Chapter 47

"Kura,"

I heard Mia's shout from amongst the throng of elves as we made our way into the immense Bolenan Forest in the southeastern part of the Shiga Kingdom. Not long after bidding farewell to our new companions, the other hero and his party, we had an unexpected adventure in Puta, where we saved the white tigerfolk princess from peril.

On our journey, we encountered the black dragon Hei Long, who proved to be an ally after a fight with Satou. We could pass through a dangerous mountain range with his aid, arriving in the Bolenan Forest, where Mia hailed from.

When we arrived at a clearing, many elves and fairies, including Mia's parents, emerged to greet us. I pondered what had just transpired when Mia bounded over to me, dragging two youngsters behind her who could have been any middle schoolers. Her ashen blue pigtails bounced around the tips of her slightly pointed ears as she ran.

"Parents,"

I was surprised to find that the elves standing before Mia looked only a year or two older than her, yet the age difference between them was centuries. Their daughter, too, seemed to be a spitting image of them. All elves appeared to have hair in shades of blue or green. They were dressed in the customary attire, a bright emerald-green tunic with a leaf motif and a tricornered hat to match, paired with brown cloth shoes. The elves present were almost like fairytale characters taken directly from a children's book.

"I am Misanaria's father, Lamisauya, son of Uramufuya and Laleilea. Kura of the Shiga Kingdom, I thank thee,"

"I am Misanaria's mother, Lilinatoa, daughter of Trazayuya and Selinaria," Did I just hear correctly? Was Mia's mom the child of Trazayuya, the elf who crafted the Cradle? I must remember to ask Satou to return his notebooks later. "Satou of the Shiga Kingdom, I am in your debt."

Following their expressions of appreciation, the two solemnly brought their hands up to their heads and then down to their chests in some kind of reverence, likely a traditional Elvish way to give thanks.

"It is my pleasure to return Miss Misanaria to your…"

"Mrrr. Mia,"

Mia abruptly cut in as I was responding to her parents. I attempted to be courteous. However, it was clear she wasn't happy about it. Once I corrected myself, Mia presented the rest of us to her parents.

"Sara, oracle,"

"It is a great pleasure to meet you. I am Sara, the oracle priestess of the Tenion Temple and a follower of Hero Kura,"

Sara gracefully bowed her head with strands of blonde hair gently blowing in the breeze.

"Pearl, swordmaster,"

"My master is the real swordmaster. I still have a long way to go until I can reach her level,"

Pearl replies gently, trying to stop the fairies from playing with her long rabbit ears.

"Liza, spear master,"

Liza of the orangescale tribe, with her crimson hair, blushed at Mia's epithet. Her tail, covered in orange scales, flicked back and forth in a show of pride.

"Tama, cute,"

Tama, identifiable by her cat-shaped ears and tail, gave a bashful giggle before pulling up her pink hood and tucking away her white hair from sight. Even the relaxed Tama appears slightly embarrassed when she receives a compliment.

"Pochi, happy,"

Pochi, with her brown bob haircut and dog ears, posed in a victorious stance. She was accompanied by her canine tail happily wagging.

"Nana, big,"

Mia tapped her small chest as she spoke while Nana, her golden hair tied into a ponytail, pushed her full bosom together with her hands. Mia's father made an appreciative noise, only to be met with a sharp smack on the back of his head from Mia's mother. Satou received a similar smack from Arisa. Although Nana had the appearance of an adult, she was, in reality, a homunculus and less than one year old. Thus, no seduction was meant when she displayed her lighthearted motions.

"Arisa, wow,"

"Wow?"

Doubt was apparent in Arisa's large eyes as she repeated Mia's words, her purple hair, considered an ill omen by most, hidden underneath a blond wig. It seemed she was trying to determine if the word 'wow' referred to her researching magic with Mia or the peculiar customs and dialogue she possessed due to being a reincarnated Japanese person.

"Lulu, good cook,"

Lulu, possessing striking dark eyes and Japanese features, gave a graceful bow. Her luxurious, glossy black hair moved gracefully in unison, adding to her natural allure. Sadly, she was deemed unattractive by the standards of the humans of this world, and yet the elves had no concept of beauty or ugliness. An exceptionally admirable quality they had.

