Magic Gems Gourmet

Chapter 169

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 169 – Elf Chief

Chris put on a brave face in front of Ain.

Then, she cheerfully returned to the kitchen and began to prepare the meal.

The smell of the food, which gradually reached him, made Ain’s stomach start to move, and he couldn’t wait for it to arrive.

As soon as Chris completely disappears from sight, a signal of hunger sounds from Ain’s stomach.

“…I guess I was pretty tired.”

As he mumbled with a sigh, his eyelids grew heavy, and a feeling of fatigue and sleepiness began to overtake him.

Even though he had taken a break, he had been walking on a difficult path for half a day, so it was only natural that his body was crying out for sleep.

In addition, he couldn’t help but feel that the atmosphere of Chris’ house was also having an effect.

The friendly, warm atmosphere that Chris had created continued to give Ain a sense of relaxation.

“I’ll rest a bit before you finish… I don’t think I’ll be able to finish all the things I need to ask the chief today.”

Besides the chief, there may be other elves who have information.

Or, if he’s willing, he can ask to see some old books.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t read their language, so he couldn’t deny that he’s relying on Chris.

“Ain-sama! It won’t be long now, so please wait a little longer!”

He answered Chris, who was calling from the kitchen and patted his tired cheeks to gather his strength.

He’ll eat and regain his energy. He steeled himself for his talk with the chief.

＊＊＊

After eating and taking a break for about an hour, Chris led Ain outside.

The destination was the chieftain’s mansion, and Ain changed into formal attire, wearing Marco’s sword at his waist.

He picks up the letter from Sylvird, which he put aside just in case, and continued through the night elf village.

“The atmosphere is different than before.”

“There are several people on fire watch. It’s an important job because it’s a way to prepare for attacks from outside enemies.”

He notices that the torches are at a fixed distance from each other.

At the same time, the moonlight reflected in the fountain was blue, creating a unique atmosphere.

Compared to the evening, the number of passersby had decreased significantly, and there were only a few guards and adults outside.

Just like when he arrived in the village, they bowed and put their hands on their left chests.

“Haha…”

Ain smiled wryly and returned the greeting with a hand gesture.

“Hey, Chris. What does this gesture with the hand on the left chest mean?”

“Well, as a gesture, it’s the opposite of the magic stone.”

“Magic stone… ah, that reminds me, the magic stone of the elves is on the right chest, right?”

When he was unsure of his future, he and Chris performed a certain ritual.

It was an old ritual, unique to the elves, in which they placed their hands on each other’s right chests.

“A-Ain-sama? Please don’t remember it now because it embarrasses me… please…”

Chris’ face turned red when she realized what Ain was thinking, and she opened her mouth.

Thinking about it, he guesses that they were both pretty bold.

A feeling comes back to Ain’s left hand, and it twitches.

“…S-sorry. So, what does it mean to point in the opposite direction of the magic stone?”

Ain asked Chris with a wry smile, looking suspicious.

“――It’s a gesture that conveys feelings of loyalty and obedience. It is not done between friends or family. I think even the elves only make this gesture to their chiefs. “

“…I see. I’m glad they don’t dislike me.”

The elves, who value old ways of thinking, made such a gesture.

It seems that they do not bow their heads unwillingly, and Ain smiled slightly.

“Ah, I see it now. That’s the Chief’s mansion.”

Then Chris pointed forward.

Ain looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a particularly large building.

…There’s a more appropriate word than ‘mansion,’ but he can’t think of it.

“It’s a huge stump…but they’re building a house there, aren’t they?”

If he had just heard that, it would have been the same as Chris’ house, but the difference is that there is a big hole in the stump, which is the entrance to the mansion.

At the back of the stump, there is a building that has been completely built by human hands, and it has a large, one-story structure.

If the elves have a king, it certainly looks like he lived there.

“This stump is probably from the longest-lived tree on the continent of Ishtar. It has no name, but for us elves who worship the World Tree, it is also something that fills us with awe. That is why the Chief’s mansion was built beside this great tree.”

Thousands of years? Or tens of thousands of years?

It’s hard to know how old it is, but the tree’s thick trunk is enough to convince him that it has lived for a very long time.

“I think it’s a mansion worthy of the Chief. It really is an amazing tree.”

Ain nodded thoughtfully as he looked at the Chief’s house, which was slowly coming into view.

“Hey, is that Cyrus-san over there?”

“It looks like it. I think he was probably waiting for us.”

Cyrus’ figure could be seen through the tree stump.

He was very tall, even taller than Ain.

He had long, elf-like blond hair tied in a loose bun and wore leather armor.

