Chapter 292: Hero and the Elf Princess

“By the way, Tet, where are we going?”

“Thinking about going to Alheim~”

“Ah, the kingdom of Elves that Eliza mentioned?”

“Yep! Elves have so many pretty jewels.”

“B-But, Alheim was the kingdom that had a war against this kingdom, right? I've created a guild card in this country…Will it be alright?”

“It’s gonna be fine?”

“Really? If Tet says so, then I’ll go…”

“Yup, let’s go, let’s go! Akari, say [Teleport to Alheim].”

“T-Teleport to Alheim—!?”

<Space Teleportation> skill was activated when Akari chanted the words that Tet told her.

It was different from Halt’s teleportation in that Akari’s skill could teleport her anywhere in this world in an instant as long as she knew the name of the location. It was a genuine teleportation skill.

Akari felt her body being forcefully pulled towards somewhere, and it was a shock to her.

However, in the next moment —

“We arrived!”

“Eh…Ehhh?!”

Akari and Tet teleported to the great plains beside Alheim.

Alheim’s Royal Capital. Akari was smitten by the sight of Yggdrasil that seemed to cover the entire city.

“That’s Yggdrasil.”

“Yggdrasil…A-Amazing…”

Akari was totally stunned by the gigantic tree that was so huge it was unimaginable in her previous world.

“Akari, let’s go.”

“Y-Yup.”

Tet urged Akari and they made their way towards the checkpoint for the royal capital’s entry and exit.

Unlike the capital city of Apristos, which was a metropolis through and through, Alheim’s royal capital boasted of vast farmlands and mines.

Moreover, the elves had a rich history of being attacked by the other species, so Alheim’s fortress walls were several times larger than that of Apristos.

“Even the walls are amazingly huge.”

“Yeah~”

Akari walked towards the checkpoint station when a guard stopped her on her tracks.

“Little miss, are you a human? Do you want to enter this kingdom?”

“Y-Yes!”

“I see. Please tell me your name, where you are from, and the purpose of your stay in this kingdom while touching this.”

Akari also stared into the eyes of the guard just as she did in Apristos when she stated that she wanted to enter the royal city, but elves were a race that were highly resistant to mental attacks, manipulation and such.

She wasn’t used to wielding her <Divine Vision>, so she didn’t manage to charm the guard the way she did with Eric.

Akari did as she was told by the elf guard and touched the <Jewel of Truth> while declaring her answer.

“I’m Akari. From A-Apristos. I wish to trade some jewels here.”

The Jewel of Truth glowed blue.

That was the problem.

“Apristos…Little miss, you came from Apristos?”

The guard’s expression turned grim.

Akari had a bad feeling about this.

When Halt drove back Apristos’s army and the fifth prince ascended the throne, Apristos had compensated Alheim for the damages that had been. However, the diplomatic relations between the two countries wasn’t normalized.

The citizens of both countries were able to go back and forth, but —

“Sorry, Little Miss. Those who come from Apristos have to undergo a more in depth examination.”

The guard grabbed Akari’s arm and tried to take her to the guard station.

“Eh?”

“No big deal, it’ll end soon.”

Actually, even if there was an additional interrogation, the people from Apristos would only be asked to explain their purpose of visiting Alheim in detail under intense pressure from the guards, but they would be allowed to enter the royal capital as long as they didn’t have any criminal record.

Moreover, the guards in duty at the time had the discretion as to whether they would proceed with the interrogation or not, even if the people came from Apristos.

This checkpoint was also manned by several border defense soldiers who were killed by the private army of the fifth prince during the invasion launched by Apristos.

Unfortunately for Akari, she happened to encounter one of those soldiers.

Former border defense soldiers that had been killed and later on revived by Ryuka during the war against Apristos were allowed to vent their anger towards the humans of Apristos to some extent.

It was part of the secret agreement between Alheim and Apristos in order to soften the hatred of the slain soldiers towards Apristos.

Akari became scared when the brawny soldier grabbed her arm and steered to who knows where.

“T-Tet —”

“The guard over there, stop for a moment.”

Akari was feeling uneasy so she called out to Tet, when a gorgeous elf lady with her hair up in a ponytail stopped them.

“L-Leaffa-sama!”

It was no other than Leaffa, the second princess of this kingdom and the wife of Halt.

The guard who was about to take Akari away was shocked, and he hurriedly let go of her arm and genuflected.

“This girl came from Apristos, is that correct?”

“Indeed.”

“I am also aware about the agreement between Apristos. I do understand the hatred that you bear against that kingdom. However, it is not proper that you would also do that to such a young girl as this one.”

“P-Please pardon our rudeness…”

“I will take this girl with me. There’s no problem with that, I presume?”

