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“Thanks to Teacher Hop, I get to visit Hanamana’s village too.”

“Strictly speaking, isn’t it because of Zion that I’m going?”

The endlessly stretched forest path.

The three of us were now walking through the vast Makana Forest, said to be the largest on the continent.

We were heading to where other Space Magic aptitude holders lived, following Hanamana to learn how to handle space magic.

“Hanamana, how much further do we have to go?”

“Ugh… It should be around the time we’re close, but I can’t see it…”

“What do you mean by close?”

“The village entrance moves, so there’s no exact location. We have to step on it randomly to get in.”

Just like the elves, even the way in was unconventional.

Stepping on a moving entrance to get in, huh?

“There’s a cycle that only elves know for the entrance. I know it’s around here, but ultimately stepping on it is purely lucky, so we have to keep wandering. In fact, Hanamana has had bad luck and got lost for days before.”

“What? I have to be back at the center in 4 days!”

It could take several days? I had tight vacation plans, so if it took more than a day just to get in, that would be quite the jam.

Not to mention there’s no way to contact anyone from this elf village, so if we don’t return on the scheduled date, the center will be in chaos.

“Even if you say that, there’s no way…”

“Is it just a matter of luck?”

While the dejected Hanamana lagged behind, Zion stepped forward.

“I’ll take the lead. I can step on this entrance, right?”

“Yes. Sometimes humans accidentally get caught up in it.”

Hanamana, who knew the rough area and was trying to find the entrance, took days to do so, yet apparently, there are people who just happen to step into the elf village by wandering through the forest.

How much time had passed since Zion took the lead and started walking?

“Oh, this is it.”

Suddenly, Zion stopped, looking down at the ground.

Immediately, a white and round space spread out beneath Zion’s feet, causing the surrounding trees and grass to vanish into thin air, leaving only an endless white space around us.

“Just like Hanamana, Zion is always lucky.”

“But, is this the right place? It doesn’t look like a village at all.”

“From here on, it’ll be Hanamana’s turn.”

Having found the entrance, it seemed it was now Hanamana’s time to shine.

Hanamana switched her staff to her left hand, reached out her right hand into the empty space, and said, “Authentication request, Hanamana Cherrybell.”

She softly called out her name.

Then, a small translucent stone floated before her outstretched hand, and she continued, “Reverse summon formation activation.”

As Hanamana chanted, I felt my body float as if I were being teleported using a magic circle.

“We’re here.”

Before we knew it, we had entered a building.

The walls of the building looked like the irregular inside of a hollow log, and on the floor was a teleportation circle resembling that of the Magic Tower. Floating around us were the same translucent stones Hanamana had just summoned.

“Wow~ Hanamana!”

Then, unexpectedly, a call came from somewhere, and when I turned to look, I spotted an elf drinking tea at a table.

“Huh? Chief?”

“You arrived sooner than expected! I thought you’d be lost for a few more days.”

The elf, referred to as chief, had a remarkably youthful and handsome appearance for someone holding such a title.

Guessing an elf’s age by appearance is stuff of legend, but it’s a bit unusual not to see the typical elderly figure associated with village heads.

“Well, it was thanks to Zion.”

“Zion? Ah, so you’re the hero. The one loved by the world.”

“You said that, but Chief, you knew and were waiting for us, didn’t you? You came out to greet us when you thought we’d arrive soon.”

“Hmm…”

Shaking his head, the chief sipped his tea.

“I was just planning to watch until dinner. I don’t have anything else to do, and it’s fun watching Hanamana fumble around.”

“Ugh… Chief, you’ve always been like this…”

“More importantly, don’t call me chief anymore. We’re not just a village; we’re a country now.”

“Huh?”

“The Elf Kingdom of Britena. That’s our country’s name. So, I’m not a chief anymore; I’m a king. Call me Your Majesty.”

“Y-Your Majesty… Who decided that?”

“Me, of course.”

“Ugh.”

Hanamana cringed, hugging her staff with both hands as if horrified.

What is this reaction? Is it really that outrageous?

“If you don’t like it, just call me Kay like before.”

“That’s even worse!”

Call him by his first name like before? Then does this mean that Hanamana and this former chief, now king, are old friends?

“Anyway, let me introduce myself. I’m Keineu May Voltra, the king of the fairy kingdom Britena, and Hanamana’s childhood friend.”

“You don’t need to mention being Hanamana’s childhood friend!!”

“I thought it might help us get closer, so what’s the problem?”

So, he’s Hanamana’s childhood friend, which explains the awkwardness.

Despite Hanamana still being upset, King Keineu simply chuckled at her and began pouring tea into the empty cups.

“Nice to meet you, King Keineu. I’m Hero Zion Laurel.”

“I’m Hop Harvey, head of the Rehabilitation Medicine Center in Noden Kingdom.”

“Ah, so you are the founder of Rehabilitation Medicine, Teacher Hop?”

“It’s an honor that the King of Elves recognizes me.”

“Kay has a keen interest in the human world.”

“Oh, are you finally going to call me Kay?”

“I can’t believe I just let it slip…!”

Hanamana seemed horrified at accidentally calling the king by a nickname and clutched her head.

What a disaster!

“Anyway, it’s the first time Hanamana brought guests. Everyone sit, let’s have a chat.”

“Understood.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Ugh…”

We gathered around the table and examined the tea in our cups.

It was a rich tea with a warm, dark red hue.

At first, I thought it might be black tea, but it was too dark, and the aroma smelled like cinnamon. And there were fruit flavors too? Wait a minute, what’s that strange scent?

