This is a story that begins with the third part.
The town of Polka, located at the northernmost tip of Trot Kingdom, has welcomed its short summer season. The lush green grasslands are visited by flocks of sheep, and shepherds take breaks at the sacred spring while marveling at the changing appearance of their town.

"Welcome! Ah, Jeanne-san. Do you need anything today?"

"I'm going to try making a skirt for kids as practice in sewing. I wonder if there's something nice-looking but not too expensive."

"Sewing practice... I thought Jeanne-san could sew clothes already."

"I've done patchwork a few times before. But this is the first time I'll be making an entire outfit from scratch. Bella grandma said she'd teach me, so I decided to give it a try."

"Oh, you mean the midwife... but for a skirt? Not for Peter-kun?"

"It's for Eleena. Besides, once I know how to make them, there are more women than men around Andy who need clothes."

"You're going to make clothes for everyone else too...? Are you planning on becoming a tailor instead of a blacksmith?"

"I ain't thought that far ahead, but it can’t hurt to try. Thanks to Selen and Apple taking turns watching the kids, we got plenty of time. I’ll hone my skills."

"Hmm… I can’t afford to fall behind then."

A passerby shepherd stared in shock at Jeanne and Oregano as they chatted amicably while checking inventory.

"…This is… rare to see a dwarf and an elf chatting so friendly in a human town."

"Oh, hello there. How about a waterproof cloak for the sudden rain? It’s a bit pricey but it’s made from high-quality fabric woven in the northern forest. Light, soft, and highly water-resistant. Even if it pours down, you won’t get wet. And we have hats made of the same material too."

"Oh, no thank you… I’ve heard that elven crafts are becoming more available recently… but can you really sell them to me?"

"I do wholesale with Silphied and other large trading companies separately. …But here, this is just a regular human store, not an elf direct sales shop. I’m just a hired clerk so if you’re willing to pay the price, I won’t be picky about your choice♪"

"Ah, I see… Still, it’s surprising that elves are friendly with dwarves."

"Jeanne is like family to me."

"Family...?"

The shepherd wore a puzzled expression. That was common enough. Elves and dwarves usually despised each other. An elf who was friendly to dwarves was rare, let alone calling them family. It was like pointing at an apple and calling it fish.

"Such is the world," she said. "Especially in Trotta, people tend to look down on non-human races."

"Mm, that's too bad... Everyone should live together amicably. If individuals get to know each other deeply, they wouldn't need to bring up racial enmity."

"Well, I can't talk either. If Lady Lyra and Andy hadn't taken me out, I might've had some weird prejudices against elves."

"If you say that, then without my master's help in the forest, we'd never have made it..."

"Indeed, Andy is a great man."

The female slaves often spoke this way to confirm Andy’s greatness. Whether he understood his own impact or not was unknown, but many people had their environment and lives completely changed by him.

Especially the fact that the Elven territory began to face outward was something that would never have happened without Andy's intervention. Like a crack in an endless overcast sky, this event changed the world for the forest elves, whether or not he himself realized it.

To be close with someone like him is akin to stepping into mythology for them, and no matter how much they praise his greatness, their pride will never fade. Other female slaves also renew their admiration for him upon hearing about it.

Though it's almost a masturbatory act, sharing this experience strengthens their bond. And as a result, the consciousness among them has begun to diverge significantly from that of Polka residents, visitors, and even Andy himself. However, since their status as female slaves is inherently incomprehensible to others anyway, such divergence does not cause any particular problems.

Thanks to this, in Polka, the more time passes without Andy around, the more girls become devoted to him and lose resistance against unconventional behavior... some would say that "the training of female slaves has progressed," a trend that no one quite understands is emerging.

Meanwhile, at Baroness's Manor...

“……”

“…H-Hey… Selen? Um… Something’s been weird lately, right?”

Selen was petting Elenia and looked oddly at Apple, who was similarly soothing Peter.

Lately, Selen has been staring at Apple with a serious expression... or rather, observing her. She's doing this more and more often.
Apple knows that she’s had a long relationship with Selen. And she also understands that Selen is actually an extremely honest person.
Selen may possess skills in deception and rhetoric, but she rarely uses them in daily life. She tends to avoid people who irritate her right away and tells others what she wants straightforwardly. Apart from a few close friends, she thoroughly disregards everyone else—or rather, she quickly decides that there’s no need to waste effort on certain individuals. Because of being bullied and looked down upon as a half-elf, Selen is adept at distinguishing people or matters worth her time.
She scrupulously omits any unnecessary politeness.
She isn’t ignorant of etiquette; in fact, if needed, she can master all the proper manners. But when it’s not necessary, she completely ignores them.
So, there must be some special meaning behind Selen staring at Apple. It's unlikely that Peter sucking on Apple’s nipples is causing this. Selen started looking at her with such an expression a few days ago.
But still, Selen doesn’t say anything.

It was unusual for Selen to be so vague. Apple felt worried that she might suspect something serious, though he wasn’t sure what exactly.

Selen had been nursing Elenia while making a face and mumbling “Hmm…” She then turned her gaze away and muttered,

“Apple… When you were doing naughty things with Andy… didn’t we do it in lots of different places?”

