Martial Elf

“Don’t forget, sister. Make sure to eat well, don’t go anywhere dangerous, don’t get hurt, and come back quickly.”

“Okay. I got it, Anya.”

Seeing the overzealous scene continuing until lunchtime was definitely getting a bit tiresome now.

Aside from Elmony, who was blankly watching, there was no one around us.

…Isn’t it too much to not even get to see her face, knowing we might not see each other for a long time?

I didn’t expect an emotional farewell or promises to meet again, but at least I wanted to see her face before she left.

“Araya. Take Rudolf with you.”

As soon as I thought that, Demis returned with a large forest deer that he had briefly stepped away from.

If there was any animal that the elves currently owned, it was these forest deer.

The peculiar thing was that it had neither a saddle nor reins.

Elves typically didn’t need bothersome items to become friendly with animals, and no elf would complain about not being able to ride or feeling uncomfortable due to the lack of reins or a saddle.

Among them, Rudolf was the leader of the forest deer raised by the elves, and due to his foul temper, he had no intention of carrying anyone except for Demis, who instinctively regarded him as the head of the elves.

“This one? Didn’t Demis try to carry it?”

“It would let you ride.”

It was explained that ‘he’s a sniveling one, no matter what kind of strong power he possesses.’

Rudolf huffed in apparent dissatisfaction, as if he understood Demis’s words.

“Hmm…”

As I approached to examine him, it was indeed a splendid forest deer.

It stood about 30 pate (30 cm) taller than the other forest deer, and its rising green antlers were beautiful.

However, its eyes contained an incredible amount of ominous emotions as it looked down at me.

It almost felt threatening, as if it were saying, ‘What do you want, little one? Do you have something to say to me?’

From its posture, it seemed like it was claiming to be the boss of this place.

Auw!

“Ah!”

As I approached Rudolf to touch him, he raised his front leg high, coming down on me to punish the intruder who had entered his territory.

Although it was just a kid that didn’t even reach half of his height, he was quite a fierce deer for his kind.

Or perhaps he thought Demis would stop him.

Of course, he paid the price for his impudence.

Anya was startled.

His two front hooves had been placed on my right hand raised above my head, which was not even half of his hoof.

I panicked, but there was no way a mere deer could withstand the gravitational pull of my suction techniques.

But it was definitely large, weighing at least double that of the others.

As he whimpered in confusion, not realizing that both of his front hooves could be completely caught by my tiny hand, he stood on his hind legs while his front legs were gathered, moving awkwardly. It looked like a circus act.

Having seen such a ridiculous sight, I glanced over at Demis.

“He’s definitely undisciplined.”

“That part is up to you. You two make a good pair.”

“I like that.”

I smiled broadly, stretching both the corners of my eyes and mouth upward as I looked up at Rudolf.

The one who was so proud and regal just a moment ago was now looking at me with deer-like eyes, confused.

“Those that don’t listen have to be kept close and taught a lesson.”

“There’s no dignity in speaking. Be careful. If you meet anyone other than elves, you’ll be the first to set that example, and it will ruin your image.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll remember your words, Captain.”

As I continued to tame Rudolf, Arti and Saraswati also approached.

“Here.”

Saras handed me something.

“What is this?”

“It’s a protective charm made from my hair. Wear it in your ears.”

Upon closer inspection, it looked like a small earring made with golden thread.

The protective charm infused with such desire began to be made by elves for safety when venturing out on dangerous hunts long ago.

Even now, it is also something given to lovers.

Looking carefully, it was simply made yet reflected Saras’s characteristic meticulousness in its finish.

“Well, it may not be as perfect as mother’s, but it should be useful.”

“Thank you, Saras.”

“If you’re grateful, bring back something new and useful when you return.”

That’s just her way of saying to definitely come back.

I fastened the earring to my right earlobe, opposite the bracelet from my mother.

There was a brief sting, and as I moved, the part that looked like hair made from Saras’s hair swayed gently and softly brushed my cheek.

“Araya, take this.”

Arti handed me a green outfit and hat.

“…What’s this?”

“You always hated skirts for some reason. I made it in the style you kept talking about.”

The outfit Arti made was a Central Plains-style garment.

It was also a robe modified like a martial artist’s outfit.

In my previous life, I was just an observer, longing to be the aide of those called martial artists, imagining it countless times from a distance.

How many times did I fantasize about wearing such a costume, donning a hat, and making a name for myself as a wandering hero during my adolescent admiration?

“Thank you, Arti!”

“Hey! Hey!”

As soon as I tried to strip off the clothes I was wearing, Arti hurriedly stopped me.

“Huh? Why?”

“Why on earth would a girl try to expose herself so openly in such a clear place?”