His weapon looked like a longbow, but he also had a dagger at his waist.

…He also had a handsome face that was very impressive.

――While they were thinking this, Ain and Chris finally arrived at the Chief’s house.

“Welcome. The Chief is waiting for you inside.”

He bowed his head in the usual way and told Ain that the Chief was waiting for him.

“Oh, then I’ll go with Chris.”

When Ain replied like that, Chris took a step forward and tried to go inside.

Then Cyrus caled out to them in a panicked voice.

“W-wait, please, Chris-dono.”

“――What is it?”

To Chris, it seemed that Ain was being blocked from moving forward.

Perhaps because of this, Chris replied with a slightly prickly attitude.

“No one is allowed to enter the Chief’s room with weapons. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to take your weapons for safekeeping――”

Ah, I see.

As Ain nodded in understanding and reached for his belt, Chris replied in a calm voice.

“I am aware of this custom. But this time, it is not necessary. The one who is coming is His Highness, the Crown Prince. Only His Majesty can give orders to His Highness the Crown Prince Ain.”

The elves were a different race, but they were citizens of Ishtalika.

They were allowed a certain amount of self-government and lived in this land, but that did not mean that the Chief was in a higher position than the Royal Family.

“Um, Chris? I’m fine.”

Ain was afraid that he would upset the elves by being so forceful.

Even though he couldn’t go too far as Crown Prince, he thought he should at least listen to what they had to say.

Still, Chris wouldn’t back down.

“Ain-sama. This is something that is definitely necessary to protect you.”

Chris’ argument is also correct.

…However, being in the Elf Village, her birthplace, he can’t help but be worried about Chris being so cautious.

“Cyrus-san, is that okay?”

“Mmm… I understand what you’re saying, but it would break with tradition…”

On the other hand, Cyrus seemed to want to follow the custom and hesitated even after hearing Chris’ words.

As an alternative plan, he thought that the Chief should come to the stump, just at the moment when Ain wanted to propose it as a compromise,

A woman came from the back of the mansion.

“――Cyrus-sama, I will take care of this matter.”

The woman told Cyrus, and after bowing to Chris, she looked at Ain.

The woman was short, had silver hair that reached her waist and had a light complexion.

She wore glasses, and her face gave the impression of being somewhat stiff.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, who comes from a noble bloodline. The Chief is waiting for you. Please come with Chris as you are.”

“W-wait, Sierra-dono! That would be against custom…”

“It is the word of the Chief. The Chief says that custom cannot be forced. So this custom will not be applied this time.”

The woman called Sierra replied matter-of-factly, and Cyrus put his hands on his hips and bowed his head in surrender.

“Then I will lead you from here. After you.”

＊＊＊

With Sierra’s appearance, Ain and Chris move forward.

After walking a little further and separating from Cyrus, Sierra speaks to Chris.

“…Hey, Chris. I know how you feel, but don’t you think you should be a little more careful about what you say?”

She slowed down and spoke in a stunned voice.

The way she called her by her first name made Ain wonder if she and Chris were friends.

That’s what he thought when he saw the woman named Sierra.

“I know that, but I thought he wouldn’t let us through unless I said it firmly…”

Then, for the first time, Chris answered in a soft tone.

It was the first time Ain had seen her like this since they came to the Elven village.

“Hahh… I understand how you feel.”

After saying that, Sierra stopped walking and turned around.

“Um… I’m terribly sorry. My name is Sierra. I am the chief’s attendant, and I have known Christina since we were children.”

She introduced herself to Ain by placing her hand on her left chest and bowing.

Hearing that they had been childhood friends, Ain understood Chris’ attitude.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ain von Isthalika, the Crown Prince. Chris always protects me by my side.”

“Well, well. I’m truly blessed to have heard your name.”

Hearing Ain’s introduction, Sierra smiled from the bottom of her heart.

“The hero who defeated the sea dragon and the saint who brought about the blessing of the great tree… that is how they tell it in our elf village, too.”

“Well… that’s a bit exaggerated.”

“That is not the case. Defeating the sea dragon is wonderful, but as elves, we could not help but be moved when we heard about the blessing of the great tree.”

She seemed a bit formal, but Sierra was happily chatting with Ain.

“Of course. The chief is waiting for Your Highness.”

“That’s good. I’m sorry it was so sudden.”

Seeing Ain smile, Sierra stood diagonally in front of Ain and moved forward.

“It’s a big house. The smell of the wood is nice.”

The high ceilings and wide hallways.

It’s full of wood, as you’d expect, but it felt more like you were immersed in the scent of the forest than walking through it.

“Please enjoy it. I think the place where the chief is also smells good.”

