The Book Of Flowers
Five Elf Elders
-- A few moments later ----
"Wait first! You called us with an 'emergency' situation, just to take care of this child!?"
A light Elf named Luxor clawed at her waist after protesting to me
I told them what I wanted to tell them. It's just their reaction and answer that I need now
"I think it's so precarious that it needs us"
Lyralia the Water Elf also seemed to protest. But he's more... The secret in hiding that displeased expression
Ivor the Fire Elf just grumbled while looking for something for him to slam into the entire room
Ordelia the Elf was the flower, and Luna the Moon Elf just kept quiet without saying anything more
I stood before all of them and felt uneasy, just like Verdea who was hiding behind me when she saw them
I knew they would reject my request, but I needed them to help this castle
"If I don't say this is critical I'm sure you won't come"
And this is precarious because I am also quite bound to this place due to the agreement with Verdea...
Ivor turned his attention to me and moved forward quickly as he said
"YAHAHH!! But that doesn't mean you have to cheat us!!"
Ivor then clasped my collar and looked furious
"I didn't lie when I said it was precarious"
And stop shaking my body or I'm gonna throw up
"I agree with Ivor on this" Someone interjected
Luna finally opened her mouth and spoke in defense of Ivor who started to quiet down along with me who turned her gaze away
"Look no!? That wise luna alone agreed with me!!" Ivor then interrupts
"Why are you suddenly bothered to take care of humans? Uncivilized beings like they should be"
"Lye...! Can't be...!"
The shy Ordelia in front of the person had just started talking. But he was sensitive enough to stop Lyralia who was barely speaking harshly in front of Verdea
"Come Ordelia. You agree, too, right?"
Luxor interrupted the conversation between the two of them and made Ordelia hesitate as to what she should say
"You didn't notice my friend at all..."
Verdea was hiding behind me as I reminded them of her existence
"At least help us for a while. You might change your mind after that" I tried to convince them again
"We told you!"
"Ivor's. Calm yourself"
Luna clasped Ivor's shoulder and told him to back away from me
And in place of Ivor, Luna who this time came forward facing me until our faces almost touched each other
"Then, what's the point of this for us?" Continue Luna
Ah, here's the question I'm afraid of them. I have nothing to offer them right now
"I don't have anything interesting for you guys..."
"AND THEN FOR WHAT!"
"Ivor!"
Ivor regained his composure with the other 3 Elves. Luna then let me continue with my words
"I ask you to help us. I don't have any backup plans other than to call you here"
So I really hope you guys don't refuse...
...
...
...
"... We'll be here a month"
"Did?"
The other 4 Elves also looked as shocked as I did when they heard Luna's decision
"You kidding...?"
"Well... Luna has decided..."
"You-you!"
"..."
They could not resist Luna's words. This elf that was raised to be my right hand is indeed great. I'm sure she can control the treatment of the fairies well as long as I'm gone
But, a month... I had to make sense for them to stay here more than that
For now I will let them all go first and give their respective duties in this castle
They did seem half-heartedly accepting my request, but it was better than nothing
"I'll share your duties in this castle so listen carefully"
"Please"
...
-- A few moments later ----
"alright. Do you guys understand?" I asked after a long time
"I want to refuse"
...
Uh, Ivor. Can't you accept my decision directly...?
"Why should I be a chef? Give me a more challenging task can you?"
"Cooking is challenging you know?"
He is also quite an expert in cooking. Among all the people I know, Ivor is the most proficient at cooking
"It's a woman's job. I'm resistant to fire anyway so there's nothing I can fight there"
There will be nothing you can fight as long as you are here...!
"The point is that you have accepted each other's duties. Can't be replaced"
"... Hmh! Alright. Anything that could make our Oberon satisfied"
He grumbled and stood quietly with the others
...
