It seems the Elf desires asylum.

23

Lately, he’d been busy tracking down the Oracle, but that was naturally not the only task of the Intelligence Agency.

Fundamentally, they were responsible for gathering and synthesizing information from around the world to analyze the political climate and trends, as well as carrying out various duties such as protecting key figures and executing assassinations.

Responding to defectors to the Empire was one of those duties.

Inside a room prepared in the intelligence bureau.

A woman with pointed ears, impossible for a human, spoke in a composed tone.

“My name is Jessica Bleifroy. I am a member of the great Elves, a guardian of the forest, a friend to animals, and an interpreter of flowers. I wish to defect to the Empire for political reasons.”

Elf.

Various other races exist in this world, but the Elves are unique in evoking an unexplainable mystique with just their name.

Bearing their characteristic pointed ears and living for ages incomparable to humans, they possess a pride particularly high even amongst the other races.

It could be seen as arrogance, but their extraordinary power ensures that no race dares to easily look down on them.

And that Elf was requesting asylum.

This matter could potentially escalate into an issue between races, so the intelligence bureau couldn’t send a regular agent; the minister himself had to step in.

Receiving Jessica Bleifroy’s request with his usual emotionless gaze, the minister silently studied her before replying.

“Your mother must be worried. Go home.”

—

She’s here again.

Well, she used to come once every two or three years, but lately, it’s been about once a year.

Ever since I visited the Elven Kingdom as an envoy from the Empire.

At this point, I can’t help but wonder if she’s doing this to deliberately mess with me.

“No. I am requesting asylum for political reasons.”

“I understand the urge to use new vocabulary, but that’s not something you say because your desired side dish wasn’t served at breakfast, or because your parents reduced your allowance.”

Jessica frowned, as if displeased by my words.

“Erwin, what are you talking about? I am not that much of a child.”

“Then what is it this time?”

More importantly, don’t go calling me by my name.

“Um… I had a disagreement with my mother.”

“What kind of disagreement?”

“About my career path.”

“What was it that you wanted?”

Jessica considered her words, pondering carefully before speaking.

“I wished to become a guardian who protects the place where my family returns from the dangers spread throughout the world.”

“So, a NEET, is what you’re saying.”

Other words for it are: discouraged job-seeker, non-job-seeker, employment abandoner, purely non-economically active population, home security guard, a shut-in.

I want to believe it’s just my imagination that it doesn’t feel like someone else’s problem.

“I’m only 170 years old. Too young to stand at a crossroads of life.”

“That’s an age when a human would have died twice over.”

Why, on this golden, long-awaited holiday, am I forced to have such imbecilic conversations with this fool elf?

A fresh wave of doubt washes over me, but there’s nothing I can do.

The fool elf before me is undoubtedly a fool, but also the only child of the Elf Queen.

Considering the elven tendency to not have many children, it meant this fool was likely to be the next Elf Queen.

I declare it here and now.

The elves are doomed.

“Hmm.”

“What is it?”

“I have a correction. After careful consideration, my birthday hasn’t passed yet. I am 169 years old.”

So what.

“In the first place, how do you manage to sneak in here every time?”

Every time news of your arrival gets out, the Imperial Knights, the Palace Guard, and my own subordinates suffer a precipitous drop in morale.

Whether she knows about this situation or not, Jessica holds herself with a composed face and straightened back.

“I am an elf. I did not sneak in. I walked in.”

Good for you.

“In any case, your request for asylum is denied.”

“I request a retrial.”

“That is also denied. Go back.”

Please, just go back. I have chores piled up at home, and I wanted to read a book.

Despite my desperate wish, Jessica declared resolutely.

“I refuse.”

In a normal, sensible situation, if an asylum seeker tries to stay against orders after their request has been denied, they could just be forcibly deported.

But she’s an elf, and not just any elf, but the Queen’s only daughter.

I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen after forcibly deporting her, and I fundamentally doubted it was even possible.

As much as I hate to admit it, this fool elf is, when it comes to magic, nearly as gifted as Angela.

“Fine. I’ll have a room prepared for you in the Intelligence Department. Stay there until you go back.”

“That’s not happening. I’ll be staying at Ervin’s place, just like last time.”

Spare me that, please.

Because of that little ‘incident’ between you and Angela, we even had to move!

And since I quite like this place, I wanted to refuse with all my might, but realistically, I never had a choice.

“How long do you plan on staying?”

“Ervin might be disappointed, but it won’t be long. I told a fib…lied that I was going out for a few days for research for a school report, so considering travel time, I have to leave the capital in about two days.”

Not the slightest bit disappointed.

Two days, huh.

At that rate, I might be able to avoid crossing paths with anyone.

“Conceal your ears with magic.”

“I know.”

With a quick flick of the wrist, Jessica etched letters into the air, and in an instant, her ears morphed into a human shape.

Or, more accurately, she was just tricking the eye with magic, so maybe they hadn’t really changed at all.

