Shiranui Flare IF Route: An Endless Song for You, Covered in Ashes
I'm Shiranui Flare. I was a top virtual elf streamer, having a blast with my fans, when my screen went white—and I woke up in a strange city.
This is the Lazberil Kingdom, a place where elves are discriminated against by humans. Seriously?! The idea of me being the one discriminated against isn't even funny enough to be a streaming gag. But I got caught up in the commotion and thrown in jail. That's when I was saved by Lucas, a totally weird human merchant.
Lucas doesn't care about the elf t
Shiranui Flare IF Route: An Endless Song for You, Covered in Ashes - Why is your fiancée so perfect...?!
The morning at Porta Plaza overflowed with energy.
Permanent stalls crowded together, and the merchants' spirited calls flew back and forth. The fragrant aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the sharp, pungent scent of spices, creating the market's unique atmosphere.
Carriage wheels creaked against the cobblestones, and the murmur of shoppers swirled around like a vortex.
"[excited]Come one, come all, step right up and take a look! Today I'm introducing a magnificent invention, brought to you with confidence by the Lucas Trading Company——the 'Dry Anywhere! Foldable Portable Clothes Rack'!"
Furea's high-tension voice echoed through a corner of the plaza.
A linen tunic and brown culottes. On her chest, a hand-embroidered flame mark swayed. Her platinum blonde hair, reaching down to her waist, was tied up in a high ponytail today so it wouldn't get in the way of business. The purple inner color peeking out just on the right side sparkled with every movement.
Her long, pointed ears twitched in tiny, rapid movements——a habit from her streamer days; they moved on their own whenever her tension rose.
"[excited]You can dry indoors even on rainy days! Perfect for camping too! Folds up compactly for easy carrying! How about it, miss, one for every household!?"
Furea was demonstrating to a woman who looked like a housewife passing by, clicking a small metal rod as she extended and retracted it. Her large amethyst eyes sparkled, making the product seem like the most wonderful thing in the world——this was the talking power of the streamer, Shiranui Furea.
"[laughing]Not bad at all."
Lucas, who had been arranging other products beside her, chuckled.
His unruly, dull blond hair was tied back carelessly in a single knot as usual. His droopy brown eyes glinted with the sharpness unique to business. Today, he wore a dark navy traveling outfit, with that heavy leather bag slung over his shoulder as always.
The balance scale pendant at his neck reflected the morning sun in flickers.
"[laughing]Right!? My talking skills work even in another world!"
"[serious]Don't get carried away. It's only the third day. The real work starts now."
"[excited]I know, I know! But, Lucas——"
That was when it happened.
Lucas's gaze suddenly shifted behind Furea.
And then——his expression clearly changed.
It wasn't his usual calm merchant's face. The corners of his mouth naturally relaxed, and the outer corners of his eyes gently drooped. This man, usually so logical and a bit sarcastic, showed a defenseless smile just like a boy.
"[gentle]Sara!"
Lucas waved.
Something stirred uneasily in the center of Furea's chest.
(Huh...?)
She turned around.
From within the crowd, a woman walked towards them, her fluffy honey-colored hair swaying.
Soft, loose waves reaching down to her shoulder blades. A small braid adorned the area above her left ear. Her green eyes, reminiscent of a deep forest, were narrowed today, looking a little happier than usual.
In her hands, she carried a large basket filled with medicinal herbs.
A white blouse and an easy-to-move-in green long skirt. On her left ring finger was a silver ring——a pendant modeled after a medicinal herb swayed. With every step, a faint, sweet herbal scent drifted over.
She was beautiful.
And, more than anything——the look in her eyes when she looked at Lucas was special.
"[gentle]Good work, you two."
Sara approached with a soft smile.
The moment she heard that voice, Furea understood.
(Ah, this person is——Lucas's fiancée.)
She had understood it in her head. She had heard the name just yesterday. But witnessing it in person was completely different from imagining it.
Furea put on a smile.
"[excited]Sara-san! Nice to meet you, I'm Shiranui Furea! Thank you for always taking care of Lucas!"
She bowed her head.
——However.
At that moment, the foldable clothes-drying rod in her hand sprang out forcefully with its spring mechanism.
BANG!!
With a tremendous sound, the rod slipped out of Furea's hand. Spinning round and round, it hit a passing merchant squarely on the head.
"[angry]Ow! What the hell is this!?"
"[scared]I-I'm so sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Are you alright!?"
Turning pale, Furea rushed over and bowed her head repeatedly to the merchant. Snickers leaked from the surroundings, and several shoppers stopped in their tracks.
(Crap, crap, crap! The moment I greet Sara-san, this happens—just how much of a clumsy character am I!?)
"[surprised]Are you okay, Furea?"
Lucas peered at her with a worried face.
"[excited]N-No problem! I'm not flustered at all! That was, you know, a performance! Like a product demonstration!"
Her voice cracked.
(Ah, seriously, this is the worst. When Lucas is watching, I get even more nervous!)
While Furea was in a panic——
Sara, giggling softly, quietly crouched down and picked up the drying rod.
"[gentle]This is Lucas's new creation, isn't it? He always makes such interesting things."
Then she stood up and bowed to Furea with a natural smile.
"[gentle]Nice to meet you, Furea. I'm Sara Tirherb. Thank you for always taking care of Lucas."
——Even seeing the elf ears, her expression didn't change in the slightest.
On the contrary, she looked straight at Furea and smiled with eyes free of any prejudice.
"[surprised]Huh... no, no, I'm the one who's being taken care of..."
Taken aback, Furea unintentionally replied honestly.
Then Sara narrowed her jade-like eyes just a little and spoke in a quiet——yet firm voice.
"[serious]When I see people being rude to elves——I get really angry."
Sara's voice was gentle. But within it was a core of steel that would never bend.
