Chapter 34: Competition for a Human-Mate starts

Eren woke up to Emily’s face inches from his, her green eyes studying him with that soft morning look she always had lately. Her hand rested on his chest. She looked extra alluring to him after the pregnancy reveal.

“Good morning, handsome.” She kissed his nose before he could complain about her night cloths. Her belly wasn’t covered enough.

Before he could say anything she kissed him.

“I’m not being grumpy Emily. I’m thoughtful. First two weeks are extremely important for the baby.” He pulled her closer, ignoring her morning breath and messy hair. His Emily in the morning was somehow more beautiful than any other time and he still couldn’t figure out how that worked.

She giggled and pushed against his chest. “Thoughtful people wouldn’t spend all night on my breasts and doing all those other things whose names you refuse to say.”

Eren didn’t argue about that. Emily was an Elf. And she was pretty sure they could continue to have sex for at least another month. He didn’t know anything about Elven biology so didn’t object about that or had any reason to in the first place…

“Were you dreaming about your home? You talked in your sleep.”

Did he?

He couldn’t remember, but she was probably right. “Maybe. I usually don’t remember my dreams or anything else. And those ferrets and ravens having a team is bothering me.

This winter will be different. I can feel it.”

Emily didn’t look that concerned. Maybe she trusted him to be a menace hunter in a few weeks.

After a slow morning routine that involved more kissing than actual cleaning in bathroom, they headed to the restaurant for breakfast.

The village square was already alive with activity even if it was still earlier than Villager’s waking hours. A couple elves tended to the gardens around the Totem of the Village while others carried firewood or hauled water from the well.

Kelion waved at them from his garden fence, a clay cup in his hand that definitely wasn’t filled with water.

“Morning, Human! Emily!” The middle aged elf’s face was already flushed. “Join me for a drink?”

“It’s barely past sunrise, Kelion.” Emily said with a smile. But there was no judgment in her voice.

“That’s what makes it taste better.” Kelion came closer while taking another sip and winked her.

Emily’s teenage years weren’t a secret in the village. More than one elf had proudly told Eren about her brief emo phase. Or how she had been a troublemaker with a sharp tongue and a habit of sneaking drinks when she was still a kid.

Eren had learned that elves didn’t really have the same alcohol taboos as Earth. Maybe just for little kids even if Emily broke too many times. But she had a traumatic childhood, so no one was judging.

Maybe the lack of drinking rules for the minority was the result of very few children was around. And they didn’t think of making any official rules.

But apart from that, drinking in the morning was as normal as coffee back Earth. And honestly, Eren was starting to see the appeal even if Emily didn’t allow him to drink alcohol before hunting job.

Kelion looked at the thoughtful Eren with genuine curiosity.

“Hey, human. Do your people make wine? Or is there something else you drink there?”

“We make a lot of different drinks. Wine, beer, gin, rakı, sake…” Eren thought about how to explain vodka or whiskey to someone who had never left a forest village.

“Some are made from grains, some from fruits or some random chemicals.. The strong ones can knock you flat if you are not careful.”

Kelion’s eyes lit up. “Stronger than Zen Wine?”

“Honestly, Zen Wine is pretty light. Where I come from, we have drinks that are maybe three or four times stronger.”

“Four times?!!” Kelion looked scandalized and excited at the same time. “That sounds dangerous and amazing. I need to try those one day.” His mouth was already watery with the non existing liquor.

“If I ever make it back there and return, I’ll bring you a bottle.” Eren promised but secretly knowing it would probably take a year before he had enough mana to make that trip reliably.

They continued toward the restaurant as they passed Rabbu-i, who was hanging laundry outside her house.

The middle aged elf woman was always kind to Eren- often giving him fruits or bread without asking for anything in return. They didn’t have money actually but still this woman was extra nice to him. She actually used his name instead of using “human”.

“Eren! Morning…” She waved a wet sheet at him and ignoring Emily for some reason. “I heard you cleared that dungeon yesterday. Very impressive Eren!”

News travels fast in a village of two hundred people. But Emily didn’t like the look inside her eyes. She walked past Eren like she was defending him.

