I Was Transported to Another World with a Male-to-Female Ratio of 1:3000 and Made into a Breeding Pet for the Demon Lord’s Army - 56

Chapter 56: There We Go… Majority Vote

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【…………Alright, here I go!】

Grip! Squeeze squeeze…

【…Ooh… Ooh…】

“Um…”

【…I’ve decided!】

Step… Step…

“She left…”

『N-Nice to meet you…』

Grip! Squeeze squeeze…

『…Ohoh… Oooooh… Hiii…』

Squeeze squeeze…

“Um! What exactly is this supposed to be, anyway!?”

『-!?!!!??』

Stomp stomp stomp!!!

“…What the heck is this?”

One after another, the villagers lined up in front of me, silently extending their hands. Before I could even think of refusing, they forced a handshake on me. I had no idea how many people I’d already shaken hands with. No one said a word. This strange ritual continued on quietly and methodically and I alone sat at the center, completely clueless as to what was going on.

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Only a few minutes earlier…

“Konkon~♡”

『………………………(Glance♡)』

While I was nervously patting Gon-san as usual—and for some reason Luna-san was lying silently on her back beside her—we were led by the hunched elf I had met yesterday to the grand plaza.

『P-Please sit here. Ah, help yourself to a drink… H-Hehe..』

As if I were the guest of honor, I was guided to a special seat adorned with extravagant decorations.

『Now then, please enjoy a dance passed down by the elves since ancient times, performed with elegant use of magic.』

Before I could recover from my surprise, a fantastical dance began before me, where magic-infused water and graceful movements blended together. It vaguely reminded me of a water parade from a certain theme park I once admired online.

Back then, I was too ill to go outside, but now here I was, watching it with my own eyes. I was deeply moved to know I was able to do this now. Although, for something inspired by a certain theme park, the outfits seemed way too risqué. The amount of fabric on their upper bodies was way too little!

『That is… a male of the human race.』

『He looks good, too. This might actually be… The one!』

『At last, our 500-year struggle may bear fruit… sniffle』

『Hey! All conversation must be through telepathy!』

Even so, I was captivated by the graceful dancing women before me—but when I glanced around, I noticed the spectators watching the performance all looked unbelievably youthful.

They all seemed to be around twenty years old. Everywhere I looked, it was one beautiful woman after another, and I couldn’t help but be drawn to them as well. Not a single elder in sight—no children either.

Perhaps this was that classic “elves are a long-lived species” fantasy cliché? And as usual, there were still no men to be seen.

『Wow… it’s so beautiful. As expected of elves, the magic they use is so flashy and extravagant.』

『It’s not uncommon to incorporate magic into performances, but to coordinate such advanced water magic to this degree is amazing. Just imagining the training involved makes me… Ugh, I feel like I might get magic power-sick.』

『Well, we elves have lived so long that we have magic power to spare, at least… Now then.』

『Hm? What’s with the serious tone?』

『Actually, there’s something I’d very much like to ask of you, Luna-sama…』

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As soon as the dance ended, some strange ritual began. The people lined up, and one after another, came before me and extended their hands, like at some idol handshake event.

Honestly, I was a bit confused. But thinking back to the time I was filmed or seen at the zoo, I thought to myself. 

Maybe they’re treating me like some sort of a celebrity…?

【…Ooh… Oooh…】

But despite approaching me themselves, they wore gloomy expressions and silently extended their hands. Even after a light handshake with me, they didn’t seem happy at all. Instead, as if in the middle of a solemn ritual, they quietly made their way into a building with a grave air about them.

“Hello!”

『! ……………』

It got so awkward, so I tried talking to them a few times—but they just trembled slightly, without saying a word. I knew we didn’t share a language, but… I was hoping for some kind of reaction at least.

『Hey, what’s with this funeral-like atmosphere? What exactly are they doing?』

『Ah… Yes. This unique style of welcome is something that’s very elves-like.』

『What do you mean?』

『Elves are cautious. They don’t easily accept outsiders. So instead, they approach silently and attempt to close the emotional gap through physical contact.』

『I see. Elves can sense the flow of magic within others just by touching them, right? They can even tell age just from a simple physical contact. Is that what they’re doing now?』

『……Yes. Precisely.』

『Hmm. I suppose it’s kind of like how us beastkin sniff people. I guess I can’t criticize it too much and Ken-chan doesn’t seem to mind either.』

【………………】

Grip! Squeeze squeeze…

【Alright… I’ve decided.】

Step… step… 

Another emotionless elf shook my hand and vanished into the building.

“Jeez! What is this?! Am I being welcomed or rejected? I have no idea!”

Even when I tried speaking to the hunched elf from yesterday, she just yelped 【Eeek!】 and ran off in a panic. She was clearly avoiding me… Maybe I really wasn’t being welcomed. If that was the case then… It was kind of depressing to know I was being rejected by them…

SPLASH!

“Wah, cold!”

『Ah, s-sorry!』

Just as the next person reached out to shake my hand, she accidentally knocked over a cup and spilled water all over me.

『Awawawawa…!』

The elf who spilled the water turned pale, tore part of her own clothes in a panic, and tried to wipe my wet clothes with it.

W-Whoa, there’s no need to go that far… Why is she this desperate? Could it be… They’re afraid of me? Is that why it feels like a funeral around here?

『I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please don’t hate elves!』

With tears in her eyes, she repeatedly bowed her head. Her voice was shaking.

Oh no, she’s about to cry for real… I have to calm her down somehow!

“Thank you for wiping me… Lavais (I love you).”

Freeze!

『L-Love… Love!? A human… A male…He said he loves me!? That’s—that’s impossible… No, but he said it! I heard it!!』

The elf suddenly stood up, her face flushed bright red, and her body trembling.

『The Selection Ritual? Who cares about that! That doesn’t matter anymore! I… I’m going to…G-get m-married—married to hiiiiim!!』

【【【【【Telepathy】】】】】

『GYAAAAAAAH!!! Everyone’s voices at once!! My head…! My head is going to burst!』

Thud!

Just as she shouted, the elf before me swayed and collapsed to the ground.

『What was that about? She was acting really strange. Was she trying to harm Ken-chan…?』

『N-No, it’s fine. That girl is… She’s just a little off in the head. If you’re worried about her, I can exile her from the village for about two weeks—what would you like me to do?』

『Hmm… I see. Then just to be safe, please do so. It would be too late if something happened to Ken-chan.』

『Understood…【Telepathy】』

After that, I ended up shaking hands with the elves endlessly. Because I kept a smile plastered on my face so as not to scare them, the muscles in my cheeks were completely exhausted from smiling. To be honest, I was starting to wonder whether this was a welcome or some kind of punishment game since all of them looked so gloomy.

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