"[serious]So, Furea. The fact that you're an elf isn't a problem for me at all. More than that——I think it's wonderful that you're selling such interesting products together with Lucas."
The center of Furea's chest grew warmly hot.
(This person——truly sees me as an equal.)
The stares that had pierced her every time she walked through town until now.
The night the guards had pushed her to the ground.
Just for being an "elf," people would turn their faces away as if looking at something bad.
But Sara was different.
To think there was a human who would face an elf she'd just met so directly——.
Her eyes grew a little moist.
(Crap, I'm about to cry. But crying here isn't my character. Brighter, more——)
"[laughing]Um, isn't that way too cool all of a sudden!? Sara-san, wait a minute, I'm really moved right now, but how should I spin this for a stream——ah, I can't stream, can I!"
Furea comically scratched her head and looked up at the sky in an exaggerated manner.
Sara giggled.
"[whispers]...Stream?"
"[excited]Never mind! Don't worry about it!"
——*——*——
A moment before noon.
Having finished one round of business, the three sat down in a small rest area at the corner of the market.
A stone bench placed in the shade of a tree. On a simple table Lucas had brought from the stall, Sara placed a canteen filled with herbal tea.
"[gentle]Here, Furea. Try some if you'd like. It's an herbal tea I blended at my shop. It's formulated to help relieve fatigue."
Sara offered a wooden cup.
Along with the steam, a sweet scent similar to chamomile and a slight, mint-like refreshing feeling rose up.
"[surprised]Wow, it smells great! Thank you!"
She took a sip.
In that instant——a gentle sweetness spread through her mouth, followed by a refreshing sensation that cleared her nose.
"[excited]...It's delicious! What is this, it's incredibly delicious!? This might be the most delicious tea I've ever had in my life!"
"[laughing]You're exaggerating."
"[angry]I'm not exaggerating! It's the truth!"
"[gentle]Hehe. I'm glad you like it. Furea, you're so energetic and cheerful——just watching you makes me feel happy too."
As Sara said that, she handed a cup to Lucas. At that moment——.
Sara's fingers briefly touched Lucas's hand.
The two naturally met each other's eyes and exchanged smiles.
A wordless communication shared only by those who are close.
A sharp pain ran through Furea's chest as she witnessed that moment.
(...Huh? What was that just now?)
Her heart beat one heavy pulse.
(What is this? It feels really——strange.)
She had been happy, but suddenly a sensation as if the center of her chest was being squeezed tight. Sara was a really good person, the tea was delicious, it should have been a fun time——.
Yet, for some reason, the sight of Lucas and Sara sitting side by side was painfully dazzling to her eyes.
"[serious]Furea, what's wrong? Your face looks a little clouded."
"[surprised]Huh!? N-No, it's nothing! The tea was just a little hot!"
She hurriedly put on a smile.
(What was I just thinking?)
(Lucas and Sara are engaged, so it's only natural for them to get along like that!)
(So why am I feeling like this——)
Confused by the emotions swirling in her head, Furea sipped her tea with a smile plastered on her face.
——*——*——
Early afternoon.
The three temporarily closed up the stall at Porta Plaza and headed to Sara's family home, the herbal shop "Tirherb."
It was a small shop in a back alley of the middle district.
When the wooden door was opened, the choking scent of medicinal herbs filled the nose. On shelves lining the walls, dried herbs in glass bottles and jars of ointment packed in wooden boxes were lined up.
Bundles of lavender and rosemary hung upside down from the ceiling, swaying slightly whenever the wind passed through.
There was a small counter at the back of the shop, and on the workbench next to it, a mortar and pestle were placed.
"[gentle]Alright, you two, take a little break. I'll prepare some fresh tea now."
While Sara took out new tea leaves from the back shelf, Furea looked around the shop with great curiosity.
"[excited]Wow, there are so many different herbs! What's the name of this herb?"
"[gentle]Ah, that's lunerica. It's a medicinal herb harvested in the Verne Forest, used as an ingredient for ointments that work on cuts and bruises."
Sara answered kindly while organizing the shelves.
"[excited]Oh! Sara-san, do you go out to gather these herbs yourself?"
"[gentle]Yes. I go to the Verne Forest regularly to collect them. Although, recently——"
At that moment, Sara's hand stopped for a second.
The smile disappeared from her expression, replaced by a serious one.
"[serious]It's been a bit dangerous lately. I heard from a regular customer that they've been seeing more people from the Vanagur Trading Company on the road to the forest."
"[surprised]Vana... what's that?"
Furea tilted her head.
Sara paused for a moment as if finding it difficult to speak, then continued in a quiet voice.
"[serious]They're war-slave traders, Furea. On the surface, they're ore brokers——but behind the scenes, they capture elves and buy and sell them under names like 'special labor materials.' A malicious organization."
"[scared]...Wait, that's——"
"[serious]Even the kingdom can't fully crack down on them. There's talk that some nobles are connected to the Vanagur Trading Company."
Lucas silently folded his arms.
His usually nonchalant face was surprisingly serious. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his lips were pressed tightly together.
"[serious]Lately, it seems they've even been infiltrating people into Clevista for information gathering. Elves, especially——young ones who seem to have strong magic power, are targeted because they 'fetch a high price.'"
Sara's jade eyes looked straight at Furea.
"[serious]Furea. You've been the talk of the market for a little while now. 'There's a strange elf,' 'She's openly doing business with humans'——. Rumors like that easily reach the ears of those kinds of people."
Furea initially tried to brush it off lightly.
"[laughing]Whoa, that's a scary story~. But well, it'll work out somehow! I'm pretty fast on my feet, so——"
"[serious]Furea. This isn't the time to be laughing. I was worried about you, so I came all the way to the market today to check on you."
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