episode_0025

Accompanying Sylvia was not always fraught with risk.

Anyway, the most pressing thing for me right now is the collection of information.

Information about this new world that may or may not resemble the world in the game.

In that respect, Sylvia, a resident of this world, could be said to be a good source of information.

“Do you know that? I heard a story a while ago that a dragon appeared in Westmarch! Can you believe it? This is the dragon from the legend!”

… … Although this is all the information that comes out of Sylvia’s mouth.

Instead of answering each and every one of Sylvia’s endless words, I walked in silence.

Of course, my lukewarm attitude couldn’t break Sylvia’s will.

Sylvia talked to me non-stop, as if she believed that I was honestly answering her questions.

“Have you ever been to Nordenmachi? They say there is a territory completely covered in snow and ice. A territory covered in snow and ice. How on earth do the people there live?”

“Ah! It seems that priests from all over the kingdom are gathering in the capital these days. It seems like the number has increased beyond comparison to before… … Why do people who worship God gather in one place?”

“Ah! Wizard, do you know that? This is a story I heard a while ago… … .”

Doesn’t this character change too much?

I laughed out loud in embarrassment.

When I first met her, I thought she was just a timid and quiet country girl.

But I never thought she was such a talkative girl.

In the end, I had to admit that there was a problem with the way I had been treating Sylvia.

I smiled awkwardly and answered her question.

“Silvia seems to be well aware of various rumors about adventurers.”

“Of course! Even after all this, adventurers still visit our village quite a bit. When you listen to the stories of adventurers who come to town, you naturally hear various stories.”

Indeed, this was information obtained as a result of an active hobby.

Now that I think about it, there are people like this in real life.

These are people who are usually extremely quiet, but their eyes sparkle when a story about a field they are interested in comes up.

As I responded to Sylvia’s chatter again, I thought about the information she had told me.

Most of them were ridiculously exaggerated and worthless, but there were definitely some rumors that were difficult to ignore.

For example, in the case of rumors about a dragon that appeared in Westmarch.

No matter how you look at this, it’s a story that reminds me of Westmarch’s high-level field ‘Valley of the Dragon’ in the game.

Would it be too much of a leap to think of the ‘Frozen Shade Margrave Raid’ in the rumors of Nordenmarch’s territory being covered in snow and ice, and the ‘Cultist’s Den’ in the underground dungeon in the rumors of the priests gathered in the capital?

‘No, it’s quite possible.’

If this world is truly set in the ‘Age of Abundance’ right before the game begins, then it is quite possible.

Wait a minute, does that mean I am the one who knows the future of this world?

According to what I know, in the near future the kingdom will be invaded by demons on a large scale.

As a result of that invasion, the era of abundance that has continued until now will come to an end, and this world will soon enter an era of struggle where fighting against demons becomes a daily routine.

And the ‘rumours’ that Sylvia had just told me seemed to symbolize the changes that each region of the kingdom faced during the era of struggle.

Nordenmarch, the first raid in the game where you fight against the Margrave who has converted to the demon faction, Westmarch, which was a high-level dragon-themed field only, and Palace Impelia, where there was a cultist-themed farming dungeon.

That means that in East March, where I am now… … .

“Wizard? What are you thinking?”

I woke up from my sentimentality when I heard Sylvia’s voice calling me.

I tried my best to feign composure to hide my excitement.

“Oh, no. I feel relieved to be back in the village after a long time.”

“Oh my! I guess so. Wizard, you’ve been adventuring for a long time, so you’re tired, right? I’m sorry, I should have noticed sooner.”

Sylvia looked at me with a very regretful face.

You’ve been noticing that you’re tired for a long time, but now you’re finally noticing it?

… … Okay, let’s be thankful that you noticed now.

“We should move quickly, at least for the sake of the tired wizard. Well, welcome to the village of Glummachi!”

As if Sylvia’s words were a signal, a full-scale village scene unfolded before my eyes.

