Ch.10735. A Mirror That Reflects Me (2)

They were making their way through the forest without any established path.

As I had noticed on the way here, this place had a surprisingly diverse variety of trees.

“Are you interested in plants? Your gaze keeps drifting downward. It’s nice to see nature again, isn’t it? But here, where the trees are so dense, you might find some tough weeds or mushrooms, but pretty plants or flowers are rare. If searching for them is your hobby, that’s fine too.”

“…?”

Aseth spoke as if she had been watching me observe our surroundings, despite walking ahead.

“On the right are trees belonging to the birch family. And from the left to further away, there are trees of the oak family scattered about. The path there is wider than here, making it easier to pass through. And further ahead from here, to the southwest from where we’re standing, there are trees of the maple family. So when autumn comes, the leaves turn red, making for quite a sight. These birch trees, depending on the region, can have white bark or lush foliage, but they grow well regardless. Here, the region is moderate, so they maintain a healthy brown color like ordinary trees, but…”

She spoke with surprising knowledge about these things.

“Even so, I don’t know if these are the same as the trees I’m familiar with from elsewhere. That’s why I referred to them by family. Birch trees can look similar yet different depending on the region or environment.”

“You know a lot.”

“I’ve heard about them. I tend to remember what I hear. A witch who was researching medicinal herbs thought trees might also be useful as medicine, so she studied them extensively and often shared information about their ecology and characteristics.”

“I see.”

“As you know, our bodies are our assets. Carrying emergency medicines is our fate, if not destiny. If we could always have a white mage with us, it might be different, but that’s not always possible. So naturally, we need to build connections with those kinds of people to get help when needed.”

The potion Aseth had fed Kariel when he was lying unconscious was, in fact, a product of such connections.

The medicines Kariel himself carried were merely basic ones for external wounds and simple internal injuries, so they had been useless.

And.

Though no one seemed to have mentioned it explicitly.

It was Aseth who had held the potion in her mouth and pushed it into Kariel’s mouth with her tongue when he was unconscious and unable to swallow, ensuring the contents went down without spilling.

“So my precious emergency medicine was put to good use, resulting in this outcome. It wasn’t a losing deal, after all.”

“……”

After talking to herself for quite some time while easily traversing the pathless forest for several dozen minutes.

“Is this it?”

Through the increasingly dense trees, an unusually large rock appeared, seemingly embedded into the ground.

Surprisingly, there was a large entrance sloping down into the earth.

Rather than calling it an earthen cave, it would be more accurate to call it a rock cave.

Mineth gathered his courage and followed Aseth, who entered the darkness without hesitation.

He wondered if they should have a torch, but as they went inside and his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could faintly hear the sound of flowing water along with a sizable hollow interior space.

Inside the cave, a mysterious place unfolded like another underground passage.

While not exactly a maze, it was large enough to get lost in if one entered without knowing the layout.

Most remarkably, despite the complete absence of light, the outlines of the interior were somehow discernible.

This was because some of the vines clinging to the ground and walls emitted a small glow, similar to fireflies.

Perhaps because it was a sight he had never seen before, Mineth found himself entranced by the spectacle.

“Fascinating, isn’t it?”

“What is… this?”

“I don’t know either.”

“……”

As they proceeded further inside, they were immediately captivated by another hollow area surprisingly bathed in sunlight, with a large tree—or more precisely, roots that had grown upward like pillars.

“Here it is.”

“……”

Following Aseth’s pointing finger, Mineth turned his gaze.

Leaning against the root that had grown like a pillar.

No, clinging to it as if entrusting his body to it, was someone’s figure.

He had been thin before, but now he was even more emaciated.

His distinctive black hair had mostly faded to white and gray.

He truly… did not look normal.

“W-why is he… I mean, why has he become like that?”

The horrific sight made Mineth’s lips tremble, and he could barely speak.

“What did he say again? That he needed to remove all his existing muscles?”

“What? What does that mean?”

“He said he had to remove all the previously formed muscles and rebuild them. Then he mentioned bones, skeletal structure, blood, and… what was it? Cell tissue? Strange expression, but he said even those needed to be completely replaced.”