Oberonian... I haven't heard anyone call me by that title in a long time
Forget about that first. Now we're gonna start
Luxor and Lyralia will serve as servants and are responsible for the cleanliness of the entire castle
Ivor will serve as a chef and buy ingredients for cooking every day at a nearby market
Ordelia will be the gatekeeper and gardener of this castle
And finally, Luna. He will serve as Verdea's second bodyguard
I honestly don't know what to put Luna as. He's not very good at doing any job, except fighting
I'm sure his sharp and deft fighting skills are better suited to putting in bodyguard work
In the meantime I am in charge of controlling them all and taking care of Verdea's daily life
And that way, the necessary arrangement in this castle has been neatly arranged
"alright. I'm gonna start cleaning, all around"
"I'm coming~!"
Luxor and Lyralia immediately enthusiastically moved to look at the new scenery, out of the room ahead of us all
"Then what should I do?" Ivor asked
"The day has begun. Why not start cooking for all of us?" I suggested
"But what does this kid like?"
Ah, ja. We didn't like meat, so Ivor must have already determined what he would cook for us
Only Verdea is not an Elf here, and determining her favorite menu is certainly a problem for Ivor
"Then so-"
"Fried chicken..."
"Hm?"
We both looked towards Verdea who was still hiding herself behind my body
"I want fried chicken" Verdea repeated, with a slightly louder voice
Fried chicken? Maybe because since that day
I'm laughing a little. Seeing Verdea's embarrassed face, I couldn't stand it anymore and immediately stroked her head
"Well, if that's what you want...
Lyralian! Please check if there's any chicken in the kitchen!"
He immediately went into the kitchen while shouting in search of Lyralia
"alright. I'll go also start from the backyard"
Ordelia had intended to follow Ivor out, but I knocked him out before he got out the door
"You'll help the three of us on the front page"
"H- huh?"
Verdea looked towards Luna who was standing not far away with a questioning look. Luna who knew the intent of Verdea's gaze only replied with a shrug
......................
We're in the castle's front garden right now. Ordelia stood with her feet gazing around the garden
I warned him, but he was still shocked and trembling to see all the plants around this castle
Yeah, it's natural too. Me and Ordelia are from the same race, Elf flower. So when we see the sight of a dead plant like this, we are certainly furious...
"Why... Can this be...?"
"If it's never taken care of, it's certainly not like this?"
I let out a short breath after giving him a response. My own eyes still hurt to see this scene, so one could imagine what Ordelia was feeling
"Vaine..."
Tears flowed down Ordelia's cheeks
I feel sorry to see him immediately stroking his head to keep him calm
"I get. So please help us"
He looked at my smiling face gently. Slowly she nodded her head in agreement while hugging me
Luna and Verdea were standing right behind us with flat faces
"They're like a couple" Verdea whispered to Luna
"Well... Just habituate. They are a couple"
"Are you-Hah!?"
Note: Verdea just found out that I have a partner. And I was satisfied to see his surprised face
"You guys don't just whisper and help us tidy up this place" I interrupted between the two men
They looked at me glaring at the two of them. Without further ado, they followed me and Ordelia to clean up this garden
"But Vain, are the four of us enough to clean up this park?" Luna asked, until I looked back at her
"Luna, we're not four"
I turned and flicked my finger. The roots of the trees around us were creeping slowly towards me
A dozen trees received my call and moved their roots to help
"There's a lot that's gonna help"
...
"Then we're for what?" Verdea culas
"You guys find a shovel and make a hole"
"You can make the trees do that, right?" Connect Luna
So that's how it looks... You refuse to help huh...?
Ok...!
"I challenge you to work faster than both of us!" I triggered
"Why we both want to"
...
Verdea stopped talking because the atmosphere suddenly felt changed. His head also looked...
As Verdea turned to look at Luna, she realized that what she was about to say was useless
The usually calm luna seemed to smolder at the sight of my words, although her flat face remained visible. The word 'challenge' is a trigger for him, especially if I say it
I just smiled slylyly looking at Luna who was starting to look excited
"I accept"
"Are you sure Luna~?"
I try to make the atmosphere hotter for him. He then advanced steadily and looked me straight in the eye
"I won't lose" Luna said
"Let's see. You guys find a shovel first" I'm replying to him
...
