Tiselle flitted about at a low altitude. Even though she was my own daughter, I couldn't help but find her adorable. Still, I was sure to give her a firm warning where it was needed. Flying any higher than my own height was strictly forbidden; it would be too dangerous if she fell. The other children watched Tiselle with envious eyes, but there wasn't much I could do about that. I just hoped they would accept it as part of her individuality. Instead of moping, they should focus on developing traits of their own that might make Tiselle envious in return.
Actually, it seemed the children had already reached that point of acceptance. When I wondered why, Ann provided the answer.
"It is because they see the other residents every day," she said.
I thought about it for a moment and found myself convinced. There certainly were many different races living here. Without even realizing it, we had created an environment that provided a healthy influence on the children. I reminded myself not to get complacent and to keep a close eye on their growth.
I'd been craving barley tea lately, but I didn't actually know how to make it. Given the name, I assumed it used some kind of grain, but I wondered if wheat would work. The secret, as it turned out, was barley. It seemed that after pounding the barley seeds with a pestle, you just had to roast them and brew the result. The High Elves were the ones who knew the process.
I gave it a try and made some barley tea to drink. It wasn't bad, though it would likely take a few more attempts to get the flavor just right. This batch was a bit too strong. At this quality, I couldn't exactly give it out as a gift, but there was far too much for me to drink alone. I decided to recruit some victims.
"I have some very strong barley tea. Does anyone want a cup?" I asked. I didn't lie to them.
"It’s bitter..." Urza gave up after a single sip. Hahaha.
Maybe I should try adding sugar? I don't usually take it that way, but I noticed the High Elves were drinking it like that. It wasn't a traditional method for them; apparently, they’d picked up the habit after moving here, since the village had an abundance of sugar. Lu was the next to arrive.
"Hmm..." After one sip, she followed Urza’s lead and dumped in some sugar.
Frau, however, was able to drink it straight. "The aroma of the grain is quite pleasant," she remarked.
Was that it for the victims? There was still quite a bit left. I decided to dilute it with hot water. I also asked Lu to use her magic to make some ice. If I chilled it until it was ice-cold, it would be perfect for the workers to drink after their training.
Over in a corner of the village, Galf, Daga, and a few others were practicing. It looked like the Lamia race was participating as well.
"Urza, sorry, but could you take this over to them?"
She gave a spirited reply and headed off. I was counting on her.
I tended to associate the High Elves with hunting and construction, but plant-related matters were also their responsibility. They gathered the grass used for stuffing futons and the plants used for toilet paper. They even changed the type of grass in the bedding depending on the season—a detail I hadn't noticed for several years. I felt a bit guilty about that.
Regarding the grass the High Elves gathered, it seemed the harvest was a bit poor this year. It wasn't that the plants were rare; they were common enough in the forest, so the High Elves just had to expand their search area a bit. I asked if the extra work would be too much of a burden.
"It’s fine. Besides, we’re feeling a bit sluggish lately, so it’s a good workout."
With that, the High Elves set out—in full combat gear. They were just going to gather grass, weren't they? Why the weapons and armor?
"The plants put up a fight, too," they explained.
I see. I didn't know that. I felt a new wave of gratitude for the High Elves and everything they did.
The investigation team that had gone looking for the Western Dungeon returned. Unfortunately, they hadn't found anything. They had searched a wide area, but they were forced to turn back once their supplies ran low. I told them not to be depressed about it and thanked them for their hard work. I suggested they rest, but they wanted to eat first, so I went to prepare a meal.
I wondered if there really was no dungeon to the west, or if they’d simply missed it. I’d only assumed one existed because there were dungeons in the other three cardinal directions. Well, things don't always work out on the first try. We'll send another team eventually. There was no rush. In truth, I didn't have any grand plans for the dungeon even if we found it. I just wanted to see if there were any communicative races living there, like the Lamias, Giants, or the Gorlock race.
Rather than searching for a Western Dungeon, visiting the Gorlock race in the Eastern Dungeon should probably come first. I felt a bit of self-reflection was in order.
This year's Festival Executive Committee was officially formed. I wasn't on the committee this time. Between the new village for the Teleportation Gate and matters regarding Big Roof Shashato, I had plenty on my plate. Just like with the last martial arts tournament, the Civil Official Girls would be taking the lead.
"We will not repeat the failures of the tournament," they declared.
"Don't be so tense," I told them. "Take it easy. It's fine even if things don't go perfectly."
Since I was delegating everything to them, I didn't want them getting too worked up. Unlike the tournament, Frau was back on duty now, so they probably wouldn't go out of control. I decided to trust them. It would be rude to keep worrying. I'd leave it in their hands.