“Huh? W-Well, maybe…?”

Not quite understanding the sudden question, Apple gave an ambiguous answer.

“We did it outside the hunter’s cabin, behind the hot springs, in the woods… Now that I think about it, how come no one noticed us there? Someone might have walked by and seen Andy sucking on my dick.”

“Uh, but you were healed back then. Selen used magic to hide us…”

“…”

“Selen?”

She turned her gaze toward Apple again.

And after a while.

"...Apple. ...You, your memories... are back, right? Why are you pretending not to know?"

"!!"

Apple froze in place. Peter, who she was holding in her arms, pressed his face against her breasts and made an odd sound.

She quickly realized this and loosened her grip, but fortunately, he didn’t start crying... no, rather, he looked like he had received divine revelation as he said, "Oh! Enjoying a huge pair of boobs with your whole face! There are such ways to enjoy them!" and pressed his face against her breasts again, making that odd sound.

"W-What are you doing, Peter?"

"Apple. ...Don’t try to hide it from me. When did your memories... come back?"

"...It wasn’t long ago. While I was on an adventure with Mr. Andy in the Kingdom of Karlwin... hmm, actually, a little while before that, I started feeling kind of fuzzy... y-yeah, like something felt off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. That feeling where you think you’re about to remember something but then it slips away."

“…Is that what happened in Carlwin?”

“…Yeah.”

Apple nods.

“There were times when I had to pretend to be Andy, like when everyone was about to give up. …I tried to cheer everyone up by pretending to be him, and then I tried so hard to remember what he said at those moments… And suddenly, I remembered how Andy looked as a kid too.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“I wasn’t sure if it was a real memory or just my imagination. …I thought maybe I had fabricated the memories based on what Selen told me and other things I knew.”

But Apple continues. She smiles wryly at Peter, who is pressing his face into her breasts and trying out new ways to enjoy them, while stroking his head.

“Gradually, everything started making sense again… Memories that I had never heard about before, the connections between them… And I wondered why all of this was coming back now. Even though I knew Andy didn’t know me and my memories were gone, he still said he wanted to be with me. …And even after I became a new person, I fell in love with him again. So why would these things come up now?”

“…I think that…”

Selen tried to interpret it.

That must have been because Apple had never truly fallen in love with Andy, she thought.
Since Selen wanted to live that kind of life, Apple followed her lead and became a slave girl... That was the only way for her. In reality, Apple didn't have any other choice.
Becoming a slave girl wasn’t just about reacting to lingering feelings towards Andy; it was also about making up her mind.
Once she had decided on that path, she simply reaffirmed her decision.
Andy's childhood was honestly not all that great. But even so, if one depended on him for their future, they could still imagine a happy scene. It would have been enough happiness for an orphaned half-elf like Apple.
Recognizing and accepting this was the slave contract... And it spurred Apple to work hard at her servitude.
However, when she accompanied him on that extreme journey, tried her best to be useful, and truly recognized his strength and merits... She must have finally connected with memories of a dreamlike separation that she had never been able to feel or understand before.
But Selen stopped herself from explaining this. It would sound pretentious for her to explain why Apple loved him like that.
"...If you tell Andy about it, he might cherish you even more than now."

“…It feels like I’ve become two different people, and that’s kind of unsettling. The feeling of liking Andy now is strong, but so is the feeling of having been obsessed with him before… they’re both intense, yet don’t seem to fit together. …I’m in love with the same person, but for completely different reasons, like two separate feelings living under one roof… do you get that?”

“…Sorry, it’s complicated.”

She could imagine it, but empathizing was difficult. Two conflicting emotions towards the same person.

Apple had been struggling with this all alone.

“…Selen understands, huh?”

“Well—since I got back, something felt a bit different about her. Maybe because of that amazing journey, or maybe for some other reason… I couldn’t figure out which, so I’ve just been confused.”

“And if it turned out to be different from what you thought, what would you have done?”

“…I just wanted to know the truth. That’s all.”

Selen gave a wry smile.

It was typical of her lonely half-elf nature.

I wasn't thinking about what to do with my best friend. I just wanted to understand why she had changed.

Now that I realize how worried I made her, I hit myself on the head and thought, I still have a long way to go.

“…Maybe someday you can talk to Andy about it.”

“…Hmm. I don't know if it's good or bad.”

“It definitely is something good.”

The two of them held the baby and laughed quietly, as though they were forgiving each other for their doubts and lies.

This takes place after the start of Part Three.

Polka, a town at the northernmost edge of the Trot Kingdom, is experiencing a brief summer.
Flocks of sheep visit the lush green meadows, and as the shepherds take a breather by the spiritual spring, they find themselves gasping in amazement at the changing face of this town.

"Welcome... Ah, Jeanne. Do you need anything today?"

"I'm practicin' my sewing, tryin' to make a skirt for a kid. Somethin' that looks nice but's cheap enough."

"Sewing practice...? I knew you were handy, Jeanne, so I figured you could sew clothes, but..."

"I've done patches a few times. But makin' a garment from scratch is still new to me. Grandma Bella said she'd teach me, so I decided to give it a go."

