Is it wrong to be an Elf in a Dungeon?

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Ember Pov

" Your Highness, just like this nock the arrow in the bowstring, and then aim with your one eye closed, and then let it go", said the instructor, as he demonstrated it to me, the arrow hit the mark perfectly. " Now, Your Highness if you would", he said, and I nodded, nocking an arrow on the bowstring, I closed my one eye and aimed at the target, and finally left it, unfortunately for me, the arrow completely missed the target, whizzing through its side.

The instructor didn't look much surprised and quickly said," Don't be discouraged your Highness, it was your first time", I nodded at him, a soldier from beside me handed me another arrow, I nocked it when the instructor, Noel, came beside me and grabbed my palm," Your Highness, depending on each bow, the target distance, and other factors, aiming also changes."

" Now, the bow you used is quite a special build, it is made to be easily pulled, so the force it releases is also a bit low, thus if you would adjust your aim like this", he said, guiding my aim, and then whispered," Let it go", and so I did, the arrow whizzed through the air, this time accurately hitting the center of the target.

" That was great Your Highness, now you just need to practice what I had taught you", he said, and I nodded," Thanks, Noel", I said, and he smiled, he got back letting me have space. The soldier who was beside me again handed me an arrow," Here your Highness", he said, I took the arrow, and again nocked it, before aiming again and letting the bow string go.

The arrow again whizzed through the air hitting the target, though not at the center, but it was extremely better compared to my previous one. Noel clapped and I said," Give me another arrow", and the soldier handed me another one, then I the arrow, then again, and again, and again, just like this before I knew time had passed, and it was already evening.

I was sweating by now," Your Highness!", Remia said as she came near me, I didn't see when she had come here, but seeing her it should be for not long, she quickly started washing my sweat using an expensive looking cloth. Once she had cleaned my face, and hands I said with a smile," Thanks, Remia."

She just nodded happy with my praise, it was no surprise to the maids, and even instructor that I was too polite, often thanking them for their help or services. While as Royality, I had no need to do so, and they were paid well for their work, I decided I could at least thank them to show my appreciation towards their fantastic work.

" I guess, that will be all for today, Your Highness, your performance today was indeed spectacular, it would seem you are genius in archery", he said, flattering me. I was used to this, so I just nodded, but I knew I wasn't a genius, I have just started, and using a well-built bow, made specifically for me, including shooting at not very far away targets, they were non-moving targets as well.

So yup, I wasn't any world-shattering monstrous genius, but I knew I had considerable talent in archery considering my performance now. It wasn't too great but still quite good. I can say it was because of me being an Elf and my hard work. Elves are naturally endowed with a better eyesight than humans, better hearing, and more flexible body.

There is a reason that Elves are called the Proud Archers of the forest, well to be more precise just Archers of the Forest, the word proud just comes from their arrogance. " Thanks Noel, for today, and well you as well", I said thanking my instructor and the soldier who became flustered and knelt," Your Highness! It makes me so happy, to think you would consider my mere effort worthy of being praise by you", he said.

I nodded with a smile, these reactions were norm for me now, I won't say I love it, but still the feeling was nice. My wishes and desires mattered a lot to others in this life contrary to my previous life I had no such liberty, so I had come to like this treatment, but I do understand one might even get bored or even hate this treatment after decades or so.

Anything too much or too little is always bad, shaking my thoughts off, I grabbed Remia's hand, who escorted me to the Palace. My current age is seven now, since the age of five I had been walking on my own to get anywhere, instead of being carried in Remia's or Riveria's embrace like before. It did felt annoying at first, but again I can't always be carried by others, right? So, in the end I had to put a stop to that.

" Your Highness, did you enjoy the training?", asked Remia, I nodded with a smile, and replied," It was fun, Archery was really fun!", my voice sounded less childish than compared to before for obvious reason. She casted a melancholic smile, earning my attention," What's the problem Remia?", I asked, as we arrived at the castle gate.

The soldiers performed a salute, while she remained silent, they opened the door and after we entered, she said," It's nothing Your Highness, it's just- You have grown up, compared to before you now don't require much of my assistance", I sighed hearing her words, and holding her palm tighter I said," It doesn't matters Remia, you are still my personal maid, and always will be."

My words caused her to blush, she said,"~Oh my, my, is your highness proposing to me? But I have a husband what should I do?~", there she goes again, into her own world, seeing her dazing off, I left the hold of her palm and ignoring her I just ran towards the staircase, and started climbing it up," Wait a minute! Your Highness, you shouldn't run like that!", she said.

I grinned and said," Get me if you can!!", I dashed quickly through the corridor, she started chasing after me, my physical strength has improved quite the bit with my age, even so I was no match for Remia who was an adult, but she was wearing a maid uniform with a long maxi skirt so it was going to be hard for her to catch me in those clothes.

