After finishing lunch, Allen and his friends took a short post-dinner break and were once again making the rounds of the elven forest.

　However, unlike the time before noon, Henriette was nowhere to be found.
　It seems that she was late coming back and did not wait for Henriette to return, so she left without waiting for her.

　However, this is what he told us beforehand.
　There is a possibility that she might be late coming back, so it's okay to leave first then.
　He knows the elven forest reasonably well, so he is confident that he will catch up with you later.

　To begin with, Henriette is trusted enough to give you permission to come and go freely here.
　You seem to have a lot of knowledge about elves, so maybe there's no need to go overboard this time.

　Anyway, that's why we're looking around the elven forest with one less person than before noon, but...

"Hmm ...... what a free spirit elves really are!

　This is the impression Allen had after half a tour.

　It's a good idea to have a look around before noon, but it seems that elves are pretty much living their lives as they please.
　As expected, no one was asleep anymore, but it was not uncommon to see some lying down and sprawled out, while others were reading some kind of book or chatting away.

　None of them were plowing the fields, and the same was true of the weaving.
　No one was out hunting or doing anything else productive at all.
　It was a scene that would be impossible to find in any city or village.

　Simply by looking at the number of people living in the area and the view, at first glance it seems similar to an idyllic village, but in reality, it's anything but.
　An idyllic village is synonymous with being remote.

　That's why we have to do everything ourselves.
　If you chatter and nap too freely, you won't be able to feed yourself and you'll die of starvation or, in winter, freezing to death.
　Contrary to appearances, the more idyllic the place is, the less you can actually relax in the middle of the day.

　But here, it seems to be possible.
　And, of course, they don't seem to be starving or anything.

　That said, it does raise a question though--

"Elves don't have the concept of working ......, do they?
If that were the case, I would have had an easier time of it.

　The man let out a tired breath, and smiled at the question.
　I think he was convinced.

　In fact, Allen thought the same thing, and he had to agree with that.
　The only thing they saw him do was to show them around, but that alone created an atmosphere that made them feel like they were struggling.
　The other elves don't want to work, so the man is having a hard time because of that.

"Well, and with that excuse, as elves, they are more natural. There is no need for us to work. No, ...... it would be more accurate to say that they shouldn't be working.
Shouldn't you be working ......?　What does that mean?
Where we have been able to grow by the king, we live much slower and longer than other species. We live a little too long to be able to live the same way as other species.
"Hmm ...... you mean, you're taking it easy because you'd get bored if you lived your life like we did, so you're taking it easy so you don't have to?
It's a bit of a misnomer, but it's not a problem if you understand that's about it. But that's only if we're living on our own.

　I guess that's not going to happen when you become a member of the empire.
　But apparently, only men understand that for now.

I wonder if it's because their senses are different from those of other species and it takes them some time to get used to it.
I guess that's the way it is. But then there's one thing I don't understand: ......
"...... rice?

　Leeds nodded at the words that Milene had just uttered while tilting her head.

　And that was something that Allen was also curious about.
　Even living in the forest shouldn't always provide you with food.
　To get a steady supply of food should take some time and effort, but as already mentioned, they were just living their lives as they pleased.
　I don't see them doing that.

　But looking back on last night, it seems that they are not only getting a steady stream of food, but even a surplus.
　I can't seem to make the connection.

Yeah. If it's about food, it's not hard. Or maybe it's just that I don't have to think about it. This forest is part of us, in a sense, and we are part of it.
"...... not sure?
"Well, you're right: ......, you're used to living here, so you don't need to look for it to find food quickly, right?
"No, I mean it as it is: ...... Hmm, maybe it would be faster to show it in person.

　As soon as he said that, the man suddenly thrust his arm out in front of him.
　Everyone who was looking at it raised an eyebrow, wondering what in the world it meant, but they soon found out what it meant.

　Again, abruptly and without warning, a piece of fruit fell from above and settled into his palm.

"Where's ......?

　As expected, Allen couldn't help but let out a stunned voice at this.
　Everyone else had a similar reaction, looking at the fruit that had just fallen, stunned.

Well, I'll tell you what. We don't need to go to the trouble of looking for it, but just by wishing for it, this forest will give us the gift.
The forest is alive ...... No, it's not wrong, but it doesn't seem right either. It's not wrong, but it doesn't seem right either. If you ask me, this ...... would certainly give you a sense of something.
"Hmm ...... Well, we know it because we've lived here since birth, but our king doesn't know it because he's not familiar with it.
"Hmm ...... which is a mixture of elves in the forest ......?

　It's hard to put into words, but that's all I could see.
　It was the first time for me to experience something like this, but even though I could see, I couldn't perceive it clearly, even though I used all my knowledge.

　But it seemed to be because there was too much information.
　Although we should only see the forest, multiple things appear to be mixed together.
　I am sure it is mainly a forest, but like noise, other things seem to blend together to form another nanika.

　If you manage to put it down to a comprehensible level, that's what it looks like: ...... and that was the right answer.
　You're going to be able to find out what you're looking for, and you're going to be able to find out what you're looking for.

