"That's a pretty nice room, huh."
Lying on the bed, Rei muttered as if to divert his thoughts from the lingering memory of Marina's lips.
True to his words, the room he was currently in was well-furnished and designed for comfortable living.
It was on par with a room at the Wheat Inn at twilight, if not better.
"Calling it a prison cell... is a bit of a stretch."
Rei turned his gaze toward the door.
Outside, several Dark Elf warriors were presumably standing guard.
Their role was not only to prevent Rei from escaping but also to protect him from anyone who might try to pick a fight with him.
Marina's kiss, and her declaration that he was her important person. Because of that, instead of being locked away in a dungeon as he originally should have been, Rei had been placed under house arrest in a fine room like this one.
"I knew Marina came from a special bloodline among the Dark Elves, but... this was beyond my expectations."
When Rei had first met Marina, she introduced herself as Marina Alianza.
Being a Surname Holder, Rei had understood that she must have been born into some kind of special standing, but her position among the Dark Elves was apparently far greater than he had imagined.
His current situation was proof enough of that.
Lying on the bed, he turned his gaze to the scenery outside the window.
The fact that there was a window meant he could escape if he wanted to. But the Dark Elves naturally understood this as well, so they had posted watchers outside the window too.
Even so, there was no denying that his environment was more than comfortable.
"Still, bored is bored."
As Rei surveyed the room once more, his eyes fell on the sofa and table where his Dragon Robe was draped.
But there was nothing to kill time with.
"Should I just take a nap and wait for things to start moving? ...That doesn't sound like a bad idea, actually."
Even as he murmured this, Rei got up from the bed, picked up the Dragon Robe from the sofa, put it on, and headed toward the door.
A Dark Elf watching from outside the window—from about a hundred meters away—tensed for a moment, but Rei paid it no mind and lightly knocked on the door before calling out.
"Got a second?"
Several seconds passed before the door opened slightly, revealing a Dark Elf.
He appeared to be a man in his twenties, but given the situation with Marina, Rei had no way of knowing his actual age.
"Do you need something? I've been told to accommodate your requests as much as possible, but things like going outside are impossible."
There was no hostility in the man's words.
If anything, he even carried an apologetic air.
Being Marina's important person apparently carried that much significance to the man... no, to the Dark Elves of this settlement as a whole.
The fact that Marina had repeatedly instructed them to treat Rei courteously was also a major factor.
They had come all this way to treat the World Tree, and Marina surely hadn't anticipated things turning out like this.
That was precisely why she had placed Rei in the position of her important person.
At the same time, there was also a very real sense of crisis—that if they treated Rei heavy-handedly, the settlement itself... no, the entire forest could potentially be annihilated.
As the Guild Master, Marina had read the reports and knew that Rei would attack without hesitation against anyone who tried to harm him.
And considering that Set, a Rare Species Gryphon, was also present, the damage that could be caused if such a person and beast went on a rampage was something they didn't even want to imagine.
With the barrier already weakened due to the World Tree situation, they couldn't afford to take such a risk.
Of course, the kiss had also been born from Marina's genuine affection for Rei.
Rei fully intended to savor this current situation that Marina had arranged for him—something that could be called house arrest at best, or perhaps more accurately a villa stay.
He wouldn't want it to go on for a long period, but for a day or two, spending time like this wasn't bad at all.
Since they had originally come to treat the World Tree, they couldn't keep Rei—someone who could be considered essential to that task—locked up indefinitely.
(In terms of treating the World Tree, it seems Elena's mana would be sufficient enough on its own.)
Still, believing that this kind of life wouldn't continue indefinitely, Rei opened his mouth to speak to the Dark Elf.
"I'm not asking you to let me out of here. It's just that being alone in an empty room like this is pretty boring, so could you bring me something to pass the time... preferably some books?"
"...You can read?"
The Dark Elf's wariness instantly gave way to an expression of genuine surprise.
Literacy rates in Elgin were by no means high.
However, among adventurers, the literacy rate was surprisingly high.
Naturally so. After all, without being able to read, one couldn't even read request forms at the Guild.
One could have comrades, acquaintances, or even Guild Staff Members read the requests for them, but that wasn't always possible, and in the worst case, one could be set up by someone holding a grudge and sent to their death.
With their lives on the line, it was only natural that adventurers desperately learned to read... and while limited to what was necessary for their activities as adventurers, their literacy rate was quite high.
When Rei gave a brief explanation of this, the Dark Elf nodded in understanding.
In Rei's case, he could read and write regardless of being an adventurer, but he didn't bother explaining that in detail right now.
"Then books related to what's necessary for working as an adventurer would be best. Wait a moment."
With those words, the door closed.
After watching it shut, Rei sat down on the sofa and waited for the books to arrive.
(If it's just books I want, I've got some stored in my Misty Ring. But wanting to read books that the Dark Elves have... that's not a mistake... right?)
Glancing at the Dark Elf watching him from afar outside the window, Rei waited for the books to arrive.
...Incidentally, along with the books, light snacks such as sandwiches would also be provided, making the situation even further removed from imprisonment or house arrest. But Rei himself was fully intent on savoring this house arrest lifestyle.
Around the time Rei was thoroughly enjoying his house arrest, Marina was already holding a meeting with the settlement's dignitaries, including the Elder.
"That's why Rei is necessary for treating the World Tree this time. I've explained that many times already, haven't I?"
In response to Marina's appeal for Rei's release, one of the Dark Elves spoke up, sounding reluctant.
