After Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san’s little “battle” (?) settled down, and seeing them return to their usual selves, I started thinking about something.
I still don’t know when Isis-san will come to visit, so I’ll put that aside for now. But since I’m talking to them now, I think it’s the right time to bring up the Sacred Tree Festival, which has been on my mind for a while.
[I heard about it not long ago, but apparently, there’s a festival called the Sacred Tree Festival in the Elven Forest.]
[The Sacred Tree Festival, huh? Yes, it’s definitely around this time of year. I’ve never participated in it myself, but I’ve heard it’s the elves’ biggest festival.]
[Really? Lilia-san, you’ve never participated in the festival?]
I had always thought of Lilia-san as someone who knew everything, so hearing that she’d never attended such a famous festival came as quite a surprise.
Lunamaria-san quickly realized that the mention of the Sacred Tree Festival was connected to my earlier suggestion of helping Lilia-san get a change of pace. She nodded once and spoke in her usual tone.
[……I can understand why you keep forgetting, but in case you’ve forgotten, My Lady used to be a princess and the head of the Knights Order. So, she didn’t have many opportunities to leave the royal capital.]
[I feel like you’ve added a few unnecessary comments there… But yes, it’s true, as Luna said. I haven’t traveled outside the royal capital very often. It may be half-hearted, but I’m still royalty, and I was left out of most diplomacy-related matters.]
[Even though she looks like a woman who thinks with her muscles and was raised in some kind of wilderness, My Lady is actually like a doll trapped in a box.]
[……I would vehemently deny the first half of what she said, but the second half is generally true.]
It’s easy to forget, given her friendly and approachable demeanor, but Lilia-san is a member of the royal family with a claim to the throne. She finds herself in a somewhat difficult position as the King’s younger sister. On top of that, the King dotes on her so much that he’s reluctant to let her leave the royal capital.
As a result, while she may have traveled with Lunamaria-san before, it’s not something that happens often, and there are still many places she only knows through secondhand information.
[Putting that aside, does that mean Kaito-san would like to participate in the Sacred Tree Festival?]
[Y-Yeah, I heard it’s a famous festival, so I’d like to see it if possible…]
[……Isn’t it alright? The Elven Forest is known for its beauty and abundance of trees, and since both My Lady and Miyama-sama have been so busy lately, wouldn’t it be the perfect change of pace?]
When I nodded in agreement at Lilia-san, who asked while tilting her head, Lunamaria-san added her own supportive words.
Noticing her glance and the nod she gave me, it seemed that Lunamaria-san agreed that this festival would be a nice break for Lilia-san.
I thought the conversation would flow smoothly from there… but Lilia-san was looking at the two of us, clearly contemplating what we might be up to now.
[……That certainly is a great choice if we’re looking to go sightseeing. However, putting aside attending the Sacred Tree Festival, I’ve never visited the Elven Forest before, so I’m a little nervous.]
[Don’t you have any information about it, Lunamaria-san?]
I had heard that Lunamaria-san was a half-elf, half-demon hybrid, so I asked her if she knew anything about the Elven Forest, given her elven blood. However, Lunamaria-san shook her head.
[My father was indeed a half-elf, but he passed away when I was very young… My mother may have taken me to the festival in the Demon Realm a few times, but I’ve never visited the Elven Forest.]
[…I see.]
[Yes, since the Sacred Tree Festival is primarily an elven celebration, the ones who know more about it would be pure-blooded elves.]
Although this country supposedly has good relations with them, there’s still a sense of unease when we’re heading into a place where we lack information.
Lilia-san may have agreed to participate, but since she’s in charge of us, it seems she wants to gather more details beforehand. That’s when a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
[…Would Sieg-san know about this?]
[Indeed, Sieg is a pure-blooded elf born in the Elven Forest… Luna, around this time… Is Sieg out patrolling?]
[Yes, perhaps… I’ll call for her.]
Apparently, Sieg-san is from the Elven Forest and seems to be the perfect person to ask about the Sacred Tree Festival. After hearing Lilia-san’s words, Lunamaria-san went to call Sieg-san.
Sieg-san works at Lilia-san’s mansion, so it’s quite fortunate that she’s someone I can easily talk to—I’ve had plenty of conversations with her already.
I briefly explained the situation to Sieg-san, who arrived shortly after. She seemed to understand, nodding her head, and after sitting down on the reception room couch, she looked ready to answer our questions.
