Chapter 225 – Returning Home
Elven Wood, Archon’s Residence.
“Griffith, all troops are ready to deploy.”
After hearing his subordinate’s report, Elven Wood’s 5th Archon, Mayer Griffith, slowly stood up.
“The time has finally come.”
Approximately 500 years have passed since the day of the tragedy when our compatriots died cruelly.
While humans and demons were fighting outside Elfheim (Great Forest), they took control of Elven Wood, which was in chaos, and spent a long time holding their breath to build up their strength.
But that silence is over now.
With the final preparations finally completed, all that remains is to reclaim the ancestral lands that were forcibly occupied by inferior races.
“Mizar, I will temporarily entrust you with the position of leader of the Septentrion.”
Then, one of the six elves standing behind Mayor Griffith lowered his head.
“We will live up to Archon’s expectations.”
“And since Akkad dies, your brother Alcor will take his place in the Big Dipper.”
“Yes. I will tell the story to my younger brother.”
After hearing Mizar’s answer, Mayer Griffith turned his gaze to the other elf next to him.
“Alioz, how are Gungnir prepared?”
“We have completed the final testing and are moving to the border for actual deployment.”
“Gunggnir is the weapon that will determine the direction of this war, so make sure there are no gaps in the guard.”
“We have already doubled the existing escort force, so the things Archon is worried about will not happen.”
“I hope so.”
Mayer Griffith, who gave orders to each and every member of Septent Lion, thought as she looked up at the World Tree outside her official residence.
‘It’s not long now, princess. I will definitely prove that you were wrong 500 years ago.’
Meyer Griffith smiled with joy as he imagined the wonderful new world to come.
***
“Indeed, something like that happened…”
After hearing the full story of what happened in Elven Wood, the Demon King muttered this with a sad expression.
“I’m sorry. I left behind the elite soldiers I had given away.”
Then, upon hearing my apology, the Demon King shook his head and said.
“It’s not your fault. The problem was that Mayer Griffith had other thoughts of hers in the first place. Rather, it’s a great thing that you got out of that situation safely.”
Fortunately, the Demon King did not interrogate me for this matter.
I don’t know if it was because it was truly an unavoidable situation, or because I was the Demon King’s future son-in-law, but in a way, I was fortunate because it was a crisis that could have led to my dismissal from my current position.
Although I have built up a position in the Demon King’s army in my own way, in my personal opinion, there are still some aspects that are at stake.
“If there are soldiers who successfully escape from Elven Wood, I will contact the beastmen in the Great Forest to protect their safety. So, you do not need to worry about that.”
“… Thank you, Demon King.”
“Well, there’s nothing I can do for you other than this, so I’m just sorry.”
The Demon King waved his hand as he said that and then asked me with a serious expression.
“Then, this is another story, but what do you plan to do next, Kaldrashu?”
“What did you mean by your question?”
“That’s literally true. Since Elven Wood declared war on the Demon King’s army, it has become a foregone conclusion that war will break out again. That’s why I’m giving you a choice. Fight in the front or in the rear.”
“…”
I couldn’t answer the devil’s question right away.
In fact, if you want to make a mark, it’s right to go to the front.
However, as is the case with war, it is a place where no matter how strong a person is, their life cannot be guaranteed.
It might have been in the past when there was nothing to protect or regret, but now that I had a family, I was even more afraid of going to war.
But-
“We will fight on all fronts.”
I said so.
Then the Demon King asked with an expression of interest.
“If you don’t mind, may I ask the reason?”
I answered the devil’s question with a bitter smile.
“If everything could be resolved by avoiding the fight and running away, you might do so. But war is inherently a law that does not end until one side is satisfied. As the saying goes, there is no paradise where you run away, and all the people tremble in the rear. It suits me better to end the war myself rather than hope for the best.”
As a bonus, I can make up for this failure.
When I said that and smiled, the Demon King said, haha! And I laughed happily.
“I see. I guess I asked you something pointless. I liked that about you, so I made you my son-in-law.”
