The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 118 - Ismera’s Great Forest (17)

The Elf Elder\'s face was a picture of confusion.

"The oath has already been fulfilled? What on earth…?"

"Mother, ask again."

Nierta suggested.

"Maybe someone else made an oath without your knowledge. We need to know exactly what oath has been fulfilled."

"Very well."

The Elf Elder raised her hands and called out again.

"World Tree! We have come to fulfill the oath! Ten years ago, during the Demon King\'s attack, these two humans standing here saved our tribe! Afterward, the daughter of our tribe, Ismera made an oath to the World Tree that if she ever found one of these two humans, Dian, again, she would give everything she has to repay the debt of her life! And in response, did you not reestablish your roots?"

The Elf Elder paused for a moment, perhaps due to a sore throat from the lengthy explanation, then continued.

"The oath you mentioned that has already been fulfilled—what exactly was it? Is it the oath that Ismera made, as I just described?"

The World Tree responded with light.

"That oath... is correct...?"

The World Tree continued to glow, several times in succession.

With each flash of light, the Elf Elder\'s expression shifted dramatically.

"They sneaked in here last night?"

Flash.

"And they fulfilled the oath in this pond of essence?"

Flash.

"They engaged in various... activities until dawn?"

Flash.

"Ismera even begged to continue?"

Flash.

"Thirty-year-old mushroom? Knot? Maple sap?! What are you talking about?!"

The Elf Elder\'s final exclamation was practically a scream.

I, too, felt like screaming. Has the World Tree gone mad?!

"Oh dear."

Linus cleared his throat and turned away politely, while Nierta\'s face turned as red as it could get.

But the funniest thing was Ismera. Why is she hanging her head and giggling to herself?!

"What is the meaning of this, Ismera?"

However, when the Elf Elder turned around, Ismera\'s smile quickly vanished.

"Um... well..."

Ismera couldn\'t continue and instead looked straight at me.

‘What? You want me to explain?’

I asked with my eyes, and Ismera bit her lip and averted her gaze.

She\'s really passing the buck to me.

With the Elf Elder, Linus, and Nierta all looking at me, I had no choice but to speak in a serious tone.

"Yes, the oath has been fulfilled."

"Is that true…?"

The Elf Elder clasped her hands together, her face filled with emotion.

"Is it true that the oath Ismera made to the World Tree has been fulfilled? And that Lord Dian has accepted it?"

"Of course. There was no reason to refuse. After all, Ismera is the girl I saved, and she has grown into such a fine woman."

"So, it’s certain that Lord Dian has taken Ismera’s body? That you were her first?"

"Uh... It’s a bit embarrassing to put it so bluntly, but yes, that’s correct."

"That is indeed wonderful news!"

The Elf Elder beamed with a bright smile.

Elves practice polyandry. Or more accurately, they practice both polygamy and polyandry.

It is their culture and tradition for wandering male elves to visit the Great Forest, impregnate several women, and then leave. This is how they propagate and continue their species.

So, while elves may act refined and dignified in the outside world, among themselves, they are very open when it comes to sexuality.

That much was clear from how casually the elves flirted with me yesterday, something that would be considered extremely rude in human society.

Thus, it made sense that the Elf Elder would be persistently questioning me about whether I had taken her daughter’s first time and then expressing joy about it.

This is one of those moments where it really hits home that elves and humans are fundamentally different species.

"Ismera."

Ismera, who had been making an obscene hand gesture by forming a circle with her thumb and index finger and poking it with the other hand\'s finger, quickly dropped her hands and lowered her head when Nierta called out to her.

"Yes, Mother."

"Now that the oath has been fulfilled, you can return to the academy without any worries."

"Yes, Mother…"

"Thank you, Lord Dian."

The Elf Elder bowed her head to me.

"Thanks to your help in fulfilling the oath, the World Tree will further accelerate the growth of the Great Forest. As a result, our tribe will once again flourish as it did before."

"That’s certainly something to celebrate."

"Lord Dian saved our tribe ten years ago, and now again."

The Elf Elder knelt, followed by Nierta and Ismera.

"Lord Dian, you are truly a hero and warrior of our Tyraellen."

"Uh... Thank you."

I awkwardly knelt as well, and Linus nodded with a deeply satisfied expression.

"By the way, I heard from the World Tree that you’ve been teaching Ismera quite thoroughly..."

"Please convey to the World Tree that if it wants another lesson, it might need to get burned down again."

Nierta couldn’t hold back her laughter.

# # # # #

After leaving the World Tree, we returned to the tent village.

"Oh, it’s Lord Dian!"

"Lord Dian! Where were you last night? We were looking everywhere for you!"

"Are you staying here today too? Come to our tent!"

As elves heading out for work started making crazy comments from all directions, Nierta glared at them.

"You lot!"

Under her intense gaze, the elves grumbled and scattered in all directions.

At the outskirts of the Great Forest, we prepared to part ways.

"Now, Ismera, return to the academy with Lord Dian. You’ve become the Vice-Headmaster, so you must set a good example."