"Satou, pretty,"

Satou was surprised by Mia's kind words; he hadn't experienced any praise for his appearance before, as he had simply always blended into the background. Nobody had ever made him feel inferior; they simply ignored his looks. Arisa was the only one who had ever noticed him in this way. That would be Satou's answer, but Satou's not lacking in the looks department, but for some inexplicable reason, it seems like he can't notice the fact that he has a harem of admirers.

Mia's parents and the other elves around them appeared to agree with Satou's opinion of himself, gazing at him with a puzzled expression. However, then...

"Pretty!"

"Yes, very pretty,"

"I agree!"

Mia was surrounded by silver-eyed fairies, who all voiced their consent in unison. As she watched Satou, her mother's gaze changed from blue-green to a shimmering silver.

"You're right… it's true! Pretty, very pretty indeed! What a marvellous variety of spirits, and so many, too! It's hard to see, but the rainbow-coloured spirit light is beautiful. I've never seen anything like it!"

Mia's mom was a mirror image of her daughter when she was filled with enthusiasm or (once) intoxicated. I hope they don't yell at me for the time dwarves Bolehart City tricked the girls into drinking alcohol.

"Clearly, he is beloved by spirits,"

"I have never seen such a gathering of spirits outside a mana source or underground vein,"

"How unusual. Why, it is almost as if Lady Aaze is here,"

The gathering was an impressive spectacle, as those present, all possessing the 'Spirit Vision' ability declared Satou's beauty captivating. It was as if the spirits were entranced by him like moths to a flame, a phenomenon that gave rise to an otherworldly aura known as the 'spirit light', something the fairies found exceedingly enchanting. I wish I could see it.

"Kura, beautiful,"

Then the elves and fairies that possed the 'Spirit Vision' ability turned to me at Mia's prompting.

"Yes, more elegant,"

"It's like a gentle river,"

I later learned the difference between Satou and my own 'spirit light'. According to an elf that spoke more than a few words at a time, my 'spirit light' was softer and looked like a slow-flowing river, while Satou's was powerful like water crashing down a waterful.

We travelled to Mia's parents' home using a fairy ring in the clearing where the elves had met us. This method of transportation was commonplace in the elf village, and Arisa was relieved that Satou did not have to kiss any dryads.

The forest was so expansive that it was four or five times greater than the size of the massive Ougoch Duchy, yet with teleportation, we could travel from the extremity of the forest to the middle in a blink of an eye. Upon arrival at this destination, we found ourselves atop a small hill with views of the World Tree's mountainous roots and the surrounding Mountain Trees flourishing in abundance.

I was in awe of the colossal World Tree; its branches were shrouded with clouds as if covered in snow. Even higher than the clouds, the tree's thick trunk could be seen extending far beyond what my eyes could take in. The Mountain Trees, which I had previously thought to be huge, were insignificant in comparison to the enormity of this tree. It was indeed a remarkable sight.

"Kura," I was speechless by the majestic sight of the World Tree, but Mia was eager to move on. She tightly grasped my hand and led me away from the hill. "Treetop Village."

Her outstretched arm motioned towards a plaza constructed around a water fountain. Enveloped by grand trees, the residential structures of the elves could be seen amongst the foliage. Formations resembling mushrooms protruded from the trunks and acted as the roofs of the houses. These were linked together with what appeared to be suspension bridges. I could hardly believe my eyes. What I saw was indeed a perfect fantasy town!

"Mia!"

"Welcome home!"

"Welcome back!"

"Mia!"

Mia was joyfully welcomed back by the elves crowding at the windows of their tree houses and on the suspension bridges. Their beaming faces were accompanied by singing and cheerful music as they waved excitedly in her direction.

"Stairs,"

Mia's father uttered the Elvish word from his post atop a stone platform near the hill, and suddenly luminous steps began to materialize, suspended in the air.

"Sparkly?"

"The light turned into stairs, sir!"

Tama and Pochi stared at us, obviously wanting to dash up the stairs. We would have allowed them to, but since the staircase had no railing, Satou had them grasp his hands so we could go up together. As we stepped onto the first stair, it produced a gentle sound, like a single key pressed on a piano. This made it clear that the staircase had become an instrument of its own.

"Wow, what a fun staircase," Arisa remarked.

"It's very much what you'd expect from Mia's hometown, isn't it?" Lulu nodded in agreement.

We eventually reached a tree house via a stairway; we then moved on to a stairway composed of wood and ivy winding around the tree trunk.

"Master!"

"M… master, please be careful! The stairs move!"

