This story takes place during the Celesta Lapal Travel Arc, around chapters 428 to 488.
“Looks like the snow’s finally melted in a hurry these past few days.”
Sebory leaned against the tavern window, squinting contentedly despite the cold wind blowing in.
Hanna, the tavern owner—affectionately known as “Okaasan”—replied while preparing drinks. “Be careful, though. The shaded north side still stubbornly holds onto patches of ice. Newcomers often get lured by the nice weather and picnic there, only to fall for it.”
“Ah. They sit down without noticing the frozen ground.”
“They’d realize if they just checked, but they’re so set on resting in the shade, and with everything turning into grassland, they end up doing it. Then, after a while, hyaaai—”
“Ahahaha. Elves wouldn’t be so foolish, right?”
“Is that so? Well, when you think about it, we just happen to live next door but never actually meet. Maybe I was being presumptuous.”
“Yeah, something like that. Besides, people probably see me and Origan as sixteen or seventeen-year-old girls, but we’re actually close to thirty, you know?”
“Oh?”
”…Well, it’s a secret from our masters. Apparently, being at this awkward age—kind of human-like—makes it really hard to express certain emotions.”
“Might be true.”
“Just so you know, elves under a hundred are basically treated like children, right? It’s not like we’re especially childish or anything?”
Hanna burst out laughing at Sebory’s desperate explanation.
“Fufufufu, I get it, I get it. Besides, I don’t think of you or Origan as kids either. There are plenty of twenty-somethings who act like children, you know? Like Kiel from the Lindon family.”
“Being compared to him and called an adult is… complicated…”
Kiel was known among the tavern’s regulars for his exceptional childishness—or rather, smallness. Was it a compliment if people said he was more reliable than Kiel?
As they were talking, Cute burst in with a loud thunk of the front door.
“Nya!”
“Hey, Cute. Don’t just greet people with ‘Nya’.”
“Nyu… oh, good morning—”
“Good, good.”
“Sebory, shouldn’t you say something like ‘Good work today’ in a place like this? It’s not even morning anymore.”
“W-well, according to Hilda, in some industries there’s no night or day, so people use ‘Good morning’ as a way of saying ‘Good luck with your work,’ since the moment they start working is their morning.”
“I don’t know what industry that is, but we have mornings and nights here, so I want morning greetings in the morning!”
“Nya—”
“Cute! Don’t just use ‘Nya’ as a way to get attention. Talk to people properly.”
“Nyu…”
“And don’t use it instead of ‘Yes’!”
“Sebory… if you can tell the difference between all those ‘Nyas,’ why not just let her say them as is?”
“No way! I have to teach young ones proper manners. Besides, using ‘nya-nya’ just because she has cat ears is so cringey it’s almost endearing. Stop relying on cheap tricks and learn some shame!”
Sebory clenched her fists and launched into a passionate speech.
“I don’t really get it, but Cute, listen to Sebory… somewhat.”
“Nya.”
“Hey, I told you not to say ‘nyaa’! Did you listen to me?!” “I didn’t quite catch that.” The tavern was peaceful as ever today.
“Actually, this is the first Polka Spring for us.” “Hmm. Now that you mention it, I suppose it is.” Around the same time, Fennel was engaged in small talk with Airena, who had finished her morning paperwork, while preparing tea. “You two appeared in Polka around late autumn last year, if memory serves.” “That’s right. It was already starting to snow…” “Haven’t you ever left the forest before?” “I have a few times… I even acted as a liaison with Misty Palace. But my slender arms couldn’t wield a bow, so I couldn’t venture into the populated areas.” “Silver was quite eager, you see.” “Yes. So, this is almost the first time I’ve seen flowers bloom from the snow, like they’re being resurrected. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? The way the earth works in harmony with the seasons.” “Hmm. The eternal spring of the northern forest is beautiful too, but perhaps the cold autumns and winters, and the warm springs and summers, are forging life in the outside world like a blacksmith’s hammer shaping iron.” Airena sat deeply in the chair that was too large for her, dangling her feet and unconsciously stroking the collar around her neck. Fennel chuckled at her gesture. “What is it?” “You brought up blacksmiths, so I just…” ”…I suppose there’s no helping it. You’d likely associate with the same person, wouldn’t you?” “Yes… What do you think Master is doing?” “Well, Celesta has far too many places we don’t know about. Though, wherever he goes, his bed must be in high demand.” “That’s a little jealous-making, isn’t it?” “Hmm. Honestly, Christy, there’s hardly any urgency to winter work, yet she’s grounding me because she can’t fly around due to her position.” Airena began grumbling, but an elf’s ears are far better than a human’s. “You’re the official Polka ambassador, White Clan Elder? If you’re going to take on that responsibility yourself, I can’t be left in charge of everything, especially as just a representative from another clan, and that too, someone as insignificant as me.” Christy entered the office naturally from outside. Fennel’s eyes widened slightly in fear, and Airena pouted, looking embarrassed. “There won’t be any major issues requiring full authority in Polka. This is a frontier region, and Misty’s dragons come and go here.” “That’s precisely when problems arise, when you let your guard down. If everything could be solved with brute force, what’s the point of an ambassador?” “Mmm… mmm…” “Besides, a woman isn’t just meant to follow along all the time. Sometimes, distance only strengthens a relationship between men and women. Like forging iron with cold and heat.” “Mmm… Well, I can see the logic in that, but…” “If you’re always following, you have to compete for Master’s attention among all the other women, especially when he has other duties? Travel fatigue also works against you more than it does for the stronger warriors. Wouldn’t it be better to wait with full preparations and offer him a special pleasure at just the right moment? That would appeal to him much more strongly, don’t you think?” ”…You’re quite cunning… no, sly.” “Even if you rephrase it, it doesn’t sound much better, does it, Airena?” “I, I admit it. Don’t get so worked up.” Airena hurriedly defended herself as Christy’s voice became slightly menacing while still smiling.
