"Forgive me for using such a rude method, Riku-sama. However, I have to do this for the sake of someone's request," said Tia who was still wearing a gentle smile.
Hearing that, I furrowed my brows and hurriedly took out a potion that could remove any bad status— [Vacinne], in my [Inventory].
But—
"I won't let you, Riku-sama. Please, sleep peacefully," said Tia.
At that moment, a tree root appeared from the arm of my chair and like a living creature moving, it bound me.
"Khh!"
Shit, I can't move.
My body has also reached its limit, if it looks like this continues, I will really fall asleep.
"Uuh..."
Realizing that it was useless to fight back, I slowly started to close my eyes, while still glaring at Tia who was in front of me sharply.
I can no longer bear the effects of the drink.
"W... hy?" I asked in a low voice.
"Please don't think badly, Riku-sama. I'm doing this for you," Tia replied, but I couldn't hear it anymore, because the effect of the tea had put me to sleep.
"...."
Seeing that I had finally fallen asleep, Tia let out a heavy sigh and she immediately walked over to me, trying to lift my body up.
At that very moment—
"I will help you."
"Alicia-sama?"
Alicia who didn't fall asleep at all despite drinking the same tea, immediately stood up and offered to help Tia.
There was absolutely no tension in her, which made Tia's eyebrows raise.
"As expected of a goddess, even this powerful drug still can't put you to sleep, I'm amazed," she said.
"Well, I'm a goddess after all, any bad effects won't affect me," Alicia replied, answering Tia's confusion.
Hearing that, Tia was even more amazed by Alicia.
Then, while lowering her face full of respect, she said politely.
However, when it comes to age. Most likely Alicia was much older than the Elf village head who had lived for hundreds of years or even thousands of years, so it was only natural that she should show some courtesy.
"Thank you for your offer, Alicia-sama. But, didn't you ask about what I want to do?"
"No," Alicia answered spontaneously, making Tia surprised again. Before she could ask the reason, Alicia came up to me who was sleeping and stroked my hair.
She smiled faintly. "I understand how you feel. This kid can be stubborn sometimes, if it wasn't like this, he would never want to rest."
"Fufu, I really can't beat you, Alicia-sama," said Tia sincerely.
After saying that, the two of them started to carry my body to the bed, and laid me down gently on the comfortable bed, but—
"Uuh..."
"A-Are you alright, Alicia-sama?"
"Sorry, I think it's still too early for me to be able to carry this heavy burden," said Alicia, who even just one second she hugged me on her shoulder.
"I-Is that so? Please don't push yourself, Alicia-sama. I will do this task, you can help me to prepare the bed."
Alicia could only nod as she was pitied by the little girl and languidly walked over to prepare my bed.
She really couldn't be relied on when it came to manpower, how could she confidently offer help when she couldn't do anything else?
In the end, it was Tia who carried my body and laid me on a soft bed.
After that, there, sitting next to me, she looked at me with warm eyes, stroked my hair and smiled sweetly.
"You really are a careless child. Please don't make this old woman worry too much about you, Hero-sama," she said.
Then, the girl stood up again and started to walk away from the room.
"Alright, I still have other work to do. Excuse me, but can I leave the rest to you, Alicia-sama?"
"Well, leave it to me. I'll take care of it," Alicia answered confidently.
Tia lowered her head for a moment and then left the place.
"...."
Now, only me and Alicia are left who are guarding me in that place.
When she confirmed that there was no one else in the place besides us. She looked at my sleeping face, poked hers finger in my cheek and smiled mischievously as if she was teasing me.
"Geez, you shouldn't make a goddess this worried. I'll definitely make you pay for everything when you wake up."
"...." I didn't answer.
Then, still staring at me sleeping, Alicia started laying her head on my bed and fell asleep next to me while holding my hand very tightly.
It feels very warm.
"You have to pay dearly for this you know? Just watch out later," Alicia muttered with a faint smile.
After that, she also fell asleep there accompanying me.
***************
On the other hand, when I was asleep, at this time Elvy and Mila were in hers room, which was also just the two of them.
"Oh my, you've become even cuter since your appearance changed, please marry Onee-chan and be with Onee-chan forever!"
"Mi-Mila-san please stop that, isn't there something Mila-san wanted to say that's why you called me here so late? Why did it turn out like this?" Elvy complained when Mila began to hug and caress her like a pet cat.
"Ara ara, you don't need to be so cold El-chan. Please allow Onee-chan to do this in a little while! When Onee-chan saw you cut off, Onee-chan was really scared you know? Also, call 'Onee-chan', okay?"
