Side: Mobu
How do I put this... I'm just exhausted. In more ways than one.
We're currently walking toward Kiris, the border town right in front of us.
"Hey, can't we at least put our gear in the Item Box...?"
I mean, we have a rare and convenient Item Box right here; why on earth do we have to carry our own luggage? Never mind that "Marauder" thing, there's no reason to lug our bags around.
It's only been about two hours since that absurd Troll subjugation. Looking at the clock on the "Call" screen, it's 16:00. We left the dungeon around 9:00, so... we reached the border town in just seven hours? That's insane.
"Don't be stupid. People with Item Boxes are rare, right? If someone sees that, we'll be targeted. Plus, what happens if I'm separated from you? All the items are gone. Keep your minimum personal essentials on you."
Ugh, Yuki hits me with a sound argument. I feel like I can never win a verbal spar with this kid.
"Still, at a speed of roughly 70 km/h for seven hours, that's about 490 km... I should've checked the tachometer."
Wow, he knows the distance unit and can even calculate that. Are you some lord's son or a scholar?
"Hey! Heeey! Why aren't we taking that 'car' anymore!? Nana hasn't fully recovered yet!"
Buzzing around Yuki was the Fairy we rescued from the Troll pack.
When I asked why she could fly without wings, she mocked me, saying, "We're mostly composed of magic. We're different from humans." When I shot back asking why she didn't just fly away to begin with, she yelled, "I couldn't just abandon my friend and run away, you stupid old man!! That's why I was slowed down!!"
Yeah... we ended up arguing a lot.
I need to make sure Aslin don't end up like that.
"I told you already. Driving that car will cause a scene. And traveling with a Fairy and whatever Nana is—rare races—will make us stand out even more. I'm carrying Nana, and you're recovered enough to fly. We didn't do this just to help you. It was a coincidence. A byproduct."
"Raaargh! We're Fairies! It wouldn't kill you to be a little nicer! Don't you want enchanted gear? Or Elixirs!?"
"I don't know much about Elixirs, but is there anything more convenient than a car that travels faster than anything else, is indestructible, and can flatten monsters?"
"Nnguuuuh..."
Seriously, if she weren't a Fairy, I'd have abandoned such a noisy creature.
This girl, Coville, looks like a 14 or 15-year-old girl shrunk down to about 60 cm. Red hair in a side-tail... she's got a good figure, I guess, but she's so small that I don't feel any attraction.
Still, to think we'd run into a Fairy here...
"So that's the race everyone says not to mess with..."
I mutter, and Raiya responds.
"Well, she is just one individual. I doubt they're all like that. Fairies usually live deep in the forests with their high magic power and have built their own culture. They're most famous for enchanted armaments and Elixirs. Rumor has it they're the best at making them.""
"That's right. In the past, many powerful figures tried to search for, rule, or kidnap Fairies, and every single one of them was crushed. Those regions or countries then suffered massive losses because the export of enchanted gear and Elixirs stopped, ruining their economies. Because of that, the rule is generally 'don't touch.' You'll never find them as slaves. The right move is to save them like we did, make them feel indebted, and aim for the massive benefits."
Cars added to the explanation.
Is that the story? I don't really care either way.
"By the way, Coville, an Elixir is like a panacea, right?" Yuki asked.
"Yes!! They're a wonderful item that can fully heal almost anything!!"
"Didn't you have any elixirs?"
"Don't be stupid. If elixirs were that easy to mass-produce, I wouldn't have fled here, and the village wouldn't have been crushed by monsters!!"
"Huh. According to you, Fairies are supposed to be experts at magic. How did you lose?"
"I don't know! Some strange monsters showed up and magic didn't work on them! I used up almost all my mana just to escape, and when I thought it was over, I grabbed Nana and ran. After that, you know the rest. We were ambushed by Trolls while we were lost and didn't know left from right."
Coville explained the situation to Yuki.
I see... but a monster that is immune to high-level Fairy magic?
"...Does a monster like that even exist?" I asked.
"...Well, there are some that are resistant, but there shouldn't be any that are completely immune or nullify it," Raiya noted.
"Unless it's a special creation from Yuki's dungeon. But that's impossible. He didn't even know what Fairies were. Which means... Yuki's 'joke' might have become reality," Kurse said.
"What do you mean?"
"Yuki blamed this whole mess on a 'Demon King' to stop the fighting. But listening to them, monsters attacked the Fairy village. In other words, those special monsters might be the Demon King's subordinates, intentionally targeting the village."
