Chapter 100 – D + 100

“… At that time, I shouted, ‘No, senior!’ The Hechling was startled by the sound and turned his head towards me, so I lunged at him and stabbed him in the eye.”

“My goodness, you are so brave, Miss Haru. I heard that the hatchling’s eyes are hard enough to deflect swords and arrows.”

“Huh? Oh… Yes, I did. But what I was holding was a sword made by the best craftsmen in the empire. As a result, the guy’s eye was immediately torn out and blood splattered out.”

“Oh really? So you defeated the hatchling with that sword?”

“I thought so. But unfortunately, that alone didn’t kill it. My knife must have gone through its eye and pierced its brain, but it went crazy trying to bite me somehow.”

“Oh my god. I never thought they would be so persistent… So? So what happened?”

“Normally, I would have easily been able to dodge such a foolish struggle. But I was already so exhausted at that time, and in a moment when I let my guard down, the guy’s jaw grabbed my arm…”

“Ah…”

“… That’s what happened. But I don’t regret it. This arm is a token of my honor that I saved my senior.”

One day he raised his severed arm high as if he were a triumphant general. The elves who were listening to the story seemed to be uplifted by the sight and clapped without even realizing it.

And I just turned away from him and fiddled with the back of my hand. When legends are created, the truth must remain silent. Besides, I like Haru so much, so I think it would be okay to just stay still for a bit this time.

There was a minor problem that this story would now be published in the elves’ newspaper.

“That’s amazing. It’s hard to imagine how much strength Ms. Haru’s presence must have been for Saya and Lope. Right, Lope?”

“Yes? Ah… Yes.”

“Are you uncomfortable because I asked you this? That may be the case. It hasn’t been long since you came here yet…”

“No, it’s not like that. We’re really fine.”

“I’m glad. If you feel like you’re having any trouble, please let me know right away, okay?”

“Yes, I understand. Hina…”

I repeated the name, which was even awkward to pronounce, with difficulty. Hina. Hina. Hina. She was an elf reporter who came 100 days after the world was destroyed. Even from a very famous newspaper.

Even Saya was aware of its popularity, so I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Fortunately, the interview was conducted in a comfortable atmosphere, and most of the interview was about a day of excitement for no reason. If a difficult topic came up, Saya stepped in instead.

All I had to do was sit back and hope that this peace would last until the end.

“… Anyway, I’ve killed more than a dozen hatchlings. I just hope it serves as a tribute to the people who died. Ah, may peace be upon the Emperor, who died after being crushed by a hatchling’s ass.”

“I think Ms. Haru is a really thoughtful person. Moreover, it’s amazing that she did something like that even though she couldn’t see.”

“That’s what I’m saying. My only regret would be that I wasn’t able to watch my performance with my own eyes.”

“You speak so wittily and well. I think you must have been very popular in the human world, right?”

“Ha. Don’t even talk about it. That’s why I only served as student president for three years.”

“…”

You can be so shameless because you don’t have anything to see. I knew he was like this from the beginning, but today it’s gotten worse. Probably, I was more excited than usual because I had an accepting audience.

The speaking skills of the elf conducting the interview were unusual. But one day, she whispered to me in a soft voice, perhaps thinking it was an expression of her interest.

“I think these people really like me.”

“Yeah. I guess so.”

“Your reaction is not cool. Are you jealous because all the attention is only on me?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Ha. Don’t be too harsh. Innate talent and wit are something that can’t be helped.”

A smile accompanied by a provocative tone. If you look at that obnoxious expression, you might feel a sense of jealousy that isn’t there. In the meantime, the interviewer brought up another topic to brighten the mood.

“Oh my god, so much time has passed even though we’ve only exchanged a few words. I don’t think even an entire night would be enough to have a proper conversation with Ms. Haru.”

“I hear it often. It might not surprise you.”

“Not at all. I’m not surprised at all, Miss Haru. There’s a lot more I’d like to ask, so would you like a drink first? If you need any help…”

“There is no need for that. There is such a thing as a blind person’s sense.”

“Okay. Then, while Ms. Haru has a drink, shall we listen to Lope and Saya’s story?”

“… Oops.”

A choking sound came out of my throat without me even realizing it. When I looked up, the interview reporter and the elves who followed were all looking this way.

“Are you okay, Mr. Lope?”

“Ah… Yes.”

“Don’t be nervous. Just think of it as having a conversation with a friend.”

