The forest where elves lived. The Ahildern Kingdom was too small to be called a kingdom, but far too vast to be called a city. Following the forest that branched out near the capital and heading up, you would find a barren forest at the edge of the Northern Region, and the forest that stretched far to the east met the plains, the homeland of the beastfolk.
To the south, a massive woodland spread out vast and wide, like a great river. Aside from the Human Kingdom's land that stretched from the Peta Territory to the Trade City Esta, most of the Southern Region was forest. It was even said that half of the southern territories were ruled by the Archdeity Church, and the other half belonged to the elves.
Living up to that saying, we were riding a carriage through a long mountain path that connected forest after forest. Eve, who seemed unaccustomed to riding in a carriage on a bumpy mountain path, repeatedly turned from deathly pale to ghastly blue.
I, too, was exhausted by the carriage's bumpy ride to the point of motion sickness.
"Eve, are you okay?"
"....Uh. Yeah."
Eve's expression was anything but okay. I told the coachman to stop the carriage for a moment, and as soon as it halted, Eve got out and approached a large tree. She then drew the curved sword from her waist and felled it with a single slash. After kicking the cleanly cut stump, she plopped down right there. It was such a tough way to deal with motion sickness that I couldn't help but laugh.
"You have to be careful. Elves are sensitive about harming the forest."
"What, so did I just mess up?"
"We haven't entered yet, so it doesn't matter."
The Elf Forest and a regular forest were clearly distinct. I didn't know by what standard they were distinguished, but upon arriving before the Elf Forest, elves would come out and politely inform you that this was their domain. Seeing as no elf gatekeepers or scouts had shown themselves yet, it didn't matter if we set a fire or slammed some tofu against a tree and started fornicating.
Eve, whose motion sickness still hadn't subsided, rubbed her head and shook it. I threw a question at her to get her mind on something else.
"Will Sieri be alright?"
"She'll be fine."
You have no idea how surprised I was when Eve, who had said she'd go talk to her, came back and said, "It's all over." She was smiling brightly with a somewhat refreshed expression, so I had unconsciously asked, "Did you kill her?" I was even more surprised when Eve, instead of getting angry at my words, just shook her head with a gloomy face.
"She's definitely fine."
Eve said, wearing a satisfied smile to herself. She would never tell me what they talked about, and since they were just giggling amongst themselves, it felt unsettling, but since she said it was fine, I had no choice but to let it go.
"Shall we get up? Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah. I'm fine now."
Eve took my outstretched hand and stood up. When we climbed back into the carriage, the coachman was watching us while smoking tobacco. He grinned and asked.
"My Lord. Shall we depart?"
"Yes. But, Coachman, are you alright? You don't get motion sickness?"
"I'm used to driving a carriage in the mountains. I'm a Northerner, after all."
The coachman seemed to have a strange pride in being born and raised in the Northern Region. He subtly emphasized the phrase "Northerner" and shrugged his shoulders. The sight was amusing, so I let out a grin. Eve was looking out the carriage window. Beyond it, rows of trees passed by.
"Groom."
Eve, who had been gazing at the mountain scenery, spoke up. She seemed to be enjoying the sight of the passing trees. I answered her.
"What is it?"
"What are elves like?"
"You've met our princess, haven't you?"
"......Are they all idiots like that?"
"I'm an elf, too, you know?"
"So there are only idiots and psychos? What a fucking scary place."
Eve shook her head, thoroughly repulsed. I was starting to wonder just what kind of image of me was fixed in her head. Just how much of a bastard did she think I was?
"They're all good people. Elves are good-natured."
It was true. There was a myth that all plant-eaters were ferocious, but among those who lived on plants, elves had the best personalities. The Lusius I'd possessed was rumored to be an incredibly kind and diligent half-elf, and Erina, the princess of the Elf Kingdom, was just immature and rude, not fundamentally a bad person.
Besides, there wasn't a single villain among the elves who appeared as background characters, so for an erotic game, you could say this was a worldview that was very favorable to elves.
"Halt!"
The coachman stopped the horses. As the carriage came to a sudden stop, Eve reached out a hand to keep her balance. I also held on by grabbing the windowsill. When I peeked my head out the window, two tall men with pointed ears were guarding the entrance with spears.
Seeing it like this, I could understand for sure why the Elf Forest was distinct from other forests. While other forests had yellowish leaves, floors strewn with fallen leaves, and were full of dead branches that could be used for compost or firewood, the Elf Forest was an orderly and solid forest where giant trees stood in rows like soldiers. Green grass sprouted vibrantly from the ground, and the trees were as thick and hard as if grass had grown on a palisade.
