Vol. 2 CH. 2 – Caladium

Caladium, in a word, it's beautiful. From the tall fruit bearing trees to the colorful flower fields spread across the land, everything was just breathtaking. The air is fresh and scent of flowers mixing in the breeze makes one want to lie down and rest.

Once the airship landed the first thing I saw were amazingly beautiful people. Almost all of the residents were elves but despite living in a forest, they look all flawless. Elfianna was one thing and the elves in the airship were good looking too but... are all elves this effortlessly gorgeous? I'm jealous; give me some of that beauty to damn it...

From what I've learned while talking to the annoying Koizumi is that elves were well-known in this world as "Near-Divine beings" it seems that because of their long lives and amazingly attractive features that they were related to holy beings. I don't really get how that works but Koizumi said that elves were just looked upon like that.

Seriously, that guy knows too well about this world. Was he once a part of this world? Nah that reincarnation stuff are just for Egyptians, like old pharaohs buried in tombs underneath the sands of Egypt believing in the afterlife.

Moving on; once we landed, Elfianna lead all of us heroes to the house of Caladium's governor or something. The name of elves bites the tongue when you say it so I don't remember the name. Anyways, Elfianna rode on a fancy carriage while we heroes rode on horses.

The knights followed behind us on foot. Since they wore leather armors, their pace were almost the same as ours. That's really impressive; I think that I need to know what kind of training they go through everyday so that I can make my army run through them as well.

Hmm? Spartan like? I don't care what you guys think but those guys just shouldn't rely on the weapons and weapon I've given them.

"Hey... I've been getting the feeling that I'm not welcome in this place"

"Why do you say that?"

Koizumi you bastard... This guy is seriously not seeing the fact that I'm being glared at here? I'm already seeing for myself but the people of this world do hate the color black huh? The "Demon-Spawn" bit has already worn off from my own brain since I've spent too much time in Ambrosia. That place was the center of the black color community. Because of that I didn't thought too much of how I look like on the outside.

Now that I've left that place, I guess all people of this world does hate people like me. The elven town folks have been glaring at me every time I pass through a crowded street. Although the entire town is being encircled by a large forest, it's a place that looks normally like a town.

The common troupe of "Elves lives in trees" seems to be just a baseless rumor.

"Are your eyes rotten? Look, I've been receiving these glares ever since we left the ship. It's funny that neither you nor the two up front doesn't even noticed it"

"Ah... Now that you've mentioned it..."

Koizumi looked around. This guy liked to be considerate considering that he has a terrible gambling habit. I always thought that gamblers are really selfish and self-centered but it looks like Koizumi is different. Well, I still don't trust him though. There are still parts of those guys that I don't get but I guess I can stay quiet in peace behind these guys.

Sairenji is a muscle for brains and Todoroki is well... she still reeks of suspiciousness. Back then the face she always would put on was like a cunning fox that even I can see it but now, I can't even tell what she is thinking. Her relationship with Lucinda and Aizawa makes me feel that her feelings are genuine when it comes to them but...

How do I say this...? I just can't trust her yet. For now, I guess I'll stay quiet. But at any rate, being hated in this world for having the color black on my body really just annoys me. I mean....... Just quit staring damn it!!

-

As we reached our destination, the carriage that Elfianna and Durif rode had stopped. The knights that were behind us four had dismounted their horses and followed Elfianna's lead. Durif had the knights' rest in a part of the mansion's annex building.

Right, the place where we arrived at was a mansion. A western style mansion that looked like only Hollywood celebrities would live. Just how much does this race called "Elves" want to embellish the term "Beauty"?

There was a fountain a few steps outside the front door, a garden filled with colorful flowers at the back and fence full of thorns with red roses growing on it covers the entirety of the whole mansion. Todoroki admired the beautiful flowers while Sairenji and Koizumi went and followed Elfianna.

As for me, two elf guards were pointing their swords at me cautiously.

"Hey, the girl over there admiring flowers, mind telling these guys that I'm with you guys?"

"Why don't you? I mean, you have that mouth right? Tell them yourself"

This little...!! I thought at first that Todoroki had changed but looks like she hasn't!! Well, she isn't hiding behind her cute-girl act but her stuck up personality is still there!!

