Episode 5: A Get-Together (親睦会)
Dawn of the next day, after returning from the firefox village I find myself alone in the forest.
Being here for the third day, the Firefoxes food was in my opinion, portions of tossed away meat and potatoes the Elves didn’t eat. But that has reached its limit and now I have to find new game for them.
To addition to that, there is an event that is scheduled for noon today. The event is going to be using meat as part of it, so I need to be sure I get enough of it.
I need to work at reversing the negative impression the Elves have. Even though there is a proper amount of dried meat that is reserved in the village, for some reason people still believe that portions are being reduced because of the Firefoxes.
The reason for the portion being a problem is mutual, there is sympathy for the Firefoxes, but there is still some resentment.
I have to be careful of all the trivial things so that it doesn’t grow into a large fracture between the two.
The fix is easy. If I harvest enough game I can suppress and even remove that feeling of unfairness that everyone has.
I sharpen my senses.
「【Enhanced Perception】」
Mana integrates with wind as I activate my special magic that expands my perception. Even though the air is limited in this place, I can still obtain information from about 300 meters around me.
It is a very good, high level general purpose magic. Since Elves have an affinity for wind no other races are able to use this spell. Even if they could the difficulty is high enough that even Elves need considerable training. You do need the sense for it, if you don’t have the talent you can’t use it.
I showed Lucie how to do it. That girl has talent, but her form and ability right now is limited to a 100 meters. Recently, she has started to grasp the gist of it, so I think she is going to be improving faster.
「If I don’t find some game soon…」
I reinforce my body and jump between the trees while maintaining my【Enhanced Perception】, I confirmed using【Enhanced Perception】that there was no game nearby.
My hunting efficiency was remarkably higher compared to other Elves since I was moving at high speed and searching at the same time.
Other Elves use up considerable amount of time just searching for game.
「I found you!」
A round plump wild boar was about 250 meters ahead hiding in the bushes.
The bush is a blind spot which is certainly a place they can hide in. But as long as there is air in the area there isn’t a place that I can’t find them.
While I work out the distance, I start moving toward the point.
It’s going to be problematic if that guy notices me.
「The line of elevation pa.s.ses through here.」
Even I can find a ideal sniper point.
The distance from the wild boar’s low field of vision with obstacles not interfering is around 200 meters. There is a only one route my arrow can take through the trees, and it’s only about the size of a baseball.
Since it’s around 200 meters away there is no way it’s going to notice me from here.
A 200 meters is not a shot a normal hunter is going to be able to take right.
But, it’s not like i’m normal anyway.
「【Program】」
I use 【Enhanced Perception】and then【Program】, one of my specialist whole body magic-craft magicks.
In addition to the my five senses, 【Enhanced Perception】gives me other various insights and information that allows me to calculate the best theoretical action to take.
Furthermore….
「【Wind Evasion】」
I bless the arrows so that they don’t get influenced by the wind.
Since I am using body reinforcement I can set and pull the crossbow with just my hand.
I also want Lucie to learn how to use body reinforcement, but it’s a difficult and considerably dangerous technique.
If you use body reinforcement without taking into account the strength of your own body it would break it without mercy. If your body doesn’t have strength up to a certain point it will distort and make your body weird.
Even recently when the five hundred soldiers attacked, from what I saw, I didn’t even strengthen my body 1%.
「GO!!」
As I said that, I pulled the trigger of the crossbow.
With【Program】the arrow drew a parabola, and cleared through the ball sized hole.
The arrow was traveling super fast at 360KpH, but I was still able to track it with my keen Elf eye-sight.
The arrow I shot penetrated the wild boar’s eye and gouged it’s brain.
Even with a single arrow, if I shoot at vital points I can take out big game with one shot.
The boar that I was aiming for didn’t even know what hit him.
「Welp! How about I get about two more then head back!」
I’ve been at this since this morning, I better hurry back to help prepare for the noon event.
Yep, two more is the limit I think.
After I field dress and remove the blood from the wild boar, I leave it and switch to getting the next prey.
Because carrying a 100-kg wild boar to the village would probably break me, I use 【Reincarnation Recall】to call up Deet ability to use【Item Box】. It’s not effective to hunt without my Elf wind magic so I have to stay as Cyril to hunt.
