opened the envelope with trembling hands. Was it a request for cooperation addressed to his true mother, Yumeria, or was it a report detailing his recent circumstances?

We had merely delivered the letter on Kyle’s behalf and were unaware of its contents. It was also possible that it explained the purpose of our visit to the elf village. Only the dry rustling of paper occasionally echoed through the room. The time spent waiting, sipping tea as Yumeria read, felt unexpectedly long.

When she finally finished, she carefully returned the letter to its envelope. Even from across the table, it was clear that her eyes were brimming with tears.

“I apologize for taking so long. I became completely absorbed…”

“What does the letter say?”

“He writes that he is happy serving the Saintess at the temple… and that he asked the people delivering the letter to tell him about the village…”

“Are you all right?”

“…Forgive me for such an unsightly display.”

Tears spilled silently from both of Yumeria’s eyes, overcome by emotion after reading the letter.

As a mother myself, I could understand her feelings to some extent. News from one’s child can bring overwhelming joy.

Even though the Royal Academy guarantees safety, having one’s child live away from home for months on end gives rise to an indescribable loneliness. At some point, one suddenly realizes how unnaturally quiet the house has become.

That silence is born from the absence of children who once filled the mansion with noise.

The loneliness of watching a child, with whom one has lived since birth, leave to live independently, and the anxiety of wondering whether they are managing well, cannot be adequately conveyed by the simple word “lonely.”

Of course, even if a mother urges her child to write regularly, children are often too busy adjusting to their new lives to give proper consideration to their parents’ worries.

Compared to our own parent-child relationship, in which Lionel treated letters home as nothing more than formal reports devoid of personal sentiment, and Ariel scarcely wrote at all while attempting to conceal her report cards, Yumeria’s attentiveness toward her child was truly admirable.

“I am relieved that he is properly contributing to the Saintess’s power. That child is far more capable than I am.”

“Olivia-sama is of commoner origin, so she does not judge others by status or race. Those who serve her are people she herself has deemed suitable in character and talented enough to support her. That is what I have heard.”

“…When Kyle was young, he ran away from home of his own accord to become an exclusive servant. For people as poor as we were to survive, either the mother or the child had to be sold to a merchant, or we would have starved. Kyle offered himself for my sake. It is only natural that he does not think of me as his mother. I am a woman who deserves that.”

Yumeria’s words, laying bare her innermost feelings, were filled with regret. The past she described was far harsher than I had imagined.

I was born as the daughter of the Redgrave ducal house. While I would not claim to have lived surrounded by excessive luxury, I never lacked proper clothing or food.

No matter how hard I tried to imagine a life so impoverished that one had to sell oneself to save one’s family, I could not truly grasp it. I had heard in detail from my in-laws and from Leon himself about the poverty the Bartfort family endured before his rise.

I understood that Leon’s fondness for vegetable gardening, even after becoming a high-ranking noble, stemmed from the hunger and deprivation of his childhood. Yet there remains a gulf that can only be bridged by those who have personally endured such hardship.

Leon is a kind man. He is not heartless enough to turn away from someone suffering before his eyes. I love him for that very reason. And precisely because I love him, I feel a faint jealousy when his kindness is directed toward another woman. Aware of my own pettiness, I suppress it desperately and continue listening to Yumeria’s sobbing account.

“The one who employed Kyle was the Saintess herself, back when she was still a student.”

“I knew him well from that time. He was talented, but quite an impertinent boy. He left a strong impression.”

“Angie, that is unkind.”

“It is all right. Kyle has been clever since he was young, so he was always irritated with me for being incompetent. It is my fault for failing to create a place for him.”

That would have been around twenty years ago.

Olivia, who enrolled in the Royal Academy as a scholarship student despite being a commoner, was an anomaly.

Neither the daughter of a prominent merchant family nor the offspring of prestigious nobles, she could not be smoothly accepted among the upper class. At the time, I acknowledged Olivia’s academic excellence, but I had no intention of associating with her personally.

That relationship, which should have ended as nothing more than that of classmates, changed when my fiancé, His Highness Julius, began spending increasing amounts of time acting alongside Olivia.

Any noble lady would naturally feel displeasure upon seeing her fiancé interact with another woman without her knowledge. Not only I, but also the fiancées of the other four members of His Highness’s entourage must have felt the same.

