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Translator: Kazumi
Editor: Silavin
Kousuke, who was on his way to the World Tree, was walking through the elf village when he saw a child close to Towa’s age running up to him.
The child seemed to be aiming for Collete, who was walking next to Kousuke.
“Who is that kid?”
Kousuke, tilting his head, asked Collete.
“Oh? You haven’t met her before, have you? She’s the first child born to our people in this Tower.”
“Oh, that’s right, you did mention her. No, rather, I did meet her when she was a baby. It was just that once, and I had never met her as she got older.”
Come to think of it, this was the first time he had ever seen a child in the elven village.
It had been about ten years since the elven village was established beneath the World Tree. Collete had even told him that ten children had already been born.
It was a pace of around one child per year. Though this number fluctuated. Sometimes, there would be multiple births in a year and sometimes none. This was just an average, and it did not mean that a child was born every year.
Kousuke could only see this number as miniscule. However, for the elves, it was an unbelievable pace. In particular, elves who had immigrated to the World Tree in the Tower; they had not produced a single child in the ten years before coming to the Tower.
To elves, children of their people were sometimes referred to as miracle children.
From what Kousuke saw of them, it seemed as if they would continue to call them miracle children until those children bore the next generation.
Thankfully, even with the label of ‘miracle’, the elves were wise enough to know that they could not ruthlessly spoil their children. Kousuke even heard that the children were growing up well because they were being disciplined in an elven manner – whatever that means.
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“Collete-sama, hello!”
“Yes. Hello.”
The child and Collete greeted each other, but the child could not help glancing at Kousuke and Mitsuki.
It was very rare for non-elves to come to this village, so the child was curious.
“Look, Solana. Greet them properly. This is Kousuke-sama.”
“It, it’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m Solana.”
Solana’s eyes went black and white at Collete’s introduction, as she hurriedly lowered her head.
The adults had often told her about Kousuke. He became a living god and was worshiped by the elves in the village, and was now ranked second only to Spica, the Spirit God, and the God of the forest.
Kousuke had even listened with a wry smile to the village chief’s comment that it was a great pity that she could tell everyone about Kousuke’s great deeds. Though it was natural since the village chief did not have any interaction with the elves outside the Tower.
Kousuke had never wanted the faith of many followers. Still, he was not tactless as to demand them to stop believing in him as a God.
Once Kousuke came to terms with being a God in his own mind, he started to accept such ‘voices’ as well.
“Nice to meet you.”
Kousuke, sensing that she was very nervous in front of him, turned his gaze to Collete.
He wanted to dismiss Solana, who had suddenly met God, before she did something to offend the other adults by being overly nervous.
Collete met his gaze and nodded.
“Solana. What happened to the other kids?”
“They are all studying at the teacher’s place. The teacher said I was done for the day, so…”
“Oh, is that so? Well then, will you go to Lilace-sama and tell her that Kousuke-sama is here?”
As Collete said this, Solana, who looked overtly relieved, lowered her head once more toward Kousuke and ran straight to the mansion where the village chief was.
Seeing this, Kousuke had a complicated expression on his face.
“It’s a strange feeling for someone to be so direct like that, isn’t it?”
Collete chuckled at Kousuke’s words.
“Don’t tell her that. At that age, they are just beginning to understand many things.”
She was old enough to understand that she would be scolded by the adults depending on the consequences of her actions. She knew full well that when the other party was God, it would have serious consequences in any misbehavior.
That was why they behave like that. It would have been different if they had met several times, but this was the first time. It was in fact not strange for Solana to behave the way she had.
…Kousuke knew this in his head, but he still felt lonely in his heart, wondering if it was because he still had feelings as a human.
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Walking slowly so that even a child’s feet could follow, Kousuke and the others headed for Lilace’s mansion.
Being called ‘mansion’ did not mean it was a large house like those used by human nobles; the design was different. Nevertheless, it was still a large building, with a hall large enough to hold a banquet with several dozen elves.
Since there was no interaction with the outside world, there was little need for guests to stay over, so there was no need for many guest rooms.
“Welcome, Kousuke-sama.”
Kousuke and the others had walked at the speed of a stroll around the area, but it seemed that Solana’s message had arrived in time.
When they arrived at the door of the mansion, Lilace and Solana were standing there to greet them.
Kousuke nodded to Lilace, looking sideways at Solana, who was as nervous as ever.
“Lilace, it’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has. I would appreciate it if you could show your face here a little more if possible.”
Lilace said, and Kousuke returned a wry smile.
The vampires and succubi living in the Tower were just as welcoming when Kousuke showed his face.
Kousuke knew that each town and village was not poor, but they were not rich either. So, he could not show his face that often because of all the necessary celebrations they felt they needed to do.
Lilace knew this, as well, but still dared to say so.
This was just how their usual casual exchange had been ongoing for the past ten years.
“Well, there’s a lot going on.”
This reply was also part of their usual greeting.
Lilace smiled in response.
“I see. Well then, it’s no use talking in a place like this forever, so let’s go inside, shall we?”
Saying this, Lilace invited Kousuke and the others into the mansion.
“So, what can I do for you today?”
Lilace cut in as they entered the mansion.
Solana had already left them.
Seeing how nervous she was, Lilace told her to go check on the other children.
She wouldn’t be back for a while.
“No, it’s nothing in particular. I just happened to see the other Floors the other day, so I came to check on the elves.”
By ‘other Floors’, Kousuke meant the vampires.
“Oh, I see. No problems. Everyone is doing well. Most importantly, just listening to the children playing happily makes me feel the village is full of life.”
“Yeah. That’s good to hear.”
There was no place in the world where the future was more uncertain than in a town where the adults do not hear the voices of children.
The elves who have been through it for so long they probably felt it even more than Kousuke.
“Esena-sama seems to be growing up well, so we are spending our days without any worries.”
“Yes. Is there anything missing?”
The village of elves distributed goods that were made using the special skills of elves, spirit arts. Their distribution channels were Collete and Sheryl.
They got what they needed from the sale of those items, and so far, the income was enough.
“Nothing in particular. The elves are basically self-sufficient.”
They had already acquired the food seeds and other things they needed to make a living. They had already been able to produce what they needed in a stable manner for ten years.
Kousuke was impressed when Lilace laughed and said that this was also a benefit of Esena, the World Tree.
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