“Let’s get going.”

“On the way, I want to stop at the market. And the bookstore, and the cafe, and the theater, and the restaurants too.”

Why is it that all the women around me are such moochers?

I haven’t a clue.

—

Ervin is a strange person.

The day we first met, Ervin said to my mother,

that interactions between elves and humans were still premature.

He had come as an envoy from the great empire, yet without asking for anything else, he simply left those words and promptly departed.

Later, I asked my mother what he had meant, but I couldn’t really understand her explanation.

It’s bothered me ever since.

Why elves shouldn’t interact with humans.

And that’s why I’ve come to the capital again today, to find the answer.

“Ervin. That smoked duck is catching my eye. I want to investigate how the elven smoking method differs.”

“Didn’t you say animals are our friends?”

“They are. And friends are delicious.”

Whether he was convinced by my answer or not, Ervin didn’t reply further and bought me the smoked duck.

*Nom nom.*

“I cannot quite discern the difference.”

“Too bad.”

“Therefore, I believe I must sample another.”

“Too bad.”

“Who, pray tell?”

“I.”

Erwin makes utterances that defy comprehension at times.

In any case, the more time I spend with Erwin, the more inscrutable he becomes.

Which is delightful.

So delightful that I grow incensed at the passage of time.

Why ever is it forbidden to fraternize?

I directly inquired on a previous visit, but Erwin remained silent.

“Will Erwin not partake?”

“Sated.”

Indeed. This must be what they mean by feeling full merely from watching one’s ‘cherished one’ eat.

I must surely be a most cherished being to Erwin.

I arrive as I please each time, yet he has never once seemed weary of my presence, and fulfills nearly every request, save those that are truly impossible.

Even amongst differing races, the ways of expressing affection are quite similar.

It is safe to assume that Erwin holds me in the highest possible regard. Too much regard.

There is, however, a bothersome detail.

Erwin is quite popular.

“Ah, brother dearest!… Just as I suspected, entangled with a filthy spider once more.”

Who does this viper call a spider?

This woman, who accosts me each time I visit the territory, is Erwin’s sister.

A genuine pervert who claims to love her own brother, despite being his sister.

I once attempted to personally rid Erwin of this pervert, but this woman, for all her perversity, is incredibly strong.

To be evenly matched with one such as myself, who is unrivaled even within the Elven Kingdom, despite being a human… I suspect some manner of trickery.

“Worry not, brother dearest. Angela will swiftly rid you of this.”

A distasteful congruence of thought, it seems.

But before anything more could be said, Ervin stepped between me and the deviant.

“I’m working.”

“Work…?”

The pervert’s eyes blinked rapidly.

You could almost hear the gears turning in her head.

“Ah-ha, in that case, I understand! I’ll be patient, Angela will! But you have to make it up to me ‘next time’, Big Brother!”

A fool of a pervert.

That “I’m working” line was obviously just an excuse to send her packing, but she believed it hook, line, and sinker, retreating with an almost pathetic ease.

Though, that word, “make up”… that’s a little concerning.

Ervin is so damn conscientious, he’d definitely give even a sister like *that* what she wants.

“…………”

Suddenly, I’m irritated.

Why am I even worrying about this?

For a moment, the urge to knock Ervin out, like before, and drag him back to the elven kingdom washed over me.

But I won’t.

Because back then, the knight order, or the Imperial Guard, or people in terrifying owl masks radiating murderous intent chased after us like madmen, and it was a huge mess.

And Ervin was angry with me, too.

The Imperial Emperor officially protested, and I got a *massive* scolding from Mother, so I had to promise never to do it again.

Now that I think about it, it was a pointless promise to make.

I’ll probably break it at least once more, someday.

“Ervin.”

“What.”

“Have you never considered living in the elven kingdom?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t.”

But *why*?

When you like me.

When you seem to be driven half-mad by your affection for me.

While loving him enough to die.

Why?

As expected, concerning Erwin, there were things I couldn’t understand, countless things.

Annoyed, I insisted we go straight to Erwin’s house, foregoing both the theater and the bookstore.

But stepping inside Erwin’s house, I sensed something amiss.

“Erwin, has someone been here?”

“Subordinates or acquaintances drop by occasionally, but what about it?”

Erwin, not being a mage, seemed unaware.

Even with such potent mana lingering in the house.

It was as if some rutting dog had marked its territory all over the place.

As I worked to erase the traces of mana for Erwin’s sake, a sudden realization struck me.

There was no way that pervert would have seen this and remained idle.

Yet, the fact that I couldn’t sense the pervert’s mana meant they hadn’t been here yet.

My victory.

“Sleep well.”

Night fell, and Erwin, having given up the bed for me, headed to the living room.

It was a little frustrating that we weren’t doing anything, but I wanted my first time to be after we were married, so I had no choice but to endure it for now.

Eventually, buried in Erwin’s scent, I quickly drifted off to sleep.