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What is a High Elf?

An existence positioned at the pinnacle of the elven race. They possess greater longevity and innate abilities than regular elves. Only a High Elf can become the Grand Elder of the Great Forest, having the authority to control and lead other elves.

High Elves live for over a thousand years, dedicating long periods for the World Tree. Their extensive history and time make them the most skilled and renowned among elves in the continent, deserving the title of the foremost elder.

“Meeting the head of the Arielte Family is one thing, but meeting a High Elf today…”

It’s going to be quite a grueling schedule.

Elves blessed by the World Tree can also sense the distinguishing prowess of a High Elf. Even the head of the Arielte Family will emanate a formidable presence or pressure.

What about a High Elf who has already reached the summit?

“Well… I guess it’ll work out somehow.”

I pushed away the overflowing waves of thought and concentrated on changing my attire again.

It’s been a while since I wore formal attire that nobles would wear instead of my usual servant clothes or light garments. Quite some time had passed since I wore an expensive suit while at the royal castle.

After changing into suitable clothes, I checked my appearance in the full-length mirror of the room.

The formal attire, blending black and white well, wasn’t adorned with elaborate decorations, ensuring it was neatly presented.

Above the breast pocket, the pattern of a sword piercing a demon unique to the Count’s House was engraved. Below it, my family name was carved in the common tongue of the continent.

“Looks good.”

The sleek vibe of the outfit and my somewhat cold-featured face created a pretty decent harmony.

The proof of my slave status was still intact, and as Shione’s personal servant, it wasn’t going to change one bit. If I were a noble, I might have been quite popular in the Cult. My face is definitely better than that of Ray’s, after all.

After checking my attire for the last time, just as I turned my body—

Mew!

After dressing suitably, the Cotton Puff I summoned to look around the room flew straight towards me.

The Cotton Puff bumped into my face and then fluttered its small wings before climbing onto my shoulder.

Then it started to rub its face all over my cheek chaotically.

“Why are you so excited?”

—Huff!

“Um, maybe it’s because we are near the World Tree.”

Unlike the Count’s House or Marquis Family, spirits are visible everywhere. Even I could easily feel the aura of nature from the mana in this place. There couldn’t be a better environment for a spirit than this.

It seems our Cotton Puff is quite thrilled because of it.

I absentmindedly patted the Cotton Puff and walked toward the wooden box that I had carefully placed on the table in the room.

“Want to take a look at this?”

—Mew?

“Feel free to get excited. I’ll show it to you for a moment, so you have to focus. Got it?”

—Mew!

The Cotton Puff started staring intensely at the wooden box.

I slowly opened the box, revealing the item inside. A refreshing fragrance began to fill the room as the precious jewel hidden within finally came into view.

The Spirit Stone that Siabel had courageously taken from the Count’s warehouse, prepared to face Ainel’s wrath. The invaluable gem shines beautifully, making it hard to assign a value.

—Hie…!

The Cotton Puff let out an unusual sound and began to flap its wings rapidly.

Boom!

The Cotton Puff flew towards the wooden box, hugging the Spirit Stone tightly, displaying an expression as if it had everything in the world.

“Okay, that’s enough. Let’s put it back in the box.”

The moment I reached for the Spirit Stone—

—Kiiiing…

The Cotton Puff hugged the Spirit Stone even tighter and moistened its eyes.

“You can’t look at it like that. Besides, I’m using the Spirit Stone for you this time, so just wait a bit.”

—Mew!

Even after I told it, the Cotton Puff seemed unwilling to give up the Spirit Stone. It stubbornly resisted, causing me to forcibly pull it away and quickly close the box.

Once I carefully tucked the box into my pocket, the Cotton Puff returned to my shoulder, looking like it was missing something.

After a minor episode concluded—

Knock knock.

It seemed someone would come to call me after a while. Finally, someone knocked on the door.

“Lord Ray, are you ready?”

A woman’s voice.

I opened the door to greet the servant.

“Yes, everything is ready.”

