Chapter 129

How to make the Plank Kingdom the 'family' of the Elves.

I thought about it, but no ideas came to mind at all.

'The way to become family is to get married. Then should I marry one of the Elves? Since I, the king, married an Elf, everyone in the Plank Kingdom is the Elves' family... that's too much of a stretch.'

After contemplating for a long time.

I decided to read the Future Diary again for now. Because from my experience, the hints were always in the diary.

As I was reading through it.

There were two parts that kept catching my eye.

The first was the part where Paras from the Future Diary spoke to me.

…….

Paras continued in a voice mixed with a sigh.

"All the races that sought the help of the Elves promised friendship and faith at first. But after resolving their urgent crises, they only coveted our beauty and abilities."

“……”

"Even in such chaotic times, the only ones who never betrayed us were our fellow Elves. They were our 'family.' Since then, we have thought of all Elves as family, and decided to love and help only Elves and the families of Elves. Even if not a single drop of blood is mixed."

Paras's voice was very serious. There was no trace of a smile on his face.

This was the first part that caught my eye.

And the second part was the Elven Elder's lines.

…….

I saw the Elven old man's eyes. He glanced at me, and contrary to how he had shouted at me harshly, his eyes were filled with sadness.

"...Son of my most beloved daughter. Half of the blood that flows in your body is that of the Elves, yet how can you think only of humans and think only like a human? You do not know the meaning of family at all. You can become family even if not a single drop of blood is mixed. If you had asked us Elves for help as family, not as a king, we could have helped the other humans as well...."

The Elven old man's sad voice, faintly heard.

It was a small voice, but it was as clear as if he were whispering right in my ear.

Even as I was tied by the wooden vines and being dragged out of the forest.

That voice was as if... he was using magic to tell me what he absolutely had to say.

Words he had to say, even as he had no choice but to chase me away.

…….

The reason these two parts kept catching my eye.

It was probably because of what they both said in common.

'They both spoke with the nuance that 'you can become family even if not a single drop of blood is mixed.' What does this mean?'

Two Elves said the same thing to me in different situations.

So it must be a very significant statement.

'And the Elven elder said it. 「"You do not know the meaning of family at all."」 And that means... is the meaning of family I think of, and the meaning of family the Elves think of, different?'

Just as I was thinking quietly.

Dong— dong— dong—.

The clock hanging on the wall rang. It was six in the morning.

'...Damn, I should have left the royal castle at five-thirty to not be late for morning roll call, but I'm late.'

For reference, morning roll call was at six sharp. I had already stood out to the drill instructors in various ways since the first day, and now on the second day, I was about to be late.

Actually, getting on the drill instructors' bad side didn't matter much. The problem was creating the image that the new recruit named 'Nar' was not training diligently.

'Getting the Gryphons is as important as receiving the recruit training well. To win the war against the monster army, I can't take anything lightly.'

There was no time. Still, as a final resort, like a student looking at a book one last time before an exam, I quickly skimmed through the Future Diary.

'...Alright, I've roughly memorized the important parts, so let's go quickly. I can just come and read it again at dawn today.'

I put the diary on the bookshelf, quickly opened the door, and went out.

But.

Thump—!

"Eeek...!"

As I opened the door, I felt myself bump into something, and I heard Elly's small cry. Looking outside the door, I saw Elly rubbing her forehead.

It seemed she had been standing outside the door, and because I opened the door suddenly, she had hit her forehead.

Elly quickly composed herself and said.

"I-I'm sorry, Your Highness! It seemed like it was time for you to return to the recruit barracks, but you weren't coming out... so I was wondering whether to go in or not...!"

"It's alright. Is your forehead okay?"

"Yes!"

The very center of her forehead was bright red.

I felt a little sorry, but since there was no time, I didn't say anything else and just nodded my head.

"Then I'm glad."

After speaking briefly, I looked at the knight standing next to Elly. He was a knight whose face I knew.

"It's Knight Peralta. You are waiting to take me to the recruit barracks, right?"

"Yes, that's correct!"

Peralta answered in a sharp, disciplined voice and continued.

"Your Highness. However, it is already a bit late for the morning roll call time... so no matter how fast we go, there might be a slight problem."

A problem for being late for morning roll call?

'Of course. The army is not a playground.'

As I was thinking briefly, a very short silence passed between me and Peralta.

Peralta, perhaps thinking I was displeased at the words 'there might be a problem,' looked at me awkwardly and said.

"O-of course, I can make the excuse that I took him out because I had a separate task for him."

"Is it common to give a new recruit a separate task at this hour?"

"It is not."

"Then let's just say I was late, and that Knight Peralta caught me. I have to receive training like an ordinary new recruit."

"Ah... I understand. Then for now, I will accompany you to the training ground."

Peralta took the lead. I followed behind him.

Behind me, Elly called out.

"Y-Your Highness! Please be careful during training!"

Her voice was like that of a younger sister worrying about her older brother going off to enlist. A voice worrying about family.

At Elly's pure concern, my various worries seemed to fade. A smile naturally formed.

"Yeah, I'll be back."

...Since Elly was like a younger sister, I spoke informally without realizing it.

