CH 33

Chapter 33: Friendship

『You wish to bring Princess Arue to the elf village?』

“Un.”

After hearing what Selene said, Butler crosses his front paws and ponders. Why would his master, who wants to go back as soon as possible, wish to bring her big sister here to the elf village?

『Princess, please excuse my rudeness, but I couldn’t understand your intentions. May I ask what’s your aim by bringing Princess Arue here?』

“U- ummm…… In-, international…… exchange?”

She couldn’t tell him straight out that she just wants to move to the elf village, abandoning human morals, and marry her big sister. That will have to wait until everything settles down. After all, Selene is a highly intelligent individual who understands that there are steps she must take before she can obtain something. It’s just that she isn’t intelligent enough to understand that no matter how hard she prepares, something that cannot be obtained will never be obtained.

『International exchange…… is it? I see. In a sense, it is certainly more suitable to have the blood-related sister of the ‘Dragon’s Shrine Maiden’ visit here rather than Prince Milano.』

“……Eh? Wron-, yes, that’s right!”

Out of desperation, Selene answers with a made-up story, and Butler believes her completely. Milano might be the prince of a superpower nation on the continent, but that rule only applies in human society. If we want to have an international exchange, it’d be better to have her big sister Arue come here instead. Princess Selene is truly a wise person.

『But bringing Princess Arue here would be difficult.』

“Why!?”

『That’s because red dragon-dono has never seen Princess Arue before. There are mountains of blonde-haired, blue-eyed ladies in Helifalte Kingdom after all, you’re a special case, Princess Selene.』

“But, angel!”

Selene refutes Butler’s opinion. From Selene’s point of view, Arue is the most beautiful woman in the world, so she could spot her from miles away. She thinks that reason is enough for an argument. Of course, that argument is very subjective, and Selene really should stop being a dum-dum.

『It is certainly true that Arue-sama is as kind as an angel, and appearance-wise, she’s a very beautiful woman as well. But Princess, red dragon-dono mistook you for an elf, do you really think that he can spot the one and only Arue-sama?』

“Nnghh……”

Selene stomps her feet on the ground in frustration. What Butler said is true because, honestly speaking, that dragon is an idiot. If that dragon had forcefully brought another girl who is not Selene, or in the worst case, Arue, to this forest, that would spell doom for them.

『In any case, I suppose we must return to Helifalte first. I understand that you wish to have an international exchange with the elves, but there is little we can do on our own.』

“No way……”

Selene is very disappointed that the project has already failed before it has even begun. On the other hand, Butler is deeply impressed by Selene’s thoughtfulness.

At first, when Butler heard that she wanted to bring Princess Arue here, he thought that she wanted to out of loneliness. But now he realizes that Selene isn’t such a simple-minded person.

The White Forest is rich in magical power, which means it contains a myriad of valuable magical-infused materials. If we can establish an exchange or something of that sort with the elves, it will greatly benefit Helifalte―― no, the entire human race for generations to come. Turning this predicament into a priceless opportunity, acting as a bridge between elves and humans, that is not something people with ordinary intelligence can think of. Her trains of thoughts are way beyond any other 8 years old girl.

‘Seems like I still have a lot to learn……’

Butler has honed his skills as a butler in his own way, but he is still far from his master in terms of intelligence, planning, and so on. But now that he understands his master’s thoughts, he must support her in every way he can.

『I understand. Then we shall do everything we can in this situation. For the time being, I suggest talking to Gee and negotiate with him.』

“Gee, why?”

“It’s to make an agreement with him for a return visit once you’ve gone back to Helifalte. This may be difficult because I cannot participate in this negotiation, but I believe it is worth trying.”

“I see!”

Selene’s expression immediately brightens. Butler’s right, she should deepen her relationship with Gee while she still can. Although the possibility is slim, the thread of hope hasn’t been torn yet.

“Let’s go, now!”

Strike while the iron is hot. Selene quickly stands up and blows on the wooden whistle that is hanging on the wall. It was the same one that the elf guards used the other day. A high-pitched sound echoes through the clear blue sky, and immediately after, a figure of a young elf girl―― Sana appears from below.

“Sana, Sana!”

“Yeeeーs. I’m going up there right now.”

Sana answers almost immediately before climbing up the tree nimbly, as if she’s bouncing off tree branches. Selene’s room is located at the top of the tree, so it’s pretty high, but it seems like Sana doesn’t need a rope at all. In less than a minute, Sana gallantly appears before Selene and bows to her respectfully.

“Selene-sama, how may I help you?”

“Can’t, get enough.”

“Eh?”

Selene couldn’t help but break a smile when she sees an elf little girl saluting to her. What a sweet voice, being served by a beautiful young girl and addressed with -sama is truly wonderful. Sana, oblivious to her vulgar thoughts, smiles back.

“Gee, want meet.”

“The chief? Sure but…… what for?”

“Things, lots.”

Sana knows that Selene isn’t that good at speaking, so she’s going to comply with her request for the time being.

