Chapter 15: Encounter 23
“You are remarkably strong. To defeat three members of the Kin of Twilight with this many people is far beyond what I know of human capabilities.”
Even Geshura, who had maintained a stoic expression, now showed a hint of surprise at the recent battle.
“Hmm, but aside from that large one, the other two didn’t seem that formidable, did they? Lyra Nora was far stronger,” Larni remarked.
Karma nodded in agreement. “Indeed.”
“I have heard of Lyra Nora. A timeless dweller who lurks in the abyss and follows the Ancient Providence. It is said she grants power to chosen humans.”
“Is Lyra Nora known among the Kin of Twilight?” Sfenia asked.
“Not likely. Most would not know her. However, from your words, it seems you have fought against Lyra Nora,” Geshura replied.
“We have already battled her twice. It seems we may face her again,” I said.
“Hmm, that’s an intriguing tale. So your strength comes from that. But Soushi, even considering that, your power is extraordinary. Argi is among the higher ranks of the Kin of Twilight, yet you dispatched him with ease. What kind of human are you?”
“Just a regular adventurer honing my skills. Nothing more. I suppose my training is just a bit more efficient,” I replied modestly.
“Hmm, that is also intriguing…”
With that, Geshura began to scrutinize me once more, making me feel like a frog being eyed by a snake.
As I stood there, slightly frozen, Sfenia spoke up to Geshura. “By the way, Geshura, was that magic you used earlier lightning magic?”
“Ah? Yes, it is lightning magic that I created. Quite powerful, wouldn’t you agree?” Geshura answered, a hint of pride in her voice.
“Created? You can create magic?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“Indeed. By mastering various types of Elemental Magic, one can combine them to create entirely new forms of magic. The key is not merely to mix them, but to fuse them and understand the laws of nature. Though, it is not something one can achieve overnight.”
“Fusing rather than mixing, and understanding the laws of nature… I would love to learn more about that.”
“If you wish to learn, I might teach you. Of course, I will require compensation,” she said, a sly smile on her lips.
“What would you need?” I inquired.
“Food. I would like to obtain food regularly. No, before that, a place to live. Since Argi has come, I will need to relocate.”
“That… might be difficult,” Sfenia said, furrowing her brow in thought.
It was indeed quite challenging for Geshura, a member of the Kin of Twilight, to settle in a land inhabited by humans. While she could potentially live in a remote mountain area, the issue of food would be unavoidable. Although she might survive through hunting and gathering, it would still pose a significant challenge…
In any case, dealing with Geshura was not something we could resolve ourselves. We would have to return to Aadorf Inner Village and report our findings.
Believing that no immediate pursuers would come after us, we left Geshura behind and returned to Aadorf.
Upon arriving at Sfenia’s home, we reported our encounter with her father, Sarandol.
However, I refrained from mentioning that Geshura could create an Item Box. I felt it was a dangerous piece of information, both for Geshura and for the elves.
Sarandol listened intently, his eyes wide as he absorbed the information. Once I finished, he closed his eyes and began to ponder, “Hmm… The fact that a member of the Kin of Twilight has taken residence in the Okuri Forest is a story that far exceeds my imagination. Moreover, this individual is quite significant among the Kin of Twilight, and there is a possibility that their king is targeting this continent… Even I find it hard to keep up with this tale.”
“I am honestly surprised as well. However, it seems she intends to move to another location now that pursuers are after her, so Aadorf may not need to take any immediate action,” I explained.
“True. To be honest, we lack the strength to confront the Kin of Twilight, which might be a blessing. While gathering elven adventurers could make it possible, there is no real benefit in getting involved. The real concern is the talk of the Kin of Twilight’s king. This is something we must inform the King of Vermilian and neighboring countries about immediately. Especially if the Kin of Twilight intends to attack, the northern empire will be on the front lines, so failing to inform them would be unwise.”
“I believe this information will likely be conveyed through the Adventurers’ Guild. My personal concern is that discussions may arise about how to deal with Geshura to gather more details,” I said.
“Ah, well, both the kingdom and the empire would likely seek to acquire Geshura as a source of information if they heard such news. Conversely, that might make her safer,” Sarandol replied.
It was true that being sheltered by the kingdom could be a viable survival strategy. However, it was hard to imagine Geshura, a member of the Kin of Twilight, receiving fair treatment in a human kingdom. Even if the King of Vermilian or the Emperor of the empire had a sense of human rights, how they would actually treat her as a nation was a different matter entirely.
“Regardless, I will bring this matter up at the Holy Tree Hollow and discuss it urgently. If she plans to leave, I believe the conclusion will be to take no action,” Sarandol concluded.
“Understood. It seems Geshura intends to move within a week. I do not know where she plans to go next,” I replied.
“It might be better not to inquire too deeply about that. If we dig too far, it could attract unwanted attention from the kingdom towards you and the Soul’s Guidance,” he cautioned.
“I wouldn’t mind being asked for information, but since we have already formed a connection with the royal family of Vermilian, it seems unavoidable,” I said.
“Ah, I heard from Sfenia that you saved the queen’s life with an Elixir. Hmm… In that case, how about making Geshura an adventurer? If she becomes a member of the Soul’s Guidance, it could prevent the kingdom from meddling with her,” Sarandol suggested.
“Uh… I don’t know if that’s feasible. I doubt there has ever been a precedent for a member of the Kin of Twilight becoming an adventurer…” I replied hesitantly.
While Sarandol’s suggestion was likely half in jest, there was an undeniable aspect that could not be ignored. Regardless of where Geshura went, now that her existence had been confirmed, she would inevitably be pursued by humans. Considering that, revealing Geshura’s identity could be a risky gamble, but it was not entirely out of the question.
“She took the risk to inform us of the Kin of Twilight’s invasion plans… If we frame it as a favor, I believe the kingdom would hesitate to act against her. Moreover, with you, Soushi, gaining recognition as a hero across various nations, it would be difficult for anyone to take action against her unless it was something truly significant.”
“I see…”
Nodding, I glanced at Mariane, the guild receptionist. Perhaps sensing my thoughts, she took a moment before responding.
“I don’t believe there is a rule against making a member of the Kin of Twilight an adventurer within the guild. The issue lies with whether the Guild Master will approve it, but I suspect if we inquire with the Grand Master, they would be more than willing to grant permission.”
“Even if it could worsen relations with the kingdom?”
“The Grand Master has a penchant for interesting matters. In fact, he might be more inclined to bring Geshura under his wing. Of course, he might also summon us to the headquarters… or even come here himself.”
“Is it really that serious…?”
This was becoming quite a troublesome situation.
It seemed necessary to meet with Geshura once more to ask her what she truly wanted.
However, whether we needed to go that far for her was something I needed to discuss with the members. Bringing her along would mean the possibility of facing pursuers again. I needed to confirm that as well, but just asking might lead to more accusations of “targeting” her.