8 - Episode 8 "The Girl of Half Elf"

When asked if she was an elf, the girl hurriedly put on the hood of her robe.

She did so on the spur of the moment, not with any particular thought in her mind, and a somewhat disconcerted expression could be seen through the gap between the hood and her face.

After a few seconds, the girl took off her hood as if she gave up.

"Thank you for saving me."

The girl bows her head.

Her semi-long blonde hair spilled out of her robe.

The girl was dressed in a white embroidered green-toned robe with two belts wrapped around it for holding a knife. She was wearing culottes and sturdy leather boots, and the glimpse of her bare skin that could be seen between them was white and clear.

She had white skin, golden hair, and uniquely shaped ears like bamboo grass.

I am not sure of their rank, but they are of the white elf lineage.

There are two types of elves, white and black, and both are characterized by their excellence in magic and archery. If they are raised, they can learn all kinds of magic for attack, support, and recovery, but white elves excel in support and recovery among them.

When the girl who seemed to be an elf bowed her head deeply, Helian secretly felt relieved.

（Thank God, I can understand you!　And it's not a hostile Enemy!)

In the game [Tactics Chronicle], common languages such as Japanese and English are automatically translated by the advanced language analysis [Makine Translation] mechanism (engine) installed in the game. It is treated as a "lingua franca" and can be understood by almost all species.

However, each race also has its own language.

In the case of Elves, there are two unique languages, Elkis and Ancient Elkis.

These are original languages that were created for the game, and they cannot be deciphered without the corresponding language skills, so that players cannot understand what they are saying.

However, since Eltina is an Ancient Elf, one of the highest ranks in the White Elf lineage, it would have been possible to communicate with her even if she could not speak [Common Language], by having her translate the words into [Elkis] and [Ancient Elkis] skills.

However, Helian felt a sense of security knowing that his first contact with another human being was a girl with whom he could understand the language.

(......Well, it's just a dream. It is natural that they can understand each other.)

I mutter to myself.

I almost think that I am making an excuse for someone, and I shake my head to get rid of the thought.

"I'm glad you're okay. I heard the screams. Are you hurt?"

When I looked at the girl's face again, I saw that she had a well-developed face like an elf.

Her green eyes had a gentle light in them, while her thin, raised eyebrows gave the impression of core strength. Her mouth was tightened, and she seemed to have both gentleness and sharpness.

However, Helian's eyes seemed to have not yet lost their childishness. Although there is no such thing as a reliable age estimate for an elf, if her appearance is correct, she must be in middle or high school.

Helian takes a step toward the girl.

The girl shakes her shoulders and steps back as she is approached.

Is she ...... frightened?

After a moment of wondering why, Helian looked at both sides of the room and understood.

Rieve and Ertina were looking at the girl with clearly alarmed expressions on their faces.

Not to say hostile, but if they were looking at her sharply, as if they would not miss her every move, it was natural that the girl would shy away from them, even though they were the ones who helped her.

"I'm sorry to be rude. They are my friends from the ...... trip."

I try to imagine a gentle tone when I speak to them.

I was still more comfortable with this style than the king style, because I had a cousin in junior high school and I was used to it.

"...... traveler?"

"Oh. The three of us were wandering in the woods. It's been a long time since we've seen anyone.

I scratch my head and smile.

It is not in the spirit of "Smile Zero Yen," but a smile is the first and most basic step in establishing smooth communication.

I am not sure about my king-style stern expression, but in the real world, I am a kind relative's older brother. I'm a little more confident with a smile that can put younger children off their guard ......, but...

"............"

Conclusion.

It didn't work.

It didn't work.

Rather more alert than before, the girl covers herself and puts her hand on her chest.

(......, right? My smile is only worth this much ......)

I felt like scribbling on the ground, but I kept smiling with my guts.

My cheeks may have twitched slightly, but I hope you can overlook that.

"Elves and werewolves, is it?"

"Hmm?　Oh, yeah. The one on the right is Ertina, and the one on the left is Leve."

"I am Eltina. ...... thank you for the introduction. Thank you very much.

"............"

For some reason, there was a moment before introductions.

Moreover, Levee only gave a slight nod and did not even introduce himself.

Helian's smile twitched again at their overly cautious attitude.

Perhaps it was because they were putting Helian's protection first, but their attitude toward the girl was anything but friendly. Rieve is giving the girl a glare, as if to say, <>.

This is not a good sign that the girl has come all the way to talk to him.

"I'm sorry. I was a little rude.

Ertina bowed her head to the girl and apologized.