If I return completely from being Deet, I cannot use 【Reincarnation Recall】for 12 hours, if I do I will get a whiplash to my soul that can be horrible. If I were to receive such a response like that right now it would leave me unable to hunt.
So I have to keep on using【Reincarnation Recall】 until I finish hunting.
Even though I am selfishly using it for good, 【Reincarnation Recall】does have a considerable limitation.
Such as if the empire were to attack, I can use【Reincarnation Recall】and increase my magic power as Deet, but I can only sustain it for about an hour.
It would end very badly if I couldn’t win within that hour. Of course, just using【Reincarnation Recall】is not enough to give certain results on the battlefield. Well… No I shouldn’t, if I use it to its limit the whiplash would leave me unable to stand. Trying to lead everyone of Elucie in that state would be harsh, right?
With【Reincarnation Recall】I could smash the first wave of enemies… Afterwards when the second wave comes, I can probably give off the impression that I can still be in command, I think?
I really can’t use 【Reincarnation Recall】 as a defensive measure. If I am going to use it, it will be for a.s.saulting an enemy base. I can inflict heavy casualties and then quickly withdraw.
If we have to defend though it is the guaranteed choice. The low population of Elucie makes it impossible to have reserve forces. With 【Reincarnation Recall】I am in essence equivalent to about a thousand reserves. So i can afford to be a bit reckless cause of that.
It would be the absolute last resort to use 【Reincarnation Recall】as a defensive measure, we would have to be completely cornered and at our limit.
「Welp! That will be three.」
Even while thinking about it I move my body. I reached my goal for today, getting one deer and two wild boars.
「Someday, I do want to hunt with everyone, but it would be tough, wouldn’t it…. 」
I let out a sigh.
I would completely take everyone’s motivation away if I were to hunt with everyone. It takes those guys days with 4 or 5 working together to get something. If someone were to come before them within an hour with three animals taken down, they would get mixed feelings about that right…
Anyway, the fields need to be cultivated. Roreu and co would have to go over several times over several months to develop the fields. If I turning into my dwarf form it wouldn’t even take an hour for me to completely do it.
But, I won’t do that. Roreu and the others would receive a blow to their pride they wouldn’t be able to recover from; I would end up completely taking the work away from them. It’s a respected job in the village so I will leave it alone. Even if their efficiency is bad it’s a must for their pride to be satisfied. If I don’t do it in this way, they will become completely dependent on me. If i’m gone the country will become weak and decadent.
I field dress the two wild boars and drain the blood from them. The deer I just drain the blood out of it and then stuff all of it in the 【Item box】as is.
I keep the deer intestines to be used in some of the cuisines.
I stow away the 3 carca.s.ses in the 【Item Box】, with one breath I start running at full power.
Raising the total amount of magic power with Deet’s level raised, the speed was all together faster even when I am an Elf.
I Returned to Elucie, I took out the game that was in the 【Item Box】and I turn off【Reincarnation Recall】 turning back into Cyril.
Since I was Deet for only a short time there wasn’t much of a whiplash. Somehow it doesn’t seem like it will interfere with my usual activities.
Yesterday the Firefoxes were preparing for the event. This morning I wanted to help and talk to them.
Since it was around that time, breakfast should be finished I think.
I am a little early before the time we agreed on, I think i’ll call out to them. Thinking that I knock on the door to the workshop.
「Yeeees?」
I heard a bright silly voice call out.
「Kuu-ane-sama! Welcome Back!」
Then the door opens with energy and a naked girl flies into me.
Now that I think about it, Kuu called the girl Kemin. She is about two years younger than me, she has distinctive chestnut colour short hair and a cute appearance .
Compared to Lucie and Kuu she was not as good, but it was cute enough to me.
Without thinking, I stroked her head.
Judging by the bright appearance of the girl, Kuu hasn’t told them of the village. I’m sure she intends to tell them when she is calmer.
「Sorry I made a mistake, you’re not Kuu.」
I was completely distracted with Kemin who was hugging me, but I switched my attention to the inside of the workshop; there were Firefoxes who were naked or were wearing only undergarments.
Many of them were holding half-dried clothes.
