78. Blue Rose Petal Laila
The bee larvae required Han’s exclusive care.
It was not only for the sacred growth of the night-blooming cereus bees but also because these little ones were more mischievous than expected.
Without Han, they would barely eat.
Now, they would even refuse food from others outright, shaking their heads in rejection.
‘Thanks to them, my body may be a bit tired, but… honestly, this experience can’t help but feel good, right?’
There was a strange sense of fulfillment and joy in following only him.
However, unexpectedly, the queen bee seemed completely unfazed.
Was it more comfortable for her with less work?
Lately, she had taken to showing her belly completely and falling asleep.
[Buzz!]
At that moment, the first bee larvae entered the house.
Its front legs were covered in colorful pollen.
[Buzz?]
The little one in Han’s arms glanced at the first bee larvae with a hint of envy.
Perhaps, it seemed envious.
Approaching Han, it nuzzled against him once, showing affection, then went out to gather honey again.
Despite a hint of regret, it quickly shook it off and went about its duty.
Buzz!
Han watched the first bee larvae fly off into the distance and let out a bitter smile.
“I feel sorry for that little one too.”
Normally, the first bee larvae, who wouldn’t easily leave his side, were a bit more aloof.
As the one he had raised with care from the beginning, he understood them even better.
But at the time when a new offspring was born like now, they seemed to add more restraint to their actions.
It was a form of consideration for the tired Han.
Sigh. Sigh.
At that moment, the third one began to calm down gradually.
Its appearance, with sagging wings, looked utterly exhausted.
Hunching down, she soon fell quietly asleep.
[Snore….]
Her legs even trembled as if she was sleep-talking.
“Hmm.”
Watching her for a while, Han soon quietly concealed himself.
***
As night fell, scattered elves gathered at a mushroom house, perhaps for a promised meeting.
Those on guard duty.
Those tending the potato fields and apple trees all returned with baskets full of their own harvest.
Han saw the bright light pouring out from the mushroom house.
Just watching somehow comforted her heart.
There was warmth.
“The day will come when the house will be full of two.”
She knew such a day would come.
But facing this moment directly made each day feel new.
She peeked into the house discreetly.
Under the brightly lit sheep candles.
People sitting around, chatting lively.
Sharing the lunch Han had handed out.
Some preparing potatoes.
Others tanning fur, engaged in various unfinished tasks.
Among them, the figure of Muamuah was also glimpsed.
Sniffing to see if they had finished their own meal, sneaking a peek at others’ lunches.
Saliva dripped from the corner of their mouth.
“Wow. Must be delicious….”
The girl, Pafona, offered a king-sized pork cutlet.
“Would you like this, Muamuah-nim?”
“Uh, um?”
Muamuah, showing a moment of hesitation, closed both eyes tightly, then quickly withdrew, refusing.
“Oh…! It’s okay! Can’t steal from a fellow who’s not feeling well! Even dragons have their pride!”
That’s how it went.
Their dinner was peaceful, warm, and enjoyable.
‘Come to think of it, it does seem quite crowded.’
Perhaps because there were about a dozen elves gathered in one place.
The space that was once so spacious now seemed quite cramped.
[Clang! Clang-clang!]
Add to that the presence of playful young wolves running around.
Of course, only during meals.
When sleeping, everyone scattered to different levels, with plenty of space to spare.
However, it seemed that some different plan might be needed. For instance, expanding the second mushroom shop, or perhaps building an entirely different building.”
At that moment.
“Cough, cough.”
Alisa, who was smiling brightly while looking around.
She started coughing while covering her mouth.
Idnis looked at her with a worried expression.
“Mother? Are you still not feeling well?”
“I’m, I’m fine. Idnis, cough!”
Alisa forced a smile and shook her head.
But she couldn’t deny the fact that she wasn’t feeling well and kept coughing incessantly.
In the end, Idnis, who supported Alisa, stood up first.
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“Madam. I’ll escort you upstairs first.”
“Oh, I understand. See you tomorrow.”
After taking Alisa, who was unwell, upstairs,
The atmosphere noticeably darkened.
Only the sound of Muamua chewing potatoes could be heard.
Muamua belatedly opened his mouth without any awareness.
“Why is everyone so quiet? No one’s saying a word.”
***
“……”
Hane quietly watched Alisa.
She seemed unwell, lying in bed and coughing constantly.
Idnis, holding her hand, expressed concern.
“You need to recover quickly and get healthy, Mother.”
“It’s fine.”
At Idnis’s words, Alisa faintly smiled.
“I haven’t lived long anyway. In this day and age, elderly elves like me are rare.”
“…Mother.”
Idnis’s expression as she watched her mother was somewhat grim.
