The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 152

When we entered the Elf village, there weren’t many people, but I noticed a few with long ears like Lily’s, who were watching us.

“Lily, I’m going to speak with the elder. You take our guests to our house,” her father instructed her.

“Got it! Everyone, this way!”

We parted ways with her father and followed Lily as she led us through the village.

“Hey, why did Lily’s dad glare at you guys like that? What did you do?” Annie asked as we walked.

“Well, I was talking to AI-chan through telepathy, but it seems he overheard us. AI-chan said something completely unnecessary,” I explained.

“Sorry… I didn’t expect my telepathy to get eavesdropped on…” AI-chan drooped her shoulders in dejection.

“Bet you were saying something stupid anyway.”

“I didn’t say anything,” I countered.

“No, Master, didn’t you casually insult her father’s magic power as being ‘average’ or something?”

“It was the truth.”

Sometimes, you just have to face the facts.

“Well, that’s just the kind of person you are. Just don’t say things that’ll upset people, okay?” Annie warned.

It’s a bit late for that, I thought. AI-chan’s comment alone would’ve been enough to make a parent want to kill someone.

“It’s fine! Dad seemed to be in a good mood,” Lily said, glancing back at us as she walked.

“Of course he’d be happy when his daughter comes home,” I replied.

“No, I think he was happy to meet all of you too. He seemed curious,” Lily said cheerfully.

Well, is he curious about his daughter’s companions? Is he even more clumsy—no, let’s move on.

“Still, that was him in a good mood? He was practically expressionless,” I remarked.

“That’s just how elves are,” Lily explained.

It made sense why people often said Lily didn’t seem very elf-like.

“By the way, that house up there—it’s so high! Do you actually live there?” AI-chan asked, looking upward.

Everyone followed her gaze to the house perched in the trees.

“Yep! That’s my home,” Lily said, nodding and pointing to the house above us.

“How can you live up there?”

It’s terrifying.

“Isn’t the third floor of the dorm kind of like this? Oh, right, Yuuma’s on the first floor.”

“My world only has single-story houses, mostly. That’s why I prefer the first floor.”

“Good thing you didn’t reincarnate as an elf, huh?”

That’s… true.

As we walked, we arrived at a ladder attached to a tree.

“This is my house,” Lily said.

“I see…”

Looking up, I saw the building was easily over 10 meters high.

“Scared?”

“No, it’s not like I’m afraid of heights or anything.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Alright. I’ll go first.”

This kind of thing is for the guy to go first. You know, because… things can be visible.

We had Koma-chan wait at the bottom of the ladder, and then we climbed up. At the top, we reached the house perched in the tree.

Once I got up there, I realized there were planks laid around the house, creating a walkway that even connected to other houses.

“…It’s really high.”

“Fall, and you’re dead.”

“Super scary!”

The three little ones clung to the railing, peeking down below.

“Hey, that’s dangerous,” I warned.

Hearing that, the three of them scurried over to me.

“Let’s go in. Moooom!” Lily called as she entered the house.

We followed her inside.

“Hmm? Lily? What’s up? Did you get fired? Wait—guests?”

From deeper inside the house, an elf I’d seen before appeared.

“I didn’t get fired! These people are my companions! We just stopped by because of some work!”

“Really? And your father… is out hunting, I suppose.”

“Oh, no, we saw Dad too. He told us to wait at the house while he talks to the village chief.”

“Is that so? I’m not sure I follow, but welcome, everyone. Some of you seem familiar, a man and a child—where have I seen you before?”

Lily’s mother asked curiously.

“We crossed paths in the town of Ibru. I’m sorry about what happened with this child back then,” I said.

“Oh… that time… It’s fine. We get those kinds of reactions sometimes. Please, have a seat. I’ll prepare some tea.”

“Ah, let me help!” Lily offered.

When her mother went further inside the house, Lily followed her, leaving the rest of us to take a seat.

“Yuuma, are you already acquainted with Lily’s mother?” Annie asked.

“Remember when I mentioned seeing an elf in the town of Ibru? That was her.”

“Oh, I see… So she really was married, huh.”

“You called it. As expected of Master,” AI-chan chimed in.

Why, thank you.

“…Do you think this place wouldn’t just blow away in a strong wind?”

“Wouldn’t an earthquake or a fire be even scarier?”

The two smaller ones leaned out the window, making such morbid observations.

“You can see why Lily’s so good with forests,” Natalia commented, looking out the same window at the dense trees. “Growing up in a place like this would make you a natural.”

“Exactly. But I imagine growing up here and then going to a town would be a real culture shock.”

Living in such contrasting environments, it’s no surprise that misunderstandings—like that eating without paying incident—happen.

“Here you go!”

“Sorry for the wait!”

Lily and her mother returned with tea. I took a sip.

“So, what’s this work you mentioned? Aren’t you based in the town of Celia?”

Lily’s mother asked as she sat down.

“That’s it. Mom, when you met Yuuma and the others, did you meet the Count too?”

“Yuuma? This gentleman here? Yes, I did. I came to report seeing a large bird in the sky.”

“We’re tracking that bird. Did you see it yourself, Mom?”

“No, I was at home and didn’t see it. It was the men out hunting who spotted it.”

It seems like asking the village chief or her dad would be more helpful.

“I see…”

“By the way, Lily, won’t you introduce your companions?”

“Oh, right… Let’s see… Those little ones over there by the window are Alice and Leanne. Leanne isn’t exactly a companion, but she’s close enough.”

Well, she’s a guild master, so it’s technically work-related.

((“That’s not what she means…”))

Shut up, you little fox.

“Alice has been a companion of yours for a long time, hasn’t she? I’ve heard of her,” Lily’s mom said.

“Exactly! And this here is our leader, Yuuma, and this is AI-chan,” Lily said, introducing us.

“Hey, are these people human? Their magic feels so… different,” her mom remarked.

She’s saying the same thing her husband did.

“I don’t really know, but probably human? Yuuma’s a reincarnator but he’s also apparently the child of a monster fox.”

Stop calling me a monster.

“Ah… I don’t really understand, but you’ve got quite the mix of people here,” Lily’s mom said.

“Yep, that’s what I think too. Oh, and this one over here who looks cold is Annie,” Lily added.

“She does look cold,” her mom agreed.

No kidding.

“And lastly, we have Natalia. Like Alice, she’s been with us for a while.”

“Ah… she looks like she has a dark personality…”

Hey, now…

“Me? I’m not dark, right?”

Natalia asked.

“You’re kind and definitely not dark.”

“Thanks,” Natalia said with a bright smile.

“See? She only acts like that with Yuuma. By the way, Leanne over there is the same.”

“I see…”

Lily’s mom gave the two of them a thoughtful look, comparing them closely.

Well, I don’t think it’s a problem.

((“Of course you wouldn’t.”))

I don’t really care, but Lily’s mom isn’t eavesdropping on your telepathy, is she?