Taking in the situation they were washing themselves and their clothes this morning just before we were suppose to meet. I happen to catch them them in the middle of them drying themselves and their clothes.
They were using fire magic to dry the clothes. Well, using low temperature so that clothing doesn’t get damaged.
They only had the clothes that were on their backs they didn’t have anything else decent to change into.
Since it takes time to make clothing in the village, i’ll have to get a change of clothes for everyone when I go shopping.
「Cy~, Cyril-sama. s… sorry. I made a mistake.」
Kemin is in a hurry and is also disarrayed, but why isn’t she letting go of me and her tail is wagging around a lot.
Wait is she… that…? A girl pervert…?
「I came at a bad time didn’t I, i’ll come back later. Hey can you let go of me? With you clinging to me like that I can’t go about. Here, everyone behind is also embarra.s.sed.」
After my eyes had a healthy dose of it, I averted my eyes, but even so it must be tough for the girls.
They would have raised a scream or speak badly about me, but they were just using both hands to hide themselves.
「I am sooo sorry…..! I’m just going to like leave… kay?」 -Cyril
「If you can do that, it would save us. Well then, since you’re going to come back later」-Foxes(possibly Kemin)
「Please wait outside!! soon…! Well be out out soon!!」 -Foxes
And then, without trying to hide I close the workshop. I retrace my steps back feeling thankful for closing that door.
「what the h.e.l.l was that…. that…」
That amount of girl tension being so high made me completely dumbfounded.
I came back after three minutes, Kemin came running along out of breath.
She brought along two other Firefox girls who were also the same age.
The two girls with faces blushing were fidgeting with their bodies.
「so? Cyril-sama, what kind of business do you have?!」
Kemin raised a healthy voice.
As usual, her tail was wagging around.
「It’s okay not to be so anxious you know. I came to ask if it would be okay to start the noon event preparations a little early. There is a lot of work to do and I want to hurry and help even if it’s only a little.」
「If it’s for Cyril-sama it would be our pleasure, I will call everyone soon, kay!!」
「Thank you. even with all that’s happened you’re all looking very healthy, aren’t ya.」
「Its because I had a chance to talk to Cyril-sama.」
Saying so, the two that were behind her nod in agreement.
Their tails sway side to side unlike Kemin’s.
Them becoming this emotionally attached all of a sudden is getting scary.
「That, you’re just happy talking to me…?」
「Yah!!, Cyril-sama is known among us as the number one gentleman you want to have your tail touched by!!!」
「Tail….?」
「The family head said that girls who are courted by gentlemen that have their tails touched; gentlemen who gently hold it will be acknowledged!」
I get a bad feeling as sweat starts to flow off my back. Recently as in like since yesterday i’ve been feeling like that.
Because their not companions in that way that kind of custom doesn’t have to be followed. Thats right Kuu must know what’s going on, right?
「I’m flattered you want to marry me, but am I really that likable?」
「Very much so! Cyril-sama saved us when we were about to be thrown out by the mean Elves. We were given a splendid house and a super delicious meal! The taste of that soup is something we didn’t forget. Also Cyril-sama prepares meals for us everyday.」
How could they! Well I should thanks Roreu for playing the bad guys, I was able to look good because of it it seems.
「And anyway, Cyril-sama is just cool! We heard from Lucie’s stories that you’re really strong, you knifed five soldiers in one go and you sniped the enemy commanders from 500 meters. Is it true you went on your own into the empire base that had hundreds of soldiers and pilfered it all?! You’re also very smart and made countless inventions, the bow that defeated the empire, the house were living in, commanded 200 Elves to defeat 500 soldiers, and also the way you used to grow potatoes, Cyril thought of all that too right?! It’s just too amazing. A stud (イケメン Ikemen), strong, smart, and also Kuu-ane-sama and even Lucie said it many times you’re a reliable and gentle person!」
For that story to go that far… Really made me feel incredibly embarra.s.sed.
It’s like being treated like an Idol. Well no… I must be like a G.o.d in her religion to her…
With a desperate situation like that, I certainly would appear like I had an ethereal essence about me that they relied on. It was a belief that distracted from their anxiety.