“But realistically, we, the ones who stayed behind, can’t compete with the accompanying group in sheer volume of service… It’s quality, definitely.”
Fennel chimed in, sensing the air had eased slightly and that steering the conversation toward something Irina would settle into was for the best.
Christy nodded. “To make this poruka the first place Master wants to return to, we need to focus our service. Like… Master enjoys clever group sex, so we could tailor things around that.”
“Our four houses are already isolated from the others, so it’s perfect for something like that… Maybe we should wait in poses that stoke Master’s baser desires?”
“Baser desires? Should I have Origan make us some whore outfits?”
“That’s a good idea. Oh! We could even put up a sign. Something like Elf Territory Public Brothel.”
“If we don’t keep it hush-hush, the other clans will hear and be furious.”
“Of course, if we do put up a sign, Lady Irina will become one of our whores, right?”
Fennel was gleefully scheming. Irina hesitated, but her expression wasn’t entirely dismissive as she nodded cautiously.
“Well… if only Master Smisson is the client… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to take off the collar and sell springtime once in a while.”
“Everyone gets bought for a single coin and used freely to satisfy carnal desires. It might even be fun to deliberately limit the play and say, ‘Anything beyond this point costs extra’!”
“Hmm… Not bad at all… Of course, Christy would join in too, wouldn’t you?”
“I feel like I’d stick out like a sore thumb…”
“Then why don’t you, Christy, team up with Lady Lyra, the Glorious Princess, and Lady Hilda to open a different brothel? It’ll have a completely different flavor from ours.”
“I feel like I’m being treated like an old hag…”
“N-no, it’s just your imagination. The Glorious Princess and Lady Lyra aren’t that different from me.”
The Andy-exclusive back-alley brothel plan.
Later, this would even involve the Catfolk’s Cat Mansion and getting Jeanne to mint special coins for it—but that’s another story.
And Tark’s certain… certain… whore would be involved as a technical advisor, but again, that’s a story for another time.
“Anyway, if there’s one thing I miss most about coming back to this poruka, it’s definitely the hot springs.”
“Hmm. There’s something indescribable about that sensation of fatigue melting away with a soothing gurgle.”
“I think it’s about time we stopped sneaking around and started serving Master in the hot springs properly.”
“What? But whether it’s the men’s bath or the women’s, we can’t completely shut out other customers. And getting permission from Baron for branching off the water source would be far too awkward.”
“Right now, the best solution is probably a magically sealed chamber, isn’t it?”
Irina and Fennel offered sensible answers.
“That’s true, but actually, there’s a possibility of building another hot spring outside town.”
“What?”
“A little ways into the forest, just before the area affected by the ancient ward. There seems to be a spring about two kilometers from town. The Baron knew it existed for years, but since it was in the forest, he left it untouched out of consideration for the elves. But since we are the elves now, that problem’s gone…”
“You want to exploit that?”
“Don’t be so rude. I consulted with the Baron about using it, and he said, ‘The townsfolk already have a bathhouse nearby, so they won’t bother going deep into the forest.’ So, if we independently set up a bathhouse there ourselves, it could become a service bath exclusively for Master. But…”
“But?”
“We can’t use outsiders for the construction, not with that purpose in mind.”
“Ah….”
“True… It’s hard to ask the elf family headmasters without revealing the secret.”
Humans wouldn’t bother venturing into the depths of a confusing forest just to reach a hot spring, but for elves, making your location public inevitably draws some visitors. Since all the springs on the Trotto side are (procedurally) Baron’s property, you have no choice but to nod when asked if they can enter.
The three elves shared the desire to use it without reservation for their naked rendezvous with Andy and scratched their heads.
“Word is Diarne’s also skilled in architecture—what do you think? When will we ever have time to build something like that?"
"More than that, aren’t we short on manpower? We can’t exactly rely on a dragon’s bulk to make things easier in the forest…"
"If we take our time, is there anything we can’t accomplish? All we really need is an easily-cleaned bath and a changing room for clothes, right?"
"And a meandering waterway to cool the hot spring to the right temperature. If possible, we should draw in cold water from somewhere to make adjustments…"
"You’re being greedy without enough expertise. Christy, haven’t you studied that sort of thing?"
"I’ve at least never trained with a hammer and nails…”
The three whispered and exchanged ideas.
And the half-elf’s ears—far sharper than a human’s—caught every word.
“Oh dear, it seems you’re in trouble!"
"If it’s about Andy, we’ll be sure to call you in.”
With a click, the door opened, revealing Seren, her pregnant belly held gently, and Jeanne, cradling Peter, both wearing confident smiles.
(To Be Continued)