Welcome to the Special-Grade Guild! ~ The Beloved Elf Poster Girl Soothes Everyone’s Hearts ~
Chapter 147

147. Memories with Leo-jii (Part 1)

“Ahh, it’s no good! I can’t get that flavor! No matter what I do!”

I’d just woken up from my nap and was casually passing through the cafeteria when Tio-nee’s shout reached my ears. I looked over and saw her in the kitchen, clutching her head, groaning. What was wrong?

“Tio-nee?”

“Ah, Meg-chan. Don’t tell me you saw me like this.”

Tio-nee, usually so energetic and cheerful, chuckled shyly, looking embarrassed. It is rare to see her like this. But everyone has their problems, so she shouldn’t be so embarrassed. Well, I guess it’s different when you’re talking to a child.

“Did you have a good nap?”

“Yesh! I just woke up. And I only take naps on my daysh off now.”

“Fufu, really? You’re getting stronger. That’s good!”

After gratefully receiving a head pat, I asked her what was wrong. Tio-nee, her eyebrows furrowing, then told me she was having trouble recreating Leo-jii’s tomato soup.

“I used the same ingredients, the same measurements… but I can’t seem to get that depth of flavor.”

“Could you try some?” She offered me a cup of soup, but… I-I’m sorry! I can’t seem to tell the difference between this and Leo-jii’s soup! When I apologized, she chuckled brightly.

“Ahaha, that’s okay! But it’s just my own self-satisfaction, I’m sure. Other people have said the same thing, that they can’t tell the difference.”

“So don’t worry about it,” she said with a smile, but she seemed a bit sad.

“I guess I still haven’t accepted that Leo’s gone… I’m such a softie.”

Tio-nee, letting out a sigh, stared blankly into the distance, probably reminiscing about Leo-jii. It made me think about Leo-jii, who’d passed away eight years ago.

“When I was in the human country long ago, I worked as a cook at the most famous restaurant in a big city called Uula. Ah, those were the days, was it 30 years ago? The head chef back then was scary.”

About a year after I’d started working at Ortus, Leo-jii, as planned, started living a secluded life in the city. And so, I’d go visit him on my days off, and he’d teach me how to cook, as promised.

Leo-jii would tell me all sorts of stories, about the past, about the human world. As a former human, I was fascinated.

“Listen carefully, Meg-chan. If you ever encounter a human, never reveal your powers or your true identity. No matter how kind they seem, humans are a race whose true intentions are a mystery. Promise me.”

And just like all the other members of Ortus, Leo-jii was also incredibly protective. I doubt I’d even encounter a human… I mean, they lived on a different continent, and I’d never think about going to a dangerous place where a rare Elf child like me would be captured and sold, just out of curiosity.

But I guess since I have such a long lifespan, it wasn’t impossible… I reconsidered and decided to listen to his advice, just in case.

According to Leo-jii, those who belong to the Demon realm, those who wield magic power, are, for better or worse, straightforward. They’re not two-faced. Those who are kind are truly kind, and those who commit crimes do it openly, without even trying to hide it. Of course, there are some who’ll betray you, who’ll deceive you, but they’re a race that can’t switch between the two sides as skillfully as humans.

That’s why the thugs tend to gather together. That’s why the area where Nemo used to be attracted that type of person. Even though Mara-san had reorganized them, and they were functioning properly as an organization, I’d heard that there were still conflicts between guild members. When I’d asked Mara-san about it, she’d said that it was in their nature, so there was no point in trying to stop them, that it was their own responsibility. Mara-san’s so strong…!

“A kind person who suddenly betrays you, a person you thought was bad who turns out to be incredibly thoughtful. That’s what humans are like, complex. You’re so innocent, Meg-chan, I’m worried that you’d easily be deceived.”

Ugh, I couldn’t argue, because it was true! It’s been like this since I was Megu. Even when I’m careful, I still get deceived for some reason. Mainly by Dad!

“But I can’t hate humans. Maybe because I’m one myself, but… they’re insightful, because they’re so diverse. And their true power shines when they work together towards a common goal. And it’s amazing how quickly their civilization develops, because they pass on knowledge to the next generation, because their lives are so short. Those who live long lives tend to be satisfied with the status quo and don’t seek change.”

Well, we, and the demi-humans, we’re individually strong. Ortus has good teamwork, but I don’t think we’d be very good at working together on one thing. I see, so it’s like a racial trait. When you think about it like that, humans are truly a race that can’t be underestimated. They’re definitely someone I need to be wary of. I know not all of them are bad… but to avoid being deceived, it’s best to just avoid them.

“But there is one thing that humans and those of the Demon realm have in common, and that is…”

Leo-jii’s lecture continued. Once he starts talking, he doesn’t stop. It’s an important topic, and I do listen carefully. But maybe because of his age, he’d tell me the same stories every time! I love Leo-jii, but this was… a bit tedious. But I was a good girl, so I always listened patiently until the end. Fufu, I’m confident I could repeat his stories word-for-word! So I’ll be careful if I ever encounter a human. Ugh, but I’m tired…!

“Oh my, I talked too much, didn’t I? It must have been boring. I’m sorry, Meg-chan.”

“No! It was an important story! I know Leo-jii’s worried about me.”

I love how Leo-jii, even though he gets carried away, reminiscing about the past, always cares about people. That’s why I’m determined to always listen to his stories until the end, even if he tells me the same ones over and over again.

Because I knew that the day I’d have to say goodbye to him, an ordinary human, was approaching. I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. And later on, I’d realize that I’d made the right call.