第６８６堀：たのしいたび (Part2)
Amanda and Eoid tried to comfort me, but at that moment, I truly thought it was the end.
I mean, wouldn't you? We were told to face the kin of Surakichi-san—a slime that even the formidable Deryu-san couldn't defeat—and Steve, a monster general in Weed who commands Earth’s weaponry with ease. But when it came down to it, goblins and slimes are the weakest monsters in this land.
Actually, the slime aside, it was surprising that goblins would attack as monsters. We need to discuss this carefully in the New Continent; otherwise, the goblins there, who live peacefully alongside humans unlike those deranged ones, might face persecution. In that sense, I suppose it was a valuable experience, but...
"Yuki isn't paying any attention to us, is he..."
"Kagura, don't say that."
*Sigh.* We are, after all, just little diplomats from Heiden. As the two of us were feeling down, Eris-san called out to us.
"Yes, yes, don't just mope around. First, make sure you finish your work. We've arrived."
"Arrived? Is this the village where you lived, Eris-san?"
"Strictly speaking, it's the village where I was born and raised."
Hearing that, I looked out the window. The car had stopped at the edge of a forest, where an ancient wooden gate loomed.
"Well then, Yuki-san. I'll go ahead and speak with them."
"Right. We'll wait here in the car."
"Yes. Please wait just a moment."
With that, Eris-san stepped out of the car and headed toward the gate. She spoke happily with the elves who were standing guard with bows in hand before disappearing inside.
"Eris-san was smiling."
"An acquaintance, perhaps?"
"No, she was born here, so it's only natural she'd have acquaintances."
Yuki joined in on my conversation with Mikos.
"Looking at you all, it seems you aren't tired from the battle with the monsters."
"No, I was exhausted. I thought I was going to die."
"Ah, I apologize for not giving you a heads-up. I wasn't sure if it was right to tell you they were weak before you fought them."
"...Mmph."
I could certainly understand Yuki’s reasoning. He didn't want us to let our guard down.
"Well, that aside, you don't seem very excited despite having come to an elf village."
"Well, I am a little excited, but after seeing the number of Spirit Maidens and warriors in Weed, I was already surprised. Coming to this village, the only thing that really surprises me is seeing a single race living together in a group, I suppose?"
"Mikos-chan feels the same. Since we're used to it in Weed, I don't think it's anything to make a fuss about."
"I see. What about you, Solo, Amanda, Eoid?"
"I feel the same as my seniors."
"Me too. Well, I’m sure there are village-specific rules that might be a hassle, but I doubt many people would go out of their way to visit a demi-human village from Weed..."
"I don't think so either. Not unless there was some special business like what Yuki-san and the others have today..."
Just as Eoid was sharing his thoughts... *BOOM!!*
A deafening roar echoed from the village. We scrambled out of the car in a panic to find Eris-san, and there we saw her—at the epicenter of the blast, holding an elf man up by one hand, clearly furious.
W-what should we do!?
"Wait, wait! Eris, what on earth happened?"
"Calm down, Eris."
"What’s going on?"
Ignoring my panic, Riel-san and the others tried to soothe her.
"It's because this guy..."
As Riel-san asked, Eris-san’s face darkened again as if she had just remembered something.
"A-and that... what could you possibly see in a man like that... I am much more... to you..."
The man being held by the throat looked at Yuki and spat those words out. Thanks to that, the mystery was solved.
" " "Kill him, it's fine!!!" " "
At that moment, I realized my feelings were perfectly synchronized with Eris-san and Riel-san. This guy deserved to die. It’s one thing to be too stupid to recognize Yuki’s greatness, but to insult him in front of us? That was a declaration of war. Furthermore, the idea that he was a better match for Eris-san than Yuki was proof that his brain was broken.
There is no husband for Eris-san or us other than Yuki. Someone this deranged should be disposed of right here.
" " "Wait, wait, wait!!!" " "
Just as we were all about to deliver the finishing blow, Yuki and the others rushed in to stop us.
"Eris, everyone, just calm down! Is there anyone here who knows what’s going on!?"
Yuki shouted to the surrounding elves, but no one responded—or rather, they all just looked troubled. Suddenly, a voice replied.
"I wondered why Eris hadn't arrived yet, but what on earth are you doing? This isn't just a case of 'magic gone wrong'... this is a clean trace of magic."
The speaker was a beautiful, middle-aged elf woman holding a staff.
"Ah, Elder."
" " "Elder!?" " "
We were all shocked by Eris-san’s words. After all, someone who looked barely over thirty being an elder!?
"Hm? Oh, we have guests? A pleasure to meet you. I am Edel, the elder of this village."