“……”

Mineth didn’t understand what she meant.

But contextually, he could guess.

“…Does that mean he’s creating a new body?”

“You catch on quickly. That’s right.”

But.

“What if he dies? That doesn’t look normal at all.”

“So what?”

“Excuse me?”

“A man can risk his life to become stronger. I never told him to do it, and if he decided to do it himself, why should I stop him?”

“That’s…”

It made sense, but not entirely…

“Becoming stronger ultimately means pushing your will and beliefs onto the world. You could also call it perseverance.”

“…What does that have to do with anything?”

“It has everything to do with it. Others constantly try to use us and make us work for them. To avoid being swayed by them? Become someone they can’t easily touch. They’ll try to threaten and persuade us with food, and intimidate and bribe us with gold. Without strength, there’s no solution other than submission or obedience. But with strength? The initiative is always ours. By strength, I mean both physical power and knowledge, so don’t misunderstand.”

Well, that’s how I see it. I don’t care what others think.

With those final words, she headed toward where Kariel was.

Mineth hurriedly followed behind her.

The sound of water became clearer, and he saw a small stream flowing like a tiny river from one side of the hollow.

Starting from the wall, it flowed down to the floor, forming a small watercourse.

Though faint, the stream didn’t leak or protrude sideways, likely due to its exquisite formation.

“Seems he’s still far from waking up.”

“…Has he been staying here the whole time?”

“Yes. He’s been here continuously since arriving, without leaving his spot even once.”

“…He’s not dead, is he?”

“If he were, I would have buried or burned him long ago.”

Sometimes.

Even though he’s clearly right there, sometimes I miss traces of him, like his sitting figure.

It’s something that rarely happens to Aseth herself, but after experiencing it several times, she’s gotten used to it.

It was a fascinating experience in its own way.

“Oh, by the way, you knew where this place was when you came, right?”

“…It’s called the Valley of the Lake Dragon.”

Strictly speaking, there’s no valley, but the terrain is subtly similar.

It might be more accurate to call it a gorge, but with the presence of a large lake, that’s not quite right either.

The lake is surrounded by mountains with no visible outlet, making it appear isolated.

However, they say that very long ago, this place was truly a valley.

And the one called the master of this place, along with various minority races who worship this master in the area, believe this fact without a doubt.

“Yes. So do you know why it’s called the Valley of the Lake Dragon?”

“Wasn’t it one of the few representative dwellings of the dragon race on the continent?”

In the era when the dragon race flourished, they expanded their territory across almost the entire continent, other continents, and even islands.

The dragon race here refers to most fantasy species or divine beasts.

“That’s also why no country can invade or covet this area.”

There are no more than five places on the continent where the dragon race has openly claimed territory as their dwelling or shelter.

Among them, the ones here, called lake dragons, were generally considered docile as long as they weren’t provoked.

They remained quiet even during the Demon King’s army invasion, which has clearly earned them resentment from surrounding countries.

Nevertheless, the reason this place remains peaceful is that everyone knows their country could be instantly devastated if they carelessly provoke the dragons.

Originally, dragons are far more cruel and selfish beings than portrayed in stories and fairy tales.

It’s no coincidence that in ancient tales, heroes and warriors kill and slay dragons.

Yet people still aspire to be like them because their might and power are objects of envy.

…Of course, there were dragons friendly to mortals.

The most notable example is the golden dragon revered as sacred in the Empire.

Even the Golden Dragon Knights, to which Rueld, one of the Nine Heroes and a great warrior, belonged, was an elite order established to honor and praise that being.

“Then, is there a specific reason you came here instead of your original destination?”

“Yes. First, it’s difficult to track, and even if someone determines the location, they can’t easily enter. Second…”

Aseth, who had been staring intently at Kariel, said:

“There aren’t many places in the world where one can hide quietly without any disturbance for a while.”

For someone like him, branded as a fugitive and the culprit of all sorts of strange rumors, there was no choice.

Or rather, Aseth felt that way, which is why she persuaded and guided him here.