As he said that, the Demon King stroked his beard in satisfaction and asked Gabriel, who was standing next to me.
“Gav, what do you plan on doing?”
Then Gabriel shrugged his shoulders and answered.
“When did the Four Heavenly Kings ever have a choice? If the Demon King wants to criticize you, you should criticize him.”
Since it was a de facto statement of approval, the Demon King nodded and said.
“In order not to compromise the two people’s resolve, I will prepare the best army with demons gathered from all over Doom Land. You can look forward to it.”
“Would it be possible?”
Saying that, I bowed and left the office, leaving the Demon King behind, to inform others of this fact.
***
“Patrasche! What happened there?”
When I returned to the parade ground, Dorothea asked me all sorts of questions.
“Well, okay? I didn’t have anything to worry about.”
“Phew~ I’m glad~”
Dorothea said and patted her chest as if she was relieved.
I looked at her and shrugged her shoulders, then looked at Margaret and her mother who were looking at me with anxious expressions.
“First, I’m thinking of going to Oz to relax. How about disbanding the party there?”
Then Margaret asked with her half-confident expression.
“Is Oz safe?”
“There, your mother will not be discriminated against because of her race. It is a city where many humans live. If anything, you, a half-elf, may feel the burden.”
“If that’s the case, it’s okay. Since I was young, I’ve always been someone who didn’t belong anywhere.”
Something that is neither human nor elf.
That’s how Margaret defined herself, and there was something like self-deprecating resignation in her words.
Well, she must have seen and felt a lot in her own way.
“Anyway, the Demon King has just come back from a fairly long trip, so he told me to take a break and let’s go eat some home-cooked food for the first time in a while.”
In terms of time, the trip lasted about a month at most, but it felt like I hadn’t seen Ozma and Vanessa for almost several months.
“Then I will accompany you.”
“Is it okay if I go too?”
“… Do whatever you want.”
Although something stuck, I decided to do it since it wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.
They both said they were Ozma’s childhood friends, so they probably wanted to see her face.
With our next destination decided, we took the portal gate installed next to the Demon King’s Castle and headed to Oz, the colony ruled by Ozma.
***
“Goodbye then.”
“Be healthy, Glinda.”
“Yes, Margaret too.”
The first thing we did when we arrived in Oz was to break up our temporary party.
After successfully rescuing her mother from Elvenwood, Margaret was finally able to start a new life in Oz, and as a first step, she was assigned to an immigrant-only accommodation at the community center.
It’s not a very big house, but it won’t be enough for a mother and daughter to live together.
Because I specifically provided funds for the settlement of Oz.
Originally, my companionship with Glinda was going to end here, but since it seemed like her presence would play an important role in this war, I decided to stay with her a little longer.
One way or another, Glinda seems to be the only enemy of the High Elves remaining in the world, so she needed her ‘her symbol’ to fight for her cause with the Archon who now rules Elvenwood. 〉
“Anyway, I’m tired, so let’s go home first.”
There was a bit of a delay due to after-sales service, but it’s been a while since I got home.
The teacher who was forced to follow Elven Wood parted ways in front of the Magic Tower, and now only the original members and guests remain.
It’s still work time, so it’s a long way for Ozma to get off work, but Vanessa will still be home.
“I’ve been there.”
As I open the tightly closed front door and go inside, a familiar living room welcomes me.
“Vanessa?”
Normally, Vanessa would have come out wearing her apron and greeted me.
But the house was quiet, perhaps because no one was home.
“… Did you both go out?”
First of all, she held the position of Inspector-General of Police, so it wasn’t strange that she wasn’t at home, but I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
“Ah~ I’m tired~”
“I will prepare dinner right away.”
“Oh, I will help you too, Master Maid.”
Although it has been a long time since we returned home, the women in our house are starting to move around in a familiar way.
I plopped down next to Dorothea, who was casually sprawled on the sofa, and said while gesturing to the guests standing awkwardly.
“Everyone, stay comfortably.”
Then, Gabriel, Hilde, and Glinda began spending time in their own ways.
