“And you don’t have to speak to me formally. Actually, I’d prefer it if you talked to me casually!”
“Sure.”
It’s just nice to speak comfortably.
Despite being an elder, Olga’s appearance and personality were vibrant and cute like a girl of her age.
If she grows up, she would probably become a stunningly beautiful and noble elf.
She is said to be the last daughter of the World Tree, so it seems there’s something much more noble about her than an average elf.
“I… can I hug you just once…?”
“Hmm?”
“Just once… can I hug Shia?”
Why is this young elder suddenly making such bold requests?
Considering the elves’ trait of having great hostility towards outsiders, I certainly didn’t expect a request for contact from her.
Well, fulfilling the wish of a young girl isn’t exactly something I can’t do.
I responded by spreading my arms wide open.
“…Kya..!”
With that, Olga leaped into my arms as if diving onto a bed.
“Hehe, hehehe.”
I could feel she was a child through her slightly chilly, petite form, but… there was something a bit strange about Olga’s touch.
I can’t quite explain it, but there was definitely something… something about it.
It felt like the touch of a pervert dad trying to grope a busty high school girl in a crowded subway; it was an unsettling feeling, but surely that’s just my imagination. Olga, who seems almost heavenly and noble as a saintess of the elf world, couldn’t possibly be like that, right?
“Hehehe, it was real. Hehehe… KawaiiHorned, I told you this isn’t a surgery. All the incels searched every corner… Hehehe, it’s true. It’s really true.”
“………”
I couldn’t hear anything.
I was merely fulfilling the small dream of the young elf elder.
I didn’t hear anything.
It had to be that way.
For a while, Olga rubbed her cheeks and hands against me, enjoying the feel.
Yeah, even I think my chest is big and soft.
Of course, it would feel nice.
“Honestly, I didn’t just randomly leave out the name. Since the time I made the request, I was hoping for Shia to come, so it was intentional. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
In conclusion, Olga is not an S-grade hunter herself, but she specifically summoned me, a being with strength equivalent to an S-grade.
She had known about me, the saintess of the dead, for months already. So she threw the commission with all sorts of bizarre conditions at the association. It seems she even knew Yujin beforehand.
To put it simply, it wasn’t entirely intentional, but I was targeted from the start.
The association that received Olga’s request probably thought it was ridiculous at first.
‘There’s no way there exists a hunter who’s not S-grade, but possesses S-grade power; a newcomer whose information isn’t widely spread, even if we send them, there won’t be diplomatic issues.’
But there was exactly that kind of being—me.
I hadn’t received a hunter grade yet, had only returned for half a year, and aside from doing the Hunter Broadcast, I hadn’t stood out in any special way, so there was no possibility of diplomatic issues arising.
Through Yujin, who was recognized as an S-grade hunter, I received the elf’s request… accurately speaking, as a guest of Olga Nia Parcheti Shipea.
Of course, in the end, it wasn’t a request from the council of elf elders but rather just me staying here as a personal guest of Olga.
“So, Olga. Can I ask why you called for me?”
“Oh! My mind is all over the place… But isn’t it explained roughly in the request? There’s a sign that the Chaos Ants are about to flood the Great Forest…”
If the saintess of the dead, Shia, can be considered an avatar of culinary arts, then the Chaos Ants can be called avatars of gluttony.
They devour everything without distinction between organic and inorganic materials and digest them into nutrients with high concentrations of mana to contribute to the prosperity of their kin and the queen of Chaos Ants.
Even the normal type of ant, categorized as a disease, boasts a massive body of about 3 meters. Given time, their reproduction rate is so tremendous that they could potentially cover the Earth.
Of course, humanity regarded Chaos Ants as threats to survival from the Great Rift onward and designated them as the top priority for extermination monsters, leading to their near extinction on Earth, except for a few states in America.
However, the Elf Great Forest is an Erosion Dungeon that has been transferred from Earth to this world.
Even if we had effectively wiped out the Chaos Ants on Earth, we couldn’t precisely grasp the situation in the elves’ realm.
Given the elves’ unique insularity and their strange hostility towards humans, hunters were unable to come to the Great Forest, so the Chaos Ants had evidently flourished quite comfortably here.
Yet, fundamentally, I had one thing I wanted to ask.
