After leaving the A rank party, I aim for the deep part of the labyrinth with my former students
"Unacceptable"
In the tense atmosphere, the elder of the elves repeated the same words as before.
"But, Grandfather…!"
"It was not wrong for you to leave the forest without a word. Any young elf, restless with curiosity, would think of doing so at least once. Especially you, who bears the name of Amberwood, the Forest of Amber—I permitted it, believing that knowledge of the outside world and interaction with other races would be necessary for you."
Saying this much, the elven elder then fixed his gaze on both Silk and me.
"However, serving the king of a human kingdom is absolutely unacceptable."
"It is merely a formal position. I am not becoming the possession of the humans."
"Even if it is only in name. Know your place, Silk. And above all, the idea of your bonded partner being a human man—I cannot allow it. You are a direct descendant of the Amberwood Clan."
"That has nothing to do with this, does it!?"
I—Yuke Feldio—pondered what to do.
I had expected that I wouldn't be welcomed, but I hadn't imagined their opposition would be this stubborn.
Now I understood why Silk had been so reluctant to return home.
"Grandfather, you're being too stubborn!"
"Calm down, Silk."
Well, honestly, I felt the same way.
That said, the elder of an elven clan was no different from royalty in human terms.
Essentially, this was like a princess of a nation, even if only in formality, becoming part of another country's human resources.
I could understand why he couldn't accept that so easily.
Two weeks earlier.
After conquering the Inverted Labyrinth, the Achromatic Darkness, and the Abyss Gate, our party, Clover, was officially promoted to A-rank.
Silk had brushed it off, saying, "It's not a big deal, is it?"
But given her origins, the king had decided that we should formally acknowledge this with her homeland.
Thus, we set sail for Vilmuren Island, Silk’s birthplace.
As the leader of Clover and a special envoy of the Welmeria Kingdom, I was to have an audience with Silk’s grandfather, Elder Elran.
However, this was the reception I was met with.
This argument had started before I even had a chance to introduce myself—Silk had immediately responded to the elder’s complaints.
My royal letter was still inside my bag, yet it felt like our relations were crumbling before they had even begun.
"Silk, when will you finally act with the awareness befitting an elder of this clan?"
"Grandfather, your thinking is too rigid! You’re bound by nothing but rules and traditions. Do you even realize how much the world has changed?"
Sensing the rising hostility between the two, I instinctively stepped in.
If I left them alone, they’d be at each other’s throats any moment now.
"Elder Elran, leader of Amberwood. May I have a moment of your time?"
"You, human boy—no matter how long our kind may live, we have little time to waste on you. Make it brief."
His voice was dripping with hostility, making Silk’s eyebrows twitch in irritation.
I quickly signaled to her with a small glance, urging her to stay calm.
Then, I pulled out the royal letter from my bag.
It bore the official seal of the Welmeria Kingdom.
"This is a message from His Majesty, King Vincent V."
I wasn’t well-versed in elven etiquette, but I knelt on one knee and presented the letter with both hands.
Elran took it in silence, his expression reluctant.
Without hesitation, he unsealed it and began reading.
As he did, I waited, my stomach twisting in nervous anticipation.
After all, I had no idea what was written inside.
I couldn’t predict how he would react.
"Hmm. I understand the words of the king you serve."
"Thank you."
His tone had lost some of its sharpness, and I let out a small breath of relief.
Whatever was written in that letter must have at least helped smooth things over.
"Silk."
"Y-Yes?"
"The letter states that what you have accomplished has benefited not just the Amberwood Clan, but the entire elven race. That much, I can acknowledge—you have done well."
At Elran’s words, Silk’s face brightened with joy.
But then, he continued.
"However—"
The warmth in his voice disappeared in an instant.
"I still cannot accept this A-rank title or whatever it is. Nor can I allow you to become bonded partners with this man."
His words were a shock to both Silk and me.
To me, Silk was an irreplaceable partner.
I was sure she felt the same.
Yet, to have that rejected so outright—it was disheartening, to say the least.
"I understand, Grandfather."
"Ah, so you finally see reason, Silk?"
"Yes. I now fully understand that talking to you is pointless."
Silk stood up, her aura now carrying a chilling, almost murderous intent—different from the anger she had shown earlier.
She turned to face me, spreading that intense presence that was hardly something one should direct at their own family.
"Then let’s return to Finis. As I thought, this was pointless."
"Hey, Silk, don’t be so hasty."
"Oh my, but I am quite patient, you know?"
She said that, but honestly—she looked furious.
I had plenty of things I wanted to say as well, given how unexpected this all was. However, as an envoy of the kingdom, I couldn’t just leave like this.
"Silk. You will remain here."
"Wha—?!"
Silk gasped in shock, but Elder Elran simply shook his head.
"That is enough, is it not? First, you left the island without a word. Then, you chose the dangerous path of an adventurer. And now, you speak nonsense about forming a bonded pair with a human man. You have shown no awareness of your duty—of your position, of what you must do. You are no longer a child."
"I will decide for myself! My way of life, my purpose, and whom I choose to love!"
For once, Silk raised her voice in open defiance.
Yet even after hearing her out, Elder Elran shook his head and firmly said:
"Unacceptable."
"Silk. You are a bearer of the name Amberwood, the Forest of Amber. Your duty, your life’s path, and even the one you are to love were decided from the moment you were born. You have been too deeply influenced by the world of humans. I will not allow you to leave this island again."
"This is tyranny!"
"One only earns the right to call it that after fulfilling their responsibilities."
His unwavering stance made me finally step forward.
"Elder Elran, Silk is her own person. Please treat her as such."
"You came here as a representative of the kingdom, did you not, Sir Hero? Would this not be considered interference in our internal affairs?"
As expected from a dark elf elder who had lived for centuries—his presence was overwhelming.
But if I backed down now, I wouldn’t have the right to stand beside Silk.
"I am here as Silk’s companion—and as her partner."
"Then I am here as the leader of all elves in this forest. Elves have their own laws, their own duties. And those born into the elder’s bloodline bear even greater responsibilities. Do you mean to deny this?"
"I would never—"
"Then you should forget about this. My wayward granddaughter has a duty to this forest’s future. Can you, a mere human, bear the weight of Amberwood’s history for the next hundred, two hundred years?"
His words left me momentarily speechless.
The lifespans of elves and humans were vastly different.
As a mere human, I would return to the ashen fields where the Pale Undying King resides within fifty years at most.
But even knowing that—I had no intention of letting go of Silk’s hand.
"Are we finished here, Elder Elran?"
Just as I was about to speak, the doors to the chamber burst open without even a knock.
A male elf strode in.
He had translucent white skin, deep blue eyes, and golden hair as fine as silk.
He was not a dark elf like the people of Amberwood—he was a pure elf.
"Lord Ilwen, I do not appreciate you barging in unannounced."
"My apologies. However, I happened to hear the words bonded pair, and I simply could not ignore it."
The elf, addressed as Ilwen, approached us with confident steps.
Then, with an appraising gaze, he stared directly into Silk’s face.
"I see. So you are my bonded pair—my bride."
"Wha—?!"
"I am Ilwen. Ilwen Pearlwood. I have come from the western Pearlwood Forest, as your destined partner."
Ignoring me entirely, the strikingly handsome elf spoke those unbelievable words—before smiling.
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