Liza and Pearl were greatly alarmed when the stairs started to act like an escalator.

"A wooden escalator, huh? That's pretty avant-garde,"

Arisa appeared calm, yet the other kids carefully crept up the stairs, Satou and I aiding them while simultaneously scanning the trees. Alongside trees big enough to be comparable to the Mountain-Trees, there were small branches only a couple of feet long, with various fruit growing in disordered groupings.

"Hero Kura, I have located fruits of the same varieties found in the Cradle, I report,"

Recalling my adventures in the Cradle of Trazayuya, I nostalgically remembered the multiple fruited branches as Nana pointed out a similarly vibrant branch decorated with pears and grapes.

"Looks yummy?"

"They smell good, sir,"

"Correct. Choose,"

Mia's father gave Tama and Pochi a silent nod of approval, permitting them to pick out the fruit of their preference. His directions were to the point, yet they seemed enough for the two to comprehend. They grinned and grabbed a few, and then they glanced at Satou. Seemingly inquiring if it was alright, he nodded, and they began to joyfully devour their bounty.

"Delicious?"

"So crunchy, sir,"

Tama had chosen grapes, while Pochi chose a pear.

"Mikan,"

Mia pulled a few mandarin oranges off another branch and handed them to Arisa and Lulu.

"Mm, that's the stuff!"

"So this is the legendary mikan, the fruit best eaten while sitting under a kotatsu. How wonderful!"

Lulu was overly enthusiastic, whereas Arisa nonchalantly peeled the orange and crammed as much of it into her mouth, munching away contentedly.

"This grape has a very fine texture,"

"Agreed. It is delicious, I report,"

"It really has a nice taste,"

Sara, Liza, and Nana all delightedly accepted some sizable grapes given to them by Mia's mother and devoured them.

When Satou and I arrived at the veranda of a tree house, some of the girls seemed too frightened to get off the escalator. Thus, we intervened by helping them down ourselves.

"I apologize for causing you such trouble, master,"

"Don't worry about it, Pearl,"

Pearl was firmly attached to the staircase, so I had to scoop her up in my arms. She looked ashamed. To reassure her, I gave her a comforting grin before Mia took my hand and guided me inside. I was surprised by the size of the interior, which was much larger than what I had imagined. The floor was covered in soft grass as if it were an indoor lawn, and ivy grew along the walls and ceiling, bearing citrus fruits whose scent was refreshing. The carpet of grass felt luxurious under my feet.

"Mia!"

"Welcome home, Mia!"

A wave of support spread across the clearing as Mia was lovingly embraced by her family and other elven clan members who had come to the gathering to honour her return. I joined Mia's parents and the rest of my group at the centre of the room, watching as more elves who had never been there before joined the celebration.

"Table,"

Mia's father quietly spoke in Elvish, and suddenly, a tree-stump-like table rose up from the middle of the room, seemingly out of nowhere. Mia's mother said, 'Chairs', and instantly ivy grew from within the grass and fashioned seats.

Mia's father gave a sharp snap of his fingers, and immediately fairies with both dragonfly and butterfly wings appeared, carrying goblets to the table for each of us. Only then did I notice the difference in the wings of the tiny creatures.

When her father snapped, pitcher-like plants were suspended from the ceiling, releasing a clear, fragrant liquid filling the goblets. Though it appeared appetizing, it was, in fact, the sap of those pitcher plants. Is that safe to drink?

"Yummy?"

"It's tasty, sir,"

Unlike me, Tama and Pochi were already consuming and enthusiastically praising the beverage. We let ourselves be preoccupied with the dream-like setting, failing to remain alert for potential shady people. When I heard the sound of people voicing their dissent, that's when I truly understood the precariousness of the situation.

"Leggo!"

"Hey, let go of me!"

"Help! Laya, help us!"

Upon spinning around, I noticed that Nana had seized three of the fluttering fairies, who were desperately yelping for assistance from Mia's father. One was pressed tightly in either of her hands; far worse, the last of the three was crammed in between her bosom.

Satou and Mia's father just watched the fairy flitting around inside Nana's cleavage with no signs of assistance. Eventually, they locked eyes and shared an understanding nod. When Satou receives a smack on the head from Arisa, and Mia's father is struck by his wife, I don't feel bad for them. I focus on helping Lulu rescue the trapped fair.

"What are you, pervs from Planet Cleavage?"

