Volume 7 Chapter 6: The Happy Family of an Orc and an Elf ❤
(Walson)
"Hehehe, boss, if you slip a gold coin into my pocket, I won't wear pigtails anymore!" The little bandit stretched out her tiny hand toward me.
Why must you do such bandit-like things with such an adorable face!!!!
With a face full of frustration, I reached for my coin pouch.
"Kana, don't be rude to the guests!" Just as I was about to slip the gold coin into the little bandit's hand, a shadow quickly approached from outside and smacked the little bandit on the head with a punch.
"Ouch! I-I've been caught!" The little bandit crouched down, holding her head.
The newcomer was a tall elven woman dressed simply, with an elegant demeanor, a warm smile, and delicate features. Her light green shoulder-length hair was parted on the right side, covering one eye, but it couldn't hide her charm.
A beautiful elven lady! Wow!
...But right now, the beauty's fist was still grinding into the little bandit's head, making her let out pitiful cries of pain.
"I'm terribly sorry for my daughter's behavior; it's entirely due to my poor discipline. Please accept my apologies for disturbing your rest," the beauty said, while forcing the little bandit to bow her head in apology.
"Uh, it's fine, really," I said, waving my hand.
Wait, she's a mother? This gorgeous woman is that little bandit's mom?!
Wait, wait, wait, WHAT?
I looked at the beauty, then back at the little bandit.
Hmm, their noses and eyes do look alike, but where did that sharp-toothed, bandit-like personality come from!?
"Are you satisfied with the room we've provided? If you'd like, we can arrange for a change..."
"Not at all! I think the room is great."
"Is that so? Then I won't disturb you any further. Goodnight..." The beauty apologized again, pulling the little bandit with her as they prepared to close the door.
At that moment, seemingly due to the commotion we were causing, Barella walked up beside me.
"What's going on—huh?"
"Goodnight—eh?!"
The beauty and Barella locked eyes, both of them widening in surprise.
"Wait a minute, you… you're Aur—you're Aurevia, right?!"
"J-Jesvi?!"
...
...
...
"So, it's been fourteen years since then," said Jesvi as we strolled down the street.
The beautiful lady's name was Jesvi Braatio Ilf.
The middle and last names in her name were identical to Barella's, signifying that they both came from the noble high elves of the plateau.
Though it sounded prestigious, in reality, it indicated they were stripped of their original surnames and titles after living in the imperial capital.
Just like how Barella's original name was Sharuru Aurevia Ispan.
This woman was an old acquaintance of Barella.
"When news spread that you had been killed by bandits eleven years ago, I was really heartbroken for quite a while. It's such a relief to see you alive, Jesvi," Barella said with emotion.
"I'm so sorry for worrying you, but it was just false news. In truth, I only eloped with my husband," Jesvi chuckled. "As you can see, I'm running an inn now, and my daughter is already twelve."
Jesvi patted the little bandit on the head.
Jesvi held the little bandit's hand, while I walked alongside Barella. The four of us strolled down the dimly lit road.
Due to the village's current overcrowded state, many people were sleeping on the streets, some even setting up stalls to make a living.
The air was filled with the shouts of street vendors, creating a scene reminiscent of the night markets from my previous life.
"...Eloping, huh? That sounds just like you," Barella said with a sigh. "I feel like all my tears back then were for nothing."
"You're one to talk." Jesvi raised an eyebrow. "What's the deal with your exile to Teigitan under the pretense of studying abroad? Even someone like me, living far from the capital, heard about it right away. You know how big of a deal that was."
"...At the time, I was naïve, thinking it was just a matter of love," Barella lowered her eyes. "But lately, I've realized how much more was going on behind the scenes. It's all so complicated."
"It was connected to power struggles, wasn't it?" Jesvi gazed seriously at Aurevia.
"You're as sharp as ever."
"So... how have you been these past years, Aurevia?"