“I will try my best.”

For a moment, my mouth was watering. Saya glanced at me and naturally held my hand and opened her mouth.

“It’s okay, Lope. I probably won’t ask too many difficult questions.”

“I know.”

“If there’s anything burdensome, I’ll do it for you.”

“Thank you, Saya. But you don’t have to do that. Like you said, it’s not that big of a deal.”

Feeling embarrassed later, I tried to look calm. Meanwhile, the interviewer finished preparing and picked up the pen and notebook again.

“Are you ready, Mr. Lope?”

“Yes. It’s okay.”

“Don’t feel pressured, just answer whatever comes to mind.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, you’re so stiff. I’m saying you’re really fine.”

She touched my shoulder and burst into laughter. And the other elves in the room. I was infected by the atmosphere and smiled awkwardly.

“Ah… Haha…”

“I think you’ve finally relaxed a bit. Then, shall we start with something simple?”

“Yes…”

“So when does successor training start?”

“… Yes?”

“Education of the successor, Mr. Lope. When do you plan to take over the position of chieftain?”

“Uh…”

“…”

“… Yes?”

I frowned, doubting my ears. Is this perhaps a joke only for elves? I foolishly pushed up the corners of my mouth, wondering if that was really the case.

But the elves’ expressions were serious. They are looking at us with a stiff expression, unable to even see the smile from before.

I had no choice but to ask those people again.

“Yes?”

“If I were to put it in human terms, I would say he was the king. I’m curious about the specific time and progress.”

“Yes?”

“Yes. The name will also be a problem. If Mr. Lope ascends to the position, will he keep the name Chief? Or will he follow the human system and call himself Emperor?”

“Uh…”

Perplexity. Absurd. And laugh. I slowly looked back at the audience with all of those emotions. They were still looking at me with serious expressions.

Could this be a dream? People laugh when they find themselves in unexpected situations. I also couldn’t break away from that habit and just foolishly pushed up the corners of my mouth.

“That’s a fun joke. Thanks to you, I relaxed. Now on to the next question…”

“No, Mr. Lope. We are serious. The chief has continuously made his intentions for the throne clear before, and after the dragon incident was over, his will became even stronger. Even his only daughter came back.”

“That’s…”

“And Mr. Lope, it may be a little premature, but he has a good chance of becoming the chieftain’s son-in-law, doesn’t he?”

“I…”

“Right, Saya?”

As I continued to hesitate to answer, this time the arrow turned towards Saya. I gave Saya a pleading look, hoping she would give a wise answer, but unfortunately the questions were not good.

The chief’s son-in-law. It will soon be her husband. In other words, marriage.

Captivated by those words, Saya’s cheeks turned red. She hesitated a little and then nodded her head shyly.

“… Yes. That’s right.”

“As expected…!”

And the elves also felt a sense of elation. They exchanged glances with each other and then rushed towards this direction.

“When will the ceremony be held? Is the chief coming too?”

“Wait a minute. I…”

“If I officially become a son-in-law, does successor training start then?”

“That’s…”

“Or is there a possibility that Saya will inherit the position? Then what will be Lope’s role?”

“Uh oh…”

“Is there a possibility that you two will compete!!!”

The last question came out almost like a scream. The elves’ curiosity about the new chieftain was that great. No, the word madness was more appropriate than curiosity.

But that wasn’t the end. While they were momentarily dazed, their questions continued endlessly.

“And Mr. Lope, I am very curious about how the meeting with Mr. Saya came about. There is a story that there was a huge fight of nerves with Mr. Anbert at the port on the day of arrival.”

“That’s true, but it’s only one-sided…”

“Could it be that the imperial family arranged your marriage to Saya? The Anbert family was one of the competitors?”

“No. No one knew Saya’s identity…”

“And I heard that Mr. Lope is also the daughter of a nobleman. Could it be that the meeting was planned to some extent? Or did the human side prepare someone else, and did Mr. Lope force himself to meet Saya in order to continue their forbidden love?”

“…”

“It was like that! Such a beautiful love blossoming in the midst of destruction. The meeting between a human boy who turned away from the empire for pure love and an elf girl who wanted to survive with him. You can write it like that, Lope!”

“…”

The elf who asked the last question couldn’t hide her excitement and gasped. I don’t know if it was her imagination, but she felt as if her body was being pushed away little by the power of the breath.

