With the combination of Veirya and Leah's massage, the soreness in my lower back was alleviated by a fair lot. I could walk normally again. Truthfully, I went out to see Lucia. While Veirya didn't want to let me see Lucia, I was very interested in her invitation to go to the elven lands.
The elves had things that were worth lots of money to humans, which was why the turbulent situation over there was beneficial to humanity. As opposed to being interested in the elves' freedom, future or whatever, I was only concerned with how much I could make as a human. Given that the elves were experience turbulence, they'd definitely have requests for humans just as when Lucia came this time. Humans and elves shouldn't be trading goods in the first place; otherwise, the elven flavouring wouldn't fetch such an exorbitant price. Perfumes from Europe are expensive, because they come from far away. Elves and humans didn't live far from each other, though. Further, owing to the internal strife between the elves, the elves came to humans on their own accord to trade for money.
That was a good sign. As I was situated at the border of humans and elves, I had the most favourable position compared to all other businessmen. I just needed to get a grasp on what the situation in the elven lands was to monopolise the elves' flavouring import route. Consequently, I could make it rich just collecting taxes. We're talking gold!
Although it might not be much to elves, rarity and price go hand in hand. If I monopolised it and exported some at an annual rate to stabilise the price, it'd become the fundamental component of being prosperous in the North. Furthermore, I believed that the elves had even more interesting goods over there. I didn't care what it was, but I was dead set on monopolising it and forcing them to trade here.
In saying that, while the idea was nice, I still hadn't seen Lucia. I seemed to have no tricks to talk to her. I always had to rely on Veirya to get in touch with her. The problem was that it was guaranteed that I wouldn't be able to ask Veirya, which meant that I'd just have to count on my luck. That said, I didn't need to take the initiative to find Lucia. I was sure that she'd watch our home if she needed me. That meant that she could contact me as long as I left the house. Thus, I could avoid seeing her in private with Veirya around.
"Travor! Travor!!"
'It appears that my luck isn't too shabby.'
As soon as I walked onto the street, Lucia loudly called my name out from behind and ran over. I turned my head and looked at her feeling surprised. She wasn't dressed in hunting attire this time, but very fresh looking attire for summer, except that it wasn't summer… Nonetheless, she didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that the winds were quite chilly.
All she wore on her torso was a thin dark green bib. Her slender arms were revealed, and her button at the very bottom was undone, thereby revealing her belly button. Her small money pouch hanging from her belt swayed from side to side. On her lower body. She wore shorts and high black stockings. I must admit that while her chest was flat, her pretty face and long and slender legs were traits that made her attractive. The moment she ran onto the street, it was as though she lit up the entire street.
She leapt onto my back. With a cheerful smile, she pinched my face, "I'm so glad that I get to see you again. I thought that Veirya would lock you up at home and not let you out."
I smiled helplessly, "I'm not a dog."
Lucia slid off my back, and then pinched her chin with self-contentment, "I can see that you seem to be searching for something today. You do plan to help us elves, after all, huh? We're friends! Friendss should assist each other! Didn't we elves join you when you humans took on the demons?"
"I didn't say otherwise."
I looked at Lucia. Her expression quickly turned grim. She grumpily pouted, and then hugged my arm. She coquettishly said, "I look cute, don't I? Will you refuse the request of such a cute elf? Everyone agreed to my requests whenever I pleaded them this way."
'I agree, you're a very cute elf and even so by human standards, but nowadays, I have a succubus and Veirya, who's considerably beautiful for a human. Plus, not only do I get to look at them, but also have baths with them. Therefore, I have no interest whatsoever in flat chests. You have a flat chest, yet want to talk to me about being cute?! You're currently hugging my arm, but I don't feel anything soft. Cute?!'
"I wanted to ask you what exactly you elves are doing. If you elves weren't in a pickle, you wouldn't come here to find humans to conduct a flavouring trade, would you? Moreover, even if you were to trade flavouring, you should've gone to see Queen Sisi, not do it in private, which goes to show that you aren't conducting the trade as a representative of elves, but as a private deal. So, what exactly is going on with you elves?"
Lucia looked at me and got a little serious. She softly replied, "Do you really want to know? Well, it's nothing major. It's just that we don't want to continue being ruled by Queen Sisi. That's all. The Queen has always wanted to open paths with humans, but elves and humans have never had true friendship. I don't deny that I respect Veirya and some humans, but the majority of humanity isn't friendly to us. We are not on good terms with any other race; therefore, it's best for us to not get involved with each other. But nonetheless, the current Queen wants to lead elves into the abyss, which I refuse to allow. I am the elves' hero and, thus, must stop that from happening!"
"So, what's your plan?"
"Violence, obviously," replied Lucia, who proudly thumped her chest. "I am the eldest daughter of one of the most venerated elven clans, Harlotte Clan, after all. My archery skill is ranked second best if not the best. We can win this battle as long as we have soldiers. Hence, we need money and food. How about it, Travor? I've told you our secret, so come help us. I'm sure that we won't have any supply issues if you're helping us in the rear."
"Sorry, Lucia."
I didn't suspect Lucia after what she said. I doubted Lucia would lie to me. She was candid with me so that it made it easier for me to help her. With that said, the vision she had for elves wasn't the vision that I had in mind. If she succeeded, the future that I was after will also go with the wind. As such, I had to refuse her.
To add, I wasn't going to let myself be the first person to get involved with military fights. It's very risky to put all your bets on one side, because if the other side reverses the situation, the consequence will tend to be bankruptcy. Subsequently, I had to be careful with regards to the matter.
"I belong to Veirya. If you really need my help, you should go see Veirya. I can't call the shots on this, so don't waste any more time on me. Give up. In addition, I need to have a good think about what you said."
Lucia looked at me feeling displeased. She yelled, "I won't give up! I won't allow elves to be destroyed even if you don't help me!!"
"Mm, mm, do your best; break a leg. I'm sure that you can do it as the elves' hero. However, there's one more thing."
I turned around to touch Lucia's head. She looked at me feeling astonished as though she didn't understand the reason for me touching her. I looked at her with a smile, "Next time, never thoughtlessly tell him what you told me if you haven't known him for long. It is your secret, you know?"
Lucia angrily stomped her foot and hugged me tightly from behind again. She loudly shouted, "I'm not an elf who senselessly says anything!! I would never have mentioned it if it wasn't you!! Listen!! Think about it again!"