Ertina, who has "grace" in her character trait, has refined manners, and there is a certain elegance in the way she bends at the waist and bows her head.

The girl's eyes widen in deep surprise at the sight of this.

And when Ertina smiles at the girl, the surprise on her face increases even more. She seems to be upset in some way.

She seems to be ...... admiring the girl's face.

Because she has "beauty" in her character trait, Eltina is popular among both men and women. Perhaps Ertina is an eye-catcher even for a girl of her own race.

...... good. Let's throw it to Eltina.

Herian simply decides to let the squire be the girl's interlocutor.

To be honest, my social skills are not that great in real life, let alone on the internet. To tell the truth, I'm not confident in my communication skills.

Besides, considering that Eltina is of the same race as me, she might be easier to talk to as a girl than I am.

As one would expect, I cannot give Ertina all the initiative in the conversation, but if the flow of the conversation goes in an undesirable direction, I can simply interject to change the course. I felt that I could handle it if I thought that I could just be supportive.

Helian was now ready to get back into the swing of things.

Ertina, smiling softly by his side, steps back quietly from the scene.

......What?　Why did you back up now?

"But she and I, for some reason, are not good at talking to people.

I'm sorry, but we're going to have to hold back a bit, aren't we?"

...... Eltina!

Helian involuntarily turned back to the squire on his left.

She had thought she was going to be forced to have a conversation with him, but she had been betrayed.

Perhaps Eltina herself had no intention to do so, but the more she had expected it, the bigger the shock was. I feel like I've been taken off the ladder.

The girl's eyes were once again fixed on Helian after Eltina's comment.

It seems that she has completely locked on to him.

The twitching in her cheeks increases by about 30%.

"Are they ...... your slaves?"

"Huh?"

The girl asks again.

I reacted with my bare body to the unexpected words.

I hurriedly tried to make things right.

No, no, they are traveling companions. It's not like that."

It's a clean relationship.

No, I don't know if the relationship between master and servant is clean, but at least we are not forced to obey each other.

"......Why did you help me, a half-elf?"

The girl asks me, not even trying to hide her wariness, as she takes another step back.

"......?　Are you a half-elf?"

"--!"

When I asked her back, she blatantly frowned.

She reacts as if to say, "Oh shit.

She looked regretful that she had said something she did not have to say.

Incidentally, a half-elf is a half-breed born between an elf and another race, which I don't need to bother to explain.

In general, it is a child born between a human and an elf.

However, in [Tactics Chronicle], it is a little different.

In this game, a function called "mating" is employed, which makes it possible to create half-breeds. However, due to the nature of the game, mating partners are limited to subracial or humanoid demons, not humans.

Also, mating cannot be done lightly.

The disadvantage is that the parents will not be able to reincarnate.

In addition, the success rate of mating is extremely low.

However, as long as it was successful, there was the great advantage of having a child who inherited the qualities of both parents. Naturally, Helian also makes use of this feature.

Therefore, mixed and half-breeds are not uncommon in this game. In fact, the Commander of the Seventh Legion is also a subordinate created by this function.

However...

"......Yes, that's right.

I am not an elf. I'm a half-elf.

Do you regret having helped me?

For some reason, the girl smiled with a hint of resignation.

It was as if <>It was an expression of resignation.

Helian tilted his head and asked her.

"...... why?"

"What?"

"Why, if you're a half-elf, does that lead you to regret helping me?"

"...... eh?　Oh, that?"

Where was the shadowy smile? The girl looked puzzled with an expression appropriate for her age.

It is true that her ears are a little shorter than Ertina's. It makes sense if she is a half-elf with the blood of another race mixed in. That's all there is to it.

But apparently, that was not the only story for the girl in front of me.

What kind of problem could a half-elf have?

"-Known. Because they are an unclean race.

There was a third voice.

I turned around quickly.

A man was standing behind the mukuro, the mangled remains of a magical beast, before I knew it.

White skin and long bamboo ears. He was an elf again. This time, however, it was a man. His ears were the same length as those of a normal elf, indicating that he was not a half-elf. His age is probably in his late twenties.

It seems that Lieve and Ertina have been aware of this for a long time.

They did not show any signs of surprise.

Helian, on the other hand, was unaware of their presence until he called out to them.

The reason was that the window of the map, which was the only clue to their presence, was hidden.

Although the window is set to be invisible to others, it somewhat obstructs Hélian's vision, and at times, it can be a hindrance.

And because he felt it was in the way when talking to the girl, Helian had hidden the window.