“Is that really all?”
“…….”
I felt Olga’s delicate body tremble slightly at my oddly cold words.
It’s a simple reason.
Although I sensed truth in Olga’s words, I also felt the subtle traces of falsehood lingering there.
“I realized after seeing that elf, Elanar, the leader of the Lotus Knights. That person seems like they’d be at least an A-grade top-tier hunter.”
Though I couldn’t be sure since I hadn’t fully gauged their power, the way they coated their sword with elemental power in an instant hinted at potential that could rival the best S-grade hunters.
Being the commander of the knight order guarding the Elf Great Forest, it’s not strange for them to possess such strength.
Of course, if they were to fight me… I can’t say for sure, but in the end, I would likely win.
If they truly rank near S-grade, regardless of my strength, it would be tough to defeat them in a blink as if swatting a fly.
Moreover, the other elves who aimed arrows at me were all at least B-grade individuals, even though some had varying levels.
Since elves are generally long-lived, they tend to be superior in skill across various domains compared to humans.
Furthermore, this is the Great Forest, which can be said to be the elves’ front yard.
No, even if humans came armed to the teeth, they likely would not secure victory against the elves in this area, even without the chaos ants.
Although the World Tree had already burnt, I could still sense the protection of its sprouting seeds upon me, so is it really possible that elves blessed with the favor of the World Tree could only be outmatched by the Chaos Ants?
“To think you only called me for the Chaos Ants, suggests there might be another reason for Olga to have requested me?”
The information at hand was far too scarce, and it seemed Olga was hiding something as well.
I was worried about the elves coughing and looking sickly…
“……..That is…”
“Please don’t tell me you just wanted to see me because you’re a fan. It’s not hard for me to tell whether you’re lying or being truthful.”
“…..”
If Olga truly was a loyal viewer of my broadcast from the start, she would already know that.
That’s why Olga seemed to hold her tongue for a moment, contemplating her words.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t meant to be a secret.”
“It’s difficult for you to talk about, isn’t it?”
“….Yes.”
“Even to your kin?”
At my whisper, Olga’s shoulders flinched.
Aha.
Because it’s something hard to reveal even to her fellow kin. She must have sent the request solely on her own authority without the approval of the other elders.
“You don’t have to say it now.”
“……..”
“But remember this: While I may seem playful on my broadcasts, I am still a saintess.”
I gently patted Olga’s head.
Her dazzling platinum hair felt inexplicably fragile.
“A saintess is a being of hope. A being of light. A being who heals wounds. Olga, now that you’ve called me, I can’t simply turn a blind eye to your pain or someone else’s.”
“………..”
“So please feel free to tell me whenever. Even if it’s not now.”
I don’t know how heavy the burden this little girl, Olga, bears.
Elves who fled to Earth as the World Tree burned.
In a critical situation like this, where their kin have become hostile and overly sensitive, this girl is one of the elders leading them, known as the last daughter of the World Tree.
She’s bright and doesn’t erase her smile, but to me…
She’s just a child.
It’s probably just me who sees the elves as children based on their appearance, but what can I do? That’s how I feel.
“If you need help, if you need my support, just saying that is enough.”
“Shia… I’m sorry…”
“And don’t say you’re sorry. This little elf shouldn’t get used to such words so soon.”
I don’t know what expressions Olga bears, nestled in my arms.
It’s easy to guess, but what can I do?
“Shia, actually…..!”
Knock knock knock
Then, with the sound of knocking on the door, I had to part from Olga, whom I was holding.
Judging by Elanar’s previous warning to keep away from Olga, knowing that I got close to her might complicate things.
“Excuse me for a moment. Human… Ah, Olga Nia!?”
Apparently shocked to see me with Olga in my room, the previously stern elf had their expression filled with surprise upon spotting her.
“O, what brings Olga Nia to a human’s room…?”
“Ahem! I was just having a simple conversation with this human gentleman who invited me as a guest.”
The way Olga spoke proudly was as if nothing unusual had happened, while she shot a glance at the elf that came in.
“Well… if you had only let us know, we would have prioritized guarding Olga Nia’s safety as a matter of utmost importance! It’s dangerous for you to be alone, Olga Nia! What if this human does something to you…..!”
