Chapter 480 Bringing a Withered Tree to Bloom ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Carley-the Ancient Elf¹ and Matriarch-had been surprisingly quiet lately. Even during my magic circuit² adjustments, she mostly just spaced out, only occasionally asking me to contact Ardiro, their diplomat.
What actually nagged at me was the way the women from my shop were constantly slipping in and out of her room when I wasn’t around. Lily, my love-slave³, didn’t even try to hide it, casually mentioning she was “off to the palace for a bit.” It seemed Queen Her Majesty and Satsuki the love-mage were also frequent guests.
Even Tania, my love-elf, was apparently visiting with her son, Wakaba. Not only that, but I’d heard the group of Elves who’d been frequenting the shop lately were also getting in on the gossip.
Yeah… I’m no “dense” protagonist. Since no one was trying to hide it, there was no way I wouldn’t notice. The trap was springing; they were boxing me in. At this rate, I’d wake up one day and find that Ancient Elf pinning me to the floor.
Well, if everything else was settled, I guess I wouldn’t be in much of a bind if it happened. But the moment arrived sooner than I thought. I went to adjust my magic circuits as usual, only to find that Gustav, the leader of the assassins who usually clung to her side, was gone.
”…Where’s Gustav?” I asked.
”Umu. The mental strain finally broke him. I’ve sent the fellow off on a vacation,” Carley replied.
”…Is that so?”
I couldn’t take that at face value. Whether she kicked him out or he fled, I didn’t know. If he wasn’t here, he was likely rotting in a dungeon for the first time in months, reconsidering his life choices. Poor guy. My heart goes out to you, Gustav.
”Well, make sure you treat him right once you get back home, okay?”
”Umu. After such a string of blunders, and with his face known by everyone, he’s finished as a ‘Shadow’⁴. I’ll likely have him study under Ardiro to become a diplomat and find him a wife post-haste.”
”I see. So? How did you convince the Emperor of Wielope? Or rather, did you actually pull it off?”
”Umu. There are no issues. But before we talk, sit here.”
Carley pointed to the bed. Since she’d invited me into the room in this state, things probably really were fine. I climbed onto the mattress and sat cross-legged. She immediately settled into my lap as if it were her divine right.
Her long, withered-leaf hair was right in my face. It smelled surprisingly sweet. Her back was unexpectedly warm against my chest, and the weight on my lap was… soft. I’d been so focused on her “ancient” aura that I’d forgotten she was just a normal Elf woman. The feel of her was exactly what you’d expect.
”You make for a fine seat,” she remarked.
”…I’m honored by the praise?” I said.
”Why the question? I was told you enjoy it when women act spoiled with you.”
”…Well, I mean, sure, but…”
Unsatisfied with my lukewarm response, she started wiggling her hips-a move she’d clearly been coached on by my girls-and rubbed the back of her head against me to show her annoyance. It was clumsy, like someone acting spoiled for the first time in centuries. Or a millennium.
”So, about the Emperor-little Dee-bou?”
”Eh? Ah, you mean Emperor Demandyl.”
”Umu. At first, I told him ‘Who I breed with is my own business,’ but as you predicted, he started chirping like a frantic bird.”
”Well, obviously…”
”I don’t see the fuss. But it couldn’t be helped, so I persuaded him that for the kingdom to prosper eternally, I needed to produce a successor.”
”Ah, right. That makes sense.”
”Then he started shouting, ‘In that case, I’ll do it!’ so I told him, ‘Shut up, you piss-dripping brat.’”
”…My deepest condolences to him.”
”Finally, I explained the merits of winning you over for the ‘Great Wish’⁵-the magic circuits and how deeply you’ve embedded yourself into the heart of this kingdom-and he finally folded.”
”…Did the letter have tear stains on it?”
”Now, I wonder?” Carley didn’t seem to care, continuing to rub her body against mine. Her movements were still stiff. She wasn’t doing this because she wanted to; she was following a script.
What was I supposed to do with this? Officially, I was in the clear to go all the way. But I couldn’t read her actual feelings.
”So? Are you in the mood to spurt yet?”
”No. Not even a twitch.”
”Muu, how tedious. Your wives told me that if I seduced you properly, they’d leave the rest to me…”
”I appreciate their trust, but the problem is you… This was supposed to be about rejuvenation so you could enjoy my shop’s products. How did it turn into this?”
”Hmm, that is true…”
Carley stopped her clumsy attempts at being cute and started thinking. She twisted her upper body to face me, looking me dead in the eye.
”Momo is cute, isn’t she?”
”Well, obviously. Our Momo is the cutest in the world.”
”And Wakaba and Mikan are cute too, yes?”
”Stupid question. They’re both the cutest in the world.”
”A contradiction… Well, then. Heine, Kaine, and Silva are also cute?”
”Yeah, the cutest in the world. …Wait, have you met all my kids?”
”Umu. I have. And so-I am certain that a child between you and me would be just as cute.”
”……”
”It started as a whim, but that is my reason now.”