“We only did the first floor.” Emily said with modest but cold voice. “Nothing too dangerous.”

“Still more than most of us could manage. Eren will destroy it before winter comes right?” Rabbu-i still looked at Eren like he was her priority.

Emily’s face was ice cold now. She knew women of the village start trying to fool her mate but didn’t think they would be this shameless. “WE FOUND OUT that this one looks bigger than the previous two. And we will try try destroying it!”

Rabbu-i secured the sheet to the line and walked over to the fence. She looked at Eren with the same curious expression everyone seemed to have lately. “Tell me, do people where you come from dress like us?”

Eren glanced down at his borrowed elven clothes, Emily’s step father wasn’t that fashionable.

Green shirt, comfortable shorts, everything made from magical beast wool.

“Back home, people wear a lot more variety. Different colors, different materials. Some people dress formally for work, others casually. And we have something called “fashion” where clothes change style every few months or mostly every year.”

“Every few months?” Rabbu-i looked baffled. “Why would you change if they are good and loved once.”

“That’s… actually a really good question.” Eren had never thought about how absurd fashion trends were when you actually had to explain them. “I think people just like new things.”

“Wasteful!” Rabbu-i declared but she was smiling. “But I suppose if you have the resources, why not? How many people live in your cities anyway?”

“The city I lived near had about 160 thousand people.”

Both Rabbu-i and Emily stared at him. Emily had heard this before, but she still looked shocked every time the number came up.

“Wow!!” Rabbu-i’s voice was faint. “That’s… I can’t even imagine that many people in one place. Where do they all live?”

“In tall buildings, stacked on top of each other. Some buildings have five to fifty floors or more.”

“Fifty floors…” Rabbu-i repeated, like she was trying to taste the words and see if they made sense. They clearly didn’t.

She shook her head and still winked at Emily in a sneaky way, which made the poor hunter really mad.

Eren didn’t see their interactions or his value in the village yet. He was still thinking about population issues of Evon and Earth.

He knew if he described big cities with 20 to 30 million people lives inside, elves wouldn’t even believe him.

“By Eren. Come see me when you are not working..!” Rabbu-i waved him went into her house.

Jealous Emily and Eren walked away from smiling middle aged elf. At the restaurant, they found their usual table near the window.

Selena, the owner brought over two plates of food without being asked. She’d learned his preferences weeks ago and knew Emily for her life. She was like an older sister to her.

“How are you guys?” Selena was in her late thirties by elven standards, with green hair tied back in a practical bun. She’d run this place for over a decade and it showed in the way she moved through the space with easy confidence.

“Good morning, Sely. Same, I guess.” Emily said. She knew this older and sneaky Selena was giving her some meaningful looks but she ignored them. It was mostly about her night activities and how capable Eren was in bed.

“That won’t last.” Selena glanced toward the northern edge of the village. “Oldir mentioned he saw more tracks near the lumber area yesterday. Bigger than usual.”

“I will check it out this afternoon.” Emily promised.

Selena nodded and left them to eat. The food was simple. Bread and eggs from the Magic Hen Birds, some fruit that tasted like a cross between an apple and a pear. And Pao Tea which smelled like luxury in a place like this. Eren knew he could sell and profit a tea like this.

I need to find a solution to mana issue…

Eren ate slowly, watching the village wake up through the window.

This place was growing on him like really fast. He felt really confy and safe.

He already stopped thinking about Earth except remembering his parents a couple of times. But that was it.

Sometimes entire days would pass without him remembering his old house, his job or the life he left behind. It felt like a betrayal of something but he couldn’t figure out what exactly he was betraying. He couldn’t go back right now, right?

After breakfast, Emily headed north to do her morning patrol. Eren kissed her as a goodbye and reminded her for the hundredth time to be careful. And as a good luck touched her bottom for a sneaky second.

“Hey!” Emily blushed and run away to the northen side of the village where most winter assaults happened in the past.

Eren laughed after his elf wife and turned south toward his usual hunting grounds.

“Time to grind some levels and explore a bit.”

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