"Ah, the midwife... But a skirt? Not for little Peter?"

"It's for Elenia. Besides, once I figure out how to tailor, there's more demand for clothes around Andy from the women folks."

"Are you planning to make clothes for all the adults, too...? Are you planning to become a tailor instead of a blacksmith?"

"I ain't thinkin' that far ahead. But it never hurts to know how. Since Selene and Apple take turns with the babysittin', I got plenty of time. Might as well hone my skills."

"Sigh... I can't let myself fall behind, then."

As Jeanne and Oregano chatted amiably while checking the inventory, a passing shepherd stared at them with a look of sheer shock.

"...Now this... a Dwarf and an Elf chatting so friendly in a human town... that's a rare sight to behold."

"Ah, welcome! Would you like a waterproof cloak to prepare for sudden rain? It's a bit pricey, but it's made of high-quality cloth woven in the Northern Forest—light, soft, and incredibly water-repellent. It won't soak through even in a downpour, yet it won't make you feel stuffy. We have hats made of the same material, too."

"Ah, no, well... I'd heard that Elven crafts were becoming available lately, but... is it really okay to sell them to someone like me?"

"We supply the large merchant guilds, like Sylphid, through a separate channel. ...This isn't some Elven direct-sales shop; it's just a regular local human shop, and I'm just an employed clerk. As long as you can pay, I don't discriminate among my customers! ♪"

"I see... Still, to think even a Dwarf could be this friendly."

"Jeanne is like family to us."

"Family...?"

The shepherd wore a look that said, I have no idea what you're talking on about.

Normally, that is how it is. When it comes to Elves and Dwarves, they typically despise one another.
An "Elf who is sociable toward a Dwarf" is rare enough on its own. To go as far as calling them "family" was equivalent to pointing at an apple and calling it a fish.

"That's just how the world is, I suppose. Especially in Trot, folks tend to look at non-human races with prejudice."

"Mm, it's such a shame... It's always better when everyone lives in harmony. If individuals could just understand each other deeply, we wouldn't have to bring racial animosity into it."

"Well, I can't exactly talk. If Sister Lyra and Andy hadn't brought me out here, I can't say I wouldn't have held some strange biases against Elves myself."

"Speaking of which, if Master hadn't been so active in the forest, we wouldn't be..."

"Andy really is an incredible man, isn't he?"

Between the female slaves, conversations often turned into these moments of reaffirming Andy's greatness.
While it was unknown how much of this he actually understood, many had had their environments—and their entire lives—changed by him.
In particular, the fact that the Elven territory had begun to look outward was something that could never have happened without Andy's intervention. To the Elves of the forest, that event—which was like a rift appearing in an eternally cloudy sky—was an achievement worthy of being called a world-changing feat, regardless of what he himself thought.
Being close to such a person felt, to the Elves, like stepping into a myth. No matter how much they spoke of his splendor, their pride never faded, and hearing such stories only renewed the devotion of the other female slaves.
It was a practice akin to self-indulgence, yet by sharing it, their bond was strengthened.
And because of this, the consciousness shared among them was beginning to diverge significantly from that of the residents of Polka, the visitors, and even Andy's own perception. However, the title of "female slave"—a status that was inherently incomprehensible to outsiders—allowed this divergence to grow wide and deep without causing much of an issue.
As a result, in Polka, the more time Andy spent away, the more the number of girls who were utterly devoted to him and lost their resistance to extraordinary behavior increased... To some, it was the beginning of an inexplicable trend: "the progression of the female slaves' training."

---

Elsewhere, at the Baron's manor.

"............"

"...Hey... Selene? Um... hasn't things been... a bit strange lately?"

"............Mmh."

As Apple rocked Peter to sleep, she found herself unable to endure the strange gaze Selene was directing toward Elenia as she rocked her.

Recently, Selene had been staring at Apple with a serious expression... or perhaps "observing" would be a better word. Such gazes were becoming more frequent.

Apple had known Selene for a very long time. She was well aware that, beneath the surface, Selene was actually a very straightforward person. While Selene possessed the skills and eloquence to bewilder others, she fundamentally never used them in her daily life. She would immediately distance herself from anyone she disliked, and she spoke her mind directly. Aside from a tiny circle of companions, she thoroughly disregarded almost everyone else—or rather, she was quick to decide that "there is no longer any need to expend effort on this person." Having been oppressed and looked down upon because of her half-elven heritage, she had become adept at discerning which people and matters were worth her time.

She ruthlessly omitted any parts of a conversation that felt like mere social niceties. It wasn't that she lacked manners—in fact, if forced to perform them, she could execute any etiquette perfectly—but if they weren't necessary, she ignored them entirely.

Therefore, there was almost certainly no way that her staring at Apple was simply a case of her being lost for words. There had to be some special meaning behind it.

Yet, Apple couldn't think of anything.

As usual, Peter was happily nursing Apple's nipple, but it wasn't likely that Peter was the cause. Selene had only started looking at Apple with this particular expression a few days ago.

However, Selene said nothing.

It was rare for Selene to take such an ambiguous stance. Apple began to feel anxious, wondering if she was suspecting something... she wasn't sure what, but something serious.