Having myself got riled up for something so unimportant, I sighed and calmed my heart down. Todoroki entered the mansion before me without even saying anything. Ah, she just turned around and stuck her tongue out at me huh? That brat, I'll make her pay for this later.

For now, I faced the two guards that were blocking my path.

"As you two just saw, I'm with that brat. Mind letting me in already?"

When I said that haughtily the swords got even nearer my neck; it looks like these guys doesn't' get what I'm saying huh? Is the skill working? I'm getting annoyed by this. I've already had enough of being hated for today.

"Move"

I put pressure out as I said that. Visibly, the guards were shaken. I added and had my body leak out thick magic power. Compared to before, my magic power rose exponentially. Fighting and killing the 9th Demon Lord gave me tons of experience points, making me level up a few tens of levels high.

I continued to intimidate the two guards until I saw their complexions drop in color. How nice, they're afraid of me now. I want to keep this up but...

"That's enough of you terrorizing my kind, Black hero"

I felt something pointy near the back of my head...

"You two, this person, unfortunately is her majesty's guest. Put down your swords at once"

"But..."

"He is... a Demon-Spawn right?"

The two guards meekly answered. These guys... they do talk huh? I thought that they were mute but I guess I was wrong. Moreover, the person behind me is quite rude huh? To keep pointing her sword at me despite knowing that I'm Elfianna's guest, her attitude really makes me tick.

I calmed myself down and let off the intimidation. The swords around neck decreases to one as the two guards returned their swords back to their sheaths. I then turned my sight over my shoulder and thanked the person that helped me.

"Thanks for vouching for me"

"I do not need the gratitude of a man that bares that cursed color. I merely did that in order to not displease the Queen"

I saw another elf woman; moreover, it was the elf knight that was glaring at me when I boarded the airship. Long blonde hair, long ears, emerald green eyes and a head shorter than me; she was an elf that elf that wore a plated armor over her torso and a skirt on her lower-half. Looks really unbalance but the elf Knight was standing upright.

The elf knight then pressed the tip of her sword on my cheek.

"Don't you dare look at me with those disgusting perverted eyes or I shall be the one that will gouge them out"

"Haaah... really now"

I guess I shouldn't expect a good reply from her. Bearing the color of "Black" in this world gets you this much of scorn, if not intensely. Although I've already felt this much hated from before, this woman's hate is just intense.

To that, I shrugged my shoulders and entered the mansion. The elf knight followed behind and entered as well.

"You're Majesty; it is a great honor to have you in my home"

The town's head, Pernicious Caladium, welcomed the Elf Queen Elfianna, with his head bowed. A man that has the natural color of elves wore a tunic like robe. Pernicious was graceful man, although his face seemed smooth and without a flaw, Elfianna had seen his entire guise in one glance.

"Your play of words is still pretty good it seems? How long has it been since we last men, Pern?"

"Humph, looks like you are the same as ever my cousin. Always the one who ruins the fun..."

Pernicious raised his face and smiled widely at Elfianna. The two who were cousins from their mother's side had a bit of playfulness hidden behind their masks. They would sometimes play as mages and knights and sometimes as Queens and Kings with their other relatives. However, as time passed, their family slowly grew apart and after a few years, Elfianna and Pernicious would sometimes get together as a sort of family reunion.

Queen Elfianna had softened her stiff shoulders as she smiled kindly at the cousin that has still remained the same as before.

"It is good to see you El"

"You two Pern"

The exchanged a few short hugs before separating. Finally, Elfianna introduced the heroes to the Elf town head of Caladium.

"These are the heroes that came together with me on this trip"

"Ah... three of the great 17 heroes hmm... I must say that they are quite young"

From the right to the left there stood Koizumi, Katsuto and Minami. The three all wore bright smiling faces as they greet a relative of Queen Elfianna. Furthermore, the handsome elf caught the attention of the short heighted Minami Todoroki. Her eyes suddenly turned heart shaped as she caught a glimpse of her ideal man.