Oh, you understand ......? I see, that's what I'm talking about.


Well, I don't fully understand it, so I'd appreciate it if you could explain it to me.
"Hmmm, so ...... is not so hard to do. We were born here, we live here and we die here. We were born here, we live here, and we die here. And we have a strong spirit blood in us. When we die, we will literally return to this forest and be there to watch over our children. That's all.
"I see. ......

　That was quite a unique thing for an elf.

　The fact that they lived literally from birth to death in one place only, and even more so, that they had a strong heritage of spirits, half-spirit beings.
　In many ways, this is something that no other race can imitate.

　But as a result, the elves don't starve without working, it seems.

...... but it seems to me that the reason why the elves don't work is because their parents spoil them forever, right?
...... is one way to look at it.

　At the prodding from Leeds, the man looked away involuntarily.
　Apparently, he was aware of it.

　However--

It's not so much the pampered that are the problem, but the ones who are pampered and take advantage of it. ...... And that means that only elves can take advantage of it, right?
"...... sure?　Except for the elves, there is no food?
"That's what we're thinking about. It's just a matter of us getting it and taking it with us. Well, I mean, I'm the one who mainly does it: ......
Hmmm, I see. I mean, food is not a problem either. By the way, for example, if I had to live here, would you deliver it?
"Hm?　I'm not sure what the intention of the question is, but ...... well, if you live here, you'll deliver it. If you live here, you will deliver it.
I see. ...... In short, if you could only manage that, you'd have no problem living here.

　As I was nodding, I suddenly got a wild look in my eyes.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what it is.

...... Allen?　From the way you put it, it sounds like you're trying to live here?
"Huh?　Yeah, well, yeah. We're working on that.

　I should say, it was a serious statement.
　After looking around and listening to what he had to say, I thought it was worth considering.

　It's not that Allen wants to be riddled, but at least there is peace here.
　Relaxing in the sunlit house is not a bad situation to be in.

　The only thing that bothers me is the fact that I'm almost fed by the elves, or rather this forest, but if you pay for it in some way or another, it's all right.
　It's not that they are selfless.

...... Come to think of it, Allen, that's what you originally came to the Empire for, isn't it?
Sort of.

　That's why I was looking at this place from the beginning.
　I wasn't planning to come here originally, but that's why I had to take a closer look.

　As a result, as I mentioned earlier, I feel it's worth considering, but--

"Hmm ...... I don't know what's going on, but if you want to live here, as I said before, if you're willing to live here with our people and recognize us, that is. As I said before, if you're willing to recognize our people and us. But whether that is possible is another story.
"Difficult, I guess?　But children of other species live there, don't they?
It was a temporary introduction from Henriette. If they were to stay here forever, we would not have nodded, no matter how much Lord Henriette asked.
Hmm ...... So what happens if I say I want to live there temporarily too?
In that case, you can go to ...... to find out. Well, if you can assure me that it's not a problem, Master Henriette, it's still possible.
...... By the way, how long is temporary and how long is temporary?
"I didn't think about how much, ...... I wasn't thinking about that much detail, but well, maybe two or three decades,
"...... thirty years, but temporary?　...... that's the elf?
Absolutely.

　But then, you might want to consider it rather seriously.
　If you can live peacefully for thirty years, it's not bad.

　There are a lot of things to think about, but ...... was the time when I seriously thought about going to consider it.
　The man suddenly stopped and looked in the direction of the day after tomorrow.

What's up?
"Hmmm ......, looks like we have another guest.
"Guest?　What do you know?
As I said before, we are part of this forest. "As I said before, we are part of this forest.
"Who are you, sir? ...... You're not Miss Henriette, are you?
I'll know if it's Henriette. It's not him.
"...... prowler?
No. ...... When it came to being incorporated into the Empire, Henriette was the only other person who had to give permission. Perhaps it was one of them. Only those who gave us permission are allowed in here. So, I'm sorry, but will you excuse us for now?　I'm the only one who can pick you up.



　If that's the case, there was no problem.

　Even if it's only half of it, you can pretty much imagine what the rest of it will be like if you've made it this far.
　If you've got things to do, there's no need for you to come along any longer.

I'm a little curious about what someone is here for, though.
But there's a good chance it's an Imperial one, right?
Well, maybe we shouldn't do anything that's not absolutely necessary.
"...... no objection
Well, you can ask me later. That's why we don't need to worry about it.
I'm sorry.

　After saying that, Aren and the others somehow see the man leaving in the direction that they had just looked at, bowing their heads in a truly apologetic manner.
　And when he disappeared, he looked at everyone.

The first thing you need to do is to get your hands on a new pair of shoes.
I don't think there's any ......, but it would be a problem if people knew we were from the kingdom.

　Even though this is the elven forest, it is now part of the empire, and the chances are high that the person who came here was someone from the empire.
　If such a person is known to be from the kingdom, then there is no wonder what happened.

　To prevent that from happening, Allen and the others hurriedly walked out of the place and headed for their assigned homes.