"You are not the only ones, by the way. How could you slaughter my hounds so easily? I see that the elf is not one of our own..."

"The Hound ....... Oh, so that hexenbiest was your follower.

No wonder he didn't run away when Levee approached him.

Even that huge mountain dog ran away with its tail between its legs in front of Levee, but that dog-type magical beast didn't show any signs of running away. It was probably because, unlike the wild dog, it was not a stray, but a follower.

"We've caught an unexpected prey. This area is so close to the Abyssal Forest, I had no idea that a drunken maniac like this could be hiding in the area.

"Abyssal Forest (Abyssal Forest)......?　No, more importantly, what did you just say?　Unsullied beings?　Maybe you mean her?"

"Yes. What are you, not playing dumb, but really don't you know?"

The elven man gave me a contemptuous look, as if to say, <.

"Half-elves are a race born and fallen between the noble elves loved by our gods and spirits and the impure, barbaric humans whose only merit is their numbers. In other words, we are a tainted race of noble elven blood mixed with human blood.

No, we are not of the defiled race!　Both humans and elves have good qualities. We are just born between them. We have no right to be called unclean!

"Nonsense. How dare you speak to me in such a filthy manner? It rots my ears just to hear you talk like that!

The elven man answered through bared teeth.

Though he may be a beautiful looking elf, the look of disgust on his face was not much different from a human's, and equally ugly.

But Helian did not let it bother him. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she did not care.

It was the Elf man's words "born of a human" that shocked Helian.

That is not correct. It is not possible for such a line to appear in any way.

Because in this game, there are no units of the "human" race (・・・・・).

More precisely, there is no human being except the king (player).

There are a relatively large number of subraces such as beastmen and humanoid demons, but the people are all demons.

The human race is a special one in [Tactics Chronicle], and was considered to be a race exclusive to the king 《player》.

However, the man naturally assumed that the half-elf's parents were human.

Moreover, the fact that he even said that numbers are a strong point of the Half-Elves means that there are many humans in the world. Clearly, this is a deviation from the game's setting.

...... No, that is not what we should think about now.

The purpose of this meeting is to gather information. You can think about it later. Besides, this is not the time to be worrying too long when the battle is going on right in front of us.

Having convinced herself in this way, Helian intervenes between the girl and the man, who are clashing their gazes, and asks a question.

Why were you following her?

"Humph. Just for fun. Some of them fled like rats after we dropped the city on them. We're using them as training ground for our hounds to hunt."

"You dropped a city ......?"

This story is getting creepy.

"The half-elves have gathered to build this city. It is a bit arrogant of these unholy beings to build and inhabit a city, let alone call themselves a nation. Therefore, we, the pure-blooded elves, will put it to good use. Of course, only after we have purified ourselves of our impurities.

"...... purification,"

"known. It means to purge the blood."

"Exorcise the blood......, you mean get rid of the half-elves who originally lived here?"

"...... Good grief. Do you humans have to explain all this to get your message across? It's just so disgusting."

Again the look of contempt.

As I have read to some extent from the previous conversation, it seems that humans are also the target of the elf's contempt.

"Sorry, we are travelers. We are new to this area. We don't know much about the situation around here, so please don't be ignorant.

"Huh?　Admitting ignorance is auspicious for a human being, isn't it? The rest of us are like monkeys who get angry every time we open our mouths. ...... Oh, travelers, you say. Then monkeys are monkeys, but they are superior monkeys of a different lineage.

I wonder if we can't have a conversation without ...... putting each other down.

However, the fact that they do not even try to hide their contempt in this situation where they are at a numerical disadvantage may indicate that they are so confident of their own abilities.

If so, it is not a good idea to provoke them into hostility. This is the place where you, as a king, must test your bargaining power. No matter what is said, we must deal with it calmly and without anger. .......

"Enough!　We are human beings, not monkeys!　And there are good people among us. There are people who choose to coexist with the forest without harming it. Please don't make fun of us without knowing us!

Shut your filthy mouth!　I told you your ears would rot!"

While Helian was calming himself down, the half-elf girl cried out in a pained tone of voice.

"Then ...... at least leave us alone!　We just live on the outskirts of the forest!　We've been forced to live in such close proximity to the ...... Abyssal Forest (Abyss) and wilderness, and we're still struggling to ...... survive!　So why are you people--?"

"--enough. Our goal was to capture him, but we've reached our limit. It will shut its mouth forever. Ruin my hounds and die with the rest of you fools."

Then the elf clutched something in his hand.

His eyes are filled with a swooning look.

"Release the Felsipia!"

