"That’s enough, Sylpha."
"……Understood."
Only after I intervened did she finally release Fiona.
Fiona was a genuine elf—a fascinating prospect—so I couldn't let her get killed by mistake.
Even so... I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Fiona simply looked blank.
To not even change her expression after being subjected to that much killing intent was impressive. She clearly had nerves of steel.
As I was admiring her composure, Fiona turned back toward Sylpha and bowed her head.
"I am sorry. I did not realize it was disrespectful; I simply acted."
Fiona's surprisingly earnest apology seemed to take the wind out of Sylpha's sails.
The pitch-black aura of killing intent swirling around the maid dissipated as she let out a long sigh.
"Well, very well. I may have overstepped slightly. However, there is no proof that you aren't a suspicious character intending to harm Master Lloyd. Such envi—ahem, such unseemly behavior was bound to be misunderstood. See to it that it never happens again."
"……Yes. I am sorry."
I had a feeling there were other reasons for Sylpha's reaction, but there was no point in poking that nest, so I kept quiet.
But judging by that response, did she really not know the local customs?
Habits change between different races. Perhaps elves really did have a custom of greeting others with sudden embraces. That was likely why Sylpha had forgiven her so easily.
Hmm, but when I visited the Land of the Elves before, I didn't get a warm welcome; they shot arrows at me. I wonder why...? As I tilted my head in thought, Ren of the Poison Moth leaned in and whispered.
"……Hey, is she an acquaintance of yours, Lloyd? You two seem awfully close."
"No, I don't know her at all."
"……Really? Are you sure you haven't just forgotten?"
Ren gave me a skeptical, half-lidded stare.
Even with her pressing me, the best I could say was "probably," which was the frustrating part. Not to brag, but I didn't exactly have much confidence in my memory.
"Maybe she remembers when Master Lloyd went to the Land of the Elves before, even if he doesn't? That’s my best guess," Grimo suggested.
"He surely saved her without even realizing it. That’s why she came all this way out of affection. It makes sense if you consider that she only answered the prince's summons to get close to Master Lloyd," Jiriel added.
"Hmm……"
The familiars' reasoning had some merit. It was possible I had carelessly saved her at some point. I didn't remember it at all, though.
If that were the case, it would be troublesome if she spoke about my past visit to the Land of the Elves while Rion and the others were here.
I decided to put on a little act.
"Wow, Rion-niisan, you’re amazing. To think an elf would respond to a simple recruitment call... your prestige is truly incredible. I could never do something like that."
"Hm? ……Haha, you think so? Well, I suppose you’re right. Yes."
I pressed the advantage as Rion’s mood improved.
"Actually, Baron mentioned he wanted to apologize for being disrespectful to you the other day... He said he’d much rather accompany you than me. ……Right, Baron?"
"Eh!? ……Ah, yes…… I am truly sorry for my behavior back then. If you would allow it, please let me act as your guide as an apology."
Babylon of the Giant Rat played along with my unreasonable request. Nice follow-up.
"Mm…… so you’re saying we should swap guides?"
"Yes. Baron is very capable. I think it would be much more efficient for someone like you, Rion-niisan, who has a high probability of finding the Land of the Elves, to use his services... What do you think?"
"……Hmm."
Rion looked down and let out a snort.
"If that is the case, it cannot be helped! This Fiona person seems to be an acquaintance of yours, and above all, it is a brother's duty to grant his younger brother's request. Very well, Baron, I’m counting on you."
"Understood. Please, give me your orders."
Turning on his heel, Babylon gave me a quick wink before heading toward Rion's carriage.
……Whew, that was a lifesaver. For now, I’d managed to clear the obstacle. That was one weight off my mind.
"Now then, Fiona, was it? Who exactly are you?"
"I am a guide. I have come to lead Master Lloyd to the forest."
"And what does that mean?"
"I do not know. I have no other memories. I simply found myself here…… and knew I had to take Master Lloyd with me…… that is all I remember."
Good grief, she wasn't doing anything to clear up the suspicion.
I wished she’d put a little more thought into her words. Just as Sylpha’s guard had started to drop, she began radiating killing intent again.
"As I thought, this woman is way too suspicious, Master Lloyd. Isn't this some kind of trap?"
"Perhaps the elves whose forest was burned sent this girl to plot some kind of revenge?"
Grimo and Jiriel were suspicious as well, but she wasn't lying.
I had been using Appraisal to probe Fiona’s memories for a while; if she were lying, there would be at least some sign of agitation.
So her memory loss and her desire to guide me were both the truth, huh…… Interesting.
"Very well. Lead the way, Fiona."
"Master Lloyd! ……Are you certain?"
"Yeah. If anything happens, you’ll protect me, won't you, Sylpha?"
"……Of course I will."
After a moment of hesitation, she nodded as if giving up.
In the end, Sylpha trusted me, so if I made the call, she would follow even if it was reluctantly.
"Well, I suppose she knows that for Master Lloyd, no trouble is actually a problem. Is it trust, or devotion…… or maybe fanaticism?"
"Sylpha-tan actually has a bit of a masochistic side. She looks quite happy to be given an order by Master Lloyd. Hehe, that side of Sylpha-tan is good too!"
I ignored Grimo and Jiriel's bickering as my heart leaped with excitement for the Elf Forest.
"I shall prepare tea while we wait. Ren, help me."
"Yes!"
"Hey, Maid! Make sure you prepare some for me too!"
"I can prepare some tea made from the bamboo grass I find around here for you."
"Don't treat me like a panda!"
Just as Sylpha and the others were bustling about to set up the tea party, it happened.
"……I shall prepare it."
The moment she whispered those words, both of Fiona's hands began to glow with a golden light.
In response, the surrounding trees began to rustle and shift.
A carpet of leaves formed beneath our feet, with a wooden table and enough chairs for everyone manifesting in the center.
Furthermore, branches stretched out like servants, pouring tea into wooden cups and slicing fruits to serve as snacks.
The canopy overhead parted as if to signal the completion of the arrangement, allowing the warm sunlight to shine through.
"Whoa…… that’s amazing, Fiona! You set up a tea party in the blink of an eye!"
"Elves use a mysterious power to manipulate trees…… but I’ve never seen it done with this much precision and speed."
"The aroma of the tea isn't bad, and she’s provided sweets consisting of dried fruits and nuts that pair well with it…… She certainly knows what she’s doing."
Being a race that lived alongside the forest, elves were exceptionally skilled in the use of Tree System Magic.
She must have made the tea from crushed leaves and water drawn up by the trees, and dried the fruits and nuts instantly.
Even so, this level of speed and precision was extraordinary. If I were told to do this using only Tree System Magic, even I would find it tedious.
"Yeah, this is delicious, Fiona. You’re quite good at this."
The tea itself was a bit light, but pairing it with the fruit allowed a flowery aroma to spread through the mouth, while the tea moistened the palate after eating the dry nuts.
It was a magnificent result. Sylpha and the others were letting out satisfied sighs as well; a tea party in the middle of the forest was a refined experience.
"……This was the one thing I was occasionally praised for."
Her expression remained blank as usual, but for some reason, her profile looked as though she were smiling.
She was praised for it? ……Did she remember something? In that case, hitting that right spot might have had an effect.
"Nah, I think she’s just opening her heart bit by bit. Compared to the beginning, her expressions are increasing ever so slightly, aren't they?"
"It’s impossible for Master Lloyd to pick up on such emotional subtleties. Give it up, Majin."
……I felt like they were saying something very rude about me.
Honestly, you guys talk way too much smack.