[Natasha's POV]
Two months or so had passed since the assassination attempt in Fegendale. Due to the Lord's alliance with them, their kingdom and my Garden collaborated to find more information.
Quite a few elves working under the Crown branch were swamped with work for a whole month after the incident. Somewhat reasonable, as they were more fitting for these sensitive, foreigner-related issues due to their role as the "Sword" protecting the rest of our land…
However, when the Lord himself summoned me? One of the guardians meant to safekeep these grounds?
To deal with this nonsense????
I was so pissed, and that rage has not died down in my absence. No, rather, it grew stronger.
The point of picking the Trunk branch of the E.A.F. was, precisely, to avoid this political nonsense. I have no time to waste in whatever mind games the other races want to engage in.
Only time well spent is time spent saving lives or growing stronger. Or slaughtering monsters.
'... Y'know what, maybe this is why I need this drink.'
Liquid contained within a glass resting on top of a counter. Its sparkling gas within the bottom slowly crept to the surface, leading to dozens of brown, exploding bubbles calling out to me... "Drink me. Drink me. Drink me."
I knew it wasn't as potent as other drinks, but… We all know we'll be swamped with work tomorrow, so a brief moment of respite is all we can get.
My hand, yearning for the cool feeling of the drink, sought and gripped its container. Tight enough to ensure no one would be able to break its grip, but at the same time capable of letting go if it wanted to.
Its heel rested momentarily on top of the table, alongside the cup. Barely any sparks of the carbonated drink touched down on my skin.
"Nat? You still there?" A tilted, elven head called out to me.
"Uh, yes."
'May have zoned out a little too much back there.'
Alright me, let's try to pay some attention, lest I'm asked about the topic being discussed…
I turned my attention towards the table. Seven other elves shared a round table, food and alcohol with each other. Even the one who just woke me up from my thought train found himself relaxed.
One ongoing discussion seemed to have everyone's attention, or at least interest.
In the midst of it, a peculiarly small elf spoke up, and everyone at the table listened. "While it's not uncommon that terrorist groups tend to appear in Mephino, I'd say the rise of this particular one could have some potential consequences for the individual state of Jinhelm… They do rely heavily on trading herbs, so their merchants will be forced to hire more security than usual…"
And its politics. Handled by Alfred.
'… I really don't feel like paying attention.'
But everyone is somehow showing interest… Didn't they have enough with the last hundred years???
Tch.
In an attempt to unfocus from this, I discreetly looked around. Anything that could help me to dissociate from the current topic would suffice. No, it'd be more than enough.
In our circular desk, many refined plates and cups mingled in the hands of everyone. Well-transmuted meat and seeds imported from the southwest of the Shadow Plains competed for dominance. Personally, I always found vegetables to be preferable after a raid.
Surrounding our central table, many individuals shared drinks and conversations of their own. Their rear parts rested on top of thick, cleanly severed trunks. Flowers stamped onto the woody surface heightened the sense of warmth surrounding each group of customers.
Elves occupied most of the seats around me, but some dwarves eagerly competed for the table littered with the most alcoholic drinks. Those little guys sure spoke to themselves a lot.
But ultimately… Everyone kept to themselves. 'Doesn't look like there's a way out of this.'
… No, wait. There's someone coming towards us. An employee.
There's hope.
A waiter slowly strode towards us, with four more bottles of ReTone hanging by the slender grasp of his hands. With a vest mainly composed of brown, wooden bark and a grassy bowtie, he walked in our direction. Lightful strands of lime hair, alongside the soft atmosphere surrounding him, almost made him look like an elf.
Almost.
The effort is commendable, nonetheless.
"Your drinks are here, ladies and gentlemen." Softened yet concise words, carried by the wind, landed by everyone's ears. The emitter, a human, was probably ninety years younger than me. He placed the "alluring poison" before us.
"Thanks." The waiter acknowledged my word through the nod of a smiling head. Simultaneously, a flash of loss and grief passed by his expression.
Though, not everyone saw it. That privilege is available only to someone who experienced that kind of loss.
Kind of like identifying a beastman at a glance, but not as instinctual.
Upright footsteps would come to lead him away. Like everyone has to do at some point.
"Alright, with the new batch here, maybe we should cheer and drink?" muttered Alfred.
Most of us showed some agreement. Including myself, as I did fancy a few more drinks.
Everyone poured some of the dark wine on their cups. Then we all lifted them up happily… With good reason.
For this chance to ignore it all.
"Cheers!!!"
… I myself was stuck with nasty tasks. However, for today, nothing mattered.
No more care-taking of a brainless princess, or investigating either crazy smart demons, cutthroat dragons ready to do anything for cash at the sound of a coin falling, or both.
It's only you and me now, drink.
'You're not leaving this table full.'
…
With everyone's festive mood, it didn't take long for the other elves in the business to grow somewhat uncomfortable. A good thing, as it means they're used to peace and silence…
Meaning, I'm doing my job as a defender right.
"Taking a breather, will be back soon." Loose nods and unrelated cheers met my departing words.
I walked up to the staircase, and climbed up in circles until I reached the entrance.
A man-made hollow trunk with a door on the outside. While an elegant display of nature-driven architecture, the space to leave was always rather limited.
Opening the door, I invited myself out.
A natural, windy brush caressed my forehead. It also blew past the other folk in this shrubland.
I quickly got in the lookout for some tall trees. A requirement for this was to spot a genuine one. 'It'd be really bad if I went to sight-see on top of a residential house.'
Yep.
…. Aha.
Didn't take long to find it.
About 6 plants away, there it was. Its structure extended tall into the sky, with smaller and some big branches springing off the center.
A circle appeared below my feet, and a burst of wind boosted me up. From the top of a branch to the next, calculated jumps led me higher and higher, until I came in contact with my goal.
The topmost tree.
"... This sight."
The hundreds of trees stretching towards the sun. The cool summer breeze, a falling star approaching the horizon, and its warm, twilight embrace.
Everything that is laid before me… it is really worth protecting it all. Not just for me, but for the citizens surrounding me, too. After all, what's the point of protecting this if everything is dead…
'The more that can be spared of needless grief, the better.'
… Yeah. I really gotta try harder, lest someone assassinates a civilian. Or worse yet, one of the Regional Chiefs.
'It'd be bad if what happened to Randall also happened here.'
Just thinking about his name reminded me of the others in his group, and what little time we shared together.
From the road trip, to the camping, and even the warehouse. Which, strangely enough, I haven't heard of any further missions being carried out in it…
'Enough. Let's just enjoy the view.'
Instead of giving that any further thoughts, I simply reminisced until the others finished drinking.