As a result, the scrutiny directed at Olivia grew increasingly severe, while the five men’s attempts to protect her only intensified the situation, creating a vicious cycle. One of the reasons my impression of Olivia hardened was the existence of Kyle.

At the Royal Academy at the time, and more broadly within Holfort Kingdom’s noble society, employing elves or demi-humans as exclusive servants was regarded as a display of power among nobles.

Worse still, the immoral practice of treating such exclusive servants as mistresses was widespread. Naturally, the Holfort royal family, the Redgrave ducal house, and other long-established noble families regarded this situation as deeply troubling.

Against this backdrop, learning that Olivia had employed an elf as her exclusive servant filled me with disappointment and caused a decisive rupture in my perception of her.

In hindsight, the way Olivia treated Kyle at the academy was markedly different from the behavior of female students who indulged in lewd conduct.

Kyle did not treat Olivia as a master, but rather scolded her harshly, as though she were an unreliable older sister. Had I observed more carefully, I should have realized that he lacked the condescension so common among other exclusive servants.

However, at the time, my judgment was clouded by the arrogance of nobility toward commoners, rivalry with Olivia, irritation toward His Highness Julius for ignoring my remonstrations, and anxiety over the possibility that my future as the next queen might be slipping away.

Ironically, the most I ever did was repeatedly issue warnings to Olivia and His Highness. Yet rumors spread that I had gone so far as to instruct Clarice, Jilk’s fiancée, and Stephanie, Brad’s fiancée, to harass Olivia, ultimately leading to the dissolution of our engagements.

When one considers that the Frampton marquess faction was secretly plotting the downfall of the Redgrave ducal house, it was only natural that I lacked the means to counter their machinations. Even so, the resentment I harbor toward Olivia and the royal family has remained like an unhealed scar in my heart to this very day.

“His manner may be rough, but Kyle truly admires the Saintess. Some time after we parted, he returned to the village with his employer and several companions. He was smiling as he said, ‘This is my master.’ I remember it clearly, because he never wore such an expression when he lived with me.”

“That would have been about twenty years ago, correct?”

“Um, yes. I believe so. Shortly after that, the former village chief was arrested, and the village itself began to change.”

I see. That aligns with the information Leon brought with him. Olivia and her companions, upon visiting the elf village, encountered the former chief and his faction while they were in the midst of some scheme and suppressed it.

We cannot fully discern the nature of that plot based on the information we have, but it is undeniable that the incident became a catalyst for Olivia being recognized by those around her as the Saintess.

At the time, the Holfort Kingdom was exhausted from its war with the former Principality Fanoss and took very seriously the revelation that exclusive servants employed by nobles had colluded with the enemy state.

As a result, the employment of elves and demi-humans as exclusive servants was brought under legal regulation. In exchange for granting them household registration as citizens of the kingdom, taxes and mandatory labor obligations were imposed upon them.

For a kingdom whose treasury had been nearly drained by wartime expenditures, it was a shrewd measure. It provided a justification for monitoring potential dissidents while simultaneously securing a new source of revenue.

Did Olivia, who had been fervent in her efforts to grant rights to discriminated demi-humans as citizens of the kingdom, understand the intentions of those in power?

No. I do not believe that the young and kind-hearted Saintess could have grasped the kingdom’s circumstances to such an extent.

She likely only wished to save Kyle, whom she had taken in as an exclusive servant, and other demi-humans from their suffering by helping them obtain proper employment.

It is deeply ironic that the circumstances created by Olivia’s goodwill later became the catalyst for the elves to stir up trouble once again.

“We are visiting the elf village primarily as a family trip, but we also intend to observe the village discreetly and report our findings to your son and to the Saintess. Would you be willing to cooperate with us?”

“I understand. If my assistance is of any use, then yes.”

“Thank you very much. That is a great help.”

I was the one who proposed disguising this visit as a family trip, yet how is he able to behave so naturally, playing the role of a warm acquaintance of her son?

Cunning adventurers and shrewd merchants often cloak themselves in benevolence and feigned kindness to probe their targets. And yet, why is my husband so effortlessly smooth?

It is true that Leon, raised as the second son of a minor noble house, is unfamiliar with refined noble customs and political maneuvering. However, I have seen him many times deliberately pretend to be foolish or innocent in order to lower the guard of others.