"What is a shovel?"
Hm?
Wait for. He seriously doesn't know!?
"Tools" I answered him briefly
"You're gonna clean up the garden while we make a hole, are you?" Luna asked again
"Yep. We'll take care of all these plants. You guys make a place to make a pool here"
"Challenge accepted"
We both shook hands and then walked in the opposite direction
Verdea was silent and had no spirit. But, Luna then clasped her shoulders and looked into her sharp eyes
"Hey, kid. I'm gonna need your help. Be prepared"
Verdea's body instantly trembled, until she immediately gymnastics in place to refresh herself and match the spirit of the two of them
"All right! We will not lose! Let's go find a shovel!"
"Good spirit!"
Haha! I love their reaction!
The two of them immediately ran away leaving us to look for the shovel, while I just shook my head in the company of Ordelia who was smiling looking at them
"Your friend is so sweet" Ordelia praised him as she smiled
"That little devil you said was sweet?" I answered briefly, until she laughed a little at me
"alright. Let's do our job. I'm sure you won't lose either"
I'm nodding. But just as I was about to work on it, Ivor, Lyralia and Luxor came to face me
I smelled an unpleasant scent from this, and my guess was correct
"How do I cook with this?" Ivor asked while showing a teapot for some reason
"What should we use to clean this place?" Luxor added to the question
"Is there a clean bucket??" And Lyralia overrides with another question
...
Finish my history. I will lose to Luna before I finish taking care of these three people...
......................
a few hours later ---
"Haha!"
I laughed with satisfaction at our finished work. But my heavy breathing doesn't let me laugh for too long
Shit...! I ran around here and there... Because these three people must be taught many things...
We were really close to losing because I had to leave. But I managed to make this place clean with no traces of leaves or dried plants. We buried it all underground, as soon as possible
Although most of my time was confiscated by those 3 people, in the end Ordelia and I still won
We clapped our hands with each other while watching Verdea and Luna lying on the ground with gasps
I was lying on the ground because my body was getting tired
"You guys... Lucky..."
"Vaina... I'm tired..."
"You think... I-i didn't... Tired?"
Thank you Ordelia, but next time please be more helpful in controlling the trees...
"But why did you make your friend come to work? He's a kid, isn't he?" Ordelia squatted near me
Verdea who raised her limp hands into the air spoke
"I... Agree..."
"No. The man must be willing to work" I replied steadily
"I agree with you, Vainzel..." Connect Luna
He tried to find a comfortable sitting position. Then he continued his words
"Working hard like this is a man's pride...!"
"But... You girls... Isn't...?"
"I'm still a fighter. Accepting the challenge and winning it is also included in that"
He clasped his hands tightly while revealing a face of annoyance at his defeat
"Unfortunately I won no more..."
"Haha! Ye... It won't... Could win...!"
She looked at me after I had just heated it up
The sound of something being knocked on then rang out from behind us, making our squeezing attention gush towards him
Ivor stood at the entrance beating an iron tray many times with a spoon
"Food ready!" He shouted, before then returning inside without waiting
"Hm... Come on, let's eat first"
I woke up followed by Luna and Ordelia. Verdea, who is still lying, seems to want to protest because of this
Looks like something has crossed his mind
"I don't want to"
"It can't be. You must be hungry by now"
He was silent and pouting. But, he then got up and the four of us walked together into the palace
I warned them one more thing before we entered the palace
"We need to clean up first"
"Good, good" Verdea responded
"I hate to take a shower..." Luna's Response
......................
"Well...!"
Verdea gaped over the dining table filled with plenty of food. And to add to the effect, everything on this table looks delicious
Most of these foods are actually vegetables, but all the aroma they emit is evocative
"Vainzel said that you like the food, so I went to buy it before cooking" Ivor said, pointing to Verdea's favorite chicken
You went to buy it that fast? A trip to the nearest market takes a few hours to go back and forth, and you do it all at once to finish all of this cooking?
