That same scene I’m used to is back. Is what I think while surrounded by food.
Hikari in particular is really happy about it. For once, she has a smile on her face from beginning to end.
She’s stuffing her cheeks with meat, and after Mia wipes sauce off her face, she goes right back to smiling.
It might not seem that way to her, but for us, Mia has been gone for a while. The others are also watching them, as we all chat and eat.
“Eliana, don’t you want to eat?”
“…Hn~… I’m fine~.”
I say to Eliana, who looks a little left out, but she says she doesn’t really need to eat.
When we finish, Mia scolds Hikari for eating too much. I do feel like she ate more than usual.
But when I try to smooth things over, Mia gets mad at me.
“You’re too soft on Hikari.”
After having a meal with everyone present for the first time in a while, we talk about what’s been happening. Mostly about what happened while Mia was sleeping… How Elesya collapsed, and how Rurika and Hikari fainted.
Eliana is also listening, sitting on Chris’ lap.
“Sora~. Can I have that dagger~?”
Eliana suddenly asks when everyone is silent. I can’t answer that on the spot.
Considering we’re going to a dungeon, and surely other places too, the god killing dagger will be a trump card. I can replicate it, but the copies don’t last for long, and they take a lot of magic energy. Of course, it’s not all disadvantages either. It’s still useful to be able to replicate it, but just having the dagger makes a difference, psychologically.
“If we’re going to places like a dungeon, I want to keep it.”
“Hn, then I will give you something in return~. That dagger is a memento of Al, who went back to the divine realm~.”
“…”
“…Hum, what can I give you~. Branches from this tree~? I think you can make staves for Chris and the saint~.”
When I hesitate, she offers a trade.
Eliana tree branch. It might bring out the maximum effect of spells?
Is what Appraisal tells me, but I don’t really get it.
“Elves like Chris are especially blessed~. They bring out the full power of spirits~.”
“…Can we get more?”
“Hn, enough for five people is the limit~. Any more and they will start to drop in quality~.”
“…? All right, then I’ll trade it for enough branches for five people.”
I agree to the trade. It kind of feels like a waste, but it’s for Chris and Mia, so it’s fine.
I get five Eliana tree branches, and hand over the god killing dagger.
Eliana takes it carefully, and holds it against her chest.
“Thanks…”
I feel like I hear her say that, but it’s so quiet, that I’m not sure if I didn’t mishear it.
“Are you sure about this, Sora?”
“Yes, there’s enough for Eris and the others too. It will be more useful than the dagger.”
Once Elesya’s misdeeds are transmitted throughout the world, it should gradually become a better world for elves. But that will take time, and I’m sure there are idiots everywhere. Elesya was buying them all, but apparently elves were popular as slaves anyway.
If they have those things to protect themselves, that should serve as a deterrent. Then again, being too strong might make them seem like a threat, but I’ll leave that balance to the people on top.
I can’t think about it any further.
“Master, sleepy.”
Says Hikari while rubbing her eyes, after the trade is finished.
Her stomach’s full, and she probably isn’t feeling a hundred percent either.
Actually, everyone looks sleepy. I think I feel drowsy too.
Mia has been revived, and Rurika and Hikari woke up too. Maybe it’s because there was too much on my mind, and that weight has been suddenly lifted off my shoulders.
“We should be heading back. Yuini and the others… The dragon king’s daughter must be worried too.”
“Hn~. You can rest here today~. It would be tough for those two~.”
Eliana points to Hikari and Rurika, who are already down, and being held by Mia and Sera.
“…All right, we’ll be staying here tonight.”
We’re taken by Eliana to a place with thickly grown grass, and lie down.
Lying down on this grass feels like my body is gently being held. It’s like one of those beanbag chairs.
It doesn’t take long for me to hear people sleeping around me, and for me to fall asleep too.
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Thanks for the treat.