#575 The Elves’ Guardian

Thus, our plan for an otherworldly café is steadily advancing.

“But I wonder how things are holding up for the tea representative?”

I decided togo check.

Well, it wasn’t exactly my intention to put them in charge, but their devotion to tea was so overwhelming that by the time I realized it, they had become like its representative.

Thanks to them, I was able to concentrate on the coffee and the café fully.

However, I can’t leave them alone forever, so I thought I’d take a peek to see what they’re doing now to grasp the situation.

This ‘they’ I’m referring to is...

Aileron and the elves, our forest-dwelling residents.

Their race isn’t keen on civilization and rejects interaction with outsiders, but ever since some of them moved into our farm and got involved in pottery and crafts, they have been acting rather...strange.

And now, we have tea.

What will happen to their aloof race when they encounter tea?

“Where’d they go? Ah, there they are.”

When I found them, Aileron, the farm elves’ representative, and other elves were gathered in one place.

Elzariel, L4C, and even the Elf Monarch, who all live far from here, are with Aileron.

“What brings them here?”

But I already know the answer to that.

“We have a special event today, you see!” responds the Elf Monarch on behalf of the others. 

Her real name is too long to say.

“An event?”

“It’s something Guru Aileron cannot avoid if she wants to spread the tea ceremony worldwide! We elves will do our best to support her and see that she succeeds in this honorable achievement!”

Aileron has come to be known as the “Guru” among the High Elves.

She has become something of an alien presence for someone who has been doing nothing but pottery.

And she still intends to go on.

But as for this gathering...

“What are you trying to do?”

It might bother others, so I’d appreciate it if they could give me, the farm owner, a heads-up beforehand.

“Don’t worry, Lord Saint, we don’t intend to make a huge ruckus,” says Aileron, the central personage, taking over the conversation.

She has become a renowned figure in the pottering world for who knows when.

“We’re just going to summon a god, that’s all.”

“Isn’t that a pretty serious matter?”

“But you do it all the time.”

Touché.

That’s right, we summon gods often on our farm.

I mean, Sensei has made it a partial hobby to summon gods.

Wait a minute. Upon closer look, I notice he’s with the elves!

And he’s getting ready to summon a god!

“When I asked him if he wanted to do some god-summoning, he was happy to cooperate with us.”

“You’ve really made it your hardcore hobby to summon gods, huh, Sensei!”

If it’s his hobby, we have no right to object.

“Well, we have a long history of summoning gods, so my persuasion won’t hold much power. But out of curiosity, who will you summon?”

If it’s an evil god that can break hell loose, I might have to stop you guys.

“Don’t worry. We’re only summoning our guardian deity.”

“Your guardian deity?”

Such a god exists?

“They protected the nomadic elves in the distant past and led them to a peaceful forest. We must thank him for protecting us and request his blessings for our tea.”

They bring the hefty tea jar filled to the brim with tea leaves.

“Hmm... W-Well, remember that you’re still dealing with a divine being, so please be on your best behavior, okay?”

“We know! Sensei, you know the drill!”

And then, Sensei makes his long-awaited appearance.

“Ahem...Casablanca.”

He chants a random spell and waves his staff.

Then, very simply, a spatio-temporal distortion occurs and opens a gate to another world.

“He sure summons them like it’s nothing...!”

Then, a giant appears, clad in a solemn aura instantly recognizable as a god.

It’s a young man with a burly physique, his eyes sharper than those of any god I’ve ever met.

The glint in his eyes tells me he’s an expert on the battlefield.

An absolute being who specializes in warfare.

His appearance alone is more than overwhelming.

“Wait, this is the elves’ guardian deity?”

I thought that since elves are a race full of beautiful women, their guardian would also be a beautiful goddess.

“Yes, this is Velesares, the guardian deity of the elven race!”

“Huh?”

So, it really is their god.

The stalwart god wears radiant metal armor and is equipped with a sword and shield.

He looks like he is about to engage in battle.

Velesares means business!

“Who dares to summon me on this earth...?”

And what a solemn voice!

“The god of war and all war-related disasters. He who invites an unceremonious death. Father of shudder and terror. Didst thee summon me, Velesares, knowing full well that I am the master of all the atrocities in the world?" 

“Okay...He’s freaking me out a little!”

I knew they shouldn’t have summoned this god.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say he’s a bad guy, but I definitely feel scared of him! Ahh, I so want him to go home right this instant!

“O Lord Velesares! It is a great honor to meet your radiant self in person!”

The Elf Monarch makes a reverent bow.

“Your everlasting protection from above has helped us elves to survive and thrive!”

“Hm? Ah, I see now... Thou art the descendants of those who made a pact long ago...!”

The god of war suddenly calmed his rage when he recognized the elves.

“Um...Is he really the elves’ guardian deity?”

“Without a doubt! He is our guardian deity, Lord Velesares!”

I see.

“Thousands of years ago, elves were a faction of the demon race. Our ancestors were defeated in a power struggle and chased out of their habitat. It was there that they found the land protected by the god of war, Velesares!”

“It is a legend handed down among our people for centuries,” adds Aileron.

“Indeed. The land I governed before was once known as Amazon.”

Even the god of war himself added to the explanation!

“When the demons invaded, I discovered they were defeated in warfare and driven from their homeland. I took pity on them, permitted them to live in mine own domain, and shared the wisdom to survive in the grim forests.”

Their descendants were then called elves later on.

If I recall, all subspecies in this world can be traced back to one of the three major races—the humans, demons, and mermaids—of which elves have their origins in the demon race.

“Thee has’t thrived under mine own blessing, and with each generation, thee has’t hath left the original lineage of the demons, becoming a species of thine own and taking the name of elves. For two thousand years, I has’t gazed from above as thy people art reborn.”

“Pardon me, from above?”

“I am a celestial deity.”

Oh.

Sorry for interrupting your conversation. Please carry on.

“I know all the hardships and joys thee has’t experienced. To think that at the end of it all, thee has’t come to this point where thee can enjoy a peaceful and prosperous life...!”

...Hm?

Is it just me, or is the god of war shuddering?

“...Thee has’t really come so far, despite all that thee has’t been through. All of thee managed to survive by working together...!”

He’s crying with a face all scrunched up to match...

“Oh, if only thee knew how many times I wanted to beat up mine own old man for letting the human race ravage thine forests with their thaumaturgy magic...! I sincerely apologize that I couldst not go against the great policy of the celestial deity and save thee from thy peril. But still, thee overcame it. I applaud thee...!” he says, tears streaming down his face.

The god of war is surprisingly a softie.

Was that savage behavior a while ago just a façade, then?

We haven’t even gotten to the main topic yet, but I’m so in awe of Velesares’ virtuousness that we're barely making progress.