Ch.139Delivery NPC. (2)

“While it’s sad that Er Jim is dead, there was some success in it. Judging by how quickly the leader of those insect-like humans sent a letter, they must have been quite desperate.”

“The fact that this self-proclaimed ‘trading city’ in human territory accepted our demands so quickly shows they’re well aware of their inferior position.”

“However, it doesn’t change the fact that there’s a human who killed Er Jim, who was among the strongest of elves. Indeed, we must take action before humans grow any stronger.”

Three young-looking blonde men sit around a round table, nodding at each other as they speak.

The table has five seats, but currently, two of them are empty.

“While dealing with humans is certainly necessary, shouldn’t we first do something about that youngster?”

“Tsk. We made him an elder as a reward for bringing back our enslaved kin and their descendants to our country, but he’s not doing his job. Just how many years has he been wandering outside?”

“Probably about 600 years or so.”

“Heh, we need to fill Er Jim’s empty seat too, but we old ones are suffering because of that inadequate fellow.”

The three elves shook their heads, referring to the missing elder—the 4,000-year-old Green Stone—as if he were a child.

“Anyway, I’ll report to the Grand Elder about what they sent us.”

“You do that. I need to secure the next elder candidate.”

“Then I’ll visit the beastkin territory. I need to remind those creatures of the ‘truth’ once more.”

The reply sent by Avalitia, the mayor of Aigram, was delivered to Siltra using every magical device, crystal ball, and messenger available, at considerable expense.

From the beginning, the elves had prepared for both success and failure of Er Jim’s mission. That’s why they were able to deliver the letter in just two days, a journey that would take three months by carriage.

But humans are different.

They were the ones who suffered unilaterally this time. Yet they managed to send a reply in just one week, showing how urgently they viewed the situation.

In other words, they regarded the elves of Siltra as their superiors.

…At least, that’s what the three elders here think, and despite Er Jim’s death, they believe things aren’t going badly yet.

For now.

-KNOCK KNOCK!!

“Hmm?”

“Excuse me, Elders! I know you’re in a meeting, but I must interrupt!”

The door was pounded loudly, and an urgent voice came through. The elders exchanged glances, and one of them granted permission to enter. An elf who didn’t look much younger than them rushed in.

“What’s with all this commotion? I believe we said to postpone reports until after the elder meeting unless it’s truly urgent?”

“Yes! I’m aware of that!!”

“Then I assume it must be urgent. We’ll discuss the interruption later. Tell us what happened.”

“Well…!!!”

The elf who had rushed in quickly explained the current situation.

“What…?”

“A human came through the ‘main gate’?”

“Yes! He claims to be the ‘criminal’ summoned by Siltra and even has a copy of the letter sent from Siltra!”

The elders looked at each other in confusion.

No, the letter from Aigram arrived today. How could the criminal arrive simultaneously with the letter? Is such a thing possible?

Perhaps humans possess greater abilities than they thought.

They might truly be becoming like the humans from thousands of years ago. This thought briefly crossed their minds, causing the elders to feel a slight cold sweat.

However, even if that were true, they couldn’t yet yield to humans. Having aligned their thoughts this far, the elders maintained their composure and addressed the messenger.

“First, have the ‘Forest Knights’ bring that criminal here. Make sure he doesn’t meet any other elves on the way, and also…”

“E-Elder! I still have more to report!”

The messenger interrupted one of the elders mid-instruction. The elder frowned, clearly displeased by this behavior, but the messenger continued anyway.

“T-that person is currently…”

And the moment the messenger finished speaking, all three elders jumped to their feet.

*

People everywhere call me stupid, and even women who like me say I’m dumb!

But that only means my processing speed is slow, not that I get the answers wrong.

After all, would Ragni or Rei show interest in someone who makes wrong choices when dealing with people?

What I’m saying is, I might struggle to calculate answers sometimes, but I don’t knowingly make bad choices.

“This is the way. My guidance ends here since I’m just a border guard.”

“Thank you. I’ll relay the message to the elders, so don’t worry.”

“Not at all! It was good to see the elders and hear stories from outside!”

“Thank you for guiding us. Take care.”

“Yes. You should go home and rest well, and… you there, human.”

“Ah, yes.”

The handsome blonde man who had warmly greeted Miho and Green Stone now turned to me.

The elf guard frowned slightly at me before continuing.

“I don’t fully believe what you said. However, considering what Miho and Elder Green Stone have told me, I’ll ‘temporarily’ let it slide. If you cause any unnecessary trouble here, then…”

“Yes, I understand. Thank you for even listening to me… Um, your name is?”

“…Salt Non.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Salt Non. Don’t worry, I won’t cause any trouble.”

I scratched my head and extended my hand in greeting to the man with the salt-deficient name, but he frowned even more and refused to take it.

Well, I expected as much.

He turned and left, and I reflected on the events of the past week.

After instructing Avalitia to send a letter accepting all of Siltra’s demands as quickly as possible using every available method, I immediately met with Green Stone that night, and the three of us—including Miho—ran again.

When I said we’d go by running, Green Stone looked at me like I was crazy, but I ignored him and ran anyway.

Yes, I ran with all my might.

Along the way, Miho couldn’t keep up and collapsed, as expected. Green Stone made some complaining noises but, true to his deus ex machina nature, managed to keep up until the end.

So I ended up carrying Miho on my back and ran for two more days.

As a result, I achieved the remarkable feat of reaching a village near the entrance to Siltra in just six days—a journey that would take three months by carriage. After a good day’s rest, we entered Siltra.

“Is this going according to plan? It seems quite different from the scenario you predicted?”