He may well possess greater aptitude for deception than for life as a noble, a soldier, or even a farmer. That realization leaves me faintly uneasy about the future of our children, who carry his blood.

“Well then, the first thing I would like to ask is…”

Knock. Knock.

Just as Leon was about to continue his questioning of Yumeria, the sound of knocking echoed through the house. The instant I heard it, I saw Leon’s expression change dramatically over his shoulder. The façade of a friendly upstart noble vanished completely. His eyes, once mild, now gleamed with a ferocity that was cruel and almost bestial.

Leon is not merely a noble.

He is a warrior who survived battlefields where entire allied units were annihilated, relying solely on his own body, and who rose to the rank of viscount within a single generation through sheer military merit. The reason the Holfort royal family values Leon is not because he is the upstart Count Bartfort, but because of his exceptional abilities as a warrior and scout.

The talent Leon possesses invariably draws him into the heart of turmoil and denies our family any lasting peace.

“Yes?”

His movements were so natural that I could not stop Yumeria from approaching the door.

She lacks the aloof presence typical of elves that instinctively keeps others at a distance. Perhaps the small-animal-like cuteness she exudes is a survival technique she acquired over time.

In any case, I have a premonition that whoever stands outside this house will drag us into trouble. Even I, who am ill-suited to rough affairs, could sense that much.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

The moment I heard the knock, my right hand moved to my pocket before my thoughts could catch up. The light adventurer’s clothing I wear contains linings and hidden pockets in numerous places. My fingertips brushed against the cold outline of the pistol concealed within one of them.

At the same time, I surveyed the structure of the house and the placement of the furniture, roughly calculating the time required to flee to the lodging facility and the route back to the airship where the children were.

For now, escape through the nearest window is possible. If we lock the door and barricade it with suitable furniture, we can buy some time.

The window serving as an escape route could also be used as an entry point by our opponent. However, anyone who carelessly peers inside or attempts to force their way in would risk being counterattacked by me.

Ever since our airship arrived at this floating island, and throughout our journey to the elf village, I have felt an unsettling presence watching us.

It was a presence unlike anything I sensed during the war, and it was not human. It closely resembled the presence of the many elves inhabiting the village. Someone came to this house while we were being watched like that.

No matter how I consider it, the natural conclusion is that the intruder’s objective is us.

Even if the opponent is an elf, what reason would they have to stalk us?

Could it be that they already know why we came to the village?

No. Thinking calmly, that possibility seems unlikely. Jilk, who requested this mission, and I are certainly incompatible. Every time we meet, we trade barbs and belittle one another. However, he is not foolish enough to orchestrate such an elaborate trap merely to frame me.

Above all, this request comes directly from Olivia-sama, and the temple’s forces stand behind her. The Saintess is neither naïve nor indulgent enough to overlook Jilk’s covert schemes. Contrary to her title, she possesses frightening authority.

If that is the case, the only ones that come to mind are the elves. Yet, in my life, I have had almost no direct dealings with elves.

Almost none.

I hesitate to say none at all because I have not been entirely uninvolved. The now-deceased Zola and Merce kept elves and demi-humans as both mistresses and servants. During the early development of the Bartfort territory, we were short on manpower and hired demi-humans of uncertain background.

My life has been fraught with questionable dealings. I never know when, where, or whose resentment I may have incurred. There could very well be an elf who harbors hatred toward me.

“Yes?”

I move from behind Yumeria-san, who is approaching the door without caution, to a position where I can see the visitor’s face. It would be dangerous to remain ignorant of who the opponent is or how many companions they might have. The safety on my gun is already disengaged. I can manage a certain level of combat if necessary.

“Huh, you are…”

Judging from Yumeria-san’s bewildered reaction, the visitor is unexpected. The figure visible beyond her shoulder is dressed in clothing typical of elves. Their gender is unclear, but compared to Yumeria-san, they are not particularly tall.

If it comes down to simple physical strength and martial ability, even I should be able to subdue them, unless they possess some secret technique passed down exclusively among elves.

“You have guests at your home.”

“Yes. They are people who know my son Kyle from the capital.”

“I have business with those people as well. I would like you to allow me to enter.”