No matter how much I think about it, it’s not madness I can handle. Maybe that’s why, without realizing it, my head turned towards the similarly crazy guy.

“Hey, Haru. Say something. Are these people in their right mind…”

“… I’m angry.”

“Huh?”

“I can’t believe that so much attention is being paid to a senior who doesn’t talk much like that.”

“Hey you crazy guy.”

“But don’t worry, senior. I will take that honor back from you.”

I could feel the needless determination in his tone. One day, she quietly raised her hand with a meaningful expression.

Then he opened his mouth in a very serious voice.

“I will confess one thing, everyone.”

“…?”

“I’m actually Saya-san’s secret concubine…”

“Hey!!!”

The moment nonsense came out of his mouth, I quickly got up and covered his pretty lips. But one day, he struggled in my arms as if he didn’t want to lose.

“Let go of this, senior! I need to gain fame and popularity from this place and become a celebrity!”

“Why on earth are you trying to get hung up on something like that? There’s no need, so just keep your mouth shut!”

“Such an irresponsible person…! You can make a living as the chief’s son-in-law, but all I have is an uncontrollable talent and a fatal charm! I have to worry about making a living too!”

“Okay, I’m thinking about going to the academy properly. I’ve already gone through all the admission procedures…”

“You’re laughing! I even looked into kindergarten to match the elves’ level!”

The reality is, so what should we do? She wanted to say that, but she couldn’t open her mouth because Haru was pinching her lips. It seems like there was quite a lot accumulated over that time.

Meanwhile, my wrestling skills were poor, so I had to struggle for a while to subdue him. Meanwhile, the elves had already turned their attention to Saya and were continuing their barrage of questions.

“So, Saya. What was the Chief’s opinion? Did he by any chance express his opposition to marrying a human?”

“He was a little worried, but he didn’t object. I think he left this job entirely to me.”

“Do you have anything special to say?”

“Well… You want me to love my child…”

“A child? A child? A successor?”

“Yes?”

“The chief is also looking at the successor!”

“Eh…?”

Saya immediately sensed something was wrong and tilted her head. However, the elves, already on fire, added delusions to the story without hesitation.

“The chieftain who chose to coexist with humans is now dreaming of reforming the dynasty of pure-blood elves that has lasted for hundreds of years? Is this another wind of change?”

“No. Not really…”

“Yes. Of course, nothing has been confirmed. But can I say there is a good chance?”

“Over there…”

“… In response to the reporter’s question like that… Saya only smiled inexplicably. Like… A dolphin… Surrendering to the waves of a huge current…”

“Hmm…”

I couldn’t help but marvel at the process by which the story was distorted and became a rumor. The chief’s daughter returned. The human son-in-law she chose. And maybe a new dynasty of half-elves will begin.

What elf wouldn’t be excited by this news? The reporters’ hands were now trembling as they wrote down the news they heard in their notebooks. I didn’t dare to imagine how distorted myths were being written there.

“I didn’t expect to hear this many stories. Oh my gosh, the front page of the newspaper wouldn’t be enough.”

“Yes… I hope it helps.”

“I’ll definitely have to stop by the chief after this. You can’t avoid it this time.”

“…”

“So, Saya, what do you think about her plans for children? Do you have any thoughts?”

The elf, who had already filled up a notebook, asked one last light question. Since I already knew the answer, I avoided eye contact and Saya scratched her cheek as if she was a little embarrassed.

“I… Of course, I think so. I’m dreaming of so many things.”

“Good. Oh, I’m just asking. How many people do you want? I used to have fun thinking about this before I got married.”

“Ah… Um… That’s…”

“Just tell me in a whisper. It’s okay.”

“That’s…”

Seeing the elf laughing mischievously, Saya lowered her pawed face. Warm smiles appeared on people’s faces, as if they thought she was cute.

However, instead of answering, the moment she spread her hands out wide, an embarrassed gasp came out.

“… Yes?”

“…”

“Hmm…”

Should we see it as Saesaeksi’s grand ambition? Or should we think of it as a virgin’s childish dream? The elf who asked was scratching her head and thinking. I gave her a sympathetic look as she must have been in the same shock as I was in the past.

But the answer she gave the next moment completely blew away my illusions.

“It’s smaller than I thought. I guess you don’t have much greed in your plans for your children?”

“Is that really the case?”

“No. These days, we are focusing more on our married life. And since Mr. Lope is a human being, it may be difficult for him to be more greedy.”