“…There’s nothing worth looking at anyway…”

“That’s true.”

“…Araya… small chest… small butt… kid… even newly born… they will grow… as big as Araya…”

As I glared at Arti, I noticed Saras trying to shift the topic, while Elmony appeared to be dozing off again.

With a sigh, Arti slowly gathered her strength, and her body started glowing golden.

As she pointed at the ground, the light surrounding her body seeped into the ground, and the earth began to gently rise, forming a small temporary shelter for a few people.

It was a marvel each time to see how gracefully she utilized her magic.

Saras’s magic wasn’t nearly as subtle and tranquil.

When it came to magic related to the earth or life, sometimes Arti’s would even remind me of my mother’s elegance.

“Okay, let’s go in and change. I’ll help.”

“Okay.”

Huh?

“This outfit has a certain resilience to it, doesn’t it? What is it made of? It’s not cotton?”

“Thread from the Telayanas.”

“…Those spiders?”

They are the ones often seen in the forest.

When clumsy elves run through the woods, they often get their faces or legs stuck in the webs of the Telayanas.

The thread possesses the ability to withstand the impact of a rushing elf and won’t tear easily, often tripping them up instead.

Compared to other animal fibers like silk, which can barely withstand arrowheads and is commonly worn beneath armor, clothing made from Telayana thread is on an entirely different level… If I had to compare it to my previous life, it might be akin to the prized fabric made from Silkworm spinning.

The issue was that these were small spiders and could not produce enough thread to sew clothing.

“This is an outfit woven from the thread that Arti has been steadily collecting for years. That’s the quantity she has collected over four years.”

Saras added, overhearing our conversation outside.

“…I wonder if this kind of thing can be turned into clothes for me…? I’m not sure if I’m going to grow anytime soon.”

Heh.

“You’ve hardly grown a single pate in the ten years. Is there really a need to worry about that?”

“I’m going to grow soon.”

“The growth spurt that was supposed to happen has been absent for ten years.”

“Arti, Saras is saying something rude.”

“Saras.”

“Yes, yes. Mother.”

As Arti tidied up her appearance, she began to speak.

“Don’t worry. I can gather the thread again. It’s not something collected just for the sake of wearing it, right? As long as Araya returns to health, that will be sufficient.”

“…Okay.”

With that, she patted my head a few times and headed outside.

“Palas hasn’t come all the way yet.”

“That heartless guy.”

As I grumbled a bit and engaged in some pointless chatter…

“Um… Shall we go?”

It was the first time parting ways for such a long time felt awkward as I spoke up.

“Ugh…”

As Anya began to cry, Arti comforted and calmed her down.

I quickly jumped onto Rudolf’s back.

I could feel him tensing up, but he didn’t try to buck me off.

I smiled awkwardly, waved goodbye, and slowly guided Rudolf towards the forest.

“Araya! You have to come back healthy!”

As I moved a sufficient distance away, I heard Anya’s voice from behind.

From afar, I could see her waving goodbye.

In contrast, Demis and the other siblings stood quietly.

The elfin village that felt like a mystical heavenly realm.

And the large figure of my mother waving goodbye in the distance.

I wouldn’t see them for a while.

As I watched them, I felt Rudolf pause for a moment, slightly slowing his speed.

“It’s okay.”

Seeing him showing consideration, quite different from his arrogant nature, made me chuckle as I stroked his neck.

He responded by kicking back and then returned to his original speed, beginning to trot a bit faster.

“I will return.”

So now is the time for the journey to begin.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Oh, not bad.”

Auw.

He lets out a sound as if to say not to make me laugh.

Despite being a forest deer, Rudolf was barreling through the woods without a hitch, overcoming several obstacles, even with his large figure and antlers that could hinder movement.

Especially refreshing was the change in perspective atop Rudolf as he leaped energetically, turning gracefully while racing through the forest.

‘He has sharp eyesight and a good sense for direction and path! I wonder if I could teach him martial arts tailored for forest deer?’

If he had a spirit level that could understand to some extent, in the Central Plains, he’d be called a spirit creature, and he seemed to have a good sense of things, so making martial arts for deer might actually be a good idea.

Legends speak of immortals who have taught martial arts to monkeys; by that measure, even I, as a high elf, might not be any less than an immortal, right?

Since he was an animal who traveled along with me, I hoped he would have something special.

I imagined him leaping into the air, defying gravity, and pulling a chariot in the sky sometime in the future.

It gives me a good sense of a familiar companion.

“Is it almost time?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Rudolf suddenly halted, swiftly slowing down and straightening his body, becoming tense and alert.

And as he shifted his gaze, a figure appeared in the woods.

“Hey.”

An elf that suddenly appeared provocatively called out to us.

“Before you go, how about a little sparring match?”

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