"You've got it all wrong,"

"Mm. Wrong,"

Mia's father and Satou found themselves on the receiving end of a lecture as we finally saved the fairies.

"Geez, what a racket,"

"That girl oughtta learn some manners,"

"This one is comfy, though,"

The fairies who had escaped from Nana had all congregated on my head and shoulders for some unknown reason. However, One of them was irritating and pulling on my hair, making it slightly painful. To fix this, I delicately pulled the unruly fairy off my head and placed it on the table. The other fairies mumbled in protest at this, but their complaints were silenced after Pochi broke a pastry into multiple parts and gave them to each of the fairies.

"Oh! Now, that's tasty!"

"You ain't kiddin',"

"More, please!"

A cloud of powdered sugar flew around as the fairies ate, creating a chaotic mess. Upon observing their companions' elated outcries, further fairies flew towards the scene, clamouring for their own treats.

"Hey, gimme some, too, huh?"

"Isn't there any for me?"

"Owie, please wait, sirs. I don't have any more,"

Pochi couldn't comprehend the Elvish language spoken by the fairies, yet they were clearly conversing. Observing Pochi's awkwardness around them was amusing, but I decided to rescue her. To make the situation less uncomfortable, I retrieved a basket full of pastries from Storage, which Lulu had freshly baked the day before we left Puta, yet miraculously remained soft and warm thanks to my broken skill.

"Here you go,"

The moment the basket hit the table's surface, the winged fairies descended on it with zeal. Some of them got so incredibly excited that they got lost in the mountains of treats, leaving only their feet sticking out, while others were thrown across the table, desperately gripping onto their sugary snacks. Mia was accompanied by some elves, and they appeared eager to try the freshly-baked treats. Therefore, Satou decided to set out an extra basket of goodies.

"Tasty,"

"Mm,"

"Good,"

Most elves responded with a single word, similar to how Mia usually reacted; only a couple elaborately articulated their thoughts, just like Mia's mom. Sadly, brief responses seemed to be the preferred option.

"My, that's delicious. They're really quite tasty. Say, did you make these, Mr Satou? Did you really?"

"They're so good! I could eat a dozen of them,"

"Hee-hee, me too. Is this sweetness, honey? Or perhaps snow sugar?"

Satou was beginning to build something of a fan club, but not all the elves were so friendly toward me. A single elf lad ran up, jabbing me in the chest.

"Lovers?"

I stared at him with confusion and surprise, pondering if this was the elf's strange way of asking me out on a date. Suddenly, Mia showed up and clung to my side, putting on quite a show.

"Duh!" Despite all evidence that seemed to go against it, she exclaimed.

It was soon revealed that the person we had thought was a boy had the same age as Mia's father and was actually two hundred years old. As it turns out, he was not a boy, but he had quite a strong crush on Mia despite the age difference.

"Why?"

"Pretty, nice, strong, fun..." Mia's reply to the boy's inquiry went on for an extended period. "...Kura rescued me from an evil magician. She saved me! It was amazing! I'm so proud! Even Red Helmet and Yuya couldn't do that. It's true!"

Red Helmet, a ratfolk warrior, aided Mia during the Cradle incident. Meanwhile, Yusaratoya 'Yuya' was an elf who owned a general store in Seiryuu City.

"Agreed. Hero Kura carried me and Master Satou out of the Cradle when it collapsed. I report,"

Nana proudly augmented Mia's thorough argument with her own contribution. The fact that I rescued Satou was made up. That was a cover story to hide his powers and allow Satou a less restrictive life. When Satou, Pearl, Henry and I defeated the Undead King Zen in the Cradle and helped Nana and her sisters escape as it self-destructed and turned into salt, Nana was likely referring to that moment.

"Hero Kura also saved my life," Sara added, clinging onto the side Mia hadn't claimed. "She defeated a demon lord and two greater hell demons single-handedly."

I wasn't the only one involved in Sara's rescue. Pearl, Nana, Mia and Karina backed me against the cult. But She was right about me defeating a demon lord and two greater hell demons single-handedly. The others were knocked out by psychic magic. But unfortunately, Sara lost her life, but luckily the holy woman had a way of reviving her with an ancient treasure.

I feel bad for the boy as he takes in everyone's claims. But it was Mia's powerful statements that proved to be too much for the boy. He quickly ran away, shouting, 'I won't be beaten!' as he left.