“Um…”

Yumeria-san, visibly troubled, turns back toward us, awaiting our response. It must be someone difficult for her to refuse. The high-pitched voice is unmistakably female, and her manner of speech suggests she holds a position of some authority within the village.

If we refuse clumsily, our activities in the village could be restricted, and danger might befall either my family or Yumeria-san. I turn to seek Angie’s opinion. She nods once, silently, without opening her mouth.

Seeing that, I make up my mind.

“It is fine. We do not mind.”

“I understand. Please come in.”

Once convinced, Yumeria-san opened the door, allowing a female elf to step inside the house.

From the faintly visible mouth beneath the hood covering her head, to the necklace adorned with several gemstones whose market value I could not even estimate, and the embroidered patterns on her garments that appeared to carry symbolic meaning, everything about her stood out.

She was clearly different from the worldly elves living in the village. At the same time, she was also unlike a warm, homely elf such as Yumeria-san. She is a mysterious female elf who exuded dignity and wisdom, the sort of presence one usually encounters only in legends.

At the same time, someone else came to mind, a person in my own life who possessed a similar atmosphere. Those who carried this peculiar aura were the Queen and the Saintess. Both of them bring nothing but trouble into my life, so honestly speaking, they are precisely the two individuals I wish to avoid becoming further entangled with.

The Queen appears youthful and has exceptionally large breasts. The Saintess is gentle and kind, and also has exceptionally large breasts. But only large breasts that truly put me at ease belong to Angie. In exchange, however, I have been firmly under her control ever since our marriage.

The female elf standing before me also possesses a generous figure, though not as large as Yumeria-san’s, which allows me to remain calm. Why, I wonder, are breasts positioned below the head?

Having such features naturally enter one’s field of vision during conversation is both a fatal flaw of the human body and a miracle bestowed by God.

“Leon-sama, Angelica-sama, this is the person who serves as the assistant to the village Elder.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Leon Fou Bartfort.”

“I am his wife, Angelica Fou Bartfort.”

“Thank you for your courtesy. I am the one entrusted with assisting the village Elder.”

“So, something like the next village Chief, or perhaps a deputy?”

“No. I am merely entrusted with caring for the village Elder.”

“The village Elder is very advanced in age and rarely leaves his residence these days.”

“Because of that, someone must always attend to him. In practice, the administration of the village is handled by the village head.”

“I see. Then for what reason does the village Elder’s assistant have business with us?”

There was a faint sharpness in Angie’s words, but her question was entirely reasonable. We are acting under secret orders from the capital. At present, all we have done is deliver Kyle’s letter to Yumeria-san. We have not engaged in anything overtly suspicious, and even if some doubt were raised, it would fall well within the bounds of what could be dismissed as discourtesy toward nobles.

For a direct subordinate of the village Elder to personally intervene is so abnormal that it would be acceptable for us to protest outright.

“The village Elder said, ‘Calamity will soon visit the village. We are facing a crisis born of our own actions. Before long, the one who will resolve it shall arrive.’”

“…What is that supposed to mean? I am troubled when you speak so vaguely.”

To begin with, I have little faith in dubious prophecies. I am not senile enough to accept the ramblings of an elderly man whose face I have never even seen. If trouble is coming, then you elves surely know that it is because of elves, correct?

Then I would much prefer that you resolve it yourselves. I came here solely to investigate whether the elves were engaging in anything suspicious. If anything, stalking us and issuing cryptic warnings only worsens your impression.

I cannot fathom what the assistant, or rather the village Elder, intends by approaching us like this.

“The individual is said to possess the trait of being ‘a crownless king clad in black armor.’”

“Is there not a more comprehensible description?”

“He also said, ‘one who formed an alliance with the ancient demon king.’”

“That tells me even less. It must simply be a misunderstanding.”

“…‘Crownless king.’ Could that perhaps be a metaphor for one who lost the right to become king?”

“Hey, Angie.”

While I listened with detachment, Angie showed noticeable interest. Stop it. If you involve yourself unnecessarily, we may be dragged into needless trouble. We were supposed to investigate the village properly, let Lionel and Ariel accompany us to complete the assignment, and then return home. That was how it was meant to end. There is no need to expose our family to danger by chasing archaic riddles.

“Do you know the village Elder’s exact age?”