He then picked up a chair on the right side of the dining table and sat down quietly
Verdea thoughtlessly immediately took a seat at the end of the table and prepared to eat
My other friends also sat down to follow them and started filling each other's plates
Meanwhile, I was busy filling Verdea's plate with some food on the table. His face showed a disgusted face when I put the potatoes on his plate
I then put down the plate and sat down to eat the food as well
We were all busy with our plates at the time. The sound of chewing and eating utensils was heard clearly because no one spoke at all
But, Verdea still looked at his plate without taste
Verdea then pulled the shirt of Ivor sitting nearby until Ivor paid attention to him
He then slowly filled Ivor's plate with potatoes from his plate without further permission
The potatoes on his plate ran out and he started eating the chicken thighs on his plate voraciously
"Why? You don't like potatoes?" Ask Ivor
Verdea shook her head as she continued to chew, a sign that she did not like it
"Well... You're this. You know, potatoes are one of the most important foods in the world"
We all stared at Ivor while trying to hold back a laugh
"Say people don't like to eat potatoes first" said Lyralia
We all laughed at Ivor. Verdea, who did not dare to raise her head, now looked at her surroundings filled with various forms of laughter
"Hey! That first!" Ivor said as he charged Lyralia with a fork in his hand
"I remember he used to cry because he was upset every time he was given potatoes" Luxor said
"Ivor was a whiny first, huh?"
Ordelia continued to chuckle after saying so
"WHY ARE YOU HUMILIATING ME, HUH!!??"
"Because you're easily humiliated"
"LUNA!?"
"Give up Ivor. Even the wise Luna agreed"
Ivor then looked at me with a furious rage
"So she used to be?"
All eyes immediately stared at Verdea who was asking the question
"really. He even said that he better eat grass" answered Ordelia
Verdea tried to hold her laughter out, while we continued to laugh at Ivor who was increasingly visibly upset
"When your words were so wise" Verdea apparently denounced Ivor
"Call right!?" Luxor made his laughter harder
Ivor's face was like he wanted to explode so red. He finally reached the limit and finally said
"I don't need a reproach from people who often wet the bed until now"
"Huh!?"
"Luxor's still wetting up till now?" I interrupted and tried to make the atmosphere hotter
Luxor's face turned red and he then tried to fight back Ivor's words
"A-i-"
"Male bedwetters~!!" Ejek Ivor
All of us who were watching them only showed expressions of amazement and half-laugh
"D-hush you, you crybaby!"
"It's better to tear through your eyes than pants if you know!"
"Yep. And things are getting hotter..."
I tried to be a commentator on their argument, but they turned their eyes to me with a face full of annoyance
"Sit's quiet you attention-seeking!"
Okay-okay! Now I'm the target
"You haven't changed at all Vainzel!!"
"Hey, come. Is this a session of bringing up an embarrassing past or something?"
"I can bring up the embarrassing thing you-"
"OK! Stop right there Ivor!"
Don't you dare
"Huh!? Then what do you want if I don't want to!?"
"Hey! Your business with me is not finished!"
"Shut up, bedwetter!"
While we clashed and made a scene, Verdea asked Luna to tell her about the embarrassing thing I did
Luna whispered softly
"She was often spoiled by her parents like a daughter
She was even dressed up as a princess compared to a prince at an event. You'll laugh with her makeup at the time"
"LUNA!! I HEARD YOU!"
Luna flinched, while Verdea laughed out loud hearing him
"Then I will also reveal your secret!"
"Vain-"
"You cry when you hang upside down in a tree until you can't go down"
Everyone was silent because it didn't sound funny
But, Luna directly planted her face on the table for holding back the embarrassment
'When the story is the least embarrassing' thought everyone who knows
But to Luna, when she cried that time completely tarnished her image as a formidable warrior. Not to mention he was one of the oldest in our group
That was why he always lamented when it was warned by someone
Meanwhile, Ordelia and Lyralia sat down casually while continuing their meal. They realize there is no shameful story that someone can break from themselves
Verdea kept laughing following us who were laughing at each other
"You all sound stupid..." He commented later
"Hey boy! I'll-!"