「Lucie went as far as to say that…?」
「Yes! Yesterday she was talking fondly about you for awhile when we were harvesting potatoes. Kuu-ane-sama was also there talking together about various things, everyone was squeezing their tails. Even I was gripping my tail.」
As Kemin says that her tail extends to a point.
If something like that happened, I should have been there when they harvested the potatoes.
Yesterday when Kuu and I returned, even with the Elves doing a lot of groundwork for today’s event. I was too busy regulating it that I left the harvesting of the potatoes to Lucie’s direction.
Of course, they probably wouldn’t have said all those things if I was there though right?
That hurdle is just too high. For them to be together like that was something I couldn’t understand.
「Well Lucie likes me so she is exaggerating a lot you know. I am going to disappoint people if they have such expectations of me. I think you want to take that story with a grain of salt.」
「So Lucie lied….?」
Being questioned, I recall Kemin’s earlier dialog.
It was frightening and cool things, well if they remove the cool things it actually wouldn’t not be true….
「Well certainly, I did do all of that… But it wasn’t just me it was because everyone helped out that I was even able to do all that」
「Even so doing all that you’re being humble, aren’t you! I will try my best and get use to being san-go-san.」
「san-go?」 [San-go]
「Yes! Lucie is your legal wife, and because Kuu-ane-sama is going to be the second, I am aiming to be the third!」
「I don’t remember Kuu being my mistress…?」
After all that talk about the future. I did plan to marry Lucie but the present situation is just not right for it.
「You’re not tempted by tails?! Thats amazing. Even though i’m a girl I forget sometimes, even though its a tail that would make you want to bury yourself in it.」
「That is I wonder if it’s probably only Firefoxes…」
All around the tail, b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and b.u.t.t are probably treated the same.
Well certainly, Kuu’s tail is cute, but its charm isn’t it being s.e.xy, it’s more because its warm and fuzzy.
「Elves are mysterious people.」
Kemin tilted her head. Not being overly excited about her tail I must look weird to her.
And then, Kuu came.
「Kemin, don’t trouble Cyril-sama.」
In her Family Head mode, she calls me Cyril-sama.
Kuu was slightly sweaty from training. Every morning since returning from her village she was training, even now she still continues.
「Kuu-sama, I’m sorry.」
Kemin, lowers her head in apology.
「nah, its okay. It was only gossip and I Kemin also talked, but I want to quickly begin noon’s preparations, I wonder if it would be okay?」
「Yeah, it’s not a problem you know. Rather than that, I want to try calling Kurone and Yukino. Cyril-sama, you could please lead us.」
Now that you mention it, the two people behind Kemin I don’t know when they disappeared.
For some reason, everyone came when they were called it seems.
Since all the Firefoxes were gathered I want to use a pleasant tone when I talk to them.
「Everyone. Today in the afternoon, we will have a Elf and Firefox get-together!」
That was yesterday’s groundwork that was being done for the event.
Tomorrow I will be in contact with the empire for the ransoms for the prisoners of war.
After I get the money I will be using it toward food. The problem though is I will be completely absent for a few days. Before that I need to help improve the relationship between the Elves and Firefoxes even if it’s only a little.
「With people getting friendlier with each other it will make everything more enjoyable with good food and good drink. I will be using the village reserve of sake that was left over.」
It was stuff obtained from the time those five hundred soldiers attacked.
This time we will spare no expense.
「I will have the Firefoxes be in charge of making the delicious food. With that I think the Elves ought to welcome you. Even so, this is a unique situation, I realize this is inconvenient, but I all want you to meet them halfway. Put your best efforts into it, making the best tasting meal even the Elves would remember, I am sure you all will become friendlier. 」
Those words make the Firefoxes begin to fidget.
They have no confidence in their cooking, they are probably anxious about the ingredients as well.
「Don’t worry, I will be directing the cooking and I have already a.s.sembled all your ingredients. We are going to be making wild boar steak, deer soup, the world’s best potato dish, and even the high-valued deer meat dishes. It’s all looking good, it’s going to be nothing but the best, even a stop above the usual potatoes you have just been steaming and eating. Even the soup I treated to you earlier is going to be even better. Cooking the steak is going to be the gem that finishes it all. The deer dishes is going to be amazing, it’s all going to so tasty it will blow your mind.」
Saying so, I point to the game I hunted today.