"I am sorry, Miss Kura. Do forgive him. Mia is almost like a younger sister to Goya. They grew up together, you see,"

"Goya is a good boy; he really is, you know? He's a little too attached to Mia, that's all. A bit overprotective, understand?"

Afterwards, I found out that Goya had taken Mia's assertion that I was her fiancée seriously and had arrived in order to put it to an end. I needed to rectify that slight mix-up before I left.

"This bread looks like the shell of a cream puff; it's delicious,"

"It's sort of like a Yorkshire pudding I had in a British restaurant once,"

My companions and I were delighted when snack time transformed into a lavish banquet! We eagerly sampled all of the delightful dishes the elves had prepared. Surrounding the gigantic tree stump table, which was piled high with something like freshly baked Yorkshire puddings, was an array of delectable items ranging from roast beef, meat pies, sausages, fish marinade, and whole-roasted birds.

The elves provided a feast to celebrate Mia's return, with a wide array of dishes, including meat dishes, berry pie, cherry pie, platters of salad and cut fruit, and a tower of jelly. I noticed something strange among the elves as the petite brownies, the house fairies, buzzed around, continuously preparing more food. I couldn't quite make out my unusualness, but something wasn't right.

"So chewy,"

"You can use it to pick up the roast beef, sir,"

"Master, please do try it with this teriyaki chicken, as well,"

Satou attempted each of the pseudo-Yorkshire puddings after the beastfolk girls demonstrated to him how they could be used to scoop up meat.

"Hero Kura, this pie is delicious, I report,"

A slight sigh of disappointment was heard throughout the room as I tied a napkin around Nana's neck to match Pochi's and Tama's bibs, preventing the powdered sugar from the pie from collecting in her cleavage. The sigh had come from a group of elves who had been admiring her chest.

"Welcome home, Mia! We brought sweet melons, your favourite,"

"You still haven't put on any weight, eh?"

"We downed some ducks and deer during the hunt, so make sure you eat a bit of each,"

A group of high-level elves cautiously peeked in through the door, their bows still in hand with their hunt's bounties. What was out of place, however, was the meat. I always believed elves didn't consume meat, yet here they were with various crafted meat-based dishes, eating away without any worry. Although the majority of the group wasn't as entirely dedicated to meat-based foods as the beastfolk girls, there was only one vegetarian among them.

"Oh, Mia! How will you ever grow up if you stay such a picky eater? You won't, you know! Here, eat some meat; don't be shy now. Eat up, will you?"

"Mrrr. Uh-uh,"

"Eat,"

Mia had been put into a difficult situation; her parents were both trying to push her to eat meat, despite her distaste for meat. I guess I was wrong to think they were all vegetarians, then.

Looking back, when I initially offered Mia some meat, she appeared to merely murmur words such as 'elf' and 'meat' while forming an X with her hands over her mouth. I thought that meant 'elves don't eat meat'. However, I assume it actually indicated 'Mia the elf doesn't enjoy meat'. Arisa had questioned, 'Oh, so elves don't eat meat?' to which Mia had not responded. Could it be that all this time, she was just being picky?

I quietly suggested to Satou that she should start eating meat if it wasn't an intentional lifestyle choice or due to an allergy. She seemed to enjoy the tofu hamburger steak, so this could be a good stepping stone to introduce her to meats.

<0>

"Wait,"

"No problem," Satou answered Mia's father.

"Mrrr. Tenth time,"

Mia was looking at her father from the sidelines with an expression of displeasure. Elves had presented a shogi board during the banquet, and Satou seemed to have a streak of luck as he won game after game.

"Mr Satou, would you like some fairy wine?"

"I'd love some. Thank you."

The body of the wine was very light, but the taste was even more delightful than anything I had experienced before. The unique flavour slowly flooded into my mouth. Unlike an intense liquor that would hit the nose, it had a gentle scent that excited the senses. Pearl, Sara and I have been sampling the various wines the elves had to offer while watching Satou play. I have to say that the elves have some of the best wines I have tasted in both this world and my old one. The elves presented various delectable treats such as cheeses, pies, and other delicacies, which all tasted wonderful.

"It's been such a long time since I had the pleasure of this taste,"

"I wanna another glass,"

"How much more do you have?!"

The dragonspring liquor I offered in return was a big hit with the elves. Even the brownies and fairies seemed to love it, with a few fairies even swimming. In the glass, I poured for them. The Lessau County cheese Satou brought in the old capital went perfectly with the dragonspring liquor.

