Chapter 333 – From now on
“【Fluffy Create】!”
“Iron-make, 【Shining Ultimate Nail】! 【Darkness Burst Hammer】!”
When it came to building temporary dwellings at the new location, Espie and Slayer were very excited.
“Bu~, Slayer, I thought that before, but that’s too exaggerated! That’s just a nail and a hammer!”
“You have such poor naming sense! Generally speaking, you say ‘create’ and just pile up wood and other stuff!”
“Slayer, you always say Shining this and Darkness that, but they’re all just normal!”
“What…… you can’t tell the difference? That’s why children …….”
The two of them were bickering pretty loudly, but somehow they were working their hardest for the sake of the elves.
The elves, who at first had only been wary and hostile towards humans, gradually began to loosen their expressions.
“Ah~, hey, hey there~, Espie…… and Slayer, was it? You’ve been toiling away…… how about a bite of bread and some rest?”
“I’ll eat!”
“Ah, Espie, no fair! Don’t eat my share!”
“Ah, haha, plenty left, there be. Look, our share’s still here.”
“Un! Mrs. Yitea’s recipe was tasty, but this one is tasty too!”
“You’re so greedy and unrefined…… ah, it’s delicious…….”
They were kids, and most of all, they both put their bodies on the line to protect the elves. Also, they’re cute.
“Say, Espie! Slayer! Eat with decorum, do not fret! There will be no leftovers or pilfering here!”
“”Yes……””
“Hahaha, Fair Lady Yitea is more akin to a mother now, isn’t she?”
“Say, hold your tongue! Such musings do not occupy my mind! It’s but mere speculation, akin to pondering upon the nature of parenthood~ or the yearning to have a child as soon as possible~ or such matters, so don’t mistake my intent! Ah, yet, it’s not that I shun the prospect of my own offspring…….”
So it’s no surprise that everyone gradually opened up.
I thought it wouldn’t be strange for them to feel depressed and gloomy after running away from the place where they had been living with only the clothes on their backs, but seeing Espie and Slayer, who are still children, working so hard, the elves seem to be gradually regaining their cheerfulness.
“…… So where threads your path? Lady Dark Elf.”
“………………”
At that moment, the Chieftain asked Larou’iph, who was sitting quietly next to me while I was receiving treatment.
“…… What do you mean…?”
“You shall not return to the ranks of the Demon King Army, will you? Will you journey back to the Demon Realm?”
“………… no….. I won’t …… do that anymore.”
“So, you will pursue that first love of yours, Aka?”
“………….”
Larou’iph’s shoulders trembled slightly at the mention of Mr. Aka’s name.
Well, she cried so much when she found out that Mr. Aka was alive.
If it’s true, she’d like to go look for him and meet him.
But……
“No… that’s… not possible. I’m already… too bloodstained to meet Aka…… the people I’ve killed don’t number just ten or twenty. I am repulsive…”
It was war…… Larou’iph didn’t make such excuses, and reflected on what she had done so far and seemed to feel guilty about a lot of things.
Mr. Aka wanted to stop fighting humans and befriend them.
On the other hand, Larou’iph had killed, tormented, robbed, and trampled many humans, just like in Ghenkan.
“Anyway, rest assured, I will not return to the Demon King Army. I will not even speak of the elves. I swear by Aonii’s life. I’ll leave this place soon.”
“…… You have no destination in mind, do you?”
“Even so. Dying miserably in the field is also a fitting end for me……”
Saying this, Larou’iph lowered her head again.
Honestly, I couldn’t say anything rash about how serious she looked, but as Mr. Aka’s childhood friend, and most of all, the life that Aonii saved, I couldn’t leave it alone.
“I wonder~…… in my opinion…… one path or the other…… it all leads to the same end.”
And at that moment, with a sigh of exasperation, the Chieftain spoke.
“Chieftain?”
“……?”