"Haha, like living through a nightmare," Barella replied, but then turned to me with a smile. Her tone suddenly softened. "But because of all that, I'm now incredibly happy. Isn't that right, Walson?"
"Uuuuuhhhh???" I stammered, completely caught off guard. Why did the topic suddenly shift to me!?
"Ah, I see," Jesvi looked between Barella and me, her expression changing as if she suddenly understood something. "Hey, Aurevia, how does it feel to live away from all those power struggles?"
"It feels wonderful, like a vacation," Barella said with a grin.
"Right?" Jesvi smiled.
In the peaceful atmosphere, the two of them continued chatting, while I silently followed along.
Although I hadn't been part of Barella's past, it felt like a good opportunity to learn more about her.
"Your name is Mr. Walson, correct?" Jesvi suddenly turned to look at me while they were chatting.
Up until this point, she had struck me as a sweet, smiling beauty, but now she had opened her eyes wide and was staring at me with a terrifying look!
Eh?! EH?!
"Y-Yes!"
"Take good care of Aurevia. If you ever make her sad... hmph hmph hmph..." she said, cracking her knuckles.
"I will! I swear on my honor!"
The rule of never offending your wife's best friend is absolute!
"That's good." Hearing my assurance, Jesvi returned to her smiling self.
"Thank you," Barella, who had been enjoying the show, laughed heartily. "By the way, Jesvi, what kind of person is your husband? Could you introduce him to me?"
"Oh, speaking of my husband, he—" Jesvi smiled shyly. Just as she was about to speak, a loud, rough voice echoed from a distance, shaking me to my core.
"Kana!!! Jesvi!!!"
That roar alone left me stunned for a moment!
If this were a battlefield, I'd be dead for sure!
"Oh, my husband's come to get me," Jesvi said.
And in the next moment, I saw the person she called her husband.
—A towering figure appeared before us in an instant.
A massive shadow loomed over me.
Oh crap, now I understand where the little bandit's sharp teeth came from.
A 2.35-meter tall orc, with green skin, broad shoulders, thick muscles, a large fur cloak, and enormous green pectoral muscles beneath it—and those prominent lower tusks!!!!!
Oh my god, it's an orc!!!
"No need for a battle cry, my dear," Jesvi said, snuggling against the massive orc uncle.
"Daddy!" The little bandit cried out, happily running toward the orc.
The gigantic orc uncle let out a hearty laugh, his voice deep and resonant.
With his left arm, he wrapped Jesvi's waist, and with his right, he lifted the little bandit up and placed her on his shoulder.
"My little princess! Had a good day today?" The orc uncle asked in a thick accent.
"I made lots of gold coins today, daddy!"
"Oh no, your clothes are torn! Where did you go today? Tell me the truth..."
"Don't worry, dear! I just fought a wyvern, no big deal!"
"Really, I get so worried..."
The family of three was leaving me and Barella standing awkwardly to the side.
Yep, the husband returning from hunting, the daughter running to hug him, and the wife scolding him out of concern…
A harmonious family with a cute daughter... so ordinary... NOT!
What the heck?! The father of the little bandit is an orc!!!
An elf beauty and an orc… I've read enough to know what happens next—wait, it's already happened?!
Even though it's a clichéd trope, seeing it in reality is on a whole different level! How should I even process this...
Never mind, I better not think too much about it...
No, no inappropriate thoughts!
They're just a happy family!
Don't imagine that kind of thing!!!
"I'm sorry, but I have to go back and be with my husband. I'll see you tomorrow, Aurevia." Jesvi tossed out those words before promptly being swept up by her orc husband and carried off.
In the end, it was just me and Barella left behind in the busy street.
...
...
"Uh." I turned to Barella, reaching out to hold her hand. "Before we head back, how about a little date?"
"Huh? So forward? A dwarf and an elf holding hands—it's going to look odd," she teased but held my hand tightly.
"Well..." I paused. "No stranger than an orc and an elf."
"Fair point."
With the autumn breeze blowing gently through the night, we strolled down the street together.
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