Chapter 8: To the Elf Village
After returning to the inn, eating, and relaxing in our room, Sfenia arrived back.
“Welcome back. How is the response to the plague going?”
“Yes, everything is going smoothly. Hofena’s medicine works well, so those who have been treated are on the mend. How about you, Soushi?”
“I successfully cleared the F-Class Dungeon as planned. Tomorrow, we tackle the E-Class.”
“By the way, how long did it take to clear it?”
“About an hour and a half (3 hours). After that, I did some training and explored the village a bit. Though, it was mostly just visiting shops.”
“You’re quite fast. Did you find anything interesting in the shops?”
“Yes, I went to an accessory store, but I realized that I can’t afford anything with supportive effects just yet.”
As she shrugged her shoulders, Sfenia narrowed her eyes and smiled faintly. Just that alone gave her an air of mystery… I feel like adding her to our party would make us stand out even more.
“Did you two find anything? You both look rather pleased.”
Sfenia addressed Freinir and Larni. From here on, it seemed like girl talk, so I decided to step back.
“Oh, you noticed? I got a lovely pendant! It’s matching with Frei’s.”
“This one. What do you think?”
“Hehe, you chose something cute. Is it Frei’s taste?”
“Yes, she likes things with animal motifs.”
“I like those too. So, it was a gift from Soushi?”
“Exactly! It’s the first gift since we formed the party.”
“When I became an adventurer, I got my equipment…”
“That’s not really a present, is it…?”
“Hehe, but it made Frei happy, didn’t it?”
Well, it was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable in this room. In Japan, I could have escaped to my smartphone in situations like this… I suppose I’ll look for a bookstore during my free time tomorrow.
The next day, I headed out early in the morning for training outside the village, then plunged into the E-Class Dungeon.
This E-Class Dungeon was indeed the type with a large tree that had a hollow, and the monsters that appeared were Kobolds with dog-like faces, Night Wolves, and the moving trees known as Killer Plants—quite the fresh lineup.
However, aside from the Killer Plant having poison, they were all physical-type monsters with low defense, making them a good match for Larni. Even if up to ten appeared at once, it posed no problem.
Of course, being able to take out 3 to 4 of them first with Freinir’s “Double Holy Light” was a significant advantage.
In fact, it felt like I wasn’t needed at all, but I was entrusted with the boss, the “Kobold Leader.” Though, with a single strike, its upper body exploded, leaving the two of them with expressions that said, “Oh no.”
The skill I gained was “Immovable,” which allows me to brace myself against attacks. It’s similar to “Stability,” but this one gives a strange sensation as if the soles of my feet are sticking to the ground. At first glance, it seems like a defensive skill, but if I can brace myself, my attack power should also increase, making it a subtle yet useful skill.
Freinir acquired the skill “Holy Aura,” which apparently emits an aura that repels Undead while simultaneously increasing her attack power against them. It certainly enhances her Saint-like presence.
Larni’s skill, “Acrobatics,” allows for smoother weight shifting and seems to be a lower-tier skill compared to my “Honshin.” Regardless, it fits Larni’s combat style perfectly.
After the dungeon, we trained in a clearing in the forest before returning to the village to head to the Adventurers’ Guild for selling our loot.
As we approached, Freinir suddenly began scanning the surroundings.
“What’s wrong, Frei?”
“Oh, yes, I sensed a strange presence.”
“Is it Undead?”
“Yes, it feels close, but it doesn’t seem to be a monster… over there.”
Freinir pointed toward the Adventurers’ Guild building we were heading to.
“Let’s be cautious. We should act normal so we don’t raise any suspicions.”
With that warning, we entered the guild. As usual, there were several groups of adventurers, and only a few staff members at the counter.
I glanced over at the adventurers and noticed one party that caught my attention.
It was a four-member party consisting of three men and one girl. What stood out was that the men were all dressed in similar light armor, giving them a warrior-like appearance, while the girl’s attire had a distinctly Japanese flair… if I had to say, it resembled a shrine maiden’s outfit. Her black bobbed hair only added to that impression. Furthermore, a short horn protruding from her forehead vaguely reminded me of a “demon” from Japan.
As if sensing my gaze, Larni came over and whispered.
“Are you interested in that girl?”
“Yeah, I thought their party was a bit unusual. Plus, her outfit looks similar to something from my homeland. Upon closer inspection, it was different, though.”
“Hmm… But that party gives off a slight vibe reminiscent of the ‘Slave Hunters’ from before. It’s a bit unsettling.”
“Really? Frei, is that the presence you sensed earlier…?”
“Yes, I feel it coming from that woman.”
Could it be that she sensed Undead from an adventurer? She clearly appeared to be a living human, and there’s no way she could be a monster. If her shrine maiden-like outfit is indeed religious in nature, could it mean she has the ability to control Undead?
“What should we do? Should we try talking to her?”
Larni suggested, but I had no idea how to handle such a situation. The only thing I could say for sure was that a novice acting rashly would likely lead to trouble.
“Let’s not. We don’t even know if they’ve done anything wrong.”
“Well, that’s true. But Frei’s intuition is usually spot on, right?”
“That’s true; something is definitely off. I’ll let Miran know.”
So, I conveyed to Miran that I wanted her to keep an eye on the situation discreetly…
“Yes? Oh, she’s from Oz, apparently. She’s been active here for a little while now.”
Miran mentioned a term I wasn’t familiar with.
“Oz?”
“Yes, it’s known as a cursed nation. It’s a country that has no diplomatic relations with others and is said to use Undead and monsters. The Adventurers’ Guild is the only connection they have, so it’s rare, but occasionally adventurers from Oz come out.”
The cursed nation of Oz—what a name that seems to fit the bill. Personally, I felt a strange sense of familiarity with that outfit, given its Japanese-like appearance, but it might be wise to remain cautious.
“I see, thank you.”
After expressing my gratitude, we left the area.
It felt like we had stumbled upon a potential “flag” situation, but for now, the party hadn’t done anything suspicious. The fact that Undead could be artificially summoned was still unconfirmed. It would be premature to worry about it at this stage.