It seems like it would be easy to relax and have a conversation.

With this in mind, Ain turned his gaze to Chris.

“Oh, by the way, Chris.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Since there’s a letter from my grandfather, I’m going to the chief alone.”

This was just an excuse, but at first, he thought about asking to see the chief alone.

He also asked about the creatures that appeared in Euro, but Ain had something he wanted to ask first.

That was, of course, the name ‘Wernstein.’

He didn’t have any proof, but he had high hopes.

If it was an elf elder, the chief might know something about the letters in the demon lord’s castle.

“W-why? Am I not wanted…?”

“No, that’s not it! I’m the one who was supposed to deliver Grandfather’s letter, and I’m the one who came to ask the chief. That’s why I wanted to meet the chief alone on the first day. If the chief can give me some time tomorrow, I’ll let Chris come with me.”

Even though he thought that the reason for going alone was lacking, with these words, he decided to push Chris.

Strangely enough, Sylvird’s letter seemed to have a lot of influence, and Chris looked worried and pondered.

“Besides, if Chris stands guard in front of the room, I’ll feel more comfortable. So please.”

He was not lying.

In fact, if Chris stood guard, he’d feel more at ease and be able to concentrate on the story.

While he made this excuse to himself, Ain waited for Chris’ answer.

“I understand. If you say so, I’ll keep a watchful eye.”

She must still be a bit dissatisfied.

But the corners of her mouth were turned up, and it was clear that she was pleased by Ain’s words.

Chris’ mind gradually changed its purpose, thinking, “I have to keep watch, I have to keep watch…”

“Fufu… Well then, Your Highness. This is the room where the chief is waiting. As you said, Chris and I will be waiting at the entrance, so please call us if you need anything.”

＊＊＊

Ain opened the double doors and entered the room where the Chief was waiting for him.

The semicircular ceiling stretched above them, and there were several lamps in the room.

A huge fur rug was spread out in the middle of the room, and at the far end of the rug, he could see an old woman sitting on the floor.

The smell of the forest was more intense than that of the corridor, and his heart grew calmer with every breath he took.

“It must have been a difficult journey. Thank you for coming all the way to the depths of the forest.”

Her back was straight, and her hair was carefully pulled back.

She wore a loose silk dress and called to Ain as he approached.

“No, thanks to Chris’ guidance, I was able to come here without any trouble.”

Smiling at the Chief’s words, Ain slowly walked over to where the fur had been laid out.

“Is Christina-san okay?”

…Christina-san? Ain wondered if the Chief called the people of the village with a suffix.

“Yes, she’s still waiting for me at the door. But I decided to come alone today.”

“That’s good to hear. ――Your Highness and Christina-san said you wanted to know something. You came all the way to the depths of the forest. I wish I could help.”

When the Chief opened her mouth with a worried look, Ain came to her side.

Bowing, he said, “Forgive me, chief,” and sat down beside her.

“I apologize for the sudden visit. Actually, I came to ask you two questions.”

He changed his expression and stared intently at the Chief.

What should he ask? How should he ask?

Ain worried about that, but first, he decided to speak honestly.

“I would like to know. Your Highness, who is of noble blood, what do you want to ask this old woman?”

The Chief, who had a friendly expression on her face, asked Ain.

“――First of all, I would like to ask you if it is possible for a creature that is not a monster to have a magic stone that does not match its body. Is that possible?”

“…I see. This is not a peaceful question.”

When the Chief heard Ain’s words, her gentle expression changed completely. She opened her eyes wide in a serious manner.

“I have a slight idea. ――Speaking of which, what is the other question?”

“The other question is, I want to know about the name ‘Wernstein.'”

The Chief’s expression froze for a moment at the words spoken with Ain’s nonchalant expression.

But it was only for a moment, and soon, she had a friendly expression on her face.

“Yes, you mean Christina-san. She was a shy girl, but she was always a hardworking girl…”

She knew it.

Ain, who hadn’t missed the momentary change in expression, decided to change the question as if he were betting.

He chose his words carefully so that even if he was wrong, the information wouldn’t leak out, and then he repeated the question.

“Let me rephrase. Can you tell me the relationship between the name ‘Wernstein’ that was carved into the stone and Chris?”

He didn’t say where the grave was.

Even if he was wrong, this was a question that wouldn’t cause any problems.

When she heard this, the Chief looked at Ain as if she had given up.

“…So you went to the royal tomb in the former royal capital.”

The former royal capital.

This was the first time Ain has heard this word, but it must mean the former territory of the Demon Lord.

The history of Ishtalika that no one knew… that was contained in the Chief’s words.

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