Published: September 2, 2025
Satou here. Fairy tales often feature princesses, don’t they? But don’t you think many princesses go through a lot of hardships?
At the very least, I want their stories to end happily ever after.
â—‡
“Have you come to?”
I gently asked, hoping to reassure her. But the girl jumped back as if startled, trying to put distance between us. No, she tried, but then fainted from anemia, tangled her feet, and fell over.
“...Where is Mize?”
I didn’t recognize the name, but I could only think of one person.
“Are you talking about the rat tribe cavalryman wearing the Red Helmet?”
“Yes.”
She’s cautious, and doesn’t speak much.
“He entrusted you to us to bravely fight the monsters... and he passed away.”
“That can’t be...”
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should soften the blow, but decided to be honest.
It seemed to shock the girl deeply; her color drained.
“I’m Satou, a traveling merchant. May I ask your name?”
Though I could see it on her AR display, introductions and greetings are the best way to start a conversation.
“...Mia.”
After a pause, she quietly replied.
Hmm, she’s a different kind of difficult compared to Lulu.
“Princess, you’re awake now~”
“Ah, it seems her name is Mia.”
“Oh, I’m Arisa. Nice to meet you, Mia.”
Arisa greeted her cheerfully but then stared speechless at Mia’s face.
“What’s going on here?”
Arisa pressed me for answers. Had she not used ability appraisal (status check)?
“Tell me precisely what you want to know.”
Arisa took a deep breath.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale again.
“Why are you an Elf?!”
Pointing at Mia’s pale, pointed ears, Arisa demanded.
Honestly, I don’t think she needed to make such a dramatic pause.
“Weren’t you supposed to be a rat tribe princess?”
“You should have checked properly.”
When I first received her, I thought I’d made a mistake too. That’s why I kept the Elvish language option. Mia and I spoke in Elvish, but maybe Arisa couldn’t hear it?
“Ugh, and all that cheese I prepared...”
The idea that rats love cheese is just a stereotype. Didn’t it come from Western cartoons?
“Well, whatever. For now, let’s eat!”
Arisa grabbed Mia’s hand firmly and helped her stand.
“When you’re hungry, unhappiness grows stronger. Eat a lot and cry a lot! That’s the best way to honor those who have passed.”
Arisa’s usual phrase was surprisingly wise. It sounded like a quote from some manga or something, but no need to argue about that now.
Mia got swept up in Arisa’s energy and was taken to a sheet where food was laid out.
I moved along with them, translating Arisa’s words for Mia.
â—‡
After chatting for a while, I realized that although Mia couldn’t speak Shiga Kingdom’s language, she seemed to understand most of what was said.
Thanks to that, the young girls didn’t need to act as interpreters during the meal.
From the AR display, Mia’s stats showed: age 130, female, level 7. Skills: water magic, archery, spirit sight. Titles: “Master of the Maze” and “Child of the Forest of Boruenan.” Her real name was Misanaria Boruenan. I think her nickname is Lia, though maybe it’s an Elvish custom?
Maze? I wonder if that differs from a labyrinth?
Her apparent age was between Arisa and Lulu. Her chest was more modest than Arisa’s—I’d rather not go into further detail for Mia’s sake.
She had long hair of a pale blue-green, closer to blue than green. Her eyes were a beautiful emerald green. Her skin was white and thin, looking just on the verge of unhealthy.
I couldn’t help but worry if she was cursed to attract young girls.
Since earlier, Mia had been avoiding meat and eating mostly vegetables. Tama slyly grabbed the meat she avoided. Meanwhile, Pochi moved some vegetables onto Mia’s plate from the other side.
“You won’t grow big if you’re picky about food, you know?”
I watched Riza, who seemed the most likely to comment—she was so absorbed in savoring the boar’s thigh meat that she wasn’t paying attention to anything else. I decided to leave her be.