It was refreshing and clear yet dizzying at the same time. Hold on…

“Alcohol? Wait a minute, Zion. This is spiced wine…”

“Wow~ Indeed! It tastes great!”

Spiced wine is a warm wine made by simmering it.

Because it has a strong aroma and a considerable amount of alcohol evaporates, it’s easy to miss that it’s alcohol when served in a teapot like this.

Did this elf king just subtly get us drunk?

“I only meant to take a sip, but it tasted so good that I finished it. Could I have another?”

“Of course.”

Zion seemed to really enjoy the spiced wine, downing it in one gulp and asking for another.

Nothing seemed amiss, so I was relieved, at least for now.

– Thud.

And just as I thought all was well, suddenly, Hanamana, who was sitting next to me, toppled over onto the table.

“Hanamana?”

“Oh, don’t worry about Teacher. Hanamana falls asleep the moment she has a drink.”

Zion answered after downing yet another glass filled with spiced wine.

Now, King Keineu was filling Zion’s glass without him needing to ask.

“Well, now that Hanamana’s asleep, let’s get to the main topic.”

The king leaned forward toward the table, resting his chin on his hand, setting the atmosphere.

So he put Hanamana to sleep, huh? That makes sense. Given that this person has known Hanamana for 200 years, of course, they’d know her drinking habits and would set it up this way.

“Hero, that aside… are you the teacher Hop I heard of?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Haha, it’s strange hearing ‘Your Majesty’ for someone who founded this kingdom.”

“Huh? But you asked Hanamana to call you that earlier.”

“That’s fun to hear from Hanamana. Hearing it from a human man, though, is boring. In reality, this struggling kingdom I set up doesn’t equate to much. Most elves don’t care whether it’s a village or a kingdom, and they don’t call me king either. Just look at me—no attendants, no palace, nothing. I coined it as a kingdom to avoid being looked down upon by humans when we talk later. At least during my term, I plan to keep the kingdom open for interaction. Of course, it won’t be for another 800 years or so, so who knows when.”

As Hanamana mentioned, this elf seems very interested in human society and appears to be contemplating the now-scarce communication between elves and humans.

So he concluded that the first step is to establish a kingdom and elevate his position to king.

It’s a necessary move for diplomacy indeed.

“So, what kind of story did you intend to create such a scenario for?”

“Oh, I almost forgot. Listen, Teacher Hop. I’ll cut to the chase. You…”

Suddenly, he dropped his tone, glaring at me aggressively as if to pounce.

With an overwhelming sense of pressure emanating from him, I couldn’t help but flinch.

What kind of conversation prompts this kind of intensity?

“What’s your relationship with Hanamana?”

“……?”

“What’s your relationship with Hanamana?!”

What the heck…?

‘What kind of nonsensical question is this?’

The words nearly came out of my mouth, but I restrained myself just in time.

After all, I was facing the king of the elves. Though baffled, I had to maintain decorum.

“I don’t think there’s much of a relationship.”

“Is that how you’re going to play it…? I heard earlier. Hanamana called you ‘senpai’.”

“Oh, that’s…”

“In human society, ‘senpai’ refers to someone who studied at the same educational institution, especially someone who started learning before you. I heard Hanamana also became the director of the rehabilitation center.”

“Ah, yes, that’s right. So…”

“That would mean you attended the academy’s medical program together, went on study trips, or maybe even spent nights studying together after class, and then exploring new healing magic in a research group…?”

“Uh, excuse me?”

What’s this person on about? He wasn’t even considering my side of the conversation, just shaking his clenched fist in excitement while blabbering all his assumptions.

Seriously? He takes one word—‘senpai’—and spins an entire tale? Is he a teenage romance novelist or something?

And he clearly referred to me as the founder of rehabilitation medicine just earlier—how on earth does that fit into the narrative of us attending the same academy? What have I learned?

“Plus during testing periods, you studied in the dorm together. Eventually, when it got late, finding transportation back would sound like… Ugh!!”

Caught in this wild fantasy fueled by his own interpretations, my head was starting to pound, but one thing began to crystallize in my thoughts:

This King Keineu, he might just have feelings for Hanamana.

“That day… what happened that day? Can you tell me? What was Hanamana like? What was she wearing? What face did she have? How did she react? She must have been so cute, tightly shutting her eyes in embarrassment, trying her hardest to prevent blooming like a flower showing its contents… Ah! What was inside? What was inside? That day… what underwear did Hanamana wear?!”

– Whack!

“Cough!”

“Wow, you certainly don’t hold back on speaking about other people’s lovers. How does Teacher know about Hanamana’s such things?”

It was none other than Zion who abruptly halted the King’s outburst just before it reached its peak.

Having reached his limit, Zion stood up and grabbed the back of the King’s head, slamming his face into the table.

“Other people’s… lovers?”

“Hey, Your Majesty. No matter if you’re the Elf King or whatever, if you mess with me, you’ll have to face consequences! So can you quit with the nonsense?!”

When the King turned his head back, blood was streaming from his nose, yet he seemed unconcerned as he looked at Zion standing beside him.

“Hold on, who are you talking about?! Tell me whose lover this is?!”

“Who else but me?! Teacher’s my lover!”

“Oh, I see. Then…”

The King glanced back and forth between me, Zion, and Hanamana, who was sprawled across the table as if processing the situation.

And the conclusion he arrived at was none other than…

“You cheeky brat! Two-timer!”

“Ugh, seriously!”

– Whack!

Once again, his head slammed onto the table in an instant.

In this elf kingdom, where one can only stay for three days, what on earth is happening?

I was starting to really worry about whether I could learn space magic in this chaos.

 

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