"Haha... I guess a Fairy race that won't submit would be a thorn in a Demon King's side. It would make sense to crush them. But couldn't it just be a coincidence?"
"Yeah, but we have to consider the worst-case scenario. If it's a coincidence, all the better."
I guess so. If a Demon King is actually attacking, I'd rather not be caught off guard.
"W-Why!? Save our village! Just go 'vroom' and run them over with that car! It'll be easy!!"
"Are you an idiot, Coville? Your village is in a forest, right? How are we supposed to get that giant car inside?"
I guess so. If a Demon King is actually attacking, I'd rather not be caught off guard.
"W-Why!? Save our village! Just go 'vroom' and run them over with that car! It's easy, right!?"
"Are you stupid? Your village is in a forest, right? How are we supposed to get that giant car inside?"
"Ugh..."
"Besides, we're in a hurry. I treated you, and we're taking you and Nana safely to Kiris. If you want help, go to the Adventurer's Guild. It's a rescue mission for a Fairy village, right? Everyone wants to be on friendly terms with you; they'll probably help for practically free."
"There aren't many people stronger than you! I can tell! That car was surprising, but for a human, your internal mana is insane! I feel several times more from you than from us! Why!? What is so urgent!? Tell me!!"
"I can't tell you."
"Raaargh!!"
"Want a banana?"
"I'm not a monkey!!"
Well, I thought she was a monkey too... Seriously, this guy even carry bananas... What a waste of an Item Box.
Still, he's handling her well; I wouldn't be able to stand that screeching.
"...Sigh, Rurua, what do you want to do?"
"Eh?"
Yuki suddenly called out to Rurua-jouchan, who had been listening in silence.
What's he up to?
"Don't 'eh' me. I'm the field commander as your 'brother,' but you're the one who decides the policy, Rurua-neechan."
"M-Me?"
"Yeah. This journey is for you, after all. What's the call?"
"Wait, that woman is the leader!? I thought Yuki was the leader! Please! Save my village!"
"......I will be honest. I do not have the luxury to save your village. Furthermore, if it was attacked and is in a state of near-destruction... there is a high possibility this wouldn't be a rescue, but a mission to confirm its annihilation. Coville-san, you realized you were being overwhelmed because your magic didn't work, right?"
"......Yes."
"We are in a hurry. We don't have the luxury of accompanying you just to give you closure. Please recruit adventurers in Kiris. As Yuki-san said, many people will gather. If we were to help, it would have to be just us. We must avoid drawing attention right now."
"......You can't tell me why, can you?"
"No, it is not something I can discuss easily."
"......hic, everyone... I'm sorry... I can't save you..."
As Rurua gave her firm rejection, Coville landed on the ground and began to cry.
"Fumu. Nee-chan, can you listen to me for a second?"
"What is it?"
"If we get the cooperation of the Fairies, wouldn't it make our goal easier to achieve? They're a race that even major nations won't touch. If you have them with you and have their support, it'll be much harder for people to interfere with you—militarily, politically, or otherwise. Our journey so far is ahead of schedule. We have a bit of a buffer for a detour. Even if the village is destroyed, if we get items or at least gain Coville as an ally, it'll be a significant result. It could be a very good card to have in your hand."
"But, arriving sooner is...!!"
"True, sooner is better. But it's not like you can take action immediately over there anyway. It's six of one, half a dozen of the other. But let me be clear—this is just a suggestion. 'Rurua' makes the final call."
"...I understand."
Rurua-jouchan had a complicated expression. I'm sure she wants to get back to Rithea as soon as possible.
But Yuki is right. If it goes well, she'll gain a powerful asset.
"Coville-san, let me make a proposal. As Yuki... my brother said, if we lend a hand, even if the village is wiped out, any items found will belong to us. And you, Coville-san, will accompany us and cooperate to help us achieve our goal. Also, as I said, we do not want to stand out, so it will only be us helping. If you don't like those terms, then stay here in Kiris and do as you please."
"Fueh?"
"Don't just cry; give me an answer. As we said, we are short on time."
The young lady urged Coville for a response with a piercing gaze.
"I understand! I'll go with you on your journey, Rurua! So please, help my village!!"
Coville wiped her tears, stood up, and bowed to Rurua.
"Well, I guess Kiris is on hold for now. I'll bring the Marauder back out so we can travel in relative comfort."
Yuki summoned the Marauder and climbed in. Hey! Was all that walking just now a waste of time!?
I guess it's a case of "haste makes waste." I hope this turns out for the best...
