S11 The Elf Girl

Summoned by Father.

Just the two of us, me and Katia.

No idea what for. We tilt our heads in unison.

"Could it be about an engagement?"

"What? Whose?"

"Mine and yours."

I have no reply to Katia's outlandish remark.

"No way."

"Still, even if it's not us, what would people think? Same age, similar standing. And we get along well enough. So why not make it official now?"

That makes sense. Not entirely implausible.

I am a member of the royal family. Katia is the daughter of a noble house with a long lineage.

We match.

"Still, are you really okay with that?"

There’s no way around it. I can’t imagine marrying a man. But someday that’ll happen. I need to prepare for it.

You're thinking along those lines, then.

"Rude. But honestly, it's easier having you as my fiancé than some stranger no one knows. You know my circumstances. If push comes to shove, it's a bit of a scandal—but both parties can agree to dissolve the engagement."

There is another method available.

A fiancé had never crossed my mind before, but as one of the royal family, it wasn't unreasonable that such a matter might arise at any time.

If that is the case, it might be convenient for Katia to become an engagement partner without either of them needing to be aware of the other.

With one exception.

"What do you plan to do with that, Sophia?"

“Ah”

Yes.

Sophia does not permit anyone who approaches me.

Cathia has been slightly more relaxed lately, but if the idea of an engagement with me comes up, who knows what’ll happen.

"If that happens, I might end up killed by that girl."

"That’s going a bit too far."

"...I think it’s entirely possible."

Sue’s grown a bit odd, but not that much.

While they were talking, a man and a small girl entered the waiting room.

Me and Cathia stared, mouths agape, at the two who had just entered.

Their ears were longer than a human’s.

"First time meeting. I am Potimas H'aifenas, appointed as an elven goodwill ambassador to this nation. I summoned the two of you. Please treat me accordingly henceforth."

The elven man, Potimas, introduced himself with a flat tone.

This was my first time meeting an elf.

I had known elves existed, but seeing one in person still brings home the fact that this place truly is another world.

"Ah. I see. You possess it."

Potimas narrowed his eyes, accompanied by an uneasy sensation.

"Oka. These two possess it. The rest is your domain."

"Yes, yes. I understand."

"Then I shall take my leave."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Without further delay, Potimas exited the room.

Left behind, my companion and I could only stare in silence.

No time for my own introduction—gone in an instant.

I looked toward the small girl left behind, unsure what to do.

"Ah, ah. Then I shall introduce myself. My current name is Philimes H'ayfenas. Please look after me from now on."

Katie and I exchanged glances.

Being introduced by such a small girl left me unsure how to proceed.

"Proper etiquette requires you to state your name after the teacher introduces themselves. How about that?"

"Apologies. I am Prince Schrein Zagan Analeit, fourth prince of this nation."

"Karnatia Seli Anavald, eldest daughter of the Anavald ducal family."

Hastily introduced upon the girl's prompting.

"Umm, umm. A prince and a duke's daughter, huh? So cute."

I froze at the words.

The peculiar way she spoke, her mannerisms—everything matched someone I knew.

Katia, standing beside me, reacted similarly, eyes wide.

"Could it be... Okachan!?"

"Using 'chan' with a teacher is improper. But correct, nonetheless."

The person standing there was Okachan—Ms. Okazaki Kanami, our homeroom teacher from a previous life.

This teacher, known by the affectionate nickname Okachan, had been quite unfortunate.

She had imitated the speech patterns of characters from a manga she had once been obsessed with, to the point that it became her natural way of speaking.

She had chosen to attend a university strong in history, influenced by a战国-era manga.

She had even devised the Reverse Genji Project, leading her to become a schoolteacher.

A thoroughly unfortunate teacher.

Yet, her very unfitness had become endearing to students, making her quite popular.

"Then? Why are you here in this country?"

"Because I heard there were two of you," she said, stretching the words out. "It's become quite a topic. A truly extraordinary genius has been reincarnated multiple times in the Anareite."

We spoke to our long-lost mentor in Japanese.

We had already revealed our previous-life names.

His eyes widened the moment he heard Katia’s name—then, the next instant, he was babbling something about being “adorable.”

“Come all this way just to see us?”

“Not that it’s the only reason, though. Teacher, after all, is still teacher. I do think one should check on their students’ safety. Well… I suppose safety is irrelevant when they’ve been reborn.”

He spoke with mock humor, but his intent was admirable.

I had been so focused on merely surviving in this world.

I never considered searching for my classmates.

“After all, this world is dangerous—unlike Japan. It’s better to protect them as soon as possible.”

I had never thought of that.

Monsters exist here. It’s obvious, really. Yet I had assumed, because I was safe, that everyone else was too.

"Then you came to protect us?"

"No no—personally, we can't just take you along so easily. Protection at the Elven village is only granted when the individual expresses a desire to be protected."

"So you've already found others?"

"Yes. Twelve at the Elven village. Five others, including the two you mentioned, have successfully made contact. Two more have been located as well—we'll visit them later."

There were twenty-five students in our class.

That means six remain unaccounted for.

But conversely, only six students are still missing.

Finding that many students across such a vast world must have required considerable effort.

"Teacher... you went to such lengths just for us."

It is my duty as a teacher. Most students are found within the human territories, as humans, so it was not particularly difficult.

Even so, it was clear the teacher had invested considerable effort.

I bowed my head once more toward the teacher.

Well, there are matters to discuss, but the teacher will soon enroll in this nation's school. We can talk in detail then.

Katarina and I will also soon attend that school.

A new life was approaching, just ahead.