"Done... Urgh,"

After careful deliberation, Mia's father made his move, and Satou quickly responded by moving his next piece with no hesitation.

"Master! This dish is incredible!"

"Hero Kura, this fluffy white substance is delicious, I report,"

Lulu clutched a block of tofu cooked in miso while Nana seemed to have discovered marshmallows. Lulu wasted no time in shoving a forkful of miso into Satou's mouth while Nana hand-fed me a marshmallow. Then they both ran off to find their next dish.

"Is it true that you've eaten hamburg steak before?!"

I heard a cry from beyond the crowd of elves where the beastfolk girls were engaged in a dispute over the meat dishes.

"Of course?"

"We sure have, sir! I can eat a hundred, sir!"

Tama and Pochi showed off their triumph to an enamoured group of elven lasses. While Liza was engulfed in her feast of succulent roasted drumsticks, she offered an emphatically affirming nod. Evidently, the meaty dish had become her go-to snack. I was concerned for Liza, as just because something may taste good doesn't mean she should consume the bone that comes with it.

"Sir Satou! You know how to make hamburg steak, then?!"

"I do indeed,"

The girl who spearheaded the march to Satou was filled with joy and continued onward, her hands clapping together in delight.

"Please, won't you teach me?" Satou gave a nod of agreement, and with joy, she embraced him around the neck, her face nestling against Satou's. "Would that mean you can make things like omelette rice and pizza, too?"

"Y… yes, I'd be happy to make those for you sometime,"

The reaction of the second girl to Satou's response was one of swooning. Afterwards, a third individual eagerly stepped forward, expecting something great.

"What about... c… c… curry rice?"

"Sorry, I…"

"O-of course, I should have known. Even Daisaku the Hero, who taught us the cooking of Nihon, said curry was too difficult to reproduce..."

Her shoulders slumped with disappointment, so Satou finished what he'd been starting to say.

"I don't have all the necessary herbs and spices on hand, but I do know the recipe,"

She lifted her head with a new sense of optimism.

"If you'd like, would you mind helping me collect the spices?"

"Yes, I'd be thrilled!"

The girl nodded eagerly, and I smiled in response. I haven't had curry in a long time. Satou pledged to the Elvish chefs to swap cooking recipes, and they instantly got into a spirited exchange of ideas about cuisine. Even Lulu was part of the conversation.

Satou's game against Mia's father finished in approximately one hour, and Satou refused a subsequent match, explaining that he was feeling worn out from his most recent trips.

As the darkness of night descended, I ventured out onto the veranda to take in the view of the elf village. Music and laughter drifted in the air, indicating that festivities were in full swing in tree houses throughout the area. In the open space below, a large gathering had converged around a bonfire, no doubt eager to join in the merriment.

"Kura,"

"Is something wrong, Mia? Shouldn't you be enjoying the party?"

"Mm,"

Mia pulled me away from the tree house, guiding us past the gathering happening in the plaza.

"Are we going to be going far?"

"Almost?"

As I trailed Mia, I marvelled at the harmonious integration of the elves' dwellings with the natural landscape. We descended a velvety wooden stairway and arrived in a sunlit glade dotted with lush clusters of vibrant mushrooms. These were fairy rings, the same portals which had taken us from the outer edge of the woods to this residential hub.

"Here," I trailed behind Mia into one of the enchanted circles composed of mushrooms. "Teleport."

At Mia's behest, the fairy ring glinted and sparkled. I was uncertain of our destination, yet I had assurance that Mia would not take us into any hazardous situation. The flashes grew faster, and the light from the ground intensified. After the flashes died off, we were suddenly teleported away.

In the blink of an eye, we found ourselves at the top of a hill, with a far-reaching view of a peculiar city lurking in the depths of the forest. This urban utopia was in stark contrast to its surroundings; tidy roads were lined with precisely arranged one-story homes- it was almost reminiscent of a city in modern-day Japan. The tree houses harmoniously crafted to fuse with nature had been replaced by this carefully planned civilization. If the previous location was home to elves, what exactly was this place?

My gaze moved up to the sky. Above us was a dazzling canopy of light made up of interwoven tree roots. It stretched far and wide, encompassing the entire town. I soon realized that those weren't branches but instead the roots of the great World Tree. I glanced down upon feeling a slight tug on my arm, only to be met by Mia, whose gaze held a look of mischief.

"Real town," She explained.

"Real… Do the elves normally live here?"