While nursing Elenia herself, Selene let out a low, expressionless groan, "Hmm..." After a moment, she broke eye contact and spoke in a murmur.

"Apple. ...When you and Andy-san were doing... naughty things... you did it in quite a lot of different places, didn't you?"

"Eh? U-um... yeah... I think... so?"

Not quite understanding the meaning of the sudden question, Apple answered vaguely.

"Not just in the hunter's cabin, but behind the hot springs, in the forest thickets... Now that I think about it, how did we not get caught in places like that? If things had gone badly, someone passing by might have seen you sucking on Andy-san's cock."

"Eh, but back then, Selene was already healed, so you were using magic to hide us secretly..."

"........"

"Selene?"

Selene turned her gaze toward Apple once again.

And then, after a moment.

"...Apple. ...Your memories... they've come back, haven't they? Why are you pretending you don't know?"

"!!"

Apple froze. Peter, held against her breast, let out a muffled, "Mmph!"

She hurriedly loosened her grip upon realizing what was happening, but fortunately, Peter showed no signs of crying. Instead, with an expression like he had received a divine revelation—as if thinking, "Enjoying massive breasts with your entire face! There's a way to enjoy them like this!"—he slowly pressed his face against her with full force again, letting out another muffled "Mmph!"

"W-what are you doing, Peter-kun!"

"Apple. ...Don't deflect. When... did your memories return?"

"........"

Apple let out a small sigh.

"...It wasn't that long ago. It was while I was adventuring with Andy-san in the Carlwin Kingdom... no, actually, a little before that. I started feeling... hazy. Like I could almost remember something, but I couldn't find a foothold, so it would just slip away. That feeling."

"...And that happened in Carlwin?"

"...Yeah."

Apple nodded.

"There was a time when everyone was about to give up, and I had to act like Andy-san. ...I was trying to encourage everyone by imitating him... and while I was trying so hard to remember exactly what Andy-san would have said... suddenly, the image of Andy-san as a child flashed into my mind."

"...Why didn't you say anything about that?"

"Because I didn't know. I didn't know if it was a true memory or just a delusion... I had already heard the broad strokes from you, Selene, so I thought maybe I had just fabricated a memory using that knowledge."

But, Apple continued. She smiled wryly while stroking Peter's head as he continued to grind his face into her breast, fully testing this new way of enjoying her cleavage.

"Gradually, the pieces before and after began to clear up... memories I'd never heard before, the connections between events... all of that started to resurface. I was wondering why it was happening. I didn't know Andy-san, and I knew my memories were gone, yet he still said he wanted me... and as a new version of myself, I fell in love with him all over again. Since that resolved everything, I wondered why all of this was resurfacing now."

"...I'm sure, that is..."

Selene attempted to provide an interpretation.

It was surely because, deep down, Apple had never truly been able to love Andy.

Since Selene had expressed her desire to live that way, Apple had no choice but to follow her lead, become a female slave alongside her... and live her life accordingly. In truth, Apple had no other option.

The reason she had become a female slave was perhaps partly due to the lingering remnants of her feelings for Andy, but more than anything, she had simply made her resolve. She had made that decision once before; she was simply reaffirming it.

To be honest, Andy’s childhood had not been particularly bright. Yet, when she leaned into her dependence and envisioned a future, a happy scene would appear nonetheless. For a rootless half-elf, that was enough happiness. It was this realization, which she had accepted once again, that led to the slave contract... and it was what drove Apple to serve him with such desperation.

However, as she accompanied him on his journey through extreme circumstances, struggled to be of use to him, and came to recognize his strength and virtues from the bottom of her heart... she believed that the memories, which until then had felt like a disconnected dream, had finally clicked into place.

But Selene stops herself before trying to explain.

It would be gauche—to have someone smugly lecture her on "why you love him."

"...I think if you told Andy that, he might treasure you even more than he does now."

"...It just feels like I’ve doubled myself, and I can’t quite wrap my head around it. The feeling of newly falling in love with Andy, and the feeling of my old obsession with him... they’re both strong, but they don't quite mesh. It's like... even though I'm in love with the same person, two different versions of 'love' are living together as separate entities... Do you understand what I mean?"

"...Sorry, that might be a bit difficult."

He could imagine it, but empathy would be hard. Two divergent, yet similar, emotions directed toward a single person. Apple had been carrying this burden all alone.

"...So, you can sense things like that, Selene."

"Hmm... I just thought that since we returned, the atmosphere felt a little different. I wasn't sure if it was because of that incredible journey, or something else... I'd been lost in doubt for a while."

"What would you have done if things weren't what you expected?"

"...I think... I just wanted to know the truth."

Selene gave a bitter smile.

Perhaps this, too, was the nature of a lonely half-elf. It wasn't that she had intended anything ill toward her best friend; she simply wanted to understand why things had changed. Realizing now that she had caused her friend anxiety, Apple tapped her own forehead, thinking, I still have a long way to go.

"...I hope you can tell Andy about that someday."

"...Yeah. Though I don't know if it's a good thing or not."

"I'm sure it will be."