“Y-Yes!”

Leaffa took Akari’s hand when she heard the guard’s answer.

“I’m sorry for scaring you like that. I am Leaffa Ernol. I guarantee your safety in this kingdom throughout your stay.”

“Eh…Ah, T-Thank you very much.”

“Anyway, it’ll be best to move along now. I want to hear more about you while we walk.”

“M-Me?”

“Yes. Alright, let’s go now. Welcome to Alheim.”

Leaffa gently pulled Akari who then decided to follow her.

──＊＊＊──

“I see. So Akari just came to Apristos yesterday, and hadn’t been living there before, is that right?”

“Y-Yes. But I already have a guild card, and I plan to make Apristos my base, so…”

Leaffa led Akari towards a stylish cafe along the main road of the royal city, and they were currently enjoying some cake.

“Then that’s fine. Akari isn’t related in any way to Apristos back when they tried to wage war on us.”

Leaffa was glad and relieved that she stepped in to save Akari because she pitied the girl, who looked like she was on the verge of crying even now.

Leaffa knew all too well just how deep the slain soldiers’ loathing was towards Apristos, the kingdom that killed them.

“Akari, do you dislike this kingdom now?”

“N-No! Not at all!! Rather than that, I’m actually very happy now that I’m speaking to such a beautiful elf lady as you.”

Akari saw elves from the light novel illustrations and anime, but her heart was still moved when she saw a genuine elf in the flesh.

“Oh my, I’m glad to hear that. Thanks.”

Leaffa elegantly smiled, rendering Akari speechless.

Even among the beautiful men and women of the Elven race, Leaffa, a royal and a high elf, was considered exceptionally beautiful.

“By the way, Akari, you came to this kingdom in search of jewels, did you not?”

“Yes… but, mining will still cost money, right?”

Akari didn’t have any plans in particular when she went here, but she realized that there was no way they would allow her to freely mine in the royal capital.

“Yes. Foreigners can also use the mines in this country provided they pay for it. However, getting jewels also depends on luck, and the fee is also quite expensive. Akari, do you have money?”

“Not much…”

She went all the way here, and even had a terrible experience, but it seemed that she just hit a wall.

“Hmmm... Here, I’ll give you this.”

Leaffa took out eight gemstones and offered it to Akari.

“Ehhh?! N-No way, I can’t just take them.”

“Will you accept this as an apology for the rude behavior of my kingdom’s guard?”

“B-But…”

Akari only ever saw the jewels her mother possessed, and they were nowhere as huge and sparkly as the gemstones that Leaffa handed to her.

Leaffa noticed Akari’s reluctance to accept the gems, so she came up with an idea.

“You’re going to craft something using these and sell it, right? If you really don’t want to accept the jewels for free, then why don’t you give me the earrings you mentioned that you made? Let’s trade!”

“I-In that case…ah, but you must know that they aren’t expensive.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Alright, show me!”

With Leaffa’s urgings, Akari took out the earrings she made using her skill and showed them.

“Eh, amazing…Did you make these?”

It was a very delicately crafted pair of earrings.

Leaffa also sensed a very strong power from them.

“T-They aren’t worth these gemstones, right?”

“That’s not true! Actually, I’d rather give you more for these, but I only have these gemstones with me now.”

“N-No way!? I-It’s fine. These are more than enough!!”

Akari handed the earrings to Leaffa after saying so, and she accepted the gemstones in return.

　──＊＊＊──

Afterward, Leaffa and Akari parted ways, with Akari going on sightseeing and Leaffa attending to some business.

“If you encounter any trouble while you’re in this kingdom, just go to that castle over there. Just ask for an elf named Sarion. I’ll arrange to solve that problem for you somehow.”

Leaffa explained while pointing to the royal castle.

“I understand. Leaffa, thank you so much for everything. Still, I don’t feel the earrings are worth the eight gemstones that you gave me, so when I make some more I’ll bring them to you.”

“Really? Then I’ll also prepare something other than gems next time around. I’m looking forward to trading different things with you, Akari.”

Leaffa was already wearing the earrings that Akari gave her.

“See you next time, Akari.”

After leaving the cafe, Leaffa continued watching Akari’s back as she disappeared among the crowd, finally out of sight.

“Sorry for the wait, Leaffa.”

“Ah, Halt. Thanks for picking me up!”

Halt appeared when Akari was completely out of sight. He teleported to pick Leaffa up.

“Ooh! Nice earrings you have there, they suit you. Did you just buy them?”

“Fufu. I got them from a friend I just made today.”

The Earrings of Protection, a legendary magical tool, gleamed on Leaffa’s ears while she happily accepted Halt’s praise.