When we returned to the elven capital, we were greeted with cheers.
　The elves love plants, so there were no bouquets or crowns for us to wear, but it was still comforting to hear the praise of these beautiful elves.

　And it's just a fortuitous thing that the queen herself welcomed us to the edge of the capital to praise our military service.

　

　It's not that she couldn't see that, but Anemone, the warrior chief of the elven race and the queen's twin sister, said with a modest cough, "Sister, there is no publicity," she said.

''Sister, we are in the public eye, therefore.

　Ferret, Queen of the Elves, turned to her own sister.

'Isn't it good? Anemone must have enjoyed plenty of Ike's bravery on the battlefield, right?　Let me have the monopoly in King's Landing.

　And then she hugs me tightly again.

　She is a strange queen.

　I don't feel bad about it, but Lilith's hard gaze and Satie's smiling smile are starting to scare me, so I'll have to pull away, and it's not all over yet.

　As we headed to the Elven Palace, I explained the situation to the Queen.
　Ferret summarized what I had told her.

''So, you've succeeded in capturing the enemy sorcerer, but the enemy army is still alive and well?

That's right.

　I reply, and Ferret continues.

'So the war isn't over yet, is it?

　She sighs. She seems to have a personality that is not very good at warfare.

''With the results of the battle you just fought, can't you somehow bring peace to the table?

　Ferret asks, looking up, but he can't do it.

'Even if we don't have the will to fight, the other side will have plenty. They have been cajoled by a small number of soldiers and the tiger's sorcerer has been taken prisoner. On the contrary, they would be furious and attack us.

Can't you turn them away again, this time with something called Guerrilla Senjutsu or something like that?

That's not going to happen. They'll learn a lesson from their last failure and now they'll bring their troops together.

Well, that would be a head-on collision, wouldn't it?

Yes, I thought the tricks didn't work anymore.

　However," I add.

'The enemy must have felt threatened by the earlier battle. Its march will be slow. Even more so than last time.

What do you mean?

　Ferret asks in a flowing voice.

''As I said the other day, my Demon King's army's troops are heading this way right now. If we continue to do well, we can intercept the enemy army.

Kyogeki?

　Ferrette scowls. Apparently, this queen is less than an amateur when it comes to military matters.
　Anemone, unable to watch, explains to her sister.

''In other words, it means we can pin the enemy army to the ground, sister.

　Ferret heard the words and let out a 'I see', but the girl probably wouldn't understand.

'Kyogeki?　Does it taste good? He has a targeted look on his face.

　I was taken aback by the look on his face, but instead Anemone apologizes in a whisper.

''I'm sorry, Ike. My sister is reasonably skilled in domestic politics, but she has no knowledge of military matters. I don't think she has even held a bow in her hand.

　I whisper back.

It's a lot more helpful than having someone who knows more than they're letting on. Besides, the sisters can compensate for each other's weaknesses. Domestic politics is my sister, military is my sister, it's a good balance.

　Anemone hangs her head, "I'm afraid so.
　It seems that you have come to trust me completely after the other day's battle.
　Now he listens to me more than Lilith does, which helps.

　I wonder if they found out that I was thinking that way, or if they don't like the fact that me and the elven girl are sneaking around in hiding, but Lilith comes towards us even though she wasn't called.

''What are you two sneaking about?''

　She is still a jealous girl, but she doesn't seem to have any evil intentions.

''You came back from the battlefield just now and you're still talking about the war?　If you're so rooted, you'll fall over.

We're immortals. We don't get tired.

　As much as I would like to say it, Lilith is right.

　The Elf Queen and Sati have been preparing food for the elven warriors who have returned from battle to nourish their spirits.

　The queen herself has been standing in the kitchen, and she has taken great pains to prepare the food for us.
　I am thankful to hear that the queen personally stood in the kitchen and prepared the food for me.

　It was nothing short of a godsend that the queen of the country had gone so far as to offer her services. I'd like to participate in the banquet with an open mind.

　With that in mind, I was going to follow Lilith and have her lead me to the place of the banquet, but Anemone softly approached me.

''I thought it would be best not to touch the food you made, sister.

　According to her, it's not very edible.

　She's not good at war, she's not good at diplomacy, she's a natural, she has many weaknesses, but among them, she says that her bad cooking is worth mentioning.

''Well she certainly has a lot of flaws.

　I thought so, but I still had to put my mouth to the food she offered me.
　It was both a diplomatic courtesy and a human civility.
　With that in mind, I headed to the place of the banquet.