…She just sat down next to me like it was completely natural, but isn’t her vigilance towards me a little too relaxed? Ugghh… Something smells good… Calm down… Keep calm…
[S-Speaking of which, I don’t even know where the Elven Forest is in the first place. Is it far from here?]
[……………….]
[I see. So, would it be difficult to get there by carriage?]
[……………….]
[Would we get there by flight… Through something like magic?]
[……………….]
[Eh? A dragon? I see… So that’s another way to travel around here, huh.]
It seems the Elf Forest is quite far from the royal capital, and traveling by carriage would take too much time. So, it appears that flying dragons are usually used for long-distance travel.
I didn’t know this, but flying dragons seem to be the main mode of transportation for both travel and carrying supplies. There are even merchants who specialize in using them. In short, flying dragons are like airplanes back on Earth.
[In that case, the timing seems just about right, doesn’t it? Is the festival open to anyone?]
[…………………]
[That’s good. I’m relieved. I heard it’s a festival about hunting and harvest… but…]
[…………………]
[Ah, I see. The festival lasts for two days, huh.]
[…………………]
[Fumu fumu, so the hunting tournament is on the first day, and the harvest takes place on the second day, huh.]
[…………………]
[Ah, is that so? I’m looking forward to it!]
The Sacred Tree Festival apparently lasts for two days. On the first day, there’s a hunting tournament where participants hunt within a designated area, and prizes are awarded based on the game they bring in. Then, on the second day, everyone begins harvesting in a safe area. It seems even children can take part, and even someone like me, who can’t hunt, can join in without any trouble.
I’ve been told that the fruits from both the hunt and the harvest are cooked and shared on the second night, as everyone comes together to offer thanks for the bountiful harvest.
[……………….]
[Heehhh… So, a lot of people come to visit every year, huh.]
[……Ummm, please wait a moment, you two.]
[Eh?]
[……………….]
While Sieg-san was explaining the Sacred Tree Festival with her usual courtesy, for some reason, Lilia-san stopped us for a moment. When Sieg-san and I turned towards her, both Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san had dumbfounded expressions on their faces.
[What were the two of you doing just now, Kaito-san, Sieg?]
[Eh? No, Sieg-san was explaining the Sacred Tree Festival to me…]
[……But Sieg-san can’t speak, so how do you understand what she’s saying, Miyama-sama?]
[Well, I can somehow understand her based on her gestures…]
When the two asked me that, genuinely curious, I answered while tilting my head.
Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san exchanged looks before their expressions shifted to one of mild astonishment.
[……My Lady, could you understand what she was saying?]
[……No, all I saw was Sieg nodding, shaking her head, and occasionally moving her hands…]
Ah, that’s right.
Thanks to my Sympathy Magic, I could read Sieg-san’s emotions and understand what she wanted to say, not with words, but through her feelings. I thought it was easy to follow because she added gestures as well… But for Lilia-san and the others, it must just look like Sieg-san was making gestures while I was talking to myself.
[I see, Sieg… The reason you took the initiative to escort Miyama-sama was because you don’t need to write to have a conversation with him…]
[………………]
After hearing Lunamaria-san’s words, Sieg-san nodded deeply, and for some reason, she looked a bit taken aback before turning toward me. Then, she started waving her hands frantically, looking flustered.
She was trying to explain that it wasn’t just because it was convenient for her, but because she genuinely likes me as a person.
I could tell she was probably worried that her earlier statement had upset me, but hearing something like that from a beautiful woman like Sieg-san made me feel strangely embarrassed.
For my part, Sieg-san is someone very easy to talk to, so I’ve been having regular conversations with her whenever I see her… Still, I know Sieg-san is a kind person, so I didn’t think she would ever react that way. But, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t secretly worry that she might find me annoying.
However, after seeing how she acted just now, I felt really happy to realize that Sieg-san, who I’ve spoken to the most in the mansion aside from Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san, holds a favorable view of me.
Dear Mom, Dad—Sieg-san has told me a lot about the Sacred Tree Festival. Also, I’m happy to report that—it seems I’m getting along with Sieg-san.
Next time in YuuShou…… The Death King’s Invasion!
T/N: Three bonus chapters as thanks for the anon guy. Though I didn’t see his/her post in foxy’s kofi…
-LazyCat