"Hayato Koizumi, it is a pleasure to meet you"

"Katsuto Sairenji pleased to meet your acquaintance!!"

"Mi-Minami Todoroki!! I-It's nice to m-meet you!!"

Minami became flustered. Her cheeks turned rosy red and her eyes swimming around as though searching for more to say. Katsuto and Koizumi had turned their gaze at the small girl acting suspiciously in front of Pernicious. Katsuto looked like he didn't understand as to why Minami was acting like that since he merely tilted his head as though saying "What's up now?" with a clueless face.

Koizumi on the other hand immediately understood Minami's reaction. A playful grin surfaced on his face as he switched his gaze from Minami to Pernicious.

"Pernicious-sama, it seems that my friend here looked like she had caught something along the way. Won't you mind checking if she caught a cold?"

With a snap Minami had returned to reality. The words that Koizumi had uttered caused Minami's cheeks to redden even more, making her feel more embarrassed as it is. Elfianna chuckled at the cute side of Minami while Pernicious just stood there smiling as though adoring his grandchild.

Then, as though playing along with Koizumi's mischievousness Pernicious held up his right hand and placed it over Minami's forehead.

"Hmm~ it does not seem serious. Why don't you sit down and rest for now?"

"Hwawawawawawa....!!?"

Minami's words became incomprehensible as she lost track of what was happening. Her head was indeed spinning and her heart was throbbing nonstop like crazy. Sweat began to gather on her skin as Minami stood frozen stiff in front of Pernicious. However, the heavy sound of the door pushed open caused her to wake up.

*BAM!!* The entrance door flew back and behind it was a female Elf knight. Behind her was Kyoushiro, with his usual knitted-brow faced, annoyed looking expression.

"You're Majesty, Sir. Lord, we are sorry for the delay. The Black hero has obstructed from entering the mansion so I had to vouch for his identity first"

"You little... Don't say it as if it's my fault that those guys didn't let me in. They were too discriminate!!"

".........."

"Ignoring me again huh?!"

The female Elf knight ignored Kyoushiro's snarl and continued to walk to Elfianna's side. She bent her knees and lowered her head as she apologized for being late. Elfianna sighed and gave the Female elf knight a pat to her shoulder before ordering her to stand.

"It is fine you did a good job leading Kagami-dono here"

"Your words are wasted upon me"

As the Queen and Knight finished their side, it was Pernicious's to be stunned. In front of him was a Demon-Span. A member of the cursed color of the Demon God Avfritzed; Pernicious's shade turned from white to red as he lost control over his emotions. His hand automatically showed a flash of light then produced a bright hot flame and shot it towards Kyoushiro.

Before Elfianna or the heroes could react, the flame reached Kyoushiro. *FWOOOM!!* The fire engulfed Kyoushiro's body instantly.

"El!! Why have you leaded a spawn of the Demon God here?! Have you lost your mind!?"

"E-Eh?! K-Kagami-dono!!?"

Burning behind the five visitors was a young man burning in flame due to Pernicious's attack. Elfianna ignored Pernicious's enraged shout and immediately rushed to Kyoushiro's aid. Koizumi, Katsuto and Minami were at lost before snapping back to reality. Their heads were then shifted to the burning smell behind them and saw someone there, covered in fire.

However.....

"Slaps before a hand shake? Are the people of this world really that rude?"

The bright red flames disappeared with a *poof* comic like sound. The person who received such welcome wasn't hurt. Neither his hair nor clothes his clothes were burned from the attack. In fact, the angry glare was the proof that he was alive.

"You bastard, should I peel off your skin and make you eat it? That wasn't even a bit less amusing"

But the part where he was joking like it was a minute ago was not.

-

I was nearly burned to a crisp. No, I was going to burn like one if I hadn't worn my fire resistant coat. Made from a lava lizard skin, the coat prevents me from receiving any damage to fire related attack. Although the function of the coat was just to reduce the damage from a fire attack, I enchanted it to the point that I won't even feel the heat against a fire attack.

My hair got a bit singed though. The bastard that just attacked me was standing right behind Elfianna.