‘…Perhaps she’s still not completely recovered.’
Long years of hard living in the snowy wilderness, abuse from orcs, and an unsuitable diet.
The elves’ stamina had fallen to a weak level.
That was why Hane occasionally sent them packed lunches.
However, unlike other elves who were smoothly recovering, Alisa seemed to have a slower recovery.
Perhaps it was due to her age.
‘Well, even though she looks young and beautiful like in her early twenties on the outside, the fact remains that she’s the mother of other elves, and she has lived for so long.’
To Idnis, she was a mother, and to Papona, a grandmother.
That’s how long-lived she was.
Idnis
•In good health.
•She possesses the talent of a warrior. In reality, Idnis was already showing signs of improvement, but Alisa:
•Be cautious.
•Possesses the talent of a sorceress.
Alisa’s condition remained frail without any change.
‘It’s not unfolding in a good way.’
As such thoughts continued,
[…God.]
“Hmm?”
A voice was heard.
Eyes turned towards the source of the voice.
There, the figure of the girl Pafona, praying towards a statue resembling Han, came into view.
“God.”
Pafona prayed with tears streaming down her face.
“Um, will my grandmother… be okay? Right?”
Pafona was younger than Zion or Yumina.
Yet, even this child seemed to sense the pervasive unease around her.
Han forced a smile.
Revealing his appearance, he gently patted the little girl’s head.
His large palm completely covered Pafona’s petite frame.
“…Of course.”
Perhaps he considered that a reply.
Quickly chuckling, Han extended a hand as Pafona nodded gratefully.
“Thank you, God!”
For this desolate girl, Han retrieved a side dish from the lunchbox hidden nearby, mindful of Muamu’s gaze from days past.
This side dish was none other than ‘candy.’
“Here, Pafona.”
“Wow…!”
As Han offered the candy, the child’s long ears swayed eagerly.
His already big eyes widened even more.
“hehehe.”
“You seem to like it, little one.”
Pafona was said to be eight years old.
This was an exceptionally young age even among the elves.
In human terms, she was akin to a newborn baby.
Considering how rare it was for babies to be born in such a harsh world, she was like a miraculous being just by existing.
Perhaps for that reason, her gaze was particularly captivating.
“By the way, who would have thought there’s a tactic of giving candy in lunchboxes.”
[The lunchbox’s effect is merely to provide the necessary nutrients to each individual.]
“Does that mean there’s sugar included in that nutrition?”
[Yes.]
It was a fact unknown to him.
This was a gimmick that only applied to the young.
“….”
As he was patting the boy’s head,
the smile that was on his lips gradually faded, his expression disappeared.
“…Don’t worry, Pafona.”
He wouldn’t let anything major happen to Alisa.
***
Alisa.
She was also a concern for Han.
“But, System.”
[Please speak.]
“How bad is Alisa’s physical condition?”
[“Alisa” is one of the very few individuals who have survived from the early days of the Great War until now. She is considered quite old even among the elves, having endured the cold for a long time and eaten food unsuitable for an elf’s nature.]
“….”
Something about the system’s explanation was not very favorable.
The tone he was trying to bring out seemed ominous.
[Therefore, although she may appear healthy like other elves on the surface, if things continue this way, her life will come to an end sooner than expected. Her body will gradually show signs of collapse.]
“What…?”
Han’s expression stiffened at the unexpected words.
He reflexively turned his gaze towards Alisa.
She was enjoying the warmth while gazing at the morning sun.
After enduring so much, he thought she might finally live a bit longer, but was Alisa’s fate to end her life not long after?
Was she sick?
Even though Han already knew the answer that would come, he asked just in case.
“Is it impossible to recover just by having lunchboxes… right?”
[It is impossible.]
It was a definite answer.
“…That’s true.”
But for what reason?
The system unexpectedly spoke first.
[However.]
“…Hmm?”
[It is still possible to recover at this point. Full recovery is impossible, but it should be possible for her to enjoy most of the remaining lifespan.]
“How is that possible?”
[I am sorry, but this is the limit of my answer. Fairness is a constraint that applies to all my actions.]
…It was a response that carried the intention of the system.
Han thought.
The system’s words clearly contained a vague intention.
Although it didn’t provide a solution, by answering this way, there surely must have been a solution.
That much was certain.
“Oh, wait a moment.”
At that moment, something flashed through Han’s mind.
In his gaze, a flower fluttering in the wind caught his eye by chance.
“…Golden Moonflower.”
Yes, the Golden Moonflower…!
There it was!
“Why didn’t I think of that sooner?”
Urgently, he approached the flower garden.
Now, the flower garden had expanded so much that it could be seen everywhere in the square.
Tap.
As Han lightly brushed the flower, a symbol came to mind.