"Ugh, Mila-san, that's cheating. If it's like that, I can't refuse." Elvy grunted.
She has a weak character when someone asks her for help. Mila knows that and takes advantage of her nature to spoil Elvy until she is completely satisfied, even though Elvy looks reluctant, she still can't refuse Mila's request.
"Oh my, you are really so cute! Please let Onee-chan marry you!" Mila said continuously while hugging Elvy.
Hearing that, Elvy laughed dryly and could only helplessly let her do whatever she wanted until she was satisfied.
By the way, now she no longer had the horns, claws, and wings she had before when she was fighting Rodan. Elvy had disappeared, she could transform herself into both dragon and normal forms freely, so Mila had no problem as she continued to hug Elvy tightly.
Then, several minutes had passed since Mila kept playing with Elvy. Finally, the woman took some distance from Elvy and grunted in satisfaction.
"Okay, Onee-chan is satisfied! Let's get into the important talk!" Mila said with a really fresh smile.
"Hah, hah, hah… Thank goodness…."
Meanwhile, Elvy was currently holding her breath, panting because she was tired of being toyed with by Mila. Hers pale face looked so relieved when Mila finally stopped hugging her.
She also took distance from Mila, where at this time the two of them were sitting next to each other on the bed, but Mila was even closer to her when she intended to move away a little.
Elvy looked at Mila with a tired face.
"Um, Mila-san?" she asked.
"What is it?" answered Mila asking back, with a wide smile that was a little scary, Elvy's mouth complained, but in the end she sighed in resignation and ignored it.
Elvy decided to enter into the conversation, because she didn't want to prolong the problem anymore.
"So what did Mila-san want to talk to me about?" asked Elvy who still hadn't been told about Mila's intentions and purpose for calling her here since she arrived here, because at that time Mila immediately pounced on her like a wild animal.
She had only been told that it was something important, so she was forced to come here even though she knew that she would be made fun of.
"Yeah, that's true. This is a very important talk, and it's also related to El-chan," Mila replied with a happy face as she sat next to Elvy with their bodies touching.
"I...?" exclaimed Elvy tilting her head cutely and seriously confused, she was so sweet that she almost made Mila's lust go out of control again.
However, she managed to endure it and looked straight at Elvy with a serious face that she rarely showed.
This was the first time Elvy saw Mila this serious, she was quite surprised and it also made her feel nervous because suddenly the atmosphere turned tense.
That reflex made her hold hers breath.
"Listen, Elvy. I'm actually still unsure about this, but…" Before Mila could continue her words, she closed her eyes for a moment, and continued speaking in a clear voice. "…There is a possibility, your brother— Elvin is still alive."
....
"… Huh?"
....
Hearing that, Elvy's expression immediately froze, her eyes opened wide in disbelief.
"Nii-san…, still alive?" she said who still couldn't accept the information in his brain, and made her wonder whether it was true or not.
In response, Mila nodded. "Elvy, do you still remember the arrow stuck in the dragon's eye before?" she asked, without Elvy realizing she had stopped calling her by his nickname anymore, proving that she was really serious now.
Elvy gasped. "O-Of course, it really was an extremely accurate shot, and thanks to that too, I was able to win," she replied thinking back to when she fought the dragon Rodan.
At that time, when Rodan was intending to exhale his fire breath, the arrow made his concentration disappear and his fire breath stopped. Thanks to that, Elvy was able to survive and win the battle.
But, she thought—
"I think it was help from Riku-san who told Regim-san to shoot his arrows at the dragon's eyes," she said, still looking in disbelief.
Mila shook her head and denied the opinion.
"Indeed, with that man's [True Bow] magic weapon, he can shoot without the need to consider which direction to shoot in order to hit the target, since his magic weapon can turn where he wants. But, even with his magic weapon, he is still unable to reach the dragon.".
"Eh, so who shot him?" asked Mila who became more confused.
At that time, Mila shrugged her shoulders casually and answered without hesitation.
"Who else if not that person who earned the nickname of the strongest archer in this village, [Hand of the Huntsman God], Elgia Elvin Cromwell, your own elder brother."
"…."
Hearing that, Elvy was silent for a moment. Hers eyes widened in shock with disbelief.
But, after that, she lowered her face, her shoulders shaking, and then, her tears started trickling down her face.
"I see… So, Nii-san is still alive," she said with a thin, happy smile.
After that, she started crying sobbing while hugging Mila very tightly.