“Doesn’t seem like today’s the day. Shall we try again another time?”

“When did he last wake up?”

“I don’t know.”

Aseth shook her head.

“But he does open his eyes occasionally, so if you have questions, ask him then.”

“……”

That’s too vague.

“Stay here if you want. Or find separate accommodations. If you have no other options, you can work for me and stay in my cabin.”

“Would that be alright?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

As they turned around and exited the cave, Aseth mentioned her requirements.

“Hunt once a week. Enough for both of us to eat without issues. I’ll handle the preparation. With your abilities, hunting shouldn’t be difficult, right? As for the rest, gathering firewood? Don’t cut just any tree, mostly use fallen trees or branches. Or only process the trees I designate.”

“I, I understand. That’s not difficult for me.”

It’s not a difficult task.

As she said.

“Lately, I’ve been getting tired of hunting. Setting traps too.”

While listening to Aseth’s grumbling and asking about the surroundings and things to be cautious of, they eventually spotted the cabin and several people there.

One was a large-bodied beastman.

Judging by his face, he resembled a deer.

The other three appeared to be human.

One was a middle-aged man with a moderate beard and long hair.

The remaining two were a boy and a girl.

“Did you go there again?”

The deer beastman approached with heavy, splashing footsteps befitting his large frame.

“With nothing else to do, I might as well be diligent about this.”

“…There are other things to be diligent about.”

His fur was a harmonious blend of brown with white spots and darker patches.

Though clothed, what he wore would be considered short-sleeved for humans, both top and bottom.

All his clothes were in deep green hues.

Even the small bag hanging at his waist matched this color scheme.

He wore no shoes, but his feet, resembling horse hooves yet appearing much heavier, looked as sturdy as steel boots.

Their prominent presence exuded a healthy black color.

“He’s your nephew, isn’t he? Aren’t you being too cold?”

“And taking him in when he was nearly dead was what? A lack of compassion?”

“Obviously, you did that because of me.”

“Such a shameless one, tsk tsk.”

The beastman clicked his tongue.

“By the way, I see you’ve shed your antlers? Where did you discard them this time?”

“My head was itchy. And since there’s nothing else I can give to that nephew or whatever, I might as well give him that.”

“You act gruff on the outside but you’re actually kind. Antlers from one of the Nine Heroes—I wonder what expression he’d make if he knew.”

“……”

Mineth, who had been listening quietly, tilted his head in confusion.

Nine Heroes?

When the deer beastman’s gaze turned to Mineth, Aseth responded with a gesture.

“Ah, you don’t know this person?”

“I was just told to come ask about that. I have something to pass on to you too.”

“That person has good intuition. But what are you passing on to me?”

“…It would be more enjoyable than having nothing to do. Besides, for a young lady emanating such a malevolent aura, it would be abnormal not to know.”

Mineth tried to compose herself as the deer beastman stared directly at her while speaking.

She wasn’t foolish enough to not realize what he was seeing in her and why he was making such assumptions.

“I…”

“You don’t need to explain anything to me. A weirdo attracts another weirdo, so the weirdo will handle it. Right, Aseratt?”

“I wonder? What should we do?”

The deer beastman responded with a snort to Aseth’s playful, mischievous smile.

“Um, excuse me… did you say Nine Heroes earlier?”

Aseth laughed out loud.

“Did I not introduce him? Well, there wasn’t time, I suppose? I didn’t plan to either.”

“You really…”

The deer beastman closed his eyes, clicked his tongue, and then leaned his large frame toward Mineth.

“Yes. I am the only beastman who traveled here and there with that great Emperor of the Empire, Rueld, and those crazy companions. I am indeed Gazef. So, young lady… just call me Uncle Gazef. You’re a young human female, so that’s appropriate, right?”

“Yes. If that’s what you prefer, I’ll call you that. I have no objections.”

“Good. I won’t pry into your personal circumstances. Anyway, it seems your business is with her or Kariel, not us, so as long as you don’t cause trouble, we won’t provoke you either. So let’s just coexist peacefully, smiling politely when we meet. Understood?”