"Ah... yes!"

Elly, whom I could faintly see, seemed surprised that I had spoken informally, but for some reason, she also looked happy.

Did she like it when I spoke informally?

***

The recruit training instructor, junior knight Max.

He really wanted to cry right now. Sob, sob—.

Because today, the king was late for morning roll call.

'Why on earth... why did you do that. Your Highness, why on earth were you late!! You were in my office at dawn and left with Commander Jereuth not long after!'

Max screamed internally, recalling the conversation he had just had with the middle-ranking knight Peralta.

With Knight Peralta, who had brought the 'king' who was late for morning roll call.

「"K-Knight Peralta, why did you bring that new recruit?"

"Well... I was looking around the recruit barracks, and this new recruit was taking a dump in the bathroom even though it was almost time for roll call. So I caught him."

"...A dump, you say? This new recruit?"

"That's right. Or do you not know what a dump is?"

"No, that's not it.... A dump...?"

"Ahem, since he was late for roll call, give this new recruit punishment according to the rules. Well then, I'm off."

"...Pardon? P-punishment, you say? To this new recruit? W-wait! K-Knight Peralta!"」

Peralta had entrusted the king to him and disappeared from the training ground in an instant as if fleeing.

He had faintly left behind the words, 「"...Good luck. Still, His Highness permitted it, so it should be fine. Probably... probably."」 as he passed by him.

To give punishment to the king?

No matter how much King Leonardo had told him to think of him as an 'ordinary new recruit,' for Max, giving punishment to the king was an unimaginable thing.

'If only he hadn't said 'probably it will be fine'....!'

Max really wanted to cry.

But he couldn't possibly show it. Because it was during morning roll call, and all the new recruits and drill instructors were looking at him and the king—'Nar'—who were standing on the platform.

'His Highness told me to treat him like a new recruit. Yes, he did. That's right. The one in front of me is not the king, but a new recruit. And a new recruit who dared to be late for roll call at that. ...Yes, a new recruit! Not a king!'

Max brainwashed himself as he looked at Leonardo, who was looking up at him from below the platform.

Hoo…….

'I'm just doing my job. ...Yes, I'm doing my job.'

"R... Recruit, Nar! You're late for roll call on the first day?! Is the army a joke?! Do you take it lightly?!"

At Max's shout, the new recruits and drill instructors, who didn't know the situation, became very tense. And for good reason, because with 'Nar's' tardiness, the sparks could fly to the new recruits and drill instructors as well.

The drill instructors could be scolded for their lax management of the new recruits, and the other new recruits could just be subjected to collective punishment.

"Get in the push-up position!"

Thwack—!

To Nar, who immediately got down on the ground, Max continued to shout.

"You, you will do 2,000 push-ups here! Until you finish them all, there will be no food, no water! If you collapse in the middle, I will deal with you myself, so be prepared. Understood?!"

"Yes, I understand!"

"Y-you're good at answering."

Originally, the punishment should have been much more severe.

If necessary, Max would also administer physical punishment that was devoid of emotion—but definitely strong.

But how could he do that to the king? He had regretted kicking Leonardo's shin just once yesterday all day, and if he were to use physical punishment... he might live his whole life oppressed by the fear and regret that the king would one day take revenge on him.

'Still, push-ups are the mildest of punishments... so he probably won't say anything to me.'

"What are the rest of you doing?! It's morning physical training time!! Run, now!!"

At Max's shout, the drill instructors hurriedly led the new recruits and started running the training ground. The new recruits had muscle aches all over their bodies from yesterday's training, but they instinctively knew they shouldn't anger Max, so they immediately ran.

It was the same for the drill instructors. They had to escape before any unnecessary sparks flew their way.

—Quickly, aren't you moving?!

—You! Aren't you running?!

—Hey!! Can't you even line up?!

And so, the drill instructors and new recruits started running the training ground.

Max, unable to look at Leonardo who was doing push-ups at his feet, turned around and looked far away.

“……?”

There was something in Max's line of sight.

It was Knight Peralta.

Swoosh—.

Peralta could be seen extending his hand. A gesture that said, 「'I'm sorry....'」

Max hated Peralta. He really did.

***

Foothill's Rest.

The only remaining Elven territory in the whole world, and a giant forest where all the Elves, except for those who are adventuring around the world, gather and live.

Near the center of that forest is the Elves' village. A place unknown to anyone but the Elves, the Elves call this village 'Roterion.'

Its meaning is an ancient Elven word for 'White Garden in the Forest.'

Humans know that there are about 1,000 Elves on the entire continent.

But in reality, there are only a little over 300 left, a much smaller number.

Among the Elves, there is a royal family called the 'Elder Elves.' They are those who are particularly beautiful and skilled in various abilities even among the Elves, and the one most respected among the Elder Elves is called the 'Elder' by the Elves.

The authority of the Elder Elves, especially the Elder, is quite strong. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Elder effectively determines the direction of Elven society.

And now, the elder of such Elves was heading to the Elves' prison.

***

Creek—.

The 'wooden vine prison' installed high up in a tree on the outskirts of Roterion.

