| Credits | |
| Translator | Honyaku |
| Editors | Miraclegrass, INA.XP32, Riverson24 |
Day 327
I devoted myself to preparing the necessary items and I'm going to carefully check if there is anything that got left behind, because tomorrow is the day to depart. Since all the work was completed by evening, I may be on schedule tomorrow. This might be my last chance to have drinks and make exchanges with others, so I held a banquet as a free and easy party to members.
I finished the opening speech and, with some top-brass such as Kanami-chan and Minokichi-kun, we slipped out from the banquet for a moment taking only Redhead and the children. It's because of the invitation of Father Elf『How about some alcohol before the war?』
Though at the beginning we had to pass through where the trees grew dense and thick in order to reach the Elven village, now a direct passage was made to ensure the safety of the Elves' traffic and the transportation of packages is completed much faster now.
It's also only paved with something like stone pavements to value nature, but the state of the road surface is not bad, and it has become easy to walk on foot. Moreover, to pull in more customers, an environment was made such that they're able to arrive at the village in an instant, which is regulated so they got regular service due to the skeleton centipede and the skeleton spiders.
The dwellings that were integrated with trees had not seemed to change, everything was just like before. As for something like furniture, the number of commodities that we are selling seems to have increased. The reason is because it became famous when the magical items that were imported from the outside can be bought easily, I will say that a monopoly on sales is delicious.
By the way, Father Elf and servant elves met us when I arrived at the mansion, where I came over after a long absence, since they usually spend all their time in ≪Parabellum Hot Springs≫ Village, or more precisely the ashamed Father Elf. Although the scene where his first impression was crumbling has been seen many times, he seems to be in a serious mood this time. The stiff, tense expression is dignified and there is a feel like that of the presence of the chief.
I am guided inside while having a simple chat, and the dishes, which have been already prepared, are served. The main ingredients were made from vegetables that can be harvested in the Kuuderun Great Forest. It becomes more delicious because of the recipe, which made the best use of the ingredients' flavor to the maximum.
Of course not only did the vegetable dish taste delicious but it was also good for a body, the beef is cooked until it's brimming with melted fat, roasted river fish covered by rock salt, something like bee larvae which are fried in oil, I was able to enjoy the various cooking enough. To satisfy the appetites of hearty eaters like me or Minokichi-kun besides, there is also the type of dish that had the both quantity as well as quality, and that is more than enough for our satisfaction.
I did a toast with Father Elf who welcomed it with cups filled with elf liquor, drinking a lot, eating, talking, and laughing for a while. Soon, as Father Elf mutters『Papa-pan』and he clapped a hand lightly. Not only do servants enter the room in which we are, though 2 or more elves were standing by, more entered and made a line in a good order which was triggered by the signal from Father Elf.
They had a kind of a stringed instruments and wind instruments that elves hold in a hand. In other words, it was the elf orchestra which consisted only of the elves that have entered. The outfits of the elf orchestra which Father Elf would prepare as entertainment are not things which elves usually wear, It was clothes based on blue and the green of a unified design.
The music from the elf orchestras are conducted by the leader, a beautiful middle-aged elf, who skillfully played with a stringed instrument and a wind instrument that has unique charms, I'm totally being reminded of the magnificent nature of the Great Forest.
The clear sounds comfortably affects the ear and, when naturally drawn to listen to the music, Daughter Elf entered a room with direction like a leading role on the stage. Like the elf orchestra, Daughter Elf is also not in her usual appearance. She wears clothes with a design which is easy to dance in and with an overall neatness so her back and waist are exposed, also it's made out of a semi-transparent material,
I'm certain they were the clothes which she wore when I saw Daughter Elf for the first time. That means, Daughter Elf is acting something like a【Shrine Maiden of Sala】. At the moment that I watch closely to what is going to happen, she is dancing a traditional dance that transmits【Shrine Maiden of Sala】to the elves. Without faltering, her light steps are like the wind that blows through grassy plains, flowing elegantly, and moving limbs to express various aspects of nature such as the greatness of the big tree and the spring water which gushes out.
The pretty face that especially attracts attention among the elves, who are already full of beautiful women in particular, is floating with a soft smile, also combining her eyes filled with a powerful passion which mesmerizes any person who sees them, she totally looked like a goddess. Moreover, countless spirits concentrated on the surroundings which might have been responding to the dance of【Shrine Maiden of Sala】, while generating balls of light or water spheres in the surroundings, their throbs matching together with her dance gracefully.
The Elven orchestra also played with a burning spirit as if to respond. Indeed, even a【God】may enjoy it if this is this case. I merely watch it while thinking so. As much as twice and as much as 3 times... the usually beauty of the Daughter Elf - no, this is because it was more charming. It looks like I've been admiring too much and being too loud, my side has been pinched by Kanami-chan. However, it can't be helped that I looked on admiringly, having been pinched might be a charm.
When the dance had barely ended, naturally applause also happened to follow.【Shrine Maiden of Sala】fixes the breathing that falls into disorder from the intense dance, she bowed once as her body was flushed, then she left the stage. Then, as I thought of the purpose, as if she could easily change clothes and go back from being【Shrine Maiden of Sala】to Daughter Elf, she entered the room again.
Apparently, she seemed to perform a dance as a victory prayer before the upcoming【Holy War】. Then, in front of other members, though they think its also because this is a special ceremony, the story that reached was only for us in particular. Well, I think that cannot be helped in this case. In fact, we should be grateful to them for taking the trouble to do it for us. When it was time for us to leave, we gave them a small token of our gratitude and returned to our base to soak in the hot spring and go to bed.