Two wild boars that exceeded 100 kg and one 70 kg deer.
Even if I take into account only the parts that can be eaten, it’s still around 150 kg of meat.
With 250 Elves and Firefoxes together eating it, about half should still be left over. The left over can be processed into preserved foods.
Even the other day I carried mushrooms and some good secretly grown produce.
「Amazing! This wild boar and deer was hunted today!」
「Thats right… Cyril-sama was only gone this morning wasn’t he? could it be he did this all by himself?!」
「It’s like Lucie said, He hunted that deer by himself in a blink of an eye.」
「Cyril-sama’s soup and potatoes were really delicious weren’t they? Not only that, it was kinda of fun!」
The Firefoxes see the prepared ingredients in a pile.
The expectation of eating such a feast would certainly make them swell in antic.i.p.ation.
But, Kuu opened her mouth with a serious face.
「We can’t! I don’t want to use the potatoes for this. We haven’t even shopped yet, we have nothing else to rely on if we use it up. What are we going to support ourselves with if we use it all up?」
That is certainly true.
The get-together is going to consume a large quant.i.ty of potatoes. There is no other foodstuffs that have starch like it. If all the villages are treated to something, one week’s worth of the potatoes would be consumed.
Even after today’s event, there will be excess meat left over. Of course to be just supported by that is going to be harsh.
「I have thought about that you know. In exchange for being treated to the feast at the get-together, the Elves have to pay two portions of wheat. That will sustain the Firefoxes and will be payment for providing the labor for the event.」
To take back the rations after it was distributed would leave everyone with a bad taste in their mouths.
But, if it’s exchanged for getting admission to the feast the Elves won’t show a disgusted face.
Well I did persuade everyone that they would never have eaten anything this good up until now. That regret of missing out is a hurdle they would cross with all their might.
「I get it. Cyril-sama if that’s the case, we would like to cooperate with all our power. For giving this chance to build relations, I cannot thank you enough. 」
Hearing that, Kuu felt relieved.
「Potatoes are delicious and all but I am sure you want to eat bread sometimes too right? That is why think of this as being lucky to obtain wheat. With that being said, focus on making delicious food. If you make something bad the Elves will get angry since they did pay a high price in wheat, so do your best, kay?」
I say in a light joking tone.
As long as i’m around, there won’t be anything bad happening.
The Firefoxes mutually exchange glances and nod to each other.
They seem to be eager.
The Firefoxes are thinking about the Elves and are self-conscious about how they have to be friendly with them. But, more over the Firefoxes are attracted to the feast and the sake.
It’s important for the Elves to be friendly as well, but I want the Firefoxes to have a good time. They have had nothing but painful experiences, I want this to be a success and for them to completely enjoy it and take it as a breather.
「And also Kuu. I want you to also be apart of the performance. Myself and lucie the three of us are going to have a meeting later. You recall the festival from five years ago?」
「Were doing that?」
Kuu blinks at me with surprise.
Elves excel at dance and musical instruments. My ocarina resembles one of the traditional instruments and Lucie’s level of dance is beyond what would be called art.
And also, Firefoxes have that as an area of specialty, Kuu at a young age showed talent for it.
Actually, it’s displayed for visitors to their village. When they came to the Elf village, I displayed my performance with Lucie’s dance.
As far as I know, Kuu receives high acclaim from guests.
「Yep, that. You haven’t gotten dull at it right？」
「Of course. I’m actually more concerned about Cyril-kun and Lucie-chan. That time we played together as children is different you know, I will show you our pride and tradition of the Firefoxes!」
「Well that is rea.s.suring. We will show you the spirit of the Elves!」
We smile at each other while saying so.
All around the Firefoxes eyes are shining with antic.i.p.ation, they are probably looking forward to it right.
Seeing the girl’s reaction, I could already tell Kuu’s skill hasn’t dulled. Let’s do our best so that no one gets in our way.
「Welp! That’s the end of the meeting. Lets start the preparation without delay. everyone do your best!」
「「「YES!!!」」」」
The Firefoxes answer my speech with a healthy shout, and start to head toward the get-together to begin preparation.
The way I look at it, it’s good if everyone can really enjoy their favorite things.
Editor Note(s):
Translator Note(s):
San-go: Third One.