Not understanding the meaning of the Chieftain’s words, Larou’iph and I tilted our heads, and the Chieftain said……
“I possess the gift to understand the cries of every creature that dwells in this world. Dragons, beasts, birds, insects, fish, and monsters, their lamentations, the screams of life dying from the strong eating the weak…. ever echo within my ears. Some I have befriended, yet others… not so much. It’s the way of the world…… even amongst the beasts, some refuse the bounty of the land, demanding flesh to sustain their existence. So, as I listen to those screams, I see no difference between humans, demons, and wars. They struggle to eat. To live. However, in your case, reasons for slaughter are garbed in righteousness, in vengeance, emotions not known to the natural world.”
I’ve heard it in the past when Tre’ainar talked about the magic of 【Mutza Gouro】. At the very least, you will not be able to eat meat.
That’s right. If I heard a cow or a pig say, “Help me,” I would have a lot on my mind.
The Chieftain was always in such a world.
In fact, he understands the cries of all life in the midst of nature’s survival of the fittest.
From the perspective of such a Chieftain, all those who kill each other in war are the same……
“Say, Lady, Young man, I have a question for you…… Should the wars cease, and in their wake, all demons depart from this realm, leaving only humans behind, what fate would you foresee…… And conversely, should humans vanish, leaving only demons, what destiny would await our world?”
I thought about that question for just a moment.
A peaceful world without conflict…… I doubt that……
“…… If it becomes a world of only humans, humans will fight among themselves…… If it is only the demons remain, the demons will fight with each other…… that’s the kind of world we’re going to live in
Then Larou’iph spoke with a stern expression, and although I felt desolate, I agreed with her answer.
And the Chieftain nodded and raised his face.
“Indeed, that is the way the world is. Through centuries and eons, it remains unchanged. Wherever you go, conflict prevails…… accompanied by tragedy and screams…… In essence, whilst some among the aggrieved may clamor, on a global scale such matters are but commonplace, and perhaps it’s folly to dwell overmuch upon them, at least in this day and age of the world.”
“It’s stupid …… to think that it should be normal, with how dirty …… I’ve already become.”
“Humans, demons, and of course us elves, bear their share of blemishes, as one might expect. Some elves, puffing themselves up with the arrogance of being the supreme species, look down upon other races, which makes matters worse. Yet, despite our differences, there was but minor skirmishing with your kin, and no lives were lost. In fact, Lady, considering how your sorcery saved us all this time, one might even regard you as our benefactor, surpassing any petty grievances.”
I’m not sure about the last part of the theory anymore, but I’m kind of getting the idea……
“In other words, the Chieftain is saying to Larou’iph…… if you don’t have anywhere else to go, you can stay here for a while. Don’t get so depressed…… I guess you did a lot of things in the war, but I don’t care…… are you trying to say that?”
“…… Forgive me, for I too have lost track of my thoughts along the way…… Yet, I believe that’s the gist of it. Despite the talk of execution and torture when the Lady was being held captive, this recent turn of events must have stirred various sentiments. A man who risked his life to protect us and acted a fool for the sake of his friend of a different race…… the ogre who was moved to action, shielding us with valor…… and the dark elf who came to our aid…… innocent children toiling with pure eyes. This time, we elves were attacked, but we couldn’t do anything. Everyone…… must have keenly felt the weight of their own powerlessness and the narrowness of their hearts, prompting a reconsideration of many things.”
“What’s that?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. But that’s the way it is.
“Well~, perhaps the blue ogre wished to aid not only the Young man, but the Lady as well. We elves were merely taken along.”
“Aonii ……?”
“I mean, what was it he said, ‘think about how you want to live in the future, and live again, the way you wish to live’………… I believe.”
“…… tsu…….”
That happened while I was unconscious…… certainly, when I heard those words, I understood that Aonii was trying to help Larou’iph as well.
Oh I see… then……
“Hey, Larou’iph.”
“What?”
“I don’t know where Mr. Aka is right now, but…… at least…… the time I met Mr. Aka, what happened, what we talked about, what kind of games we played… if you don’t mind me reminiscing…. can we talk about that?”
“Huh!? Aka……?”
I won’t mention anything that might involve history, but there are still things I can talk about.
Then, I can at least do that……
“Ah… please… tell me. Memories of… you and Aka.”
At my suggestion, Larou’iph nodded obediently with tears in her eyes again.
