Elsa excitedly explained what they were going to eat, listing all the foods she was used to.
Rain quickly realized that all the dishes sounded like fantasy versions of meats and vegetables. None of the foods matched anything from Earth, but he figured, 'As long as the elves like it, I'll like it too.'
"Sure! I'll eat with you. Where will we eat? In the kitchen? Will you or your mom cook?" Rain asked, eager to explore the tree home filled with glowing runes.
"No, we'll eat in the village! We're having a big feast because Hero-Sama has finally arrived!" Elsa said with glee, her excitement almost infectious as she described how the village would celebrate the hero's arrival.
"Wow, that sounds grand! The hero must be strong and great!" Rain said, picturing a mighty elf clad in majestic armor with a long, elegant sword at his side. "You're really rolling out the red carpet for him."
"Yes, yes!" Elsa nodded enthusiastically. "Hero-Sama is personally welcomed by our Elf Queen! My grandfather, the chief, told me to give the hero a grand welcome!"
Rain smiled but silently wondered, 'So this hero is some kind of noble, huh?'
"Alright, let's head to the village! I hope the villagers will welcome me even though I'm not from here," Rain said with a slight chuckle.
Elsa grabbed Rain's hand, dragging him along with excitement. "Let's go, let's go!"
"W-wait! Don't pull me so hard! I might trip!" Rain laughed as he stumbled forward, matching Elsa's energetic pace.
Although Rain had initially planned to level up in the rocky mountains, he hadn't expected the elf village to offer so many benefits. He had already learned to speak the Cyrel language, the most common tongue among humans and demi-humans. He had also secured someone who could teach him rune magic. And now, it seemed he had gained a friend in Elsa.
As they neared the village, Rain noticed something odd. The elves lived in treehouses, and as they waved to him, he realized that he was significantly shorter than most of them. Even Elsa, as a girl, was as tall as him! He chuckled to himself. 'Right, my transformation into an elf only changed my appearance, not my height.'
Rain had a plan, though. Every week, he would add a centimeter to his height using his Body Reconstruction – Rank EX skill until he reached two meters. At the moment, he was only 175 cm, average by human standards, but short for an elf.
"Hello, neighbors! This is Hero-Sama, his name is Rain!" Elsa called out to the villagers, raising their hands together as they entered the bustling village.
A pleasant Ding! rang out in Rain's mind as a notification popped up:
[ ● You received a new Title – Hero-Sama: +10% all stats ]
Rain blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected to receive such a title. At most, he thought he would be introduced as Elsa's mom's new assistant.
"W-wait, I'm Hero-Sama? I thought the hero was supposed to be welcomed by your Elf Goddess. I didn't receive anything from her," he said, confused.
Suddenly, a new notification appeared:
[ ● Rain 'Hero-Sama' is welcomed by Gaia 'The Aspect of The World Tree' ]
[ ● Gaia 'The Aspect of The World Tree' gave you a skill "Global Translation - Rank EX: you can understand all languages in this world, you can translate your speech to any form of language." ]
Rain stood in stunned silence. 'I just got a 10% buff and global translation? I almost missed all of this if Elsa hadn't found me near that river,' he thought, feeling relieved.
"I guess I'm your Hero-Sama then. I've just received a welcome from your Elf Goddess, Gaia," Rain said with a grin, accepting his newfound role.
One of the elf girls nearby called out, "Hero-Sama! Elsa-Chan! The feast is ready in front of the chief's house!"
As Rain and Elsa approached the feast, he was greeted by a lively atmosphere. Many elves were dancing and singing while others used magic to entertain the crowd. In the center, a large pig-like creature roasted over an open fire, its massive tusks curling under its chin. The sight of such a strange beast only added to the magical feel of the place.
Rain also noticed giant grapes the size of apples and pumpkins that resembled oranges. Despite the unusual appearance of the food, Rain felt reassured. 'At least the food doesn't look too strange.'
The elf chief stood up, casting a spell that enveloped Rain in glowing winds. "Let us officially celebrate the arrival of Hero-Sama!" the chief announced. "Start the feast!"
Rain joined the cheers of the elves around him. He was ready to dive into the food and celebration when he realized something. 'Wait... where's Elsa? Is she over there dancing? Or maybe handing out fruits?'
He looked around but quickly grew frustrated. All the elves looked incredibly similar, with their long brown hair, golden eyes, and green clothes. 'It's like they're all one big family!'
Unable to tell anyone apart, Rain approached a girl who had been following him closely. 'This must be Elsa,' he thought. "Hey, do you mind telling me about yourself?" he asked, hoping to spark some conversation.
The elf girl blushed, clearly flustered by the attention. "S-sure, Hero-Sama. My name is Lify, I'm about 180 years old," she said, nervously glancing away.
'Damn! This isn't Elsa! Elsa is confident and casual, not shy like this girl!' Rain thought. He mentally cursed himself for guessing wrong, but since he'd already started the conversation, he kept it going.
Rain exchanged pleasantries with Lify, then moved on to try his luck with another elf, only to realize, 'Now I look flirtatious! Where the hell did Elsa go? We were holding hands just a moment ago!' He glanced around the crowd again, but all the elves seemed to blur together in a sea of similar faces and styles. 'I give up!'
Rain sighed, giving up after nearly 40 minutes of searching for Elsa. Instead, he decided to focus on the food and enjoy the feast.
Walking over to the roasting boar, Rain asked the elf carving it for a piece. He took a bite, and his eyes widened in shock. 'T-this is incredible!'
The meat was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. It didn't have the usual gamey taste he expected from wild animals. It was, without a doubt, the best food he had ever eaten in his 21 years of life. 'It's like a gourmet barbecue, way better than anything I've had before! Even five-star restaurants can't compare to this.'
As he ate, Rain's frustrations melted away. The feast, the music, and the company of the elves made him forget about his earlier confusion. Even though he couldn't find Elsa, he was content for now.