"What's? You don't know my embarrassing story at all"
Verdea stuck out her tongue at Ivor, even impressing Luxor
"This child is quite exciting also for friends to do mischief!" Luxor laughed out loud
The atmosphere was very noisy, as Ivor continued to try to provoke other emotions and Luxor continued to laugh until his tears came out. It's not every day that I listen to this kind of atmosphere, so I can get a bit of comfort between these riots
...
It feels good now, hanging out with my friends...
"By the way we don't know your name yet" Luxor asked later
Ah, true. Verdea had not asked their names at all since then either
He seemed embarrassed and agitated when meeting new people. I also did not realize it fromitadi
"Name Verdea. I'm Vainzel" I answered
"Your name doesn't matter" Luxor replied to my answer, laughing in between
"I Luxor. Nice to meet you"
"I'm Lyralia. Not happy to meet you"
"Lyralian..." I said slowly
He simply rolled his eyeballs and refocused his eating with a smile on his lips
"... Ivor"
"Be careful if it's nearby. He's like a boar"
"DON'T CONFUSE ME WITH PIGS, LUXOR!!"
Ordelia who wanted to introduce herself next took the time to chuckle
"I'm next. I'm Ordelia..."
"We've met before, but I'll repeat. My name is Luna"
"And that way, you already know all their names, son"
"Your names are all cool!" Verdea cried with enthusiasm
We all fell silent. Ivor then coughed once and said
"Your name is cool too..."
Ah, she still couldn't stand being praised...
"Already, already. Just continue eating you guys"
"It wouldn't be fun not to talk, Vain"
"I agree with you, son!"
"Don't teach him bad habits, Luxor"
"Well! It's like you've never had a bad habit"
"Hey!"
In the end I kept fighting with everyone there while Verdea watched and followed our fight
When I occasionally look at her, I see her cheerful face. A cheerful face that I could not describe her brightness at all
We kept joking around until the meal was over
In fact, after that he continued to interact with the Elves cheerfully until sunset
......................
After night came, he said good night to them and vice versa. I then drove him back to his bedroom
She was lying on her bed with her eyes dimming, but before she went to sleep, she asked me to speak for a while
"Your friends are fun"
Hm...
"If you knew what it's like to compete with them, you wouldn't say that"
"Hehe! But I wonder why your long ears can move while we humans can't"
"You could say that's the hallmark of our people"
"You are also very different from the Elves told in the book"
"That's because we're one of the higher-ups of each race. So our size is bigger than the other Elves"
"Hm..."
Actually not really. We are much bigger than the other Elves because of our abundant amount of Mana. Some Elves who were not higher-ups were too, but it was extremely rare
He put his blanket up on his face
"I feel so happy today"
I sat down beside him
I know exactly what he meant by that
"I can feel free, my interactions are also more than ever, the food on my dining table is never one more kind...
And also, I can laugh with many people..."
"..."
"... Unfortunately, it only lasted for a month"
"..."
I don't have any comment on his words. His words made me think what my friends would think when they heard his words
If they could change their minds and stay longer, I'm sure Verdea would be happier...
...
"All right, you just sleep. You have to get up early tomorrow"
"... There's no point in me getting up early. I just don't want to sleep and want to be with you all"
Veri...
"Vaina... You're not going, are you?"
Uh-h?
...
...
...
"... We'll see"
To be honest... I also hesitated about leaving. Especially when you ask as if you are asking this world for the first time...
...
He closed his eyes and fell asleep soundly after hearing my answer. A sweet smile implied on her face, as if she felt a happiness that she would never be able to obtain more than once
...
I'm not sure if I'll leave it or not later. It made me very worried especially when remembering her cheerful face earlier
I'm a bad guy. I cannot give him absolute certainty. I only gave him false hope and temporary happiness
...
Huh... I hate this...
I just wish I could find a way out of this mind that's weighing on me
I said good night to the sleeping Verdea and slowly stepped out of her room, closing the day with thoughts that will always burden me