“Understood. We’ll go there immediately.”

“Wait! Hug!”

“Yes yes.”

Selene takes a banzai pose, and Sana hugs her, smiling wryly. Although Selene’s capable of commanding dragons, she’s still a young child nonetheless. In this situation, where no other humans are present, she must’ve wanted to be pampered. Sana thought so.

“Fuehehe.”

Being hugged, Selene’s in pure bliss. She’s not really a kid inside, and there’s a proper staircase leading down from inside the room already, so there’s actually no need to call Sana over, she could go meet Gee alone, yet she still calls her because she wants to be carried while going to Gee’s place.

“Yup, healthy.” (Selene)

“What is?”

Selene is currently being princess-carried by Sana, and she’s lost in the sensation as her arm touches Sana’s chest. They’re not particularly large, but they’re healthy, youthful, and springy, and they’re pleasant to the touch.

“Praising you.”

“I don’t really understand you but…… thanks, I guess?”

Sana lets out a chuckle. It’s funny to listen to Selene try to praise her when there’s no need to. Although Sana might looks like a frail elf girl, she is, in fact, very skilled at magic. Elves are the race with very little physical prowess, so they make up for it with magic, making them quite strong overall. Being able to carry a delicate little girl like Selene is nothing to be praised for.

However, it’s just that what Selene’s praising is not Sana’s strength but her breasts. Selene, now a breasts sommelier, gives Sana’s breasts an A+ rating, taking her growth potential into account as well. Honestly, what the hell is wrong with her?

And so, whilst Selene’s on her highway to desires, they finally arrive at Gee’s place. Gee’s at the root of the tree where the chief lives, the same as the last time. He’s alone, wielding a long wooden stick in hand.

“What doing? Sword fight show?” (Selene)

“What show? I’m training you know, training.” (Gee)

As Selene and Sana approach Gee, he decides to take a short break and sits on a nearby root. He drinks water from his wooden canteen before putting a beaten-up pot―― his crown rather, on his head. While Sana waits for him to do all that, she lowers Selene down before speaking.

“Selene-sama said she has a business with you.”

“Aahn? Selene wants something from me?”

“Address her with -sama! She’s a Dragon’s Shrine Maiden, for god’s sake!”

“But Selene’s cool with it though, isn’t that right?”

“Un.”

Gee laughs audaciously as Selene nods her head, trying to tell Sana that she doesn’t mind. Although Gee addressed Selene with -sama when they were before the dragon, he immediately returned to his outspoken attitude again. Sana had already told him times and times again that it was disrespectful, but Selene doesn’t seem to care what he calls her.

‘She’s this small, yet she knows how to behave in front of the chief.’

Sana’s impressed by Selene’s humbleness. She’s the Dragon’s Shrine Maiden, she could easily force Gee to obey her every command. But Selene doesn’t do that, she doesn’t flaunt her powers, and she’s respectful towards Gee, who’s the representative for the elven race, even though she’s of the human race.

But of course, Selene doesn’t have the capacity to think that far ahead. It’s simply that being addressed with -sama by a dude doesn’t make her happy, so she couldn’t care less if he addresses her with it or not.

“That said, what business do you have with me, Dragon’s Shrine Maiden-sama? I’ll return you to the human city without letting a single insect bite you, so don’t worry.”

“Not that, friendship.” (Shinboku)

“Sacred tree? You meant this?” (Shinboku)

Said Gee as he picks up the wooden stick he laid against the root and shows it to Selene. It’s just a normal stick about a meter long, just that’s it’s white in color. Gee, not questioning Selene’s question at all, smiles brightly, showing his white teeth.

“You’re pretty good aren’t you! You can easily tell that this is made from the sacred tree!”

Gee proudly swings his wooden stick, and the white stick emits a phosphorescent blue light. It looks pretty much like a one-meter-long glow stick.

“She’s a human yet she knows about the sacred tree, so Selene-sama is really special after all.”

“W-, wrong!”

She came here to deepen their friendship, and she had expressed her goal very clearly at the start. But with Selene’s speaking ability, this is the most she can do. Still, Gee seems to be full of joy for some reason. It looks like he’s very happy that the topic of his sacred tree stick was brought up.

“She is indeed special. There’s just no way humans would know about our sacred tree. Alright! As the best wielder of the sacred tree weapon in the entire elf race, this Gee-sama will give you a special lecture!”

“You…… you’re just bragging now.”

“B- brag? Who’s bragging!? This is…… Yup! Cultural exchange! I’m not like those old geezers chief who came before me. From now on, we elves have to venture out of the White Forest and see the wider world with our very own eyes, yeah.”

“Yeah yeah, whatever you say.”

Sana brushes aside Gee’s far-fetched argument, which he probably thinks on the spot.

“U-, ummm.”

“Alright, now I’ll show you some moves you can do with the sacred tree! First off……”

Before Selene could corrects him, he has already made her his student. So now she has to take Gee-sensei class on the subject of the 『Sacred tree』