“Are you implying that I would treat the guest I invited like a ruffian, Agasa?”
“…..!”
“I’m quite disappointed. So, Agasa also thinks I’ve been treated like a blind child just because I’m young?”
“I-I apologize! Please forgive me…!”
“Your quick-bearing attitude for repentance is commendable. I’ll be watching you.”
“Yes!”
Whoa, I didn’t realize Olga was capable of wielding some authority or dignity as an elder!
“By the way, Agasa, what brings you to this room?”
“Ah, I came to inform the human that it’s meal time….!”
“If you discriminate against or commit a faux pas against my guest…”
“I assure you that such a thing will never happen! I will treat this human, I mean, Olga Nia’s guest, with the utmost hospitality.”
“Understood. You may leave now. I will guide Shia.”
“Yes.”
With that, the elf named Agasa vanished like a shadow.
“Hehe, shall we go, Shia?”
“Sure.”
Just moments prior, Olga had shown a rather dignified elder-like presence, but where did that dignity go as she snuggled back into my soft embrace, rubbing her face against me.
Well, I suppose even Olga, were she in my position, would find the motherly warmth emanating from my chest addictive; I can’t deny that.
“Shia, please don’t hate elves too much.”
Olga’s voice trembled slightly.
“We’re not originally distrustful or hostile towards humans… but in the previous world, elves were burned by humans as the World Tree caught fire. Even after coming to Earth, there are many elves who can’t forget that trauma and memory….”
Considering the World Tree—our spiritual support and the mother of the earth—was burned by human hands, it’s understandable.
While I find the misbehaving brats annoying, they, too, are beings scarred by their past.
Those who are wounded often sharpen their claws against everyone.
They only fear that their old wounds will tear open again. They fear that their injuries will remain as scars forever; that’s why these elves harbor such fears.
Frankly, despite suffering such intense trauma, I think they’re treating humans quite well.
“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”
“…Thank you.”
Healing wounds and pains is my duty as a saintess.
Worry not, Olga.
I won’t disregard that wound just because you’re an elf.
Most importantly, I can’t ignore my core viewers as a broadcaster.
○○○○○○
Meal time.
I daresay that Shia regarded meal time as the most glorious, sacred, and joyous time of the day.
Humans and sentient beings alike have evolved due to “food.”
In pursuit of delicious and healthy meals, humans labored and advanced civilization and culture. If wealth allowed, they would exchange for even more delicious and abundant food, which has led to human society as it is today.
If there’s a human who doesn’t appreciate the preciousness of food, they’re not worth dealing with.
Any person who disregards this fundamental sanctity of humanity doesn’t deserve to be treated as one.
That’s the sanctity Shia associates with food and meals—a sanctity which, at times, she feels even surpasses her status as a saintess.
“Maybe I am the saintess of food?”
Sometimes she mutters prayers along the lines of “O divine one, O starry one” in idle moments, but in reality, Shia doesn’t worship any god.
If she were to worship someone, it would surely be a god related to food or food items.
And then, late in the evening, that sacred hour arrived once again for Shia.
A meal of elves, no less.
Having lived for over 60 years in the previous world, and as a comrade who had fought alongside the Demon King, I had never had the chance to have a meal with elves until today; even if the first instances are with the annoyances known as the Kanps, I now had the chance to dine with elves.
Surely the elven cuisine wouldn’t go unappreciated!
Elves love nature, but that does not mean they have an extremely restricted definition of what to eat.
Take, for example, the shadow elves, who loved shrimp tempura and were special in their own right, or the desert elves who struck a deal with the empire through their delicious Agolian Sandworm meat.
There were countless local specialties and exquisite dishes that still linger vividly in Shia’s memory. Moreover, simply put, elves, as a long-lived race, had excellent culinary skills that surpassed even that of many human chefs.
It was only natural, considering they’ve lived long enough to attain such cooking abilities.
In that sense, Shia was incredibly excited.
“Wow…”
The place Shia was led to was a spacious dining hall with vines sprawling across the walls and ceiling, and the ground swirling as if embracing the earth.
The fragrant scents of rice, bread, dried fruit, mushrooms, and even the sound of something frying wafted through the air like a gentle melody.