However, the moment she saw me, her once-normal expression broke, her eyes going wide as she stared at me.

Sniff sniff.

She started to inhale the air discreetly, trying her best not to draw attention.

“Oh. The Spirit Stone.”

Perhaps her shocked reaction was due to the lingering scent of the Spirit Stone I held moments ago. If it were anything else, she wouldn’t be so overtly flustered by the aroma.

It felt as if I accidentally drew the attention of the elves by wearing the perfume.

Finally, the flustered servant managed to lower her head and spoke.

“Then, I will guide you to the head of the family now.”

*

As I followed the servant, I noticed Shione ahead of me.

“She looks completely tense.”

She seemed quite nervous about meeting the head of the Arielte Family, walking awkwardly behind the servant in the corridor.

—Mew.

The Cotton Puff, searching for her, quietly floated into the air and suddenly zoomed towards Shione, hitting the back of her neck.

“Eek…!”

Shione let out a strange voice from the sudden appearance of the Cotton Puff. Eyes turned toward her in the corridor, and she instinctively lowered her head, a hint of red appearing in her ears, indicating her embarrassment.

—Huff.

“What the…!”

Shione pouted, catching the Cotton Puff at the back of its neck. With so many eyes on her, she couldn’t just throw it away, so she ended up placing the Cotton Puff back on her shoulder.

I quickened my pace, closing the distance between us. Maybe because of the Cotton Puff, her tension seemed to ease, and she was no longer walking awkwardly.

“Princess Shione, have you relaxed a bit?”

“Oh, Ray. By the way… relaxed? Me?”

“You were walking so awkwardly from behind, though.”

“…Not at all!”

Shione couldn’t hide her flushed cheeks as she quietly protested, continuously glancing around nervously.

I poked her left arm casually.

“Without the Cotton Puff, you would have been tense the entire time.”

“…I told you, it wasn’t like that!”

“Really now?”

“Ugh, seriously.”

Seeing Shione’s hand rise in an attempt to pinch me, I instinctively dodged to the side.

Frustrated but unwilling to lose to me, she focused on calming herself down.

Since approaching her now would surely earn me a pinch, I waited until she calmed down before moving closer.

“By the way… have you heard anything about the head of the Arielte Family, Princess Shione?”

Shione nodded quietly.

“Before changing, Lady Friel told me a bit.”

With those words, Shione slowed her pace, creating a gap from the servant ahead of her, and carefully began to speak.

“The head of the Arielte Family is said to be calm and reserved. Today, our meeting will consist of brief greetings and then being introduced to the Grand Elder, who will guide us to meet him.”

“The head will guide us to meet the Grand Elder…?”

“They say that an audience with the Grand Elder is something only the heads of the three noble houses in the Great Forest can easily obtain. It seems that’s why.”

“I see.”

Indeed, a High Elf’s position is immensely high.

Elves tend to be quite insular while maintaining a clear hierarchy within. It appears that to meet someone of the Grand Elder’s stature, the assistance of the family heads is necessary.

As I pondered how long we had been wandering through the vast estate, the servant finally stopped, and a grand door stood before us.

“…The head is waiting for you inside.”

After saying that, the servant bowed and gracefully left.

Before the head’s room, no one could be seen. The only sound in the quiet corridor was the distant chirping of insects from outside the estate.

Shione, who had been silently waiting, glanced at me and nodded. I silently signaled my agreement, and she slowly began to push the doorknob.

Creeeak…

The door opened. As Shione and I stepped in, the scene of an elf enjoying the warm sunlight streaming through the window unfolded in the center of the room.

“So, you finally arrived.”

Friel Arielte, with her radiant golden hair.

However, her eyes held a deeper, murky green compared to her daughter’s. She had an expression that seemed indifferent to everything, as if she could not find any enjoyment in the world. Her gaze bore the weariness of a sage that transcended the ordinary.

With a slight smile at the corners of her ruby lips, she pushed her glasses up and said.

“Welcome to the Great Forest… and to our Arielte Family.”

She was an elf imbued with a decadent beauty.

 

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