Unlike in the game, where it was a complete ruin that no one could live in, the scenery of Glummarch Village, where the residents roamed around, was beyond what I imagined.

There were no longer any images of zombies crying between the destroyed roofs or collapsed walls seen in the game.

Near the house, which was more like a hut than a house, people with farming tools were moving around busily.

It is probably because farming is busy during the busiest farming season.

The kid running down the road as hard as he can is trying to avoid his mother who is chasing him, and the mom who is running after him is trying to scold the kid who grabbed the snack on his own.

He was running and screaming happily.

The fact that so many people walking on the road were running with their own goals came as a new shock to me.

I had been vaguely aware of it in my head until now, but now it feels like it has finally become clear.

I really have arrived in another world.

Of course, the appearance of the village of Glummachi was not always positive.

Every time I took a step, I felt many eyes pouring on me.

Unable to bear it any longer, I whispered to Sylvia, who was walking ahead of me.

“Don’t you think people are looking at us too much?”

“Ah, it’s probably because the wizard’s appearance is amazing. Although adventurers often come to our village, this is the first time a wizard has come.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, the profession of wizard itself is very rare in the first place. I think Elin should have a little more pride.”

I nodded at her words with a nervous feeling.

Is it really just the country people’s curiosity for wizards, as she said?

No, that won’t be the case.

Although the gaze was simply due to wariness, there were also strangely sticky gazes mixed in.

From a subtle glance as if he believed he wouldn’t be caught, to an overt look that scanned my entire body up and down as if licking.

I slowly lowered my head to check my clothes.

Immediately, her dizzying body, which was barely concealed beneath the thin negligee, was revealed.

Even if you covered it with linen as a temporary measure, it was literally just a temporary measure.

To these people, I will look like a crazy woman walking down the street wearing only a thin pair of underwear.

I carefully thought about the magic to summon the Death Knight in my mind again.

I hope my decision to come here wasn’t stupid.

Fortunately, the frequency of explicit stares gradually began to decrease as we headed further into the village.

Instead, I should say, the attitude of Sylvia, who was leading me, changed noticeably.

The lively appearance of excitedly telling stories about adventurers has long since completely disappeared.

Now she just sighed repeatedly with a stiff face.

“Sorry, wizard. You wasted your time because of me… … .”

It was heartbreaking to see Sylvia so depressed and crying.

I can’t help it.

I owe you a lot of things, so I should offer some consolation here.

“It’s okay. There was nothing urgent anyway. I should help as much as I can.”

“Wizard… … .”

Charm progress 60%

Oh my, did I treat you too warmly?

Before the progress could go any further, I spoke quickly.

“Now that I think about it, it seems like you’re very worried. Is the village chief very strict?”

“Well, that’s not true. The village chief is a kind person. This is the person who took care of a helpless girl like me for 20 years. but… … .”

“Just?”

Sylvia hesitated and looked around.

He seemed worried that someone was eavesdropping on our conversation.

Sylvia lowered her head towards me and spoke in a low voice that was almost a whisper.

“Actually, I think you’ve become a little more sensitive these days. You often get angry or yell at things that would have been overlooked in the past.”

‘Do they beat me until my wrists are bruised?’

I barely swallowed the words that rose up in my throat.

Unless you know the details, it would be presumptuous to meddle any further.

“Ah, I think it’s probably because farming has gotten so busy these days. Well, that’s the village chief’s house. Let’s go now?”

Sylvia walked ahead with a brisk step, as if trying to erase the awkward atmosphere.

There wasn’t much of a difference since it was the village chief’s house.

Compared to other houses, the size was slightly larger, but the shape of the house seemed no different from other private houses.

But I feel like I’ve seen this shape of a house before. Is it just my mood?

“Please stay here for a moment. I will bring the village chief soon!”

“There is no need for that.”

A deep voice came from behind me.

The moment the voice was heard, Sylvia’s body was seen to visibly stiffen.

I looked back on behalf of Sylvia, who was frozen.

There stood a gentle-looking old man holding a cane.