With a voice, the elf man threw a pebble-like object. The pebble glints green for a moment.

Just when he thought this, a gust of wind was blowing.

Helian quickly leaps in front of the girl and covers her face with his arms.

In a corner of his mind, he thinks,

And then, the storm of magical power that loomed before him struck the helpless Helian mercilessly...

"<>"

--The defensive magic deployed by Ertina easily dissipated.

A soft azure wind enveloped Helian and the others, shattering any external phenomena that might try to interfere.

The elves' eyes peeled back as they saw the scene, perhaps convinced that they were about to get the kill.

"What the ......?

"<>"

Continued chanting.

Thick tendrils grow rapidly from under the elf's feet, seizing his limbs.

And then, as the man is stuck, Levee shoots out like an arrow.

--Incidentally.

At this time, Eltina and Levee understood the importance of the event of "first contact" with other forces.

Because they understood this, they did not intervene at all in the negotiation and watched, so that they would never make a bad move. He tried to maintain the status quo unless Helian ordered otherwise, and put up with the disrespectful words and actions of the elves that dripped from their mouths to their master.

The Lord is trying to gather information while enduring unbearable abusive language. There is no reason for us to let our emotions ruin the power we wielded.

So we endured. Patience upon patience.

Levee suppressed the urge to attack that was rising in her throat, while Eltina hid her hostility and disgust under her smile.

But if they had touched our master Helian, that would be a different story.

There is no way she can forgive an "enemy" who has attacked her master.

Since he attacked him, it is safe to assume that the negotiations his master had been carrying on in humiliation have broken down.

--In other words, there is no reason to put up with it anymore.

Therefore, against the "enemy" whose freedom of action has been taken away by Eltina's magic, Lieve unleashes her fist for a killing blow...

"--Wait!"

The Lord's voice.

Levee, who had been jumping at him, brakes as quickly as he can. The lethal fist somehow stopped just before it reached the man's face. However, the air caught by the fist becomes wind pressure, and the man's long hair is ruffled into a mess.

After the wind stopped, there was a dumb look on the man's face, as if he had no idea what had happened.

(...... was a bad idea.)

Helian inwardly patted his chest.

If he had been even a moment too late, the man would have died.

I don't know how strong their defense is, but elves are not a sturdy race.

Judging from the power of the magic he had just used, it is hard to believe that he would have survived the fists of Lieve, who boasts one of the most powerful attacks in single combat. He could have killed someone from another force.

What?　What the hell is this?　Now, what the ......"

"-- hey."

Helian tells the man, who still does not seem to have grasped the fact that he almost died.

Unintentionally, his voice is lower and more drugged than he thought it would be.

I'll let that one slide. We have no intention of antagonizing you. It was your idea to start this, and we were just covering our asses. Do you understand?"

Eltina, at the Lord's will, undid the ivy that bound the elf's limbs.

However, the elven man still did not understand the situation and kept a puzzled look on his face.

"What?"

"He says he'll let you go. Get lost."

Helian cocks his chin in a hawkish manner and points in the direction of the day after tomorrow.

With Levee and Eltina watching us, we must not take a stand and say, <

Moreover, the two of them are still emitting a sworn air.

Even though I know that it is the elf in front of me, not myself, I am still afraid. I want to do something about this tense situation as soon as possible.

In [Tactics Chronicle], this kind of swallowing atmosphere was not expressed. There is no way to express it. But now it is here with an overwhelming sense of reality.

The situation in which violence was actually being used, as was the case at the time of the extermination of the demon, was too strong a stimulus for Helian, who had never even hit a person in his entire life.

In a manner of speaking, Helian was completely cowed in front of the "violence" that seemed too real.

"You, you ...... mere mortal, who are you talking to!　I am the chief hunter of the glorious Noblewood--"

"I don't care who you are. I say again, get lost. Or do you really want to make a move?"

"......kk."

The man's face was flushed with anger, but he seemed to have remained calm enough to judge the fact that he was no match for the man even if he fought, and he left, biting his teeth.

I let out a breath of relief.

"You know, ......."

Then, Helian stiffened at the sound of a childish voice coming from behind him.

"Thanks to ......, you saved my life. Thank you."

"Oh, yeah. I'm glad you're okay."

I turned around to see the half-elf girl I had saved.

...... Oh shit.

Her presence has completely slipped from my consciousness.

I acted as if Helian was a higher rank than Levee and the others.

This ruined the traveler's setup, which he had named himself on the spur of the moment. ...... No, it's still manageable. He might be able to disguise it by explaining that they are in charge of escort and he is in charge of negotiation.