Thus, she could only relentlessly try to get me, and I charged through a corridor turning to another when I saw a person passing by, he suddenly stopped and looked at me, I also stopped realizing they might collide, and well they did. I didn't even get the time to mutter the famous half-spoken words, as Remia crashed against that Elf, leaving him tumbling back the floor, while falling herself on the floor.

" Huh?! What's the meaning of this?!", the Elf shouted, as a soldier who seemed to be following him, came and quickly lifted him up. Remia's face became pale,' Can it get anymore cliche? Wait it is an isekai world, this world is itself a cliche ', I thought with a sigh, I have seen this trope many times in novel, and one might wonder despite being how cliche it is, why many novels follow this.

Simple, many of such cliche are real, they are based on thing that happen frequently. " I-I apologize Sir! It was my mistake that I didn't see you coming!!", Remia apologized, but I knew depending on who the person might be, Remia might lose her job that not I would let her lose her job. " Sir Selland, is there any problem?", said my father who came here followed by a soldier.

" Indeed, your Majesty, this insolent maid suddenly crashed against me! I was just walking through the corridor when she suddenly came running and collided against me!", he said with anger, Remia kept her head down as father looked at her," Is that true Remia?", she nodded, before he could say anything further, I decided to intervene," Father, it's my mistake. I was playing with Remia", I said bluntly.

" Ember, you were playing, within the castle grounds?", he asked me, his voice cold and I nodded with a reply," Yes, Remia was just following me, it isn't her mistake. She was just performing her duties, Sir I apologize for my mistake", I apologized to the Elf as well," I- Fine, considering that his Highness admitted it was his fault, it would be embarrassing for me to blame her or his highness", the Elf quickly said.

" Sir Belland, still this maid has stepped out of her boundaries, if you want, I can dismiss her immediately", my father said, although his words sounded polite, he was just asking the man that if he wants, he can throw her out of the job, and once dismissed by King herself, Remia's life would be anything but easy in Alf's forest.

" No, your Majesty, there is no need for you do anything like that, his highness has already apologized to me, it would me rude of me if I pursue this matter any further", he said with a bow, my father sighed and said," I see", soon the Elf took a leave, while my father looked at us, I moved towards Remia, and stood in front of her.

" What's the meaning of this Ember?", he asked me, his eyes narrowed, as he looked at me with a cold gaze. " Father, I am ready to accept any punishment, but letting Remia take my blame, it would make me ashamed", I said, he sighed and asked," Do you know who that man was?", I shook my head," He was the King of White Elves in an Island known as Hjaðningavíg, to say he was a King of a small nation wouldn't be lie, yet he came here for not any reason but for our suggestion in a matter and future co-operation between us, as they respect us greatly", he said pausing.

He stared at me and said," He came all the way from his Island to here, and yet he had to leave like that. What you did does deserve a punishment, that's it, you shall be on a house arrest for next month. Repent on your mistakes!", I did a bow and said," As you say, father", he turned around and looked back," I did not give this punishment to you as your father, but as your King."

" I apologize then, yes, Your Majesty", I said, and he left," Your Highness, why did you take the blame? Now your reputation would take a hit", said Remia as she hugged me from behind," It would have been better, if I was dismissed", she continued, I turned towards her and looked at her moist eyes and tears pouring down her cheek, I took a handkerchief from my pocket and I wiped her tears.

" Don't cry, Remia, that was but a small mistake, no need to stain your face with tears for such a matter, and it was my mistake in first place. Not to mention, it doesn't matter if my reputation takes a hit, I am just seven at most people will roll it off as me being rebellious or something", I said soothing her, she nodded and hugging me tighter she said," I am lucky to serve you, Your Highness."

" And I am lucky to have you as my maid", I replied with a smile, and well, next moment I was attacked with a flurry of kisses on my cheek," Muah! Muah! Muah! You are so cute your Highness!!!", she said as she left lipstick mark all over my cheek. If I was any older, anyone would have thought I would have done something scandalous, with the kiss marks all over my face.

' Well at least she is better now ', I thought mused, still as I thought of the event that had transpired just now, I frowned,' Selland? Where did I hear the name? ', I thought, and soon I realized,' Isn't that the surname of Hedian Selland? One of the executives of the Freya Familia!! ', I thought, if everything as I thought then that man should be him, or his father.

' I need to quickly make a written record of Danmachi events ', I thought, I was glad that I had took the liberty of reading the two main Novels of Danmachi, while reading through manga of side stories, otherwise I wouldn't have even an inkling of who that man was. Since I was on a house arrest, just a fancy or more formal term of being grounded for a month, I had plenty of time to write a diary.

Still, it was a bummer considering, that I had just started learning Archery, I was very much eager to learn Archery to the level of future Riveria, where she could shoot three arrows using a bow, aiming at very far away target. After that, I was escorted to my room for a rest, after which I took a bath, and well Remia helped me bath, it was still one of things she helped me till now, and would be helping with for next few years. 

To be continued...