Volume 6 Chapter 20 The Investigation Team
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hey, Karin. What’s all this fuss about to start, then-ja?” Kororon asked.
”Please, just behave yourself, Lady Kororon,” I replied. “The first meeting for the Zerlant Kingdom¹ Investigation Team is about to begin. You’re our guest of honor, so please don’t sweat the small stuff – just sit there with some dignity, okay?”
”Hmph. I wonder what these snot-nosed little Elves think they can actually accomplish,” Kororon muttered. “Well, I suppose I’ll just settle in and enjoy the show-kano.”
Accompanied by Master Sharlin as our bodyguard, Kororon and I made our way into a briefing room near the Royal Parliament. Today’s session was chaired by Lady Claudel, with a handful of Royal Palace mages and military brass rounding out the team.
When the clock finally struck, Lady Claudel cleared her throat.
”Very well. I hereby call the first meeting of the Zerlant Kingdom World Tree² Investigation Team to order,” Claudel said. “As you all know, our objective is to investigate the anomalies occurring within the World Tree’s pocket dimension – sparked by the recent mana depletions and that Gate teleportation accident. I shouldn’t have to remind a room full of Elves just how vital the World Tree is to our existence.”
A wave of solemn nods rippled through the room.
”Furthermore, we are honored to have an observer from the Spirit Clan³ with us today: the Primal Shaman, Lady Kororon,” Claudel continued. “I expect everyone to show her the utmost respect.”
Following the cue, I helped Kororon stand so everyone could see her.
”Um… she might look like a little girl, but this is Lady Kororon,” I said. “She’s… well, she’s basically a goddess. Please be kind to her.”
The room went dead silent. Everyone just stared, their heads tilting in synchronized confusion at the phrase “little girl.” While I was standing there feeling awkward, Master Sharlin leaned in and whispered, “Karin… I think you’re the only one here who sees her as a kid.”
Wait, what? So to everyone else, Kororon looks like a shriveled old crone?
”…A-anyway! Please treat her well!” I blurted out, cutting the introduction short.
Kororon, for her part, looked like she was having the time of her life. “I told you, Karin,” she whispered. “To the average eye, I’m nothing but a grandma-nou. Preconceptions are a scary thing, aren’t they?”
”Moving on,” Lady Claudel said. “We are also joined by the most senior mage from the Arcane Administration. Lady Yasura, please enter.”
The back door swung open. In walked an Elf girl who looked like she was in her mid-teens, her hair tied back in simple pigtails. The room immediately erupted into a frantic buzz of whispers. Wait… wasn’t Lady Yasura supposed to be over two thousand years old?
”Now, now, settle down,” Claudel said. “Lady Yasura rarely makes public appearances, so your shock is understandable. However! It is incredibly rude to judge someone by their cover. This is, without question, the Administration’s most venerable mage.”
Yikes. Kororon was one thing, but this was a whole different level of “looks can be deceiving.”
”Hmph! Look at that makeup,” Kororon said quietly. “She’s caked it on so thick I’m surprised her face doesn’t just peel off like a mask.”
”Hey! Kororon! You can’t say that!” I hissed.
Honestly… between Kororon, Yasura, and even Syu… is everyone in my social circle suffering from some kind of age-glitch!?
”I am Yasura, as Lady Claudel so graciously introduced me,” the girl said. “I take it my youthful beauty has left you all speechless? kuku. Excellent, excellent. I certainly cut a more elegant figure than that spirit over there who reeks of diapers, wouldn’t you agree?”
”Excuse me?!” Kororon barked.
”Whoa, whoa! Kororon, stay in your seat!” I shouted. “Wait… Kororon, did she just say you smell like a wet diaper?”
”I—well, yes. Does that mean she can see my true essence too?” Kororon asked. “Regardless! I do NOT smell like that!”
”Lady Yasura, please… let’s try to refrain from provoking our guests,” Claudel said, looking like she had just swallowed a lemon.
”Hmph… fine. My apologies,” Yasura replied. “It’s my first time actually laying eyes on a Spirit Shaman, and I suppose I got a bit carried away.”
Yasura’s words said “sorry,” but her eyes were shooting daggers at Kororon. Kororon was glaring right back with equal intensity. These two were the oldest people in the room; you’d think they’d show a little more grace!