Cradling the infant, the two shared a gentle smile, as if forgiving one another for their doubts and their lies.

This is a story from after the start of Part Three.
The town of Polka, at the northern edge of the Trollot Kingdom, was welcoming its brief summer.
Flocks of sheep visited the verdant grasslands, and the shepherds, taking a break at the sacred spring, voiced their amazement at the changing face of the town.

"Welcome... Oh, Jeanne! Is there anything you need today?"

"I'm trying my hand at making children's skirts as practice for sewing. Looking for something decently priced and good-looking."

"Sewing practice... I thought Jeanne was skilled enough to make clothes."

"I've done some patching before. But making a whole garment from scratch is still new to me. Vera-baachan said she'd teach me, so I decided to give it a try."

"Ah, the midwife... but skirts? Not for little Peter?"

"For Elenia. Besides, if I learn how to tailor, there's more demand for women's clothing around Andy's place anyway."

"You're going to make them for everyone...? Are you planning on becoming a tailor instead of a blacksmith?"

"I'm not thinking that far ahead. But it can't hurt to be able to do it. With Selen and Apple taking turns watching the kids, I have plenty of time. Sharpening my skills."

"Hmph... I can't let myself fall behind either."

A passing shepherd stared at Jeanne and Oregano as they chatted amiably while checking the stock, his face a mask of shock.

"...This is something else... A dwarf and an elf chatting so friendly in a human town... I've never seen anything like it."

"Ah, welcome! How about a waterproof cloak to prepare for sudden rain? It's a bit pricey, but it's made from high-quality cloth woven in the Northern Forest—light, soft, and exceptionally water-resistant. Not a drop gets through even in a downpour, and it doesn't get stuffy. We also have hats made from the same material."

"Ah, well... I heard that elven crafts are becoming available lately... but is it alright for someone like me to buy them?"

"The big trading companies, starting with Sylvfeed, get their own separate shipments. ...This isn't an elven direct-sales outlet; it's just a regular shop run by humans, and I'm just a hired clerk. If you're willing to pay, I won't be picky about my customers!"

"I see... Still, letting a dwarf in so friendly..."

"Jeanne is like family to me."

"Family...?"

The shepherd looked utterly confused.

Generally speaking, that's how it was. Elves and dwarves were supposed to despise each other.

An elf being "friendly toward dwarves" was already unusual. But casually calling them "family"? That was like pointing at an apple and calling it a fish.

"That's just how things are in the world. Especially in Trollot, where people tend to look down on races other than humans."

"Hmph, that's a shame... Everyone would be better off living together, and if individuals understood each other deeply, they wouldn't bring those racial prejudices with them."

"Well, I can't exactly talk. If Lila-neechama and Andy hadn't dragged me along, I'd probably still have some weirdly discounted opinions about elves."

"If you say that, then what would we do without Master's help in the forest..."

"Truly, Andy is an amazing man."

Such conversations confirming Andy's greatness were common among the female slaves.
Whether he understood it himself or not, many had had their lives and environments completely changed by him.
Especially the fact that the elven territory was beginning to open up to the outside world—that would never have happened without Andy's intervention. That event, like a crack in an eternally overcast sky, was an achievement worthy of being called world-changing for the elves of the forest, no matter what he thought of it.

For the elves, becoming close to such a person was like stepping into mythology, and no matter how much they spoke of its wonder, their pride never faded. And hearing it, the other female slaves renewed their feelings of admiration for him.
Though it was almost masturbatory in nature, sharing it strengthened their bonds.
And as a result, the consciousness among them began to diverge quite a bit from that of the residents of Polka, visitors, and even Andy himself—but the title of "female slave," originally incomprehensible to outsiders, meant that no matter how wide or deep that divergence became, it was easily overlooked.

Thanks to this, in Polka, the more time Andy spent away, the more girls lost their resistance to extraordinary behavior and became devoted to him... or so some would say, a strange trend of "the training of female slaves progressing" was beginning to emerge.

Meanwhile, at the Baron's mansion…

"……"

"…Hey, hey… Selen? Um… haven’t you been acting kinda… off lately?"

"…………Hmm."

Apple, who usually cooed at Peter, couldn’t stand Selen’s strange gaze as she fussed over Elenia.

Lately, Selen had been staring at Apple with a dead-serious expression—more like observing her. It was happening more and more often.

Apple had known Selen for ages. She knew Selen was actually a very straightforward person.

Selen possessed the skills to befuddle people and the eloquence to talk circles around them, but she didn’t use them in everyday life.

She’d immediately distance herself from anyone she disliked, and when she had something to say, she said it straight. She thoroughly disregarded almost everyone except a select few… or rather, she made the decision quickly that "this person doesn’t deserve my effort." Because she’d been oppressed and looked down on as a Half-Elf, she was exceptionally good at discerning who and what were worth her time.

She completely omitted any part of that "social niceties" kind of frankness.

It wasn’t that she didn’t know manners—far from it; if you made her, she could master any etiquette—but she ignored them entirely when they weren’t necessary.

So, the fact that Selen was staring at her meant there had to be some reason. It wasn’t like she was just hesitating over something meaningless. There had to be a special meaning.

