Chapter 282: Dark Elves

The three days that Asu-kun stayed were spent playing to the fullest, and the following four days were devoted to preparing the orchard.

And today was the day the Dark Elf migrants were scheduled to arrive, so I had been waiting for them since morning.

I didn’t know how they would get here, but soon I spotted a group approaching from the direction of the royal capital.

With Rose and Isabella walking at the front, it was clear that the people behind them must be the Dark Elves who wished to relocate.

“Good morning, Rose, Isabella. I didn’t expect you to come on foot. Are the people behind you the migrants?”

“…Velvet made various arrangements for us. We only walked from the capital to here—the rest of the journey was by carriage.”

Perhaps it was their shared secret and mutual interest in manga that made Velvet willing to help.

Thinking that drawing manga could help build relations between the kingdom and the elven nation was, in a way, rather amusing.

“And those behind us are the migrants. I’ve put Lucia in charge of overseeing the Dark Elves.”

“I am Lucia, the one in charge of the Dark Elves. I look forward to working with you.”

“Nice to meet you, Lucia.”

The woman who stepped forward at Isabella’s introduction had a sharp look and wore her hair in a ponytail.

She was tall and had a stern gaze. At first glance, I thought she might be a handsome man due to her lack of curves, but her voice made it clear she was a woman.

Looking over the rest of the Dark Elves, about 80% of them seemed to be female.

Considering that some I assumed were male might actually be women like Lucia… the number of men was probably extremely low.

“…Please give them instructions as needed. If anyone refuses to work or disobeys, tell me immediately. I’ll come take them back.”

“I’ve told them before, but from now on, treat what Sato says as if it were what Lady Rose says. If anyone causes trouble, neither Lady Rose nor I will forgive them.”

At Isabella’s warning, the Dark Elves straightened their posture instantly.

I had imagined them to be relaxed due to their long lifespans, but their disciplined, almost military-like demeanor surprised me.

She had mentioned before that they were an elite group, so perhaps their hierarchy was strict.

“Well, you don’t need to be so tense. A slow life is what we aim for here.”

“Sato, that’s too naive. If they think they can slack off, they will. Especially Soara and Luna—you’d better keep an eye on those two.”

The moment Isabella mentioned their names, two Dark Elves looked away.

One had messy short hair, the other a bob cut. They had different vibes, but their faces looked identical.

They were about the same height as Rose—perhaps twins.

Looking closer, their eyes were especially striking: heterochromia in blue and gold.

Even more interesting, their eye colors were mirrored—
the short-haired one had a blue right eye and a gold left, while the bob-cut one had the opposite.

Full of fantasy charm, it was honestly exciting to see.

“I can’t have them slacking off, so I’ll keep a close watch as you advised. I’d like to talk and get to know everyone better, but… you must all be tired from the long journey, so please rest for today. I’ll show you to your lodging.”

I led the Dark Elves—except for Rose and Isabella—to their accommodations.

The lodging wasn’t newly prepared; it was originally built for the finalists of the mock battle tournament, and I decided to let the Dark Elves use it.

Each room was well-built, and there were plenty of them.
As a temporary place to stay, it was more than sufficient.

If they wished to form a settlement like the dragonkin, they were free to build near the plains or close to the orchard in the back hills. From here on, I planned to leave things to them.

After showing them their rooms, I returned to the villa where Rose and Isabella were waiting.

“I’ve shown them to the lodging. There are still rooms available—would you like to stay as well?”

“…No. We have business to attend to and must return right away.”

“I see. It’s a shame you have to leave so soon after coming all this way.”

“We’ll come visit again soon. More importantly, we may cause you trouble, so please take care of things.”

“Leave it to me. Though, I’ll consult you if anything comes up.”

“…Of course. Don’t hesitate to tell us, even about small matters.”

“Thank you. In that case… at least have breakfast before you go.”

“…Thank you. That makes me very happy.”

“Just that alone makes the trip worthwhile.”

I headed to the kitchen and quickly made pancakes.

After watching Rose and Isabella happily finish their meal, I saw them off as they returned to the royal capital.