"You bastard, should I peel off your skin and make you eat it? That wasn't even a bit less amusing"

I glared at the long haired elf standing right behind Elfianna. The sight of a guy so perfectly handsome somehow makes my blood boil; even more so when they hide behind a woman. They are a detestable bunch.

"Damn spawn of the God of Demons, I shall kill you where you stand!!"

Saying so with an angry face, the long haired elf began to chant. Elfianna rushed in between me and him in order to stop a fight from happening. Koizumi, Sairenji and Minami all held back the long haired elf while making sure that he didn't get injured.

Koizumi held the long haired elf's right shoulder while Sairenji was on the other. Minami was guarding Elfianna in case of an attack getting out from the long haired elf and the female elf knight stood in front of me with her sword's pointed right at my throat.

A feeling of heat crawled on my skin; an unbearable itch was making me really uncomfortable. Unconsciously, I infused magic power into my body using skill. A shroud of thin pale blue mist began to cover me.

"Get out of my way you lot. I'm going to make this guy kneel in front of me"

"K-Kagami-dono!! Please calm down!! You too Pernicious!! You are way too rude to my guest!!"

Elfianna stood there, trying to calm both me and the guy named Pernicious. Koizumi seemed to be whispering something to Pernicious as I saw the long haired rude elf glancing back and forth from me to Koizumi. Sairenji was glaring at my way, flapping his mouth like he was saying something.

"This guy is the lord of the town so calm down you idiot" was what he was saying to me. That little muscle-brain, how dare he call me an "idiot"?! Doesn't he know that he is more of an idiot than me for acting like a jealous kid when he saw me and Arianne together? Should I beat his ass in front of everyone here?

Seeing as there was no attack coming, I released my skill and returned to normal. Elfianna noticed the change behind her back and breath out a sigh of relief. The female elf knight though was still holding her sword against me.

"Calm the hell down pointy ears. I am not going to attack anymore"

"I will not believe the words coming from the spawn of the Demon God"

The female elf knight continued to glare. I sighed and ignored for a moment. Looking over the hot headed elf's shoulder, I can see that Pernicious had already calmed down but he was still looking quite wary whenever he looks at me. Koizumi and the other two had already settled down and lent Elfianna a chair to sit on. It seems that Elfianna's tension got eased up just now.

"My sincerest apologies, I have done something rude to you Hero-dono. If there is something you ever need from me, please tell me"

Once the whole scuffle had been resolved Pernicious offered his head on the table as he apologized.

A few moments ago, Elfianna told Pernicious about Kyoushiro and why he was accompanying her in her trip back to Paracelumn. From how the 8 royal Council had decided to make a choice of whether saving Ambrosia from the attack of the 9th Demon Lord to the time when Kyoushiro arrived and killed the Demon Lord.

Elfianna did not spare any bits of information and told everything to Pernicious all about Kyoushiro Kagami and his struggles up until now.

Of course, Pernicious did not believe it at first. But when the three heroes, Koizumi, Katsuto and Minami, gave their each share of information, Pernicious could not help but give up. He then lowered his head and apologized sincerely to Kyoushiro.

On the other hand, the person who received the brunt of the literal warm welcome, Kyoushiro, was sitting across the table with his arms crossed and his eyebrows knitted together.

"Please accept my sincere apology"

"Tsk, just forget about it. I don't care about that anymore so let's just get down to business"

Kyoushiro clicked his tongue as he asked the topic to proceed. Pernicious seemed to have taken that as a rude action and showed an irritated expression. However, seeing as Elfianna was looking at him with a gaze that says "Play nice now" while wearing a kind smile. A trickle of sweat dripped across Pernicious's cheeks as he played ignorant of Elfianna's gaze.

The topic at hand was about the letter Elfianna had received from her niece Lydia, which also meant that Lydia was Pernicious's concern as well. The letter was passed by Elfianna herself as she took it out from her sleeve or somewhere she could store anything inside her dress. As she did so, Pernicious took the letter in his hands and read its contents.

The moment he saw the words "Help me!!" in red ink caused Pernicious's calm eyes to enter a dark troubling glare.

"Since when did you receive this letter?"

"Just yesterday... It was sent by wind spirit"