But Apple couldn’t think of anything.

Peter was as happy as ever, nuzzling Apple’s nipples, but it probably wasn’t him. Selen had only started looking at her with that expression a few days ago.

But Selen said nothing.

It was rare for Selen to be so vague. Maybe she suspected something… well, Apple didn’t know, but something serious. She grew anxious.

Selen hummed "Hmm…" blankly while nursing Elenia, then shifted her gaze and muttered,

"Apple… back when you were… doing sexy things with Andy… you did it in all sorts of places, right?"

"Huh? Y-yeah… I guess so?"

Apple didn’t understand the sudden change of subject and answered vaguely.

"Not just the hunter’s hut, but behind the hot springs, or in the forest bushes… Come to think of it, how did you do it there without getting caught? Someone might have seen me sucking Andy’s dick as they walked by."

"Eh, but Selen was already healed by then, so she secretly used magic to hide us…"

"…………"

"Selen?"

Selen turned her gaze back to Apple.

Then, after a moment…

"…Apple. …Your memories… they’re back, right? Why are you pretending not to know about that?"

"!!!"

Apple froze. Peter, pressed against her breast in her arms, let out a strange noise—ngubuuu.

She frantically loosened her grip, but luckily, Peter didn’t seem inclined to cry… no, he had a look of revelation on his face, like "Aha! A way to enjoy big breasts is to use my whole face! This is amazing!" and promptly pressed his face against her again with full force, letting out another ngubuuu.

"W-what are you doing, Peter?"

"Apple… don’t lie. When… did your memories come back?"

"…………"

Apple sighed softly.

"…It wasn’t that long ago. When I was adventuring with Andy in the Kingdom of Carlwin… hmm, no, it was a little before that, I felt kind of hazy… Ah, like when you feel something’s off but can’t quite remember it, and it just fades away because you can’t find a starting point."

"…That was in Carlwin, you say?"

"…Yeah."

Apple nodded softly.

"There was a time when everyone else was about to give up, and I had to be like Andy. …I tried to cheer everyone up by being like Andy… And when I was desperately trying to remember what Andy said then… Suddenly, Andy’s childhood came flooding back."

"…Why didn’t you say anything about it?"

"I didn’t know. I couldn’t tell if it was a real memory or just some kind of fantasy… I’d been told the broad strokes by Selen, so maybe I fabricated the rest with that knowledge… That’s what I thought."

"But," Apple continued, stroking Peter’s head as he pressed his face against her breasts, thoroughly exploring the feel of her new chest with a wry smile. "Gradually, things started to become clearer… Memories I’d never heard before, connections between events… All of that came back. And I wondered why. I didn’t know Andy, and I knew my memories were gone, but even so, Andy still said he wanted me… I was falling in love with Andy all over again as a new version of myself. So it was resolved, so why are these things popping up now?"

"…It must be…"

Selen tried to offer an interpretation.

It must be because Apple hadn’t fully come to terms with loving Andy deep down.

As long as Selen wanted to live that way, Apple had no choice but to follow Selen and become a female slave together… That was the only way to live. Apple didn’t really have any other options.

Becoming a female slave was partly because the lingering feelings she had for Andy reacted, but mostly it was just her resolve.

Apple had decided that once before. This was just her deciding again.

Andy’s childhood wasn’t particularly remarkable. But if you depended on him and drew up a future together, it was still a happy picture. That was more than enough happiness for a rootless half-elf.

Re-recognizing that and accepting it was the female slave contract… And what drove Apple to such earnest service.

But when Apple accompanied him on his extreme journey, struggled to be useful, and truly acknowledged his strength and virtues… I think that’s when the memories she couldn’t quite grasp before, like a dream, finally connected.

But Selen stopped herself from explaining it further.

It would be presumptuous. Explaining "Why you love your partner" with such an air of authority.

"…If you told Andy about this, he might cherish you even more than he does now."

"…It feels like I’ve become two people, and I’m not quite convinced. The feelings of loving Andy anew and the old feelings of being obsessed with him… Both are strong, but they don’t quite mesh. …Loving the same person, but with different reasons for 'liking' them, living independently together… Do you understand that?"

"…Sorry, it might be hard to grasp."

She could imagine it, but empathy would be difficult. Two similar yet divergent feelings directed at one person.

Apple had been carrying that silently within her.

"…Selen, you get that kind of thing, don’t you?"

"Hmm… I just thought the atmosphere was a little different since she came back. I wasn’t sure if it was because of that amazing journey or something else… I couldn’t figure out which, so I was always wondering."

"What were you going to do if it turned out to be different from what you expected?"

"…I just wanted to know the truth, I guess."

Selen smiled wryly.

That was just another trait of a lonely half-elf.

It wasn’t that she didn’t care about her best friend. She just wanted to understand why she had changed.

Now she realized that she had been making her friend anxious for it, and she gave herself a little tap on the head, thinking she still had a long way to go.

"…I hope you can talk to Andy about that someday."

"…Hmm. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not."

"It’ll be a good thing, I’m sure."

Holding the baby, they smiled at each other gently, forgiving each other’s doubts and lies.