The prison, at a glance, seems to be flimsily made of wooden vines. The knots are a mess, and it seems that someone with a little strength could widen the gaps in the wooden vines and escape.

But in reality, those vines are harder than steel and more resilient than rubber, so it's difficult to even scratch them with an ordinary sword. Of course, magic doesn't work well either.

“……”

The elder, Elvandor, looked up at the prison on the tall tree. In that prison, Paras was trapped, powerless.

Hoo—.

Sighing, Elvandor lightly waved his hand. And then, the vine prison that had trapped Paras was released, and the vines safely brought Paras down to the ground.

No matter that Paras had committed a crime, he was still a royal—an 'Elder Elf,' so it was to protect his dignity.

To Paras, who had come down to the ground, Elvandor said.

"Paras, you know why you were trapped, right?"

"Yes. For leaving Foothill's Rest without the permission of the father—no, the Elder, and for fighting without permission."

"That's right. I understand a hundred times over that you left the forest because you were curious about Victoria's son... the child named 'Leonardo.' And I am grateful that you tried to find out about that child and tell me. Also, to be clear, I am proud of you. Using your strength for your family, that is a natural duty for an Elven royal."

“……”

"Nevertheless, the reason I punished you and got angry was because your actions could affect our entire Elven family. You are a royal. A guy who could one day become an elder. What are we to do if such a guy doesn't follow the rules?"

"I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Whatever I do, I will follow the rules and get the Elder's permission."

Paras respected Elvandor and bowed his head, admitting his fault.

Stroking his son's head, Elvandor said.

"Yes, that's good enough."

Elvandor, who had finished speaking seriously.

He asked Paras with a friendly smile.

"So what kind of child is he? Victoria's... child?"

Elvandor had not heard much about Leonardo from Paras yet. He had only heard that Victoria had died.

At the news of his daughter's death, Elvandor was so shocked that he couldn't even drink water for several days. But because he had a responsibility as the elder, he had overcome his grief and was trying hard to act as if nothing was wrong.

Paras, who was not ignorant of his father's heart, answered with a slightly sad—but definitely smiling face.

"He was a wonderful and lovely child. Even though he is only thirteen, his thoughts were truly upright and his heart was strong. Perhaps because he is human royalty and has the blood of the Elven royal family, he was indeed different from ordinary humans."

"Different from ordinary humans?"

"Yes. When his companions, a Giant and a human named 'Jereuth,' were in danger, that child said he would fight to the end with them. In a situation where he himself might die."

"Hmm... I see. His face?"

"He was the spitting image of his older sister."

"...I see."

Elvandor smiled faintly and continued.

"To not give up on one's companions and resolve to die fighting together, that is certainly a rare thing for a human. It's something even a Giant would find difficult."

"That's right. Seeing that... I wondered if Leonardo thought of those two Giants and the human knight as 'family'."

"'Family,' you say. Did Leonardo say that? That the Giants and the human knight were his family?"

"No, he did not. In the first place, Leonardo probably doesn't know the meaning of 'family' well. No matter how much Elven blood flows through him, he has only lived in the human world."

"That would be so. The 'family' that humans and Elves think of has common points, but also differences. Anyway, I really want to see him. I really do. ...So very much."

Elvandor looked somewhere in the air with slightly teary eyes. It was ambiguous whether the 'I want to see' he was talking about was Leonardo, or his dead daughter.

After giving his father a moment, Paras cautiously added one more word.

"And... Father, I also heard that the monsters of the Monster Mountains will attack my nephew's kingdom."

"A monster army, you say. I wondered why they were suddenly gathering in a basin deep in the mountains, so that was the reason. It was to attack the human kingdom."

"Yes. So—."

As Paras was about to speak.

Elvandor shook his head.

"If you are going to ask if you can help the human kingdom, my answer is 'no.' Right now, we Elves do not have the luxury of getting involved in the affairs of other races. You know that we are left with only about 300 because no child has been born for a long time. Right now, we cannot put a single Elf in danger."

"But my nephew is in danger—!"

"Of course."

“……”

"Of course, we will save Leonardo. Even if it means I have to leave the forest. But we will not help any other humans. The other humans are not our Elven family. You are an Elven royal. Worry about the Elves."

“……”

"You said it earlier. That Leonardo thinks of those Giants and the human knight as his family. But it's the same for them. Unless Leonardo himself says they are 'family,' I will not help them either. That is our Elven policy."

Elvandor spoke firmly and turned to walk away. He walked slowly, but it was a walk that clearly said there was nothing more to say.

To his father—Elvandor, Paras could not bring himself to say any more.

He could only swallow his worries inwardly.

'...I'm sorry, Leonardo. I don't think I can help your kingdom. To the Elves, a human kingdom is infinitely trivial compared to family.'

Also, a regret brushed past Paras.

'I should have taught you the meaning of family... that you can become family even if not a single drop of blood is mixed, I should have told you that. And that you have to say it out loud to form a pact... I was so proud and fond of you that I was in a hurry to tell my father the news about you. I'm sorry, Leonardo.'

That he couldn't help his nephew in the great crisis that would soon befall him.

That made Paras truly sad.