"Mm,"

Still grasping my hand, Mia guided me to an area resembling a tram station. There were things that resembled Practical Magic's Floating Boards. They were see-through but had a tinge of colour, so I could tell it was a different type of spell than I was used to. A juvenile came in on another vehicle shortly after we got to the platform.

"Welcome home, Mia. You brought someone here already?... Hello there, I'm Tutoreiya. Just call me Tuya, please. I was studying in the land of humans until about a hundred years ago,"

The boy appeared friendly enough. He informed us that the village we had just been to was specially built for tourists, with the aim to give it an 'elf-like feel'.

Constructed about four hundred years ago, the place was meant neither to be deceitful nor mean-spirited. It had been built under the direction of the Saga Empire hero Daisaku, yearning for peace instead of battle, and it served to welcome and entertain guests in the land of the elves.

Mia, becoming increasingly frustrated by our lengthy conversation, eagerly tugged on my hand; in response, I promised to talk to the boy again at some point in the near future.

"Ride,"

Mia hopped onto a Floating Board that ever so slightly dipped upon her boarding yet soon returned to its normal height. Seeing her success, I copied her steps in getting onto a board placed next to hers and listened as she murmured a number I assumed to be an address. With a simple utterance of this address, Mia spurred both boards to start moving towards the destination without me even needing to give any commands. Following close behind was my board, determined to not separate from its fellow.

The streetlights shone brightly as if to act as a beacon to lead us along. The houses were somewhat uniform in size, covering roughly seven thousand square feet each. Their slate roofs and white resin walls gave them a contemporary and modern look rather than a more whimsical one. The glass doors were set in frames and had a rail, allowing them to slide open and closed in the same manner as typical sliding doors from modern Japanese residences. Rather than metal walls or fences, these homes were typically divided by bushes or flower beds, generally the latter, in my opinion. It was strange, though, as no one seemed to be around. Were they all celebrating somewhere aboveground?

The boards we were on zipped along at a speed of about 12 mph, barely touching the ground as they moved along. The path below was reminiscent of the surface of an asphalt road or a hard-surfaced tennis court, with it being made of tiny pebbles that resembled brown beads. The boards eventually slowed to a graceful halt outside a specific house. With no sound, they sunk into the earth, vanishing from sight.

"Kura,"

Mia's touch to the front door activated a pneumatic hiss, causing it to open automatically. We stepped inside, and the door closed behind us, very reminiscent of a sci-fi movie. Mia's grip on my arm pulled me away from the sight of the moon, barely visible through the dome-shaped glass ceiling and the canopy of the city. The feeble light of the moon was likely diminished by the two layers of glass that were between it and us. Making our way down the hallway, I followed closely behind her.

"Here,"

Mia ushered me into what I believe to be her room, which was impeccably clean, as her parents had clearly kept it spotless in her absence. Not a single speck of dust was present. The room had a hint of pink and a cosy, girly touch. In the corner was a bed with a desk beside it and a few built-in shelves lined with a stuffed penguin and tiny plushies with no additional decorative pieces such as plants present. It seemed like it belonged to a middle school girl.

"You have a cute room, Mia,"

"Mm. Comfy," Mia smiled shyly at my compliment.

"Wait," Mia, with that command, sauntered into a tiny room that looked like a walk-in closet. She stopped momentarily and popped her head out. "No, peaking."

Mia vanished inside, closing the door behind her. Did Mai think I would peek unless she explicitly told me not to? I utilized the Telephone spell to reach out to Satou, informing him of Mia and my whereabouts since we left without telling anyone.

"So that's where you two are,"

"Yeah, Mia sorta dragged me down here, so can you let the others know where we are,"

"Sure but… that might be a problem…"

"Did something happen?"

"Nothing too bad. But somehow, everyone got drunk again, and most of the people here had already passed out… hey! Arisa, stop trying to take off my clothes! I have to go now… Arisa stop! I'll let Mia's parents know where she is… Lulu, please stop helping Arisa, and can the two of you let go of my top."

I hang up since Satou has his hands full. Hopefully, he can make it through the night in one piece.

"Kura,"

Mia mustering up all her courage, peeked her head out from the walk-in closet and then walked back into the room. The outfit was undeniably adorable, featuring a long-sleeved white blouse paired with a miniskirt with delicate pleats. However, the most noticeable element was the cute knee socks.