(Note: The translation preserves the original tone—soft, intimate, and slightly melancholic—while accurately conveying the nuance of "forgiving" past deceptions.)

This is a story that takes place after the third volume.
In the northernmost town of Polka, within the Kingdom of Trotto, summer has arrived in all its brevity.

Lush green pastures welcome flocks of sheep, while shepherds pause by sacred springs to catch their breath—only to gaze in awe at the town's rapidly changing visage.

"Welcome... ah, Ms. Jeanne. What can I do for you today?"

"I'm practicing sewing and thought about making a child's skirt. Something affordable but well-made."

"Practicing sewing... I figured you were skilled enough to sew clothes yourself, Ms. Jeanne."

"I've done patchwork before, but making a garment from scratch is still new to me. Since Belaa offered to teach me, I decided to give it a try."

"Oh, the midwife... but a skirt? Not for Peter?"

"For Elenia. Besides, once you know how to construct them, there's far greater demand among women for clothing around Andy."

"Are you planning to make clothes for all the adults too...? Are you turning from a blacksmith into a tailor?"

"I wasn't thinking that far ahead. But if I can do it, why not? Thanks to Selen and Apple taking turns watching the children, I have plenty of time. It's good practice to hone my skills."

"Haa... I can't afford to fall behind either."

As Jeanne and Origan chat amiably while sorting through their stock, a passing shepherd stops in his tracks, staring with wide-eyed surprise.

"...Well, well... Never seen a dwarf and an elf chatting so warmly in a human town before."

"Oh, welcome! To protect against sudden rain, how about this waterproof cloak? It's a bit pricey, but woven from premium fabric harvested in the Northern Forest—lightweight, soft, and exceptionally water-repellent. Not even torrential downpours will soak through it, yet it won't make you sweat. We also have matching hats made from the same material."

"Oh, no... Well, I've heard that elven crafts are becoming more accessible lately... But would you really sell something like this to someone like me?"

"We handle exclusive distribution for major trading houses like Sylphid. This isn't an elf-run outlet; it's simply a local human shop, and I'm just an employee. As long as payment is made, I have no qualms about your preferences♪"

"I see... Still, treating even dwarves with such friendliness is remarkable."

"Jeanne is like family to me."

"Family...?"

The shepherd looks utterly bewildered.

In general, that's how it goes. Elves and dwarves are typically mutual objects of disdain.

Even the notion of "an elf being friendly toward a dwarf" is rare enough. But when someone casually calls them "family," it's akin to pointing at an apple and calling it a fish.

"People here tend to be like that, especially in Trotto, where prejudice against non-human races runs deep."

"Hmm... That's unfortunate. Everyone would benefit from living together harmoniously. If individuals could truly understand one another deeply, racial tensions wouldn't even arise."

"Well, I can't really say anything about others myself. But if Lady Lyra and Andy hadn't brought me along, I wouldn't have held such unfairly lenient views toward elves."

"If your husband hadn't thrived in the forest, we'd be... well, let's just say things would be very different."

"Indeed, Andy is truly a remarkable man."

Among female slaves, conversations like this often arise to reaffirm Andy's greatness.
Though one wonders how much he himself understands, many have had their environments—and even their lives—completely transformed by him.
Especially the shift of Elven territory toward the outside world could never have occurred without his intervention. That event, which tore a rift in the eternal overcast sky, stands as a monumental achievement worthy of being called "world-changing" for the elves of the forest, regardless of how he personally perceives it.

For the elves, growing close to such a figure feels like stepping into mythology itself. No matter how often they recount his virtues, their pride never fades. Moreover, hearing these stories renews the admiration other female slaves feel toward him.
It may seem almost self-gratifying, yet sharing this bond only strengthens their unity.

Consequently, their collective consciousness begins to drift increasingly far from that of Polka's residents, visitors, and even Andy himself. Yet, given that "female slave" is a title rarely understood by others, this growing divergence causes no particular issue, no matter how vast or profound it becomes.
As a result, in Polka, the more time passes without Andy present, the more daughters grow devoted to him, losing resistance to unconventional behaviors. Some even describe this trend as "the training of female slaves advancing"—a phenomenon whose true nature remains obscure.

The scene shifts to the Baron's estate.

"…………"

"……Hey, hey… Selen? Um… something feels off lately, doesn't it?"

"…………Hmm…"

Apple, soothing Peter, could no longer bear Selen's strange gaze as she comforted Elenia in the same way.
Lately, Selen had been staring at Apple with a serious expression—more like observing her than merely looking. Such moments had become increasingly frequent.

Having known Selen for quite some time, Apple was well aware that beneath her surface, Selen was actually an incredibly straightforward person. Though she possessed skills in deception and eloquence, Selen rarely employed them in daily life. She quickly distanced herself from those she disliked and spoke her mind directly to others. Beyond a select few companions, she decisively deemed most people unworthy of her effort—perhaps even beneath notice. Having suffered oppression and dismissal due to her half-elf heritage, she had developed a keen ability to distinguish between people and matters worth engaging with.

She omitted all pretense of social niceties. She certainly knew proper etiquette; in fact, if given the chance, she could master any protocol—but when unnecessary, she ignored it entirely.
That's why Selen wasn't just aimlessly staring at Apple without meaning. There had to be something significant behind it.