“There is likely no one in the village, even among the elves, who knows it precisely.”

“Even I, as his assistant, have only been told that he was alive before the Holfort Kingdom was founded.”

“I see…”

After hearing the explanation, Angie fell silent, deep in thought. With my limited knowledge, abstract fragments of information do not allow me to draw meaningful conclusions. Battlefield codes are far more structured and easier to decipher. After a moment, Angie took my hand and pulled me toward the corner of the room. It was likely out of caution, so that the elves with their keen hearing would not overhear us.

“Leon, what do you think about those words from earlier?”

“What do I think? Honestly, I do not understand them.”

“You should learn to express yourself with a bit more nuance.”

“My apologies. Then what do you think they mean?”

“First, the ‘crownless king.’ This likely refers to the Bartfort bloodline.”

“Why would it?”

“The crown symbolizes royal authority. A king without a crown naturally suggests someone who lost the chance to ascend the throne, or whose claim was taken away.”

“I cannot imagine the village Elder knowing our family history.”

“He has lived since before the founding of the Holfort Kingdom. It would not be strange if he knew the circumstances of that era in detail.”

When she frames it that way, unease begins to creep in. The fact that our ancestor, Leah Bartfort, was a companion of the first king is now known only to the royal family, who have kept it secret, and to those deeply versed in history. If our adventurer ancestors encountered the village Elder, it would not be surprising for him to perceive the truth.

“Next, ‘clad in black armor.’ What color is the armor you pilot?”

“…It is black, but that is merely coincidence. Even in the Principality of Fanoss, there were figures like the Black Knight Bandel Him Zenden who favored black.”

“Coincidence or not, it is still concerning. I doubt that assistant had time to investigate our airship and uncover the armor we concealed.”

Using dark colors for armor intended for night combat or covert operations is commonplace.

Judging solely on that feels excessive, yet the guards left on the airship are on standby specifically to prevent our equipment from being confiscated. No matter how beautiful the female elf assistant may be, I do not believe they would disregard my orders or comply meekly.

“Lastly, the ‘ancient demon king.’ I have an idea.”

“Coincidentally, so do I.”

A monster revived from a time far predating the Holfort Kingdom, from long before even the village Elder’s birth. We know such an entity well. Or rather, it has vanished from sight, yet should still be present within this house, watching.

The spherical relic from ancient times.

A being capable of destroying not just a kingdom, but the world itself, if it so desired. Calling it a demon king would not be inaccurate. With this many coincidences piling up, even I can no longer dismiss it outright. Very well. For now, we should at least hear them out.

“To think I would start believing in vague fortune-telling…”

“The village Elder’s divinations are accurate. Please mind your words.”

“They come true quite often!”

“That is correct. Reflect on that, Leon.”

“…Why are you siding with them too, Angie?”

“The reason I came here in the first place was because of the village Elder’s divination.”

“And why is that?”

“Well, Dorothea told me that elven divinations are extremely accurate.”

“My sister-in-law is the type who casually says, ‘It suits you and my brother,’ and immediately puts you in a good mood.”

Angie averted her gaze. I genuinely cannot tell whether my wife is brilliant or hopeless.

For now, let us proceed with the questioning. We can assess the situation afterward. As we drank the uniquely flavored tea Yumeria-san prepared once more, the questioning began.

┳⁠━━━━⁠━⁠⁠━⁠━⁠━━━⁠┳

Authors Note

┻━⁠━━━━⁠━━⁠━━━⁠┻

 The female elf assistant, whom we tentatively refer to as the spokesperson, has now appeared.

In both the original work and the comic adaptation, her true name is never revealed, so this designation is used. The village Elder and other elves will make their appearance later.

Although not depicted, Luxion remains on standby in stealth mode. However, since their relationship is not as close as in the original, he will not respond unless directly addressed.

The next chapter will focus on explaining the current state of the village.

Addendum: At the client’s request, illustrations were provided by Kiraura Kinkokudouji-sama and Hyakujitsumu-sama.

They are planned for use as insert illustrations in future adult-oriented chapters.

Thank you very much.

Kiraura Kinkokudouji-sama- Pixiv

(Caution: extensive skin exposure)

Hyakujitsumu-sama - Pixiv

(Caution: adult-oriented)

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and impressions as encouragement for future work.