Vol 4 Chapter 46.2: Shirley the Elf

“I see… Thank you, everyone.”

“You should also thank my summoning magic, you know?”

Alice, who had summoned a harpy to track me, puffed out her chest with a confident smile. Her childlike display of pride was amusing, and I chuckled as I patted her head.

“Thanks, Alice.”

“Fufun. That’s more like it.” She waved her hand happily, clearly pleased, as she walked ahead.

“N-Next, could you… do that for me too?” Rena asked, looking enviously at Alice.

In this unfamiliar land, the familiar atmosphere of our group returned as we followed Shirley-san.

We passed through a massive wooden gate, sturdy and imposing, and the scene that opened before us was breathtaking. Nature dominated the landscape. The forest within the village was even denser than what we had seen on the way here, with enormous trees towering everywhere. Though the thick woods obscured the view, it was clear from the surrounding walls that the land was vast.

These trees were not just part of the scenery—they served as homes. There were countless structures integrated into the natural environment. Doors were set into the roots of massive trees, and spiral staircases, carved from wood or constructed from planks, wound around trunks, leading to houses perched high above.

While there were a few conventional homes scattered about, the majority of the village’s buildings were nestled among the trees, a unique style of architecture that was entirely unfamiliar to me. Seeing it all spread out before me was overwhelming, a vivid reminder that we were in a land where the culture and way of life were vastly different.

“It’s incredible… the Elf Village. I’d only ever heard rumors, but I never imagined it was such a grand place,” Fana-san said, her eyes wide with awe.

“This is the largest gathering place for elves,” Shirley-san replied with a gentle smile. “There are smaller settlements scattered throughout the land, but they are more secluded and likely fit the image of quiet, hidden elven villages that humans might imagine.”

Fana-san’s words, and Shirley-san’s response, perfectly captured what I—no, likely all of us—had assumed about elven life. I had imagined a small, peaceful community hidden deep in a forest. But now, standing here, I realized just how far from reality that idea had been.

We wandered through the village, looking around in wonder. Shirley-san, noticing our reactions, chuckled softly and explained that this place was akin to a human capital.

The village was alive with activity. Elves of all ages moved about—children running and playing, adults carrying vegetables in carts, and warriors armed with bows going about their duties. Regardless of age or gender, every elf seemed to possess striking features.

Unlike the bustling chaos of a human city, the atmosphere here was pastoral and serene, reminiscent of the village I grew up in. It was comforting. However, the way the elves looked at us—foreigners, and humans no less—was anything but welcoming.

“…Yeah, they’re not exactly rolling out the red carpet for us,” Nina muttered, her voice low.

Her observation was spot on. Many of the elves’ gazes were cold and wary, some openly hostile.

“Do elves naturally have a strong aversion to humans?” Fana-san asked.

“…Unfortunately, yes. Most of the villagers have little to no contact with other races, so they tend to be cautious,” Shirley-san admitted, her voice tinged with regret. “And now…”

Her words trailed off as her gaze shifted ahead.

“What business do humans have in the Elf Village?”

The sharp, steady voice carried an undertone of hostility. Looking up, we saw a man standing with a group of armed elves. He was tall, with piercing eyes and a presence that radiated authority.

Shirley-san’s expression tightened as she whispered, “…Edgar.”

The man sneered, his gaze flicking toward us. “So, this is what you resort to—bringing humans here when the situation turns against you. You’ve disgraced the pride of the elves. Relying on such pathetic beings is nothing short of pitiful.”

This must be Edgar—the other candidate for village leader, whom Queen Ramielle had mentioned. His opening words were dripping with contempt, and the entire party, myself included, bristled at his tone.

“That’s enough! These people are honored guests with a letter from the queen herself. I won’t allow such disrespectful remarks!” Shirley-san rebuked him sharply.

But Edgar only smirked, unfazed by her words. His provocative gaze was unsettling, his pale skin and refined features giving him a striking appearance. Unlike most elves with long, flowing hair, his golden hair was short and spiked, adding to his intimidating aura. He was taller than me and exuded a commanding presence, further emphasized by the gleam in his sharp eyes.

Though his green cloak gave the impression of light armor, the iron gauntlets covering his hands and forearms and the longsword at his waist suggested otherwise. He was undoubtedly a warrior.

“Humph. Is that so? That girl over there—I’ve heard reports she was commanding a harpy. How could we possibly trust someone who might be driving monsters toward our village?”

“—What?”

Edgar shifted his irritated gaze to Alice, inexplicably blaming her for using summoning magic. Alice looked momentarily startled by the accusation, her face showing a mix of confusion and anger.

What is this man even talking about? We’ve been attacked by monsters since we got here, not the other way around. I instinctively stepped forward to shield Alice and glared at Edgar, ready to speak, but—

“Edgar! Stop this! She’s merely a summoning mage and has no connection to the monsters near the village. Do you intend to escalate this further and create a political incident between our nations?”

Shirley-san cut in before I could, strongly protesting on Alice’s behalf. She held up the queen’s letter for emphasis. Edgar scowled like a petulant child, his gaze darting between Shirley-san and me as if we were mortal enemies.