If so, Helian's position would be a very pathetic one, , but I don't care about his pride anymore as long as he can get through this. I don't care about my pride anymore, as long as I can get through this.

"Well, actually, they're good guards. I'm not so confident in my skills, so I'm more of a negotiator and a scullery maid,......."

...... Eh, smile. Smile and be quick.

No, but I did something similar earlier and it went wrong.

But my overheated brain can't come up with an alternative.

Well, I've got a good idea: .......

"Pfft ...... ahah, ahahahahaha..."

Helian's forehead begins to sweat, and suddenly the half-elf girl starts laughing.

In contrast to the expression on her face, she was smiling like a child of appropriate age, and she was laughing in a funny way.

"Hahahaha, I'm sorry. ....... It's just so funny to think that someone who was so bossy with elves is in trouble with me, a half-elf.

He says that to me breathlessly.

I was shocked that such a middle-school-like girl could see through me. ...... No, maybe it was a little bit excusable, but I was shocked that she could see through me.

I was devastated by the continuous psychological damage.

The girl opened her mouth with a cheerful look on her face, perhaps feeling refreshed after a lot of laughter.

I beg your pardon. And you don't have to be so hard on yourself. You can talk normally like you did to the elf earlier.

...... No, it's more of an act.

Rather than the king style, the neighborhood brother style is still closer to my default.

（I'm not sure what you mean.　Does this mean ...... that I have to speak in front of this girl in the king's style and in a traveler's setting?)

Obviously, I can't help but feel that the difficulty level has increased. I just wanted to cry.

The only relief is that the girl now speaks normally.

I think that she has let her guard down a lot thanks to the many laughs I have given her, so I'll call it a blessing in disguise. I can't do this without thinking so.

My name is Leifa. Thank you so much for saving my life twice.

"No, don't worry about it. No, don't worry about it. I just saw you being attacked and saved you as soon as I could. Besides, the second time we were just cleaning up a fire that was raining down on us, so it's not something you should thank us for."

"No. No. Even if that were true, it doesn't change the fact that you helped us. So please allow me to thank you.

The girl bows her head.

Her blonde hair, which had been tied up in a bun, bounced like a tail.

"Also, I don't mean to be rude, but I have a favor to ask you."

"M......?　What is it?"

Helian braced himself in his head.

She cannot reply carelessly.

Her relationship with the elf she had just met seemed to be quite troublesome, even if she had only talked to him for a short time. To put it simply, they seem to be in the midst of a war of aggression due to discrimination between races, but it is probably not that simple.

And there we have a favor to ask.

It is easy to imagine that the request for cooperation is probably based on the combat ability of Levee and Ertina. Since the city has been destroyed, they must be in a situation where they would like to help the cat if they can be of help to recapture the city.

However, we cannot lend a hand lightly.

The elf was probably a scout, meaning that his main role was not combat. He was not a very good fighter. But the elves in the main camp must have a higher fighting power than the one in the previous example.

And we don't even know how many enemies they have.

How big? Their equipment? Their skill... Their level of technology.

As long as we don't know everything and have no idea of the level of their strength, we can't get involved in this issue.

I would like to help those in need as much as possible, but Helian, as the king, must put his country first.

He may be willing to lend a helping hand after ensuring the peace of his country, but under the current circumstances, it is simply not possible.

Therefore, Helian resolutely refuses the request for cooperation, and waits for the girl's next words.

"Can you tell me your name?"

--I was stunned.

I felt as if I had been struck dumb.

Helian stood there for a moment, unable to speak.

(...... am I a moron?)

What I am aware of is a fierce feeling of shame.

I had introduced Rieve and Eltina, but Helian himself had not even said his name. It was beyond stupidity.

What's more, smiling is the basis of communication.

What is a negotiator?

What is the point of not giving a careless reply?

How dare they think of being cautious and defensive about getting involved in a problem when they can't even handle the bare minimum of courtesy to a new acquaintance? The girl in front of me was not thinking about such things at all, and this is the result of her ill-advised guess.

I was really depressed and cursed myself inwardly for a moment, but meanwhile the half-elf girl was just waiting for me.

Herian, his venom drained out of him, lets out a wry smile and holds out his right hand to the girl.

"Sorry for the delay in saying your name. I'm Helian."

I think I said my name in a natural way.

It was the first time I felt like I could speak naturally since my transition.

"I'm Leifa, by the way.

A hand clasped back.

The half-elf girl - Leifa's face was smiling, a smile that suited her well.