Volume 6 Chapter 3 The Elf’s Secret
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ms. Nina’s revival process was smoother than I’d anticipated, thanks to Ms. Mahal’s years of expertise. Now, all we had to do was wait for her body to fully regenerate.
Her form, suspended in the glass tank, was regenerating at an astonishing pace. A spine-like structure extended from her neck, visibly lengthening each hour. Other parts Ms. Mahal had removed were regrowing as well.
Homunculi regenerate far faster than humans, but sometimes cells go awry, forming tumors or incorrect tissues. Ms. Mahal swiftly excised any abnormalities. Homunculi could even regrow brain cells, so it was crucial to remove defects immediately.
I could have spent all day watching Ms. Nina’s regeneration, but after a full day, Ms. Mahal firmly kicked me out. “You have other matters to attend to,” she reminded me.
She was right. There was so much to handle, I hardly knew where to begin. Best to start with what I could accomplish in the capital.
First, I visited Miss Floria’s estate. She was out, but Shea-Shea cornered me with questions about my adventures. Apparently, she was writing a novel with me as the protagonist. Mortified, I escaped her mansion as soon as I could.
At the stables, I found the horses I’d lent to Ms. Shirakaba had been returned. Duke Mineley’s servants brought them back that morning, along with a thank-you letter addressed to Baron Nandes and me. Who’s Baron Nandes? Oh, right—Miss Floria’s husband, who resided in their territory. I’d forgotten she was married.
These formal letters were part of noble etiquette, I supposed. What a hassle.
My letter was standard, but in the corner, in tiny Japanese characters, it read: “今んとこ万事おｋ” (Everything’s okay for now). Ms. Shirakaba’s handwriting, I assumed. Her cursive was surprisingly elegant.
The message was casual, like something a modern high school girl would write, but the penmanship was impeccable. I had a soft spot for girls with nice handwriting. Anyway, it was good to know things were going well.
Where to next? The Professor’s apartment was nearby, but I wanted to ask Ms. Hóa some questions, so I headed to the botanical garden.
* * *
The place felt familiar now, so I slipped in through the cargo entrance. Antfolk guards would have “half-killed” any outsider attempting this.
Ms. Ant had explained that “half-killing” was tricky. Some jobs had hand-control skills, but not Stargazer. I wasn’t a combat job anyway, and I had no intention of fighting again.
It was lunchtime, so Ms. Hóa treated me to a meal in the cafeteria. It felt a bit cheeky, but elves seemed to find over-politeness rude. Relationships were complicated everywhere.
The meal was simple: bread, soup, and salted greens. Yet it was delicious, thanks to the fresh vegetables—a cheat in itself.
The Antfolk maids’ uniforms had evolved, becoming cuter. The first design was based on a maid café photo, but this one was an otherworldly creation, accentuating their slim waists.
Antfolk had designed and tailored it themselves. The short skirts were daring, and I didn’t know where to look.
In this world, longer skirts signified modesty, but Earth’s mini-skirts were causing a cultural stir among the elite. Antfolk liked them for ease of movement, but they were far more erotic than their usual leather rider suits, which were more “cool.”
Ms. Hóa smirked at my discomfort. The elf soup, infused with various herbs, had a deep, rich flavor. Later, I learned it contained insects, and I was shocked. The small chestnut-like bits were probably them. I’d enjoyed it unaware, but… well, if it’s cooked like that, I’d eat it again.
I wasn’t into exotic food, but properly prepared insects were fine. Canned grasshoppers smelled awful, but the giant hornets my uncles and I dug up were great.
The problem with insects was their size made proper processing difficult. Removing innards was tough, so they spoiled easily. Their hard exoskeletons were indigestible, and leg spines could harm your insides.
Frying or simmering them (tsukudani-style) was safest, but it lost the unique flavor. If it tasted like small shrimp, why bother with bugs?
But the soup’s insects had a distinct texture and flavor, seamlessly integrated. Elf cuisine was impressive, but I wouldn’t seek it out. I’d eat it politely if served, though. Seeing them alive would scare me. For this size, the bugs must have been enormous.
”Do you know a dragon named Schulz?”
I asked, biting into a small, tart apple. Japanese apples were the best—I missed them.
”How could I not? That pervert dragon kidnapped many elf girls.”
”Actually… I rescued them.”
Ms. Hóa looked stunned. Explaining would be tedious, so I decided to show her. I’d also leave the elf girls in her care.
The room was too small for all of them, so I’d start with one. As I reached into my magic bag for a frozen elf, Ms. Hóa shrieked and lunged at me.
I’d grown accustomed to her sudden movements, but without warning, it was jarring. Her beauty saved the situation, but it still felt like a horror movie. Her glowing red eyes and wild green hair were terrifying.
Suddenly, a glowing mist enveloped us, and all life signs vanished. Even the Antfolk in the garden were gone.
For someone who constantly scanned their surroundings, it was like being blindfolded. Was this an attack? Ms. Hóa’s doing?
I activated a full-power radar scan, but only Ms. Hóa showed up. My astronomy skills revealed no stars, planets, or sun. What was happening?
Were we the only ones in this world? No, this must be interdimensional teleportation.
We’d been transported to a small stone room with a bed, table, chair, and a messy bookshelf. No windows, no doors.
There was nothing else—this room was the entire world. Like Schulz’s nest, but smaller. I wasn’t surprised anymore.
”What are you doing, boy?!”
What, am I the one at fault?
”Using emergency teleportation in the capital is dangerous! It could interfere with the Great Temple’s hero summoning rituals and cause accidents.”
”Then don’t use teleportation magic.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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