“A proud elf, reduced to catering to humans. What a fine position you’ve found yourself in… Well, no matter. You’re a woman who strays from elven traditions—unworthy even of being my enemy. Hah!”

With a parting sneer that insulted not only us but Shirley-san as well, Edgar turned on his heel and strode away, his entourage trailing behind him.

Once Edgar was out of sight, Shirley-san turned to face us, lowering her head apologetically.

“My deepest apologies for the unpleasantness… again.”

I lost count of how many times she’d apologized, though I knew it wasn’t her fault. Still, her position likely left her with little choice.

“It’s fine. As a summoner, I’m used to nonsensical accusations like that,” Alice said calmly, her words carrying a hint of reassurance for Shirley-san.

Despite Alice’s composure, Kaguya’s expression had darkened when her mistress was accused. However, upon hearing Alice’s confident reply, her expression softened into something akin to a proud mother admiring her child’s growth.

“Shirley-san, about the monsters… may we ask what’s going on?”

Still upset over the insult to my companions, I turned to Shirley-san and asked about the situation.

“I intended to explain before we were interrupted… Let’s head to the elder’s residence. I’ll deliver the queen’s letter there and explain everything.”

Nodding, we followed Shirley-san to a large building on the ground. While not as grand as a noble’s mansion, it was considerably larger than the other structures we had seen, whether on the ground or in the trees.

We were led through the wooden doorway into a hallway filled with the scent of wood. Entering a room at the end, we found ourselves in a well-furnished space with polished wooden walls, a large desk with a beautiful grain pattern, and low tables likely meant for guests. Several shelves lined the room, filled with aged books.

“Oh, Shirley. And… my, rare visitors, indeed,” came a voice from behind the desk.

Shirley-san approached the elder, handed him the queen’s letter, and said, “Elder, these people are an adventuring party from the human kingdom. Here is a letter from Queen Ramielle.”

The elf who sat before us appeared much older than I’d expected. Despite the elves’ reputation for maintaining youthful appearances for centuries, this man had stark white hair and a face deeply lined with wrinkles. I couldn’t help but wonder how long he had lived as I quietly waited for him to finish reading the letter.

After a moment, the elder raised his eyes from the letter and regarded us carefully before speaking.

“…I am Roderick, the elder of this village. You have my permission to stay here.”

“Thank you, Elder Roderick. We are the White Lightning party, and though our stay will be brief, we appreciate your hospitality,” Fana-san replied politely, bowing deeply. The rest of us followed her lead.

“Indeed. Still… such beauty is rare among humans,” Roderick murmured, his gaze lingering on Fana-san.

Fana-san, unfazed, replied gracefully, “You flatter me, Elder. I am honored.”

Roderick’s demeanor was neither overly warm nor openly hostile. He showed none of the disdain Edgar had, nor did he fawn excessively. His neutral stance fit the reputation of elven elders being calm and impartial.

“Now that the elder has granted permission, let me explain the situation with the monsters, as Shin-sama asked,” Shirley-san said, stepping forward.

“Before reaching this village… did you notice an increase in monster activity?”

“Yeah, we did. How can elves live surrounded by so many monsters? You’ve got kids here, too,” Nina said casually, as if speaking to a friend. Her tone made me uneasy, but Shirley-san didn’t seem to mind.

“Yes, of course it’s troubling. However, this sudden surge in activity is recent—only in the past three months, around the time discussions about the next village leader began. The monsters started gathering, attacking elves who ventured outside, and even those who approached the village,” Shirley-san explained.

“So it happened suddenly? The monsters weren’t always like this?” Fana-san asked.

“That’s correct. And because of this, baseless rumors have spread throughout the village—claims that humans are somehow orchestrating these attacks. Edgar, who has always harbored a dislike for humans, has been pushing this narrative strongly, causing tension among the villagers.”

Though Shirley-san maintained a dignified tone, her weariness and frustration were evident.

The idea of monsters suddenly becoming more aggressive wasn’t unheard of, but blaming humans for it seemed irrational. Summoners like Alice could control monsters to some extent, but so could elves or beastfolk with the right magical aptitude. The logic behind this accusation felt flimsy, as if—

“It’s a convenient excuse to stir up resentment toward humans,” Fana-san said quietly, almost to herself.

Her words mirrored my own thoughts, resonating in the silence that followed like ripples on a still lake.

“In my hundred-plus years as elder, nothing like this has ever happened before,” Roderick added, breaking the silence. He didn’t address Fana-san’s comment directly, instead offering his perspective as a neutral observation.

The tension lingered, but Shirley-san shifted the mood by speaking brightly.

“…I apologize for burdening you with such matters. Oh! By the way, have you decided on accommodations yet? If not, you’re welcome to stay at my home. It’s modest, but I’d be honored to host you.”

Her cheerful tone felt slightly forced, but given our lack of arrangements—and my exhaustion from the earlier interrogation—it was a welcome offer.

Grateful for her hospitality, we left Roderick’s home and followed Shirley-san to her residence. As we walked, I noticed Fana-san trailing behind, her expression troubled, likely still mulling over the conversation.