Vol 4 Chapter 46.1: Shirley the Elf

Shirley-san entered the room, and the flustered elf, though visibly shaken, managed to stammer a reply.

“Shirley-sama. W-With all due respect, it is true that this individual was acting suspiciously near the forest! That means justice is on our side—”

“That is not what I’ve heard. I was told that he merely defeated a stray monster—a Matango—near the village. Furthermore, I have confirmed a personal letter from Queen Ramielle in his possession. What you three have done is inexcusable torture toward a guest. There is no justice in that!”

“…Ugh.”

Her calm yet forceful words echoed through the small outpost, leaving the silver-haired elf, once so confident, unable to respond. He gritted his teeth in frustration, unable to say more.

“You two! Release this man immediately and return his clothing and equipment!”

“Y-Yes, ma’am!”

Without hesitation, Shirley-san issued her orders to the other two elves, who, whether out of fear of her status or the authority she exuded, quickly untied me.

Finally free, I stood up and turned toward Shirley-san.

“Shirley-sama… Um, thank you very much.”

I wanted to express my gratitude for her help, but considering it was her fellow elves who had imprisoned me, I chose to keep it simple.

“No, I should be the one apologizing—pardon me! I’ll take my leave now. You two, as well!”

She began to respond with an apologetic expression, but her face quickly turned bright red. She abruptly averted her gaze and left the room with the three elves, practically fleeing.

Watching them retreat, I murmured, “What just happened?”

Then, I realized the issue—I was stark naked. And because of the earlier events, my fully aroused member had been on full display to Shirley-san, an elf of likely high status whom I had just met.

I had really done it this time. Embarrassment and regret swept over me, but I couldn’t stand around forever. I grabbed my clothes from the corner of the room and began dressing in a fluster.

Trying to avoid stimulating my still-erect penis, I hurriedly tucked it away and finished dressing. Once ready, I called out toward the door, “I’m done now.”

The door burst open with surprising force.

“Shin! Are you okay? They didn’t do anything terrible to you, did they?”

Rena rushed in, her eyes shimmering with worry—or perhaps something more unsettling, as her gaze seemed unfocused. She threw her arms around me, pressing her ample chest against me. Her soft body and the soothing scent of her hair enveloped me. I could only glimpse her expression from the corner of my eye as she clung to me like a lover.

“I must’ve made you worry,” I said gently.

“You did! I was so scared…”

Keeping my voice calm, I whispered softly into her ear. Her reply came in a mix of relief and reproach, her words grazing my ear like a soft breeze.

Beyond Rena’s shoulder, I noticed the rest of my companions entering the room, their faces clouded with concern.

“Shin-san… I’m so glad you’re okay,” Fana-san said, her voice filled with relief as her gaze softened. At last, I felt a sense of calm returning. Everyone else shared similar expressions of relief. While I felt guilty for worrying them, their care warmed my heart.

Once the last of them had entered the room, Rena reluctantly let go of me, her arms falling to her sides.

As I considered what to say to everyone, Nina’s eyes narrowed mischievously, and her gaze focused on a certain part of me. A sly smirk spread across her face as she spoke.

“I’d say I’m glad nothing happened, but… What kind of interrogation did you go through? ♡”

Her teasing words seemed meant to lighten the mood. Her gaze lingered on the bulge in my pants, and she even pointed at it with her finger.

“I-I mean, this is, uh… completely unintentional…”

“Nihehe, well, as long as you’re safe, let’s leave it at that!♪”

“Honestly! We were so worried about you…” Alice sighed, exasperated, while Kaguya chuckled softly and tried to soothe her.

The atmosphere returned to its usual lively dynamic, and while I felt relieved, I couldn’t help feeling slightly embarrassed. Although everyone else relaxed, Rena alone didn’t join in the laughter. Instead, a dark aura began to emanate from her as she processed Nina’s teasing remark.

“Hehe… Oh, I see. Shin… did those elves do something to you? No, you don’t even have to say it—I already know. Of course they did. In that case… they’ll need a proper thank-you for what they’ve done. Hehe, hehe…”

“R-Rena, it’s okay! Really, they didn’t do anything serious! I swear!”

As I tried to calm the increasingly unsettling Rena, I noticed someone new entering the room.

“…Shin-sama, and everyone else. I must apologize for the disgraceful treatment you’ve endured due to our mistakes. I am deeply sorry.”

The person who spoke was Shirley-san, the next leader of the elven village. She entered and immediately bowed deeply, her posture stiff with remorse.

“P-Please, raise your head! I’m just glad the misunderstanding has been cleared up!”

Although I quickly responded, she remained unmoving for several seconds. Finally, she raised her head, and her long, golden hair shimmered as it swayed gently.

Now that I could look at her properly, I realized just how beautiful she was. Her elegant elven features were the very picture of perfection, and her green, jewel-like eyes radiated both strength and kindness.

Unlike the other elves, who had worn green, form-fitting dresses, Shirley-san’s attire was pure white and flowed loosely, resembling the petals of a blooming flower. Her outfit, which covered her from neck to toe, felt more like a noble dress than typical elven wear.

If Queen Ramielle’s royal gown symbolized opulence, Shirley-san’s attire embodied the beauty of nature itself. Though her figure was hidden, her slender build suggested the graceful physique that was often described as characteristic of elves.

“Do you always treat those who approach your village like this?”

The question, though spoken in a gentle tone, came from Fana-san as she looked at Shirley-san, who had just raised her head. There was an undertone of anger in her voice, likely directed at the fact that I had been taken away and subjected to something akin to an interrogation.

“That is… usually, no. It wasn’t this extreme before, but…”

“I see. It seems there’s a deeper issue here. Does it have to do with the succession dispute?”

“…You knew about that?”

At Fana-san’s blunt remark, Shirley-san’s eyes widened briefly before she averted her gaze, trying to compose herself as she muttered softly.

“…Let us discuss this further once we’ve reached the village. As guests of Queen Ramielle, we will provide you with proper hospitality. Please, follow me.”

With that, Shirley-san led us out of the outpost.

Outside, the silver-haired elf who had interrogated me earlier stood leaning against the small hut with the other two. Although the misunderstanding should have been resolved, she glared at me, her irritation evident as she clicked her tongue. Rather than feeling anger at her behavior, I felt a weight settle in my chest, as if I were seeing the gap between humans and elves for the first time.

As we began walking, Rena, who was by my side, started explaining what had happened after I was taken. They had approached the village cautiously to avoid provoking the elves and, upon arrival, met Shirley-san, who had heard the commotion. After showing her the letter from the queen, they demanded my release.