* * *
After the introductions finally finished, the meeting shifted to the brass tacks.
”Now, Lady Yasura,” Claudel began. “According to Lady Kororon, if we can pinpoint the World Tree’s original coordinates, we might be able to trace its new location. What are your thoughts?”
”Logically sound,” Yasura replied. “Tracking the ‘scent’ of a relocation is certainly possible for the Spirit Clan, given their knack for manipulating energy.”
Finally, some good news! But then…
”That said, Chancellor… nobody actually knows where the original site was,” Yasura added.
”What? Not even you?” Claudel asked, visibly shaken.
”If I, the oldest living Elf, don’t know it, then it’s lost to history unless some dusty scroll says otherwise,” Yasura said. “I’d imagine that spirit over there has a few more centuries on me, but she’s clearly just been taking up space without learning a thing. Or perhaps the senility has finally set in?”
”Grrr… you arrogant little…” Kororon growled.
”Kororon, please, keep it together!” I said. “But Lady Yasura… honestly, for a ‘legendary’ mage like yourself to just brag about not knowing anything is a bit much, don’t you think? You don’t have any leads at all?”
”Karin! Watch your tone!” Claudel gasped.
”Chancellor! Who is this insufferable human brat?!” Yasura bellowed.
”My apologies, Lady Yasura! This is Karin, our Diplomatic Liaison to the Spirit Clan,” Claudel explained. “She’s also the half-sister of Her Royal Highness, Princess Shu-Shuria…”
”What?! A human meddling in the affairs of the Royal House?” Yasura asked. “The Zerlant bloodline has truly hit rock bottom. How pathetic. I knew that Queen was an eyesore, but this is a disgrace!”
”Lady Yasura! That is enough!” Claudel snapped.
The air in the room turned heavy, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. I was seriously starting to doubt if this “investigation team” was going to survive the first hour. Right then, the door swung open again.
”Sorrry! Am I late?”
In walked… Big Sister Puruun? And trailing behind her was another tiny girl, this one from the Demon Clan.
”So, I heard the ‘Ancient Duo’ from the Elves and Spirits were here,” Puruun said with a cheeky grin. “I scrambled to get permission from the Emperor and the Queen… and I brought the Demon Clan’s Elder along too! This is the High Priestess of the Demon Church, Lady Yohaku. That makes this the ‘Ancient Trio’ World Tree Investigation Team… right?”
Puruun looked so proud of herself, but all I could do was stare. Another little girl.
Seriously, how is this even going to work?
—
Summary:
The World Tree Investigation Team assembles for its first meeting, but it quickly descends into a chaotic clash of egos. Karin discovers that Kororon’s youthful appearance is an illusion she alone sees, while the Elf and Demon representatives are also ancient beings in child-like bodies. The meeting ends with the arrival of a third ‘ancient girl’ representative from the Demon Clan.
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Trivia:
- Karin is the only person who sees Kororon as a young girl; to everyone else, she is an old crone.
- Yasura is the oldest Elf but looks like a teenager in pigtails.
- Yasura holds deep resentment or disdain for the current Queen of Zerlant.
- Karin’s status as a ‘human’ in the royal family is a point of significant scandal for traditionalist Elves.
- The meeting isn’t just a political summit; it’s a gathering of the ‘oldest elders’ of the three major clans
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Character Insight:
Yasura is established as a haughty traditionalist who despises the current state of the Zerlant Kingdom and humans’ involvement in it. Karin continues her role as the ‘straight man,’ struggling to manage the increasingly absurd ‘ancient girl’ trope that surrounds her.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author leans heavily into the ‘Loli-Baba’ (ancient girl) trope, subverting it by making the visual perception of these characters depend on the observer’s perspective or clan magic.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Kororon – The oldest and most powerful Shaman of the Spirit Clan. Despite being over ten thousand years old, she appears as a young girl.
• Claudel – The elf captain of the royal guard assigned to Princess Asuka. At first, she had a strong dislike for Yuuta, who is human. Now, Yuuta’s saffle.
• Yasura – The Eldest of the Elf Clan. Appears as a young girl. Holds knowledge of ancient Elven legends regarding the World Tree.
• Syu – A Dwarf Engineer with a large, sturdy physique and boisterous personality.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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