Bamboo Potato Campaign - Episode 7 or so

Previous episode
https://note.com/liruk/n/ndc96e849dae4

(Summary so far: The Bamboo Elf village sends a scout to the Potato Salad Elf village. The one chosen for the task is Tsu-Zhu, a rookie in the Panda Cavalry. However, in the Potato Salad Elf village, which lacks bamboo, she cannot hide effectively and is discovered...!)

The tense silence lasted for 30 seconds.

"Are you going to run?" the Potato Salad sentry asks.

"No, I mean... it's obvious you've set up a siege formation, and I'm pretty much cornered here, right?" Tsu-Zhu could sense three people in front of her and at least five behind her, and their weapons appeared to be primarily strangely shaped blunt instruments.
If only this were a bamboo forest, she could break through without issue. However, this land had sparse trees, and she wouldn't be able to utilize her signature moves.

"Then come with us. We'll release you later, so just become a prisoner." "Aye..."

◆Bamboo◆Potato◆

In front of her was a dish consisting of boiled and mashed root vegetables (apparently called potatoes), mixed with a large amount of seasonings and ingredients. At first glance, it looked like a soft, mushy menu with no texture, but the Potato Salad Elves were devouring it with gusto.

(Why am I eating with the Potato Salad Elves?) Tsu-Zhu is bewildered. After being taken prisoner, she was brought to the cafeteria, the largest building in the village. As she entered, she was greeted by the heat of boiling potatoes. Then, the aroma of potatoes and seasonings harmonizing together.

"Won't you eat?" a Potato Salad Elf who appeared to be a child offered. ...The child's appearance didn't seem much different from a Bamboo Elf. They were cute.

"...I suppose I'll try a bite." Ignoring her pounding heart, she used a wooden spoon to carry it to her mouth along with some pink ingredients.

The texture was fluffy and incredibly soft, followed by a gentle acidity, the sting of herbs, and a mellow aftertaste. When she chewed lightly, the ingredients broke apart, bringing out even more umami.

The taste is good, but it's lacking. What if I stuffed it into green bamboo...? She couldn't resist her curiosity. She asked the server and had it stuffed into edible green bamboo. Bon appétit!

A tremendous crunching sound echoed through the cafeteria as she chewed the green bamboo.

"This is delicious!"

◆Bamboo◆Potato◆

In the Chief's office.

"So, the Bamboo Elves sent a spy to investigate the internal affairs of the Potato Salad Elves."
"Well, that's about the size of it."
"Did you really have to say that?"
"They treated me to a meal, and it's not like hiding it would have worked anyway, right?"
"That's true. Come to think of it, about the 'theft of the treasure' that caused this war... I have no idea about that. What was supposedly stolen?"
"The first chief's bamboo craft. It was about twice the size of an adult Bamboo clansman, and it was sitting right there in the plaza, but when I woke up, it was gone. I was shocked."
"And why was it the Potato Salad Elves' doing?"
"There was a message written in blood on the ground that said, 'If you want it back, you'd better take it by force from my Potato Salad clan.'"
"...That's strange. Bamboo, you've been here looking around, did you find that 'big treasure'?"
"That's the thing. I checked the warehouse, the treasury, and even the basement, but it's nowhere to be found. In the first place, there's no benefit to starting a war, so it's suspicious."
"...I'll write a note to your chief. You probably understand, but the situation is quite complicated."
"Sorry about that."
"It's fine. The Potato Salad Elves will do anything to eat potato salad in peace."
"Hahaha..."