The men wore gatekeeper-like armor. Important areas were protected with reinforced hard steel, and the remaining parts were covered with clothes made of tough leather. The look was so uncomfortable, like they were wearing a rider suit or a cycling suit, that I had to turn my head away.
"Who goes there? From this point on is the Elf Forest. Unauthorized civilians are forbidden from entering under any circumstances."
Before the coachman could explain, I stuck my head out and spoke.
"I am Peta Lusius of the Peta Family. I have been formally granted entry through an agreement between the Elf Kingdom and the Human Kingdom."
"Peta Lusius?"
Upon hearing my name, the elves seemed greatly flustered. They looked at each other and whispered, then frowned at me again. Displaying a firm resolve not to let me in, they stepped aside.
"Are you that Peta Lusius? The son of Peta Sirius?"
"Yes. That's right."
"Are you not ashamed, under your father's name?"
I didn't think I had any reason to be admonished by some gatekeeper bastard, but they seemed to possess a somewhat transcendental sensibility regarding status or customs. I asked back.
"About what?"
"A rumor has spread far and wide that you, despite having a wife, are in a relationship with our Elf Kingdom's princess that involves... such acts. Do you not feel sorry for the princess?"
Congratulations, Princess Erina. Just as you wished, the rumor that you're the kingdom's biggest rag has spread.
".....How do you know who did what to whom, to be feeling sorry for the princess."
"Obviously, you must have threatened her or used some cruel trickery! Our poor, innocent Princess Erina must have fallen for your cruel scheme and... committed a lewd act too vile to speak of!"
"You mean sex?"
"Uwaaaaaaah! Shut your mouth! Peta Lusius! What do you think your father in heaven would think if he saw you now!"
This guy seemed to be an ardent fan of Princess Erina. I didn't want to deal with this tiring type any longer. I said to the coachman.
"Let's go."
But before the carriage could depart, the elf guard blocked its path again. It seemed he still had much more to say.
"St-Stop! Hear me out! Answer my question! Are you not ashamed before your ancestor!"
"What is there to be ashamed of?"
"That is....."
The elf blushed. I had no idea why I had to stare at the unpleasant sight of a grown man blushing. I said.
"What. Two consenting adults can have a little sex. Fuck."
"W-What?"
"Fuck, how old are you?"
"Y-You...! Don't speak so carelessly! As a proud elf guard, I have protected the Ahildern Kingdom for over 300 years! You, who carry the name of the Peta Family....."
"What nonsense, fuck, from a bastard who's been a virgin for 300 years."
"Y-You bastard!"
It seemed he really was a virgin. At my words, the elf guard became furious and swung his spear around angrily. I scanned the surroundings. No other elves were in sight. There were only two people here. Elf Guard 1 and Elf Guard 2. I pointed my finger somewhere beyond the forest and shouted.
"Oh! What's that?"
At my pointing finger, both elves' heads turned to the side. In that instant, I moved my hand quickly and brought it down on the head of the elf bastard who was blocking my way.
Thwack!
The elf guard's eyes went slack as he lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground. I had hit him a little lighter than when I turned someone into an idiot at the last ball, so he probably wouldn't become a cripple this time. I saw the other guard flinch in surprise at the sight of his colleague collapsing while his field of vision was turned away for just a moment. I shook my head and said.
"I didn't do it."
"Ah, yes."
"You believe me, right?"
"Yes. Of course."
"Then I'll be on my way?"
"Yes, please travel safely."
He was a quick-witted one. The other elf guard was dragging his collapsed colleague aside, struggling to wake him up. The carriage carrying Eve and me entered the Elf Forest, commending the elf guard for his hard work. Eve was staring at me with wide eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"No, I was just thinking how you're merciless even to elves."
"If they act like a fucking dick, they deserve to be hit. You too, if anyone here is rude to you, tell 'me'. If you kill them, it won't just end with a trial this time, it'll be a really big deal, so you have to hold back, got it?"
"......It's not like I kill everyone, you know."
Eve seemed a little angry at my words, turning her head sharply as she spoke. What was that? Why was she angry? Amidst this unanswerable question, the carriage was crossing the forest, heading toward the city.
Beyond the forest, the castle of the Ahildern Kingdom came into view. A smile naturally formed on my lips as I looked at it. Ahildern Castle. The place where Princess Erina and AA were scissoring. The place where I could fuck the pregnant Princess Erina in her own room. And the place where Queen Ahildern Salina, a beauty on par with Princess Erina, resided.
".....Groom. What are you thinking about?"
"Hm? Oh, it's nothing."