| Author: Sasaki Ichiro | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mab | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Silva | |
A number of elves lay on the ground like livestock in a slaughterhouse. Cattleya’s daughter described them as “frozen tuna at a fish market,” suggesting she shared my perception. They were all around 200 years old at most, young, and bloodthirsty — it’s likely why spirits of anger easily possessed them.
Fortunately, none of them suffered life-threatening injuries. At most, they had contusions, bruises, and simple fractures, yet the young human girl still moved diligently among them, providing healing spells to those in need. She was devoted, showing no signs of exhaustion.
It all began when Pryui Shiel, our youngest kin, was kidnapped by a human child when she approached their settlement out of curiosity. I could understand why these youngsters became enraged and decided to retrieve Pryui Shiel on their own. However, that was no excuse to blindly attack the people who had saved Pryui Shiel, simply because they were humans.
In elven culture, the sin of an individual should be borne by that individual alone, with no blame shifted to the whole group, especially not against those who were innocent, regardless of the circumstances.1
(We’re in no place to diminish the humans. Look how tainted we are with prejudice for living in such a narrow society…)
I hid my lament in my heart, thinking bitterly of the outbursts of these young elves who moaned and groaned as they were laid out on the grass.
Even to us elves, they had merely received their just deserts. This girl bore no fault. Not only was it misplaced for her to apologize, but she also had every right to be angry at them, yet she showed none of that. Her unbelievable selflessness and sincerity made it hard to believe she was human.
In comparison, her mother Clara, the so-called Cattleya of the Livitium Imperial Kingdom, and the Shrine Maiden Princess, head of the Saintess’ Church, was indeed clever and wise, but on the other hand, she always seemed somewhat fragile and unstable as well.
About 20 years ago, one day, the Lord of the Supreme Heaven, the benefactor of our village, appeared before me after 80 years of absence. At Her invitation, She, Lady Regina, and I embarked on a journey across the continent (since I was nearing 600 and had too much time to spare, I let curiosity guide me), and it was during our visit to Livitium that we encountered her. My initial impression of Cattleya of the Imperial Kingdom was that she was a dangerous individual, but strangely enough, I didn’t sense such danger in her daughter.
With exquisitely delicate features, graceful gestures, and a somewhat fragile expression, she indeed resembled her mother, Clara. However, she possessed a clarity and warmth that Clara lacked.
As I watched her, clad in a black dress and hat adorned with a rose ornament, moving gracefully about the battlefield with a wand emitting a faint healing light, I—Uranus Kiohn, Elder of the Elven village—couldn’t help but reminisce about days long past. A smile crept onto my face.
“…I see. Her appearance is all she has in common with her mother, while her personality couldn’t be more different. On the contrary, her disposition reminds me more of…the first Saintess and the founder of our church, her holiness Rozen Heilige. Don’t you think so, Sir Bartholomew?”
As I glanced briefly at the imposing skull-faced Death Knight by my side, his solemn expression remained unchanged. “Hmph. She still has a long way to go. But, very well, if the Saintess were here, she would indeed take the same course of action.” As much as he spoke with a tinge of indignation, there was a hint of pride in his voice.
(Come to think of it, when the Lord of Supreme Heaven spoke of the Shrine Maiden Princess, she said, “That one is strong despite looking frail. She arouses others’ protective instincts with her appearance, compelling them to serve her in the name of ‘patronage,’ while she herself does only the minimum expected of her. Well, I guess that is what an idol is.” I remember the bitterness in her voice…)
With those harsh evaluations of Clara floating in my head, I fondly observed her daughter — Syltianna — who acted in complete contrast to her mother.
♢♦♢♦♢
I was frozen stiff when they called me Shrine Maiden Princess Cattleya, but I was relieved when I realized it was in Elvish and that both Eren and Lana were still stunned by the beauty of the Elder of the Elves — Uranus. With a bit of strain in my voice, I replied.
“You’ve mistaken me for someone else. I am not someone with a name as grandiose as that.”
Uranus was mildly surprised to hear High Elvish from my mouth but seemed to notice something else.
“Hm? So you may say, but your spirituality, the quality of mana, and the color of it, they all match with that of Lady Clara’s… Ah, I see, 20 years have passed in the outside world, haven’t they? Which means…I see! You must be Syltianna! You look exactly like your mother!”