"But Marina-sama. The moment that man crossed the physical barrier, that pulse occurred, did it not? If so, it is a fact that he is dangerous. I understand that he is in a deep relationship with Marina-sama, but..."
"Furthermore, why would someone of Marina-sama's standing choose an ordinary human as your partner? The lifespans of Dark Elves and humans differ greatly. It may not be a prohibition, but I believe it was an unspoken understanding."
Following the first speaker, the one who came to criticize Marina was a political opponent seeking to eliminate her.
In response to his words, Marina smiled radiantly.
...That smile, which carried an intensely alluring feminine charm, captivated even the man opposing her for a brief moment.
The fact that he quickly regained his composure showed that he was accustomed to confronting Marina.
Or rather, perhaps the real surprise was Marina herself, who could momentarily enchant even someone so used to facing her.
"An unspoken understanding is an unspoken understanding, isn't it? It's not formally preserved as a law or anything. Besides..."
Perhaps concerned by Marina's pause, the man furrowed his brow in suspicion.
After all, it was rare for Marina, who usually spoke her mind clearly, to be evasive.
Though it had been about a hundred years since they last met, that much passage of time was hardly worth remarking on for Dark Elves.
"Besides...? What is it?"
"No, if you don't understand, then never mind. But do you really think an adventurer who has tamed a Gryphon—and a Rare Species Gryphon at that—is an ordinary human?"
Even using mana perception, the Rei of now, wearing the Ring of the New Moon, could only be sensed as an ordinary mage.
Perhaps with slightly more mana than average for a human, but nothing more.
However, she preferred not to show what Rei looked like without the Ring of the New Moon.
The eyes of awe and fear that Odoban had directed at Rei had pained Marina that much.
She did think that if it came to the worst, it couldn't be helped, but because Rei was her important person, he was currently being treated courteously.
(Anyway, there's no point dealing with this stubborn lot. If I need someone to handle this...)
Muttering to herself, Marina's gaze turned to the figure at the very back of the room... the Elder of this settlement, and simultaneously Marina's grandfather.
"Grandfather, would you tell me what you think about this?"
Among the Dark Elf-kin, who lived far longer than humans, that bearded face full of wrinkles was proof of just how long this person had lived.
...Despite being such an old man, it was a fact that he was still full of vigor.
He wielded his cane as a bludgeoning weapon—like a club—and possessed enough strength to dispatch Low-Rank Monsters with literally a single sweep.
Nor was he poor at Spirit Magic or archery; despite his position as Elder, he was someone whose combat ability ranked among the highest in the settlement.
"Hmm, that's true. If he's laid hands on my cute granddaughter, I suppose it's necessary to see what he's capable of."
"...Grandfather. That's not what this is about. I'm telling you, if you fight Rei, even you won't walk away unscathed, you know?"
"Oh, I heard the stories, but such a formidable one? I look forward to meeting him."
At her grandfather's attitude, Marina let out a sigh at his unchanging nature.
Still, in order to resolve the World Tree issue as quickly as possible, she needed to somehow secure Rei's release, and so Marina turned to speak to her grandfather once more.
While Rei was enjoying his leisurely house arrest and Marina was negotiating with the settlement's leadership for his release, Elena, Vihera, Ara, and Byune were resting inside an empty house in the settlement.
Unlike Rei, there were no guards watching them, and they could go outside freely if they wished.
In fact, until just moments ago, Byune had been playing outside with Set and Ielo.
"That was unexpected. To think Rei would be captured the moment we arrived at the Dark Elf settlement."
As Elena murmured this, Vihera agreed... and yet, she wore a somewhat amused smile.
"Well, it's very Rei-like, I suppose. Wherever you go, if Rei is there, that place becomes the center of a commotion."
At Vihera's words, Elena tried to argue back... but understanding that those words were an undeniable fact, she found herself at a loss for words.
In truth, there had been few instances where Rei was involved and things didn't turn into a major commotion... at least within the scope of Elena's experience, there was an undeniable truth to Vihera's words.
"It's an undeniable fact, isn't it?"
"...That is so."
"Well, that might be part of the reason I came to have feelings for Rei."
At those words, Elena cast a suspicious glance at her.
Naturally. Through Ielo's memories, Elena had seen the battle between Rei and Vihera... and their kiss under the moonlight.
(If she's trying to say that she herself is a commotion, I can't exactly deny that.)
As she was thinking this, Ara quietly placed tea she had brewed in front of the two of them, and then in front of Byune, who seemed slightly sleepy, perhaps from fatigue.
Drinking their tea, a few minutes of silence filled the room, but...
"So, what are you going to do?"
Suddenly, as if breaking that silence, Vihera spoke up.
"What do you mean, 'what am I going to do'?"
"About Marina, of course. You saw it, didn't you?"
It went without saying what she was talking about.
The kiss that had taken place in front of everyone.
"Honestly, I do not find it amusing... but it is also a fact that because of that incident, Rei has been spared from further harm. ...I do not find it amusing, though."
The fact that she said it twice made it clear that Elena hadn't exactly accepted Marina's actions either.
Still, setting Rei aside, it was true that Elena held a favorable impression of Marina.
(She is a bit too feminine... no, perhaps it would be more accurate to say far too feminine.)
Murmuring to herself as she recalled Marina's appearance, Elena opened her mouth once more.
"If Marina truly harbors feelings for Rei... romantic feelings between a man and a woman, then it would be necessary to have a proper conversation with her at least once."
Murmuring thus, she took a sip of her tea.