Staring into those direct, unblinking eyes, I lost my words. This Ancient Elf… what was she playing at? She was definitely leaving things unsaid. If I took it at face value, it was a “I want your babies” airhead answer, but I-
”Oh, did that get a reaction?”
”…Just be quiet for a second.”
”I cannot. Your wives told me that if you wavered, I should press the attack.”
She slowly offered her lips. I’d assumed they might be dry, but they were actually glossy and moist.
”Nn.”
While I was distracted, she quietly pressed them against mine. A soft, squishy sensation. Taking my lack of resistance as a green light, she did it again and again. It was a totally uns*xy, mechanical kiss. She was just performing a task.
”Hmm, was that right? In the old days, it was a bit more…”
Carley tilted her head, stroking her own lips as if checking the sensation. Despite her disappointing words, the way she was trying to figure it out made her look like a young girl confused by her first kiss.
I felt a surge of irritation. I wrapped my hand around her waist, stroking her stomach before letting my hand wander up to her thin chest. I tilted her chin up. She didn’t resist; she just looked up with a blank, wide-eyed expression. This time, I took the lead.
”Nn, mmm, nn.”
It wasn’t a moan-just the sound of her breath catching in her nose. I ignored it and began to nibble on those doll-like lips. It was frustrating, but they were definitely warm and soft.
I didn’t stop there. I used the tip of my tongue to trace the lines of her lips, using a gentle pressure to slick them with saliva.
”Nn.”
I flicked them with my tongue, but she just kept letting out those mechanical breaths. She didn’t resist, but she didn’t kiss back, either. Her reaction was paper-thin. I kept at it for a while.
”…Well? Any thoughts?” I asked.
”Hmm, I do not know. I feel like it was good, but also like it was nothing. Well, if it put you in the mood, that is what matters. I shall leave the rest to you, so please, hurry up and finish, okay?”
”……”
I see… Fine. If that’s how you want to play it, then I’m going to have to get serious…!
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Summary:
The protagonist realizes his harem is conspiring to set him up with Carley, the Ancient Elf. After she clears her political hurdles with the Emperor of Wielope, she attempts to seduce him using clumsy advice from his wives. The chapter ends with a mechanical kiss that provokes the protagonist into taking the initiative.
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Trivia:
- Carley is the one who was previously interested in ‘rejuvenation’ medicine.
- Gustav has likely been sent to a dungeon as punishment for his failures.
- The ‘Great Wish’ is the overarching political/magical goal of the Wielope delegation.
- Carley hasn’t acted ‘spoiled’ in possibly over a thousand years
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Character Insight:
Carley shifts from seeing the MC as a tool for rejuvenation to genuinely wanting his child because she finds his existing children adorable. The MC shows a flash of pride/irritation when his romantic skills are met with a mechanical ‘task-like’ response.
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Behind the Scenes:
The title is a play on the Japanese folk tale ‘Hanasaka Jiisan’ (The Old Man Who Made Withered Trees Blossom), usually a metaphor for bringing life to something dead or old.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Carley – Ancient Elf ‘Mother’ (Haha-sama) of Wielope Empire—young beautiful elven looks w/ ancient aura, long autumn-leaf green hair, flat-chested soft body, carefree villain matriarch to assassins/royalty like Emperor ‘Dee-bou’ & Gustav. Forest Blessing granter, founder/supporter, blunt/pragmatic, Kento progeny-obsessed, chill under magic/tentacle restraints.
• Satsuki – Miranda’s granddaughter—a talented court mage with long black hair, staff, and palace robes. Prickly tsundere companion of Kento who fought in the dragon subjugation. Now humiliated yet fulfilled as Harvest’s new worker, her research thrives under his guidance while she whispers romantic tips to Amelia.
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Wakaba – Newborn son of Kento and Tania. A half-elf magic user with large Mana Circuits. Has squishy cheeks, tiny fingers, and soft floppy ears. Emits magical discharges when throwing tantrums. The newborn son of Kento and Tania. Has green hair and elf ears.
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
• Gustav – Leader of the Wielope Empire’s elite ‘Shadow’ assassin crew—captured in royal dungeon & victory parade hit, now snagged by shop defenses. Die-hard Emperor loyalist, shakes at the thought of Carley getting hurt from political fallout.
• Demandyl – Emperor of the Willope Empire. Known as ‘Dee-boy’ (Dee-bou) by Karla. A man past middle age approaching old age, wearing opulent robes. He has children and wives.
• Momo – The newborn daughter of Kento and Lily. She has pink hair and her father’s ear and eyebrow shapes. Very energetic and vocal for an infant. Approximately one year old. Capable of standing on her own and mimicking simple words. Energetic and affectionate. The shopkeeper’s eldest daughter who has recently started speaking.
• Mikan – Kento’s daughter. Orange-themed. The protagonist’s newborn daughter. Described as having a cheerful, oblivious expression. The shopkeeper’s newborn daughter.
• Soi – An old professor from Ajire seminary, the first to raise a question. Looks like wizardly.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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