"Knee socks,"

As she had mentioned, her slim legs were covered with knee socks that were pulled up firmly. I had never encountered knee socks in this world until now. They happened to be white with light-blue horizontal stripes.

"They look very nice on you,"

Mia did a bashful twirl, causing her skirt to flutter, revealing striped undies. Embarrassed, she quickly recovered, but it was clear that she was a fan of strips. Mia ran back into her wardrobe and shut the door behind her as her face burned a bright red.

The evening continued with Mia displaying her stylish wardrobe, more diverse than initially anticipated, displaying the traditional attire of the elves from the tree village. A cute round neckline, an all-over animal-print pattern, short flutter sleeves, and a casually loose silhouette. A laid-back yet stylish outfit. The skirt is made from a lightweight and airy fabric with an all-over floral print. It features a full-circle skirt with three-quarter-length leggings made from a super soft, stretchy fabric and has a generous fit. That was just to name a few of the outfits Mia showed off that evening.

Mia eventually gave in to her exhaustion and drifted off to sleep, so I relieved her to her comfortable little bed and allowed myself to be pulled closer and closer into the tempting realm of dreamless slumber nearby. Her soft, cosy bed was too inviting to refuse. Before I knew it, I had fallen deep asleep.

<0>

"Sneaking Attack!"

"Sneaky Attack!"

"Sneak Attack, Sir!"

The sudden shout and impact startled me from my slumber. Mia, who had been resting beside me, released an unexpected 'Geh!' in surprise.

"Arisa, Pochi, Tama, you should not dive on people first thing in the morning?"

"Mrrr. Heavy","

"It's your punishment for running away too. Feel the wrath of the Lolita press!"

I sighed and tried to sit up, but Arisa, Pochi and Tama were already crawling over me. Even Mia is trapped as Pochi and Tama's legs pn her down.

"This is punishment for sneaking off last night,"

"Punishment!"

"You need to be punished, sir,"

It was evident that Satou had given the group a hangover cure since they showed no signs of being hungover.

"Arisa,"

"You three, you mustn't be so rude to nobility,"

Satou enters next, followed by Liza. Liza lifted Pochi and Tama off us while Satou picked up Arisa freeing Mia and myself.

"Hero, the underground city is amazing, I report,"

"To think that the elves had such a remarkable place hidden here!"

Nana and Lulu were in a state of heightened excitement. It was clear that the semi-subterranean cityscape took them aback. None of them could mask their surprise.

"I gotta admit it is pretty cool. Like a space-age colony or a hyperdimensional fortress," Arisa commented.

"Oh, my,"

"I hope you rested well, master,"

Pear and Sara had very different reactions when they entered the room. While Pearl looks unfazed and stands dutifully by the door, while Sara looks upset and a little jealous.

"Good morning, Miss Kura,"

"Mia!"

All of the others moved out of the way as Mia's parents appeared, having led the group here to this secret world beneath the surface. In reply, I gave them a warm hello, yet Mia's dad had an intense glare when he noticed Mia and I had been sharing a bed.

"Oh my, aren't you two close? How lovely,"

"Mm. Lovers,"

Mia's response to her mother's remark only served to worsen her father's misperception.

"Interspecies and same sex. Can't reproduce,"

"Please calm down, dear,"

"No!"

"Just a moment, Mr Laya..."

Mia's father swivelled towards me, his stern gaze making me feel like a woman asking her lover's disapproving parents for their blessing to marry.

"We fell asleep together and nothing more. The rest of us usually share a bed at night, too,"

"Harem?"

I had anticipated that Mia's father would react to the situation as though there was nothing going on between me and Mia, but I was mistaken. Instead, he responded in a very unfavourable manner. He now looks at me with even more resentment and disapproval.

By the time it was all said and done, Mia's mother had to intervene in order to finally put an end to his rage and clear up the confusion. I wasn't sure if she genuinely resolved the issue or if she simply overwhelmed him with her relentless and fast-paced chatter. After a lengthy discussion, Mia's mother ultimately made her point known.

"Miss Kura, at some point, please tell me the story of how Mia became so attached to you, okay? I'm looking forward to it. For now, I'd like you to go see the Council of Elders with Mr Satou, if you wouldn't mind. They asked for you two personally, you know,"

I immediately accepted their invitation, as it would have been impolite to decline. Furthermore, I was hopeful that I would be able to create some beneficial connections that could assist us in fighting the rest of the Demon Lords.