Other elves were seated around enjoying their meals, suggesting this space served as a communal dining hall.
“You’ve arrived, human. Take a seat wherever you like. Olga Nia, your table has been prepared over here….”
“I’ll sit together. How could I eat alone, leaving my guest behind?”
“…Understood.”
Seeing Elanar, who spoke to me in a stiff manner, bowing his head with approval at Olga’s words made me think maybe my loyal viewers were indeed something remarkable.
Well, it’s probably just that Olga is an exceptional case.
Honestly, it’s rare that an assumption about anyone has turned out to be correct.
The dishes presented by the elves were quite remarkable.
Perhaps due to my hardcore viewer, Olga, foreseeing that I’d be an enormous eater, the amount on my plate stood in stark contrast to what the other elves had, with mine being about ten times theirs.
It didn’t seem sufficient but still…
Well, elf portions were generally only half what humans usually eat.
“Hehe, in the Elf Great Forest, even unassuming leaves, small grasses, and flowers are all precious dew and sustenance to us.”
As Olga proudly shrugged her shoulders, the first dish on the table was bread filled with dried fruit and chestnuts.
Crafted by elves who’ve been making bread for thousands of years, their eco-friendly craftsmanship was something you simply don’t compare with the shoddy bread of humans.
When I pressed it slightly with my fingers, I could feel a warm softness, and the spot where I pressed slowly returned to its original shape.
When bread retains its form after being pressed, it usually guarantees deliciousness; the aroma emanating from this bread promised nothing less than delightful flavor.
“Since I wasn’t sure if you preferred rice or bread, I had everything brought out.”
Then, a perfectly cooked rice puffed with thin steam appeared, and I felt certain that with just the right amount of ham soup, I could continue eating through the night without stopping.
The land of elves is fundamentally blessed by the World Tree and spirits.
The rice and wheat grown in such blessed land certainly possess excellent and top-quality tastes that would need no further elaboration.
To put it simply, just this rice alone would have dozens of times the value of regular rice in the human world.
Following that was a dish of mushrooms infused with mana, unlike anything I’d ever encountered.
If Olga hadn’t mentioned it, it could easily be mistaken for meat, for its aroma was exquisite, and the lotus root and tubers marinated in colorful sauces and seasonings presented a feast for the nose as well as the eyes.
Wow, just how many side dishes are there?
There were more than ten types of salad made with plants and herbs I didn’t recognize, and even tofu with soy sauce!
The well-fried tofu in vegetable oil and the properly simmered mushrooms and tofu in soy sauce were served alongside.
Moreover, even Olga’s nickname “fried leaves” made an appearance.
The leaves of the Elf Great Forest, each reputed to have flavors and textures as wonderful as young greens, I wondered deeply just how they would taste.
“Slurp…”
If that didn’t taste good, it would indeed be strange.
As expected of elves.
I wouldn’t need to hold on to my previous irritation about the Kanps.
In just one meal, all those pent-up emotions dissolved easily, and there’s no reason to harbor a vile heart filled with hatred and anger towards others.
“Now, go ahead and eat.”
“Huh?”
“Elves don’t do prayers or anything, so just eat whenever you feel like it, Shia.”
“That’s not it…”
Hey, hold on, it’s not all out yet, is it?
“Why? Is something the matter?”
“Umm… is this it? Is it the end of the meal?”
That can’t possibly be.
With meals, there should be a main course following the side dishes. Up to now, they’ve whetted my appetite, so surely there must be some proper meat dish that qualifies as the main course, right?
Olga seemed to read my expression and nodded her head as if understanding what I meant.
As expected, my loyal viewer.
She understood just from looking at my face…
“Elves are traditional vegans!”
“……What the hell.”
“What?”
“Never mind. Nothing.”
Shia felt her mood drop sharply.
“Wow, haha, incredible. Delicious, huh? Thanks, Olga.”
“See? I knew it would match Shia’s taste!”
“………”
But since I couldn’t let Olga’s happy smile as my loyal fan, “Fried Leaves For Sale,” be ruined…
I felt my eyelids twitch as I picked up my spoon.
“I-I’ll eat well…!”
“Yes! Enjoy your meal! If it’s not enough, just let me know, Shia!”
“…Okay.”