Well, now that they had put two and two together, I decided I wouldn’t be able to trick them and briefly explained.
“There was a time I had that name, but now I’m just a simple town girl called Jill. No need to use such a pompous name for me, and please address me casually. …although, do I really take after my biological mother that much?”
Against my better judgment, I had placed expectations on my inquiry. At which, the Elder of the Elves shook their head slowly. “…Upon closer inspection, other than various features that you two share, you are practically a different person compared to her. Forgive me, Lady Syltianna.”
I didn’t expect that the Elder of the Elves would be a direct acquaintance of my birth mother. When they mistook me for her, I was secretly hoping that, perhaps, I had inherited even the slightest bit of her immense beauty, but…well, they denied it.
…I mean, I know my place as a weed. I’m not that disappointed.
“Please call me Jill, Elder Uranus.”
“You may simply call me Uranus as well. And, I wish not to deny the name your mother has given you. May I ask for permission to call you Syltianna? Of course, if you so wish, I shall refer to you as Jill whenever I speak the human tongue.”
“Hmm… Then, let’s continue the talk in the human tongue.” It was hard for me to say otherwise since they brought up my mother, so for now, I offered a compromise.
“Very well. Jill, let me apologize to you once again. The actions of our village’s inhabitants resulted from my shortcomings as the village leader,” Uranus said, offering their apology gracefully, without clinging to their position as an elf village leader. At which, Bartholomew narrowed his fiery eyes with an “Indeed,” Pryui opened her eyes wide, and Ashimi swooned from shock. As for me…I waved my hands in utter panic.
“P-, p-, please don’t lower your head! It is us humans who invaded this land in the first place, and we had injured Pryui…wait, ah! How could I forget, the elves were hurt by Bartholomew’s attack! We need to heal them!”
“Jill is a Healer, Elder. It was she who healed my injury. I think we should ask for her help.”
Pryui timidly suggested, and Uranus looked at her gently.
“Aah, yes, I know she is. Lady Jill, I know that my people have merely received their repercussions for our unreasonable hostility, but they are still branches of my own precious family. I would like to ask you to heal them if you can…and of course, I will offer appropriate gratitude for it.”
“Th-, there’s no need to! It is my excessiveness that is at fault, so I would like to make amends by healing them. No, please let me heal them!”
With renewed enthusiasm for my offer, Uranus seemed to scrutinize my face for a moment and then let out a smile as if relieved.
“…you are indeed quite different from Cattleya.”
Well, as much as we are mother and daughter, she’s Cattleya, the Queen of Orchids, while I’m just a ragweed, a mere pigweed you might say. Please stop comparing us; it’ll only make me look more miserable.
I appealed with my gaze, but then, “However, I prefer lively flowers like you,” they spoke, trying to make me feel better. There wasn’t a single hint of malice in their voice.
That beautiful face coupled with such a sweet line earned a shrill “KYAA~~!!” from Eren and Lana behind me, almost reminiscent of fangirls from the world before.
Given my understanding of their history with my mother, I admit I felt a bit inferior. Nevertheless, the remark about loving weeds, that’s elves for you—certainly unique, to say the least.
“For now, let’s have everyone move the elves closer to me. If there’s someone who’s pinned under a tree, have Vier or Bartholomew clear the way. I’ll make sure they’re ready anytime.”
“Mhm. You have my deepest gratitude, Lady Jill. Sir Bartholomew, if you would.”
“Fret not. A meeting by chance is preordained. Yesterday’s enemy is today’s ally. We hold no grudge against each other, so don’t feel reserved.”
“““““……”””””
I mean, yes, that’s a very good piece of wisdom. And I can very well understand that it’s a wonderful, progressive, and peaceful opinion for a muscle-for-brains…I mean, fight-oriented-moron…I mean, an orthodox knight.
But… but you see, in a scene resembling the aftermath of a bombing site, with a vast expanse of exposed land spanning tens of mertes in every direction and debris scattered among the elves, this was hardly a setting befitting a peaceful discussion about protecting nature. Which was why it was only natural that both elves and humans would want to take a swipe at the very source of this destruction.
““““““YOU DON’T GET TO SPEAK FOR US, (YOU MONSTER) (BARTHOLOMEW)!!!”””””
All of us, except for the Death Knight himself who laughed heartily, and the Elder of the elves who was smiling, screamed.