RAWS
“三百二十七日目”
明日は出立する日なので忘れ物が無いか入念に調べ、必要なモノを用意するのに余念がない。
夕暮れには全ての作業が完了したので、明日は予定通りに行動できるだろう。
もしかしたら最後に飲み交わすかもしれないため、団員達には無礼講として宴会を開催した。
開始の挨拶を済ませた俺は、カナ美ちゃんやミノ吉くんなど一部の幹部と、赤髪ショートや子供達だけを連れて宴会からちょっと抜け出した。
というのも、父親エルフに『戦の前に酒でもどうだろうか』と招待されたからだ。
最初期はエルフの里までは木々が鬱蒼と生い茂る中を進まなければならなかったが、現在はエルフの往来の安全確保や荷物の運搬を楽に行うための直通路が出来上がっている。
自然を大切にするため石畳などで舗装されているのは一部分だけだが路面状態は悪くなく、徒歩でも来やすくなっている。
また集客力を上げるため、骸骨百足や骸骨蜘蛛による定期便に乗ればアッという間に里に到着できる環境が整っていた。
樹木と一体化した住居は以前と変わらないようにも見えたが、家具などは俺達が販売している商品が増えているようだ。
外から輸入してくるマジックアイテムを簡単に購入できると評判なので、独占販売美味しいですと言っておこう。
さて、久しぶりにやって来た豪邸に到着すると、父親エルフと使用人エルフ達が出迎えてくれた。
普段は≪パラベラ温泉郷≫に入り浸っているため、父親エルフの情けないというか、最初のイメージが崩壊するような場面も多々見てきたが、今回は真面目モードであるらしい。
キリリと引き締まった表情は威厳があり、長としての貫禄がある。
簡単な世間話をしながら中に案内され、既に用意されていた料理を振舞われる。
大森林でとれる野菜をメインに造られた品々は、素材の味を最大限活かした調理法によってより美味くなっている。
もちろん美味いだけでなく身体にいいんだろうなという感じの野菜料理以外にも、トロトロになるまで煮込んだ牛肉のシチュー、岩塩を塗して焼いた川魚、油で揚げた蜂の子などがあり、多彩な料理は十分楽しめるものだった。
それに俺やミノ吉くんなどの大飯食らいの腹を満たす為、質より量というタイプの料理もあったりと至れり尽せりだったりする。
準備万端で歓迎してくれた父親エルフとエルフ酒を注いだ杯で乾杯し、大いに飲んで食べて話して笑う事しばし。
そろそろかな、と父親エルフが呟き、パパパンと軽快に手を叩いた。
俺達が居る部屋の外には給仕だけでなく、複数のエルフ達が待機していたのだが、父親エルフの合図を切っ掛けに秩序正しく列をなして入ってきた。
そのエルフ達が手に持つのは弦楽器や吹奏楽器の類だ。つまり入ってきたのはエルフだけで構成されたエルフ楽団だったのである。
父親エルフが余興として用意してくれたのだろうエルフ楽団の衣装は普段エルフ達が着ているものではなく、統一されたデザインの青と緑を基調とした服だった。
綺麗に年経た中年エルフの指揮者によって統率されているエルフ楽団達が弦楽器と吹奏楽器で奏でる音楽は独特の魅力があり、まるで大森林の雄大な自然を連想させるものだった。
澄んだ音は心地よく耳に響き、自然と引き込まれる音楽に耳を傾けていると、まるで舞台の主役のような演出と共に娘エルフが入室してきた。
エルフ楽団と同様に、娘エルフも普段通りの格好ではない。
半透明の素材を使った、背中や腰が露出しながらも全体的に清楚で踊りやすいデザインのモノを着ている。
あれは初めて娘エルフを見た時に着ていた衣服で間違いない。という事は、娘エルフは娘エルフとしてではなく、【サーラの巫女】としてそこに居るという事になるのだろう。
どうなるのか注視している先で、【サーラの巫女】がエルフに伝わる伝統舞踊を舞い踊る。
軽やかなステップは草原を吹き抜ける風のように淀みなく、流麗に動く四肢は偉大なる大樹や湧き出す清水など様々な自然を表現する。
美形揃いのエルフの中でも特に目を引くその美貌は柔らかな微笑を浮かべ、見る者を魅了する力強い情熱を秘めた双眸も相まって、まるで女神のようにも見えた。
また【サーラの巫女】の踊りに呼応したのか周辺に居たのだろう無数の精霊達が結集し、周囲には光球や水球などを発生させながら、時に激しく、時に優しく舞い踊るのに合わせて躍動している。
エルフ楽団も、それに応じて魂を燃やしながら奏でていた。
なるほど、これならば【神】も楽しめるだろう。
そう思いながら、ただ魅入っていた。
普段でも綺麗な娘エルフが二倍も三倍も、いやそれ以上に魅力的だったからだ。
あまりに見とれていたからか、カナ美ちゃんに脇腹を抓られてしまった。だが見とれたのは仕方ない事だし、抓られたのもご愛嬌だろう。
やがて踊りが終われば、自然と拍手が起こる。【サーラの巫女】は激しい舞踏で乱れた呼吸を整え、火照る身体のまま一礼して一度退場した。
それから簡単に衣装を着替えて【サーラの巫女】から娘エルフに戻って再び入室すると、今回の主旨を教えてくれた。
どうやら聖戦に行く前に、必勝祈願の舞踏を行ってくれたらしい。
それなら他の団員の前でも、とは思うのだが、これは特別な儀式でもある為、俺達だけに特別に行ったという話だった。
まあ、それならば仕方ないと思う。
むしろわざわざやってくれた事に、感謝しなければならないだろう。
いい頃合になったので帰る際、気持ちだけのお礼を渡し、拠点に戻って温泉に浸かって寝た。