After saving the two, the conversation turned to where they should discuss things, and it was decided that they would talk at the inn where Kousuke and the others were staying.
Sylvia and Colette had already checked out of the inn.
They had also planned to stay at the same inn, hoping to get help if needed.
However, they both knew that whether this plan would work out depended on what happened next.
Meanwhile, Kousuke walked towards the inn, checking the statuses of the two women.
Colette had a fitting title, which Kousuke found understandable.
The title was “Shrine Maiden of Esena.”
Considering Sheryl, whom they had met in the elf forest on the Arzen Continent, Kousuke figured this title must mean something related to that.
He wasn’t sure if Esena was concerned about Colette because of this title, or if Colette had this title because Esena was concerned about her.
And then there was Sylvia.
She also had a title that piqued Kousuke’s curiosity.
It was “Shrine Maiden of Eris.”
“Eris (エリサミール) instead of Elisa Meal (エリサミール)?”
Kousuke thought. He had too many associations with the name Eris.
At this point, Kousuke’s mind had already connected Elisa Meal and Eris, but he didn’t know if it was true.
He also wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to ask about such a thing in passing, so he decided to ask about it at the inn.
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It seemed Sylvia and Colette had each booked their own rooms.
Unsurprisingly, Kousuke and Mitsuki were sharing one room. Before Kousuke could decide, Mitsuki had already taken care of it.
Since Kousuke’s room was slightly larger, they decided to have the discussion there.
However, the discussion regarding Colette and Sylvia’s request was over in an instant, much to their surprise.
“Could you please let us join your party?”
“Yeah. Sure.”
That was all that was said.
Kousuke’s party already had the strong Mitsuki, so adding two more members wouldn’t make much of a difference.
That’s why Colette and Sylvia had expected various conditions to be attached to their joining. That was the common sense thing to do.
They had prepared for a long negotiation, aiming to avoid any disadvantages for themselves, so to be granted permission so easily left them stunned.
“…Huh!? Wh-what? You’re okay with it…!?”
“Yeah, I’m okay with it. …Was there a problem?”
“No, no. There isn’t… Are you really okay with it?”
“Um… Kousuke, Mr.? In situations like this, it’s natural to set conditions. We’re the ones asking for the favor.”
Sylvia’s advice made Kousuke nod in understanding.
“Ah, I see. So that’s how it is.”
“That’s how it is,” they both nodded at each other. Colette could only offer a bitter smile.
“You know, Sylvia, I don’t think it’s a good idea to say things that put us at a disadvantage,” Colette said.
“That’s pointless. Kousuke doesn’t seem to be expecting any conditions from the start,” Sylvia replied.
“No, it’s not that. But if I were to state them, they might be conditions you couldn’t refuse. Especially for you, Colette.”
“You don’t need to add ‘-san’. …More importantly, what do you mean by ‘couldn’t refuse’?”
“Then I don’t need ‘-san’ either. …Well, it’s not that you couldn’t refuse, or rather, that you wouldn’t refuse…”
Colette furrowed her brow at Kousuke’s vague explanation.
“Well, forget it. Esena, you can come out now.”
At Kousuke’s call, Esena appeared.
Colette and Sylvia’s eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the young girl.
Esena, who had appeared beside Kousuke, trotted over to Colette and hugged her tightly.
“Wh-what? This child…? …! No way!?”
Colette, who had been hugged, initially looked confused, but then noticed Esena was a fairy and showed surprise.
“Wh-why is a fairy… here!?”
“Wow, that’s amazing. As expected of an elf. You noticed just by looking.”
Sylvia was surprised when Colette mentioned Esena being a fairy.
“No way, not just by looking. I knew because she touched me,” Colette corrected, stroking Esena’s head.
Esena, with her head being stroked, closed her eyes comfortably, allowing the petting.
Kousuke, finding the scene heartwarming, dropped another bomb for Colette.
“Is that so? …Esena is a fairy of the World Tree, you know. Isn’t it amazing that you could sense that?”
“Wow, that’s rare,” Colette replied without much thought.
She almost let the words that entered her ears simply pass through one ear and out the other.
However, the meaning hit her, and she couldn’t help but exclaim.
“…A World Tree fairy? You’re… kidding me!?”
At Colette’s exclamation, Kousuke put a finger to his lips, urging her to lower her voice.
Esena, still hugging Colette, looked surprised.
“Ah… s-sorry.”
“Well, I guess it can’t be helped. There’s one more thing, is that okay?”
“Wh-wait a minute, let me calm down first.”
Sensing that there was more to come, Colette took a deep breath at Kousuke’s deliberate preamble.
Meanwhile, Sylvia was already struggling to keep up with Colette’s astonishment.
Stories related to the World Tree were considered almost secret lore among elves, so it was understandable that Sylvia, a human, wouldn’t know about them.
“O-okay. Bring it on.”
Colette braced herself, but Kousuke’s next words brought about the biggest shock of her life.
“It seems Colette has been chosen as the Shrine Maiden of Esena (World Tree)…”
“…!?”
Despite bracing herself, Colette desperately suppressed the cry of astonishment that threatened to escape her.
Kousuke watched with an amused expression, while Sylvia and Esena looked puzzled.
Feeling it unfair to be the only one surprised, Colette asked Kousuke with a resentful look.
“…What do you mean?”
“Well, I don’t know either. I didn’t choose her.”
As Colette was about to say more in response to Kousuke’s explanation, she was interrupted by a cute voice coming from below her.
“Colette, Esena’s Shrine Maiden, yes?”
“I-it’s not that I dislike it? I’m just a little surprised,” Colette replied, hastily denying it to Esena, who looked sad.
Hearing this, Esena happily continued.
“Kousuke, Esena’s father. Colette, mother.”
Colette froze completely at Esena’s cheerful statement.
“…Colette?”
Then, from beside her, her friend’s voice made her break out in a cold sweat for some reason.
“W-wait, Syl. There’s no way I could have a child this old with someone I just met today!?”
“…Is that so? Are there no such elf secret arts?”
“Of course not! If there were such convenient arts, we wouldn’t be struggling with the birth rate as a species!”
Sylvia seemed to reluctantly (not really) accept Colette’s defense.
Relieved, Colette glared at Kousuke.
“Why are you looking so happy!?”
“Well, if someone told me that a beautiful woman like you was my wife, I’d be happy too. Show me a man who wouldn’t be?”
“…Are you serious…”
Looking at Kousuke’s words and her friend’s displeased expression at them, Colette was utterly dejected.
She never expected to face such unexpected hardships, completely different from what she had initially anticipated.
Mitsuki: “…What about me?”
Author: “While playing with Nana and Wanri, I’m watching the three of you with amusement.”
Mitsuki: “The fact that you can’t write that scene in the story is a testament to your skill, isn’t it?”
Author: “orz”
2014/5/11 Typo correction
2014/6/9 Typo and omission correction