“That’s the biggest part.”

“I see. They say that humans have a bit of a hard time when their numbers increase. I’m not sure to what extent.”

“That’s right.”

“…”

It’s small. I had no choice but to remain silent in a conversation that seemed to go far beyond human standards. Meanwhile, Saya’s expression as she finally found the right person to understand was very impressive.

Is the life of an inferior species a continuation of this kind of lack of understanding?

“Anyway, I enjoyed your story. It really helped me a lot, everyone.”

“…”

“This concludes the interview. Is there anything else you’d like to say to us?”

While they were in agony, the elves were preparing to say goodbye with bright expressions. Without even considering the pitiful thoughts of the inferior species that they had dug into.

I quickly shook my head at those who inflicted good-intentioned violence like that.

“No, there is none.”

Then he bowed and said something he didn’t even mean to say.

“… Thank you.”

“I was very embarrassed, Lope.”

“…”

After returning home.

Those were the first words Saya spoke to me while I was still dazed. I thought for a bit and then answered honestly.

“A little bit.”

“Don’t worry about those people. There are many elves who are not interested in power, so they tend to treat the question of who becomes chief as a matter of mere entertainment. It’s a little different from humans, isn’t it?”

“…”

That’s not what I wanted to point out.

While I was thinking that, Saya’s palm stroked my head once and then twice. There was a lack of understanding, but the warmth was still there.

I surrendered myself to that kindness and lay down on the sofa without taking off my clothes. Then, a head slowly rose up from the side and let out a groan.

“Damn. I can’t believe I’m getting less attention from someone like you.”

“Is it still that way?”

“It’s still like that. How severe is the relative deprivation right now?”

“Really…”

“It’s quite unlucky for you to be so leisurely. Die, you elf’s stooge.”

He stuck his head into my side and started hitting his ribs with a lot of accuracy. It wasn’t that strong, but I felt like my bones would break if I left it alone.

“Stop it. I’m so tired.”

“Oh my, you’re already starting to act like a celebrity.”

“Okay, let’s say that’s true. So, can’t we just be quiet now?”

“You’re not really showing anything anymore, senior. Your arrogance is soaring to the sky.”

“You must be the one who doesn’t see anything.”

“Oh my God, Your Majesty, you choked to death on dragon farts. I will never forgive you for your wickedness.”

“Ouch.”

A blow filled with resentment was directed to the lips. One day, even though I was tired, he kept stroking his hand and I didn’t have the energy to fight back, so I just ended up getting hit. Interviews with elves were such an arduous and difficult labor.

After arguing for a while, Saya eventually intervened. She grabbed Haru’s arm and hugged us both at the same time.

“Stop it Haru. You’ll really get hurt.”

“Are you tired yet? Damn, I guess I’ll have to start exercising soon.”

“More than that, you were supposed to tidy up your room when you got home. Did you forget that you promised to do it yourself?”

“Ha… That’s right. But can you please take a break for 30 minutes? Sister. Actually, I’m a little tired too.”

“Okay. It’s not urgent.”

“Unni, get some rest too. As for you… You can do that or not…”

One day, I burst out crying all the way to the end and lay down using my arm as a pillow. I was so disgusted with the guy who was causing such a fuss earlier that I felt like hitting him hard.

But as I looked at that scene, I too felt sleepy. I yawned lazily and out of habit turned my head towards Saya.

And I made eye contact with her as she opened her mouth and yawned, just like me.

“… Oh.”

“…”

A small laugh burst out, probably because he was embarrassed to be seen like that. Saya looked at me for a moment and then slowly lowered her head towards her arms. It seems I wasn’t the only one who felt tempted by Suma while watching Haru.

In the end, we lay down in one place and closed our eyes, as we always did. I lay down on the sofa in the same clothes I wore outside. Using each other as pillows.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had to sleep like this these days.

“Haam…”

It seems like this is the way to make up for the lack of sleep. I didn’t think it was a big deal and leaned back on the sofa. A cool breeze was blowing outside the window, tickling my clothes.

And not long after, the familiar sound of breathing came from both sides and tickled my ears. As I felt the breathing calming down, I felt drowsy as well.

A nap in the land of the elves, who asks for help while throwing down both arms defenselessly.

A peaceful day like any other day.

It was just an ordinary day. The sun, which rose as if it were natural, was already dreaming of tomorrow.