Yet Apple couldn't pinpoint what it might be.
As usual, Peter was happily sucking on Apple's nipple, so it couldn't be his fault. Selen had begun looking at Apple with such an expression only a few days ago.

Still, Selen said nothing.
Selen behaving so ambiguously was unusual. Perhaps she suspected something serious—though Apple couldn't quite tell what.

While nursing Elenia herself, Selen remained expressionless, humming "Hmm…" before eventually breaking eye contact and whispering:

"Apple… back when you were having sex with Andy… did you do it in all sorts of places?"

"Huh? Uh, y-yes… I guess we did?"

Confused by the sudden topic, Apple gave a vague response.

"Not just the hunter's cabin—places like behind the hot springs or thick patches in the forest… Thinking about it now, why didn't anyone notice us doing things there? We might've even been caught while Andy was giving head to someone passing by!"

"But back then, Selen had already recovered, so she secretly used magic to hide us…"

"…………"

"Selen?"

Once again, Selen turned her gaze toward Apple.
And after a moment of silence—

"…Apple… you've regained your memories, haven't you? Why are you pretending not to know?"

"!!"

Apple froze stiffly. Peter, cradled in her arms, was pressed against her breast and let out a strange "nnn-uuu" sound.

She hurriedly relaxed her grip, but fortunately, Peter showed no sign of crying… or rather, as if struck by sudden enlightenment—"Aha! I can enjoy my huge breasts with my whole face! There's such a way to have fun!"—he deliberately pressed his face against her chest again and emitted another peculiar "nnn-uuu."

"W-what are you doing, Peter-kun?"

"Apple… don't try to fool me. When did your memories return?"

"…………"

Apple let out a small sigh.

"Not that long ago. While adventuring with Andy in the Kingdom of Carlwin… hmm, actually, it's been a while since then. Something felt off… ah, I started feeling strange emotions. I could almost remember them, but couldn't find a starting point, so they'd fade away."

"...That's Carlwin?"

"...Yeah."

Apple nods.

"When everyone was about to give up, or when I had to imitate Mr. Andy... I tried to mimic him and encourage everyone. While trying hard to remember what Mr. Andy said back then... suddenly, his childhood self appeared in my mind."

"...Why didn't you tell me that?"

"I didn't understand. Was it a true memory, or just delusions? The main points had already been told to me by Selen, so maybe I fabricated the rest based on that knowledge..."

But then Apple continues. While pressing her face against her breasts and wincing at Peter's new way of enjoying them, she strokes his head with a faint smile.

"Gradually, the before and after became clear... memories I'd never heard of, connections between events... those things began to resurface. I wondered why. Even though I didn't know Mr. Andy and knew my memories were gone, he still said he wanted me. So as a new version of myself, I fell in love with him again. That should have resolved everything. Why did this come up now?"

"...I suppose that's because..."

Selen tried to offer an interpretation.

It was likely because Apple hadn't truly fallen for Andy deep down.
As long as Selen wanted to live that way, there was no choice but to follow her and become a female slave together—that was the only path forward. Apple actually had no other options.
Becoming a female slave may have been partly a reaction to the lingering feelings she had for Andy, but ultimately, it was just a matter of making up her mind.
Once Apple had decided that, reaffirming it was all that was needed.

Andy's childhood wasn't particularly pleasant, yet if one clung to him and imagined a future together, it could still feel like a happy scene—a sufficient happiness for a rootless half-elf.
Accepting this realization again became the female slave contract... and what drove Apple to serve diligently.

However, when Apple accompanied him on his journey to the brink of limits, struggled to be useful, and came to truly recognize his strength and virtues from the heart... surely it was then that the memories she had felt as dreamlike and disconnected finally connected for her.

But Selen stops before explaining further.

It would be pointless. No one enjoys being lectured with a smug expression about "why you love someone."

"...Maybe if you told Mr. Andy, he'd cherish you even more than before."

"...It feels like I've become two people, and it's hard to accept. The feeling of newly falling for Mr. Andy and the obsession I once had... both are strong, yet they don't quite fit together. Isn't it strange that two different reasons for loving the same person exist independently under one roof? Do you understand?"

"...Sorry, that might be complicated."

She can imagine it, but empathy is difficult. Two similar yet divergent feelings directed at the same person.

Apple had been carrying this burden silently.

"...Selen seems to understand things like that."

"Hmm... I just thought something felt a bit different after we returned. Was it because of that incredible journey, or something else? I couldn't tell and was always confused about it."

"What would you have done if it turned out differently from what you expected?"

"...I just wanted to know the truth."

Selen chuckles bitterly.
Is this also part of being a lonely half-elf?
She never intended to do anything to her best friend; she simply wanted to understand why things had changed.
Only now does she realize that she may have caused her anxiety, and she lightly taps her own head in self-reproach.

"...I hope you can tell Mr. Andy about this someday."

"...Hmm. I don't know if it's a good thing or not."

"It will surely be a good thing."

Holding their baby, they smiled at each other gently, forgiving one another's doubts and lies.