Chapter 15: Encounter – Part 12
The next day, while preparing for our journey, I made my rounds to greet Hofena, the elven apothecary, and Kaim, who had recently achieved D-Rank with the Silver Ring. In the town, I also ran into the beastfolk couple, Gashi and Nari, who were quite surprised to see me accompanied by members of my party. They seemed particularly taken aback by the presence of Larni and Karma, both daughters of the tribe chief.
The following day, we set off for the Elf Village of Marulo. I had visited Marulo once before, and it had been quite an eventful place, but the Inner Elf Village lay even further beyond.
“As we walk this road, I can’t help but remember the time when I first met Soushi and the others. Back then, I never imagined I would join a party and experience so much,” Sfenia said, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
“That was before I was captured in the Elf Village, right?” she added.
“Yes, that’s right. There was that plague scare, and as we headed to Marulo, a massive golem appeared. I thought Shizuna was captured, and then we were targeted by bandits… It’s amazing how many surprises we faced back then,” I replied.
“Speaking of golems, what happened to that Mazero guy?” Larni asked Shizuna. Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t heard about the fate of Mazero, the Corpse User.
“From what I heard, under the laws of Oz, the only possible punishment for him is death. Once the interrogation is over, execution will follow,” Shizuna explained.
“Given that he tried to abduct a national treasure and a priestess, that makes sense. But what if there are implications with the Mecalinan country?” I wondered aloud.
“I can’t say for sure. With the change of the king in Mecalinan, they might not pursue the matter too aggressively,” Shizuna replied.
“Is that a political decision? I wouldn’t know anything about that,” Larni shrugged, feigning disinterest.
It was almost certain that Mazero had been acting on the orders of the former king of Mecalinan, Gizelfa. Just because the throne had changed hands didn’t mean the actions of the nation would vanish. It wouldn’t be strange for Oz to hold Mecalinan accountable. However, given Oz’s tendency to avoid negotiations with other countries, they likely wouldn’t take any strong actions.
“Speaking of which, we did encounter slave hunters before. Do you think that will decrease thanks to Soushi?” Sfenia smiled as she brought it up. For elves and beastfolk who had suffered at the hands of slave hunters, this was a significant topic.
“That’s more due to the new king than to me,” I replied modestly.
“Still, the change in the Mecalinan king was largely due to Soushi’s efforts, so as an elf, I believe it’s only right to express our gratitude. I, for one, am thankful,” Sfenia insisted.
“That feels a bit forced, but… I appreciate your sentiment. Just don’t feel the need to spread it around to other elves,” I said, trying to deflect the praise.
“Fufu, I can’t let that happen. Besides, having a ‘debt’ to the elves will serve us well when we reach the Inner Village,” she replied with a mischievous smile.
“Oh, I see how that works…”
Sfenia seemed quite adept at political maneuvering. Despite her appearance as a girl in her late teens, it was clear she was more than she seemed… or perhaps it would be rude to think that way.
As I fell silent, Karma sidled up next to me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“What’s this about the Mecalinan king changing and Soushi’s achievements? Can you elaborate?” she asked.
“Oh, that’s—”
After I recounted the events, Karma let out a sigh of amazement.
“From what I’ve heard, Soushi, you’re practically a legendary adventurer at this point. With all that you’ve done, I can’t imagine the nobles would ignore you,” she mused.
“I have the backing of the king of Vermilian, so I should be fine. I’m not interested in becoming a noble, nor do I plan to stop adventuring,” I replied.
“Hmm, that sounds pretty cool. No wonder everyone is smitten with you,” Karma nodded, her expression thoughtful.
I assumed “smitten” referred to the feelings of my party members, but I suspected their emotions were a bit different. Still, it felt awkward to deny it outright, especially as an older man.
Looking around, I realized my party consisted entirely of beautiful women. Even the occasional traveler we passed would glance back at us multiple times, making it clear we stood out. While I wanted to avoid becoming a legend, I also wanted to steer clear of the reputation of an old man who was constantly flirting with stunning women.
Our camping arrangements were as comfortable as ever, thanks to the guidance of Soul’s Guidance, my expansive Item Box, Freinir’s sturdy Barrier Magic, Sfenia’s various spells, and Shizuna’s Spirits. Karma even remarked, “This is way more comfortable than a shabby inn.”
By the way, my Item Box included a bathtub and privacy screens, allowing for outdoor bathing.
Our journey continued smoothly, and by the third day, we crossed the mountains and arrived at the Elf Village of Marulo. Thanks to Sfenia, we were granted immediate access through the village gates.
After securing accommodations for the night, we made our way to the Village Chief’s residence at the center of the village.
It was customary to pay a visit to the chief upon arriving, and we needed his permission to proceed to the Inner Elf Village.
We approached as a group of seven, but the Village Chief, Goslit, welcomed us with a warm smile.
“Soushi, it’s a pleasure to see you again. I’m surprised not only by the increase in your party size but also to see Shizuna with you,” he said, settling into a sofa in the reception room. Despite his dignified demeanor, he appeared to be a young elf in his twenties.
“It’s good to see you again, Chief. I apologize for the sudden visit, but I would like to request permission to travel to the Inner Elf Village,” I said.
“Ah, with Sfenia here, of course, I will grant you permission. However, I assume your purpose is not merely for sightseeing…” he replied, raising an eyebrow.
“Indeed, Chief. Are you aware of the recent emergence of a monster known as a ‘Demon’?” I inquired.
“I’ve heard rumors from travelers. They say it has a bizarre appearance and is quite powerful,” he responded.
“It’s said to be equivalent to a B-Rank monster. I was hoping to investigate whether there are any records of this creature in the Inner Elf Village,” I explained.
“Is this a request from the country or the guild?” he asked.
“No, it’s primarily driven by personal interest. However, should I gather any information, I will report it to the guild and the country,” I clarified.
“I see, so this is an investigation aimed at saving people,” he mused.
“Not quite so grand. I’m simply hoping to see the Inner Village and also to have some armor crafted from dragon scales,” I added.
“That sounds quite reasonable. By the way, what is your party’s current rank?” he asked.
“We are currently B-Rank,” I replied.
Sfenia chimed in, “In reality, we are quite close to A-Rank. Soushi alone exceeds A-Rank by a considerable margin.”
Her pride in our achievements was evident, and it brought a smile to my face. Meanwhile, Chief Goslit placed a hand on his chin, deep in thought.
“Hmm, impressive indeed… However, if you’ve come at this time, it may be fortuitous for the Inner Village. Though, it could also mean trouble for you,” he warned.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked, intrigued.
“Well, the Inner Village is currently facing two issues. One is that an unknown entity has taken residence in the forest, and the other is that a new Dungeon has appeared nearby,” he explained.