"Yes, Mother."

Ismera bowed her head.

"Lord Dian, please take care of Ismera. She may be a bit rough around the edges, but she\'s a bright and capable child."

"Don’t worry. She’s done well so far, and I’m sure she’ll continue to do so."

The Elf Elder nodded in satisfaction at my response.

"Please visit the Great Forest again. You are always welcome."

"I will. Thank you."

"Ismera!"

Nierta rushed over and hugged Ismera.

The two embraced tightly, whispering words we couldn’t hear.

Judging by Nierta’s face, which was already flushed, and her occasional glances at me, I had a good idea of what they were talking about.

"That’s enough now."

As Ismera and Nierta separated, Linus looked around at all of us.

"Well then, let’s head back. Goodbye, everyone."

"Take care."

"Goodbye, Ismera! I’ll write to you!"

And so, we all safely returned to the Academy.

# # # # #

"Head Professor!"

As soon as Ismera and I arrived at the Academy, a group of professors rushed over.

"You’ve finally returned, Professor Ismera!"

"Ah, yes."

Lina, shaking both of Ismera\'s hands, made her look quite flustered.

"You should call her Vice-Headmaster now."

"Ah, right. Vice-Headmaster."

Lina smiled awkwardly as she corrected herself, following Morton’s reminder.

"Congratulations on your return and promotion, but you should first report to the Headmaster."

Felimia adjusted her glasses as she spoke.

"She hasn’t been eating or drinking. You should go report your return immediately."

Ismera and I hurriedly rushed to the headmaster’s office.

"Headmaster!"

When we opened the door, a dark figure was slumped over the desk.

It was Kirlin, looking quite haggard.

Her normally dark skin was even darker, and her hair was a mess. It seemed she hadn’t washed or groomed herself since I left the academy yesterday.

"Headmaster. I’ve brought Professor Ismera—no, the Vice-Headmaster. Please, get a hold of yourself."

"Ismera...?"

Kirlin’s ruby-red eyes widened as she saw Ismera.

"Ismera!"

Leaping over the desk like a leopard, Kirlin tackled Ismera into a hug.

"Waah! I thought you weren’t coming back!"

Then, out of nowhere, she began to cry.

Both Ismera and I exchanged bewildered glances.

"It’s because I’m so useless! How could someone as talented and intelligent as Ismera endure having an idiot like me in charge...?"

"Headmaster..."

Ismera hesitantly raised her hand and gently patted Kirlin’s back.

"It wasn’t because of you..."

"No, it’s all my fault!"

Kirlin was yelling so loudly that Ismera winced and had to pull her face away slightly.

"I should’ve resigned as headmaster... That would’ve made everyone happier, but I couldn’t, and I’m sorry... I’m so sorry for being a coward..."

Ismera let out a soft sigh and held the weeping Kirlin.

It seemed like Kirlin would keep crying endlessly, so I decided to step in.

"Come on now, stop crying and calm down. It looks like you haven’t eaten anything either, so why don’t we go get something to eat?"

Honestly, I was starving at that moment.

Although they provided food in the Great Forest, it was all just greens, and no matter how much I ate, I never felt full.

The three of us went to a cafe and ordered a whole strawberry shortcake, while Ismera ordered a salad.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry... I’ve caused so much trouble for both of you, Dian and Ismera..."

Kirlin kept sniffling and apologizing as she stuffed her face with the cake.

She looked so pitiful that Ismera had to keep patting Kirlin’s shoulder, trying to comfort her, which was a rather odd role reversal.

# # # # #

That evening.

After work, I got a bit of a scolding from Olysia.

It was just the usual stuff, like how I should’ve informed her in advance if I planned to stay out overnight.

But she seemed very pleased when she heard that I had brought Ismera back and that she had been promoted to Vice-Headmaster.

After all, Olysia always wants me to do well at the academy, and now that Ismera, who owes me a lot, had become the Vice-Headmaster, it was a win-win.

"So, you’ve become quite close with Professor Ismera, who’s now a very important person?"

"Well, you could say that."

"Oh my, that’s wonderful!"

I was smiling as I watched Olysia dance with excitement when suddenly, someone rang the doorbell outside.

"I’ll get it!"

Olysia dashed across the yard and went to the gate. Moments later, she called out to me loudly.

"Sir Dian! Come out quickly!"

Wondering what the matter was, I went outside to find Ismera standing at the door.

"Vice-Headmaster? What brings you here at this hour?"

Since we had agreed to act as we did before in front of others, I addressed her formally. Ismera, looking somewhat excited, showed me the small bag she was holding.

"It’s my luggage from the dormitory. As you can see, I didn’t bring much."

"What? Oh, yes, well, that’s typical for elves. But that’s not the point—why did you bring all your stuff here?"

"What do you mean?"

Ismera smiled as she responded.

"We’re going to live together from now on, aren’t we?"

"Guh."

As Olysia caught sight of Ismera’s bright smile, a look of horror crossed her face.

"Why is she smiling like that... Has she gone mad...?"