Green Stone asks without looking at me, still watching the departing elf.

Hmm, it’s quite different from the original plan, but I don’t think it’s a problem. Has any of my plans ever gone according to plan anyway?

Not in my memory, at least.

“Even though the situation is different, I’ve created enough problems, so it should be fine.”

“Problems? What problems have arisen? Surely you don’t mean that merely heading to the ‘beastkin’ village instead of the ‘elf’ village is a problem?”

“Of course it is. That alone is enough to be a problem for those old elf geezers, isn’t it?”

My original plan was this:

Like those annoying elves in manga from my previous life who say “A human has entered the forest!! Let’s shoot arrows first to intimidate them!!”, I would punch them all in the face if they attacked, then completely ignore the elves and force my way into the beastkin village.

I wanted to instill a sense of caution in those elf bastards from the start. To properly show them they weren’t superior.

Green Stone confirmed that elves with strong human hatred often behave that way. He said there might even be some who would charge with swords and spears, not just bows.

So I was hoping for trouble and approached them looking weak, dressed as a criminal, but…

“I’m not uncivilized enough to throw the first punch when the other side initiates dialogue.”

Come on, I’m a civilized person who lived in the 21st century. I always resolve things through dialogue when possible.

No matter how much I prefer quick solutions, why would I resort to physical “dialogue” first with someone willing to talk? Besides, that person clearly didn’t hate humans that much.

He even listened quietly after Green Stone revealed his identity, despite me having disarmed him.

“…Is that so? Watching you recently, I’ve seen many situations where your fists move first, so I honestly don’t know. And just now, didn’t you rush in first and take away all his weapons?”

“Well, when someone asks for an explanation, creating time to talk comes first, right? And I returned all his weapons afterward, didn’t I?”

Yes, after saying I was a “rocket delivery,” I took his spear.

The reason was simple. Although he wanted dialogue, I wasn’t sure how far he’d be willing to listen. And then…

[Occupation: Elf Spearman : Level 244]

That elf’s level, now not even visible in the distance, was the problem.

If the two elves had attacked while listening to my story, it wouldn’t have ended with just a punch to the face.

I would have had no choice but to kill that reasonable elf on the spot.

The elf behind him was over level 180.

As expected of elves, or perhaps Siltra—even their ordinary soldiers’ levels are incomparable to Aigram’s.

“Hehe. I understand Jack now, but Elder, you still don’t?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Miho, walking ahead of us and guiding us to the beastkin village, turns to look at Green Stone and me with a grin.

Huh? What do you mean you understand?

“Jack is always kind to those who don’t harm him or his people first. I initially bothered Miss Ragni, so Jack disliked me. But Elder, you’ve never bothered Jack or the people around him, right?”

“Uh, well? Yes, I…”

“No, what are you suddenly talking about?”

Why is she like this? Making me embarrassed? I feel a chill as I look at Miho, who continues with a bright smile.

“Watching Jack every day makes me think: if I hadn’t behaved that way toward Ragni from the start, we could have begun with a much better relationship. It’s the same this time—before, he left me collapsed and carried me like luggage when he rescued me, but this time he carried me on his back before I collapsed, right?”

“…You abandoned Miho?”

“No, that’s…”

“Hehe. That’s not important! The reason you avoided fighting with those elves just now was because they were quite strong, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but originally the other side wanted to talk…”

“Hehe! That wasn’t the only reason.”

At Miho’s words, Green Stone gives her a curious look, and she continues with a delighted eye-smile.

“You thought it would be dangerous to fight while protecting me without killing them, right?”

“Oh…?”

Wait, what are you saying?!

Green Stone’s gaze changes curiously, and Miho puts her hand to her cheek, grinning happily. I’m starting to feel genuinely creeped out…

Wait, since earlier, this…

“Green Stone.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you feel something?”

“Hmm? Feel what…”

“Huh?”

Just before reaching the beastkin village, I notice this creepy feeling that comes whenever Miho talks about me.

This isn’t just my imagination.

“…Sister?”

Miho, who had been grinning continuously, looks into empty space and quietly murmurs.

And at that moment, the chill running down my spine intensifies.

What?!!

-WHOOSH!!

“Kyaah?!”

“Miho?!!”

Suddenly pulled up as if by force, Miho soars into the air. I instinctively reach out, but she’s already lifted onto a thick tree branch.

What the hell?! An enemy who got past Green Stone, me, and even my status window’s detection?!

“Mmph!!♡”

“Huh?!”

“What?!”

“Miho! It’s Miho!! Our Miho!!!”

“S-Sister?!! Ah!!♡ Uh, mmph?!♡”

“Fufu! Our Miho. You’ve grown up! Your body has ‘all’ grown so much.”

Miho, who appears to be alone on the tree, struggles as if bound by something, and voices can be heard around her.

Her chest and thighs keep changing shape elastically despite nothing visibly touching them.

Wait, wait!! I’ve seen this before. Like what happened to that blue-haired princess… Ugh?! My head!!

“Who’s there!!!”

-BANG!!

Green Stone swings his palm, casting magic toward whatever is behind Miho on the branch. The space ripples, and vermilion hair—no, fur—as bright as the sun flutters.

“What are you doing?! If you attack like that, you might hit Miho!!”

“You, could it be… Hono?!”

“Huh?! Green Stone! I told you before not to call me by that name!!”

“Mmph!!♡ S-Sister!! Let me go!!! This feels weird!!!”

The vermilion-colored beastkin embracing Miho appears to be her sister.

I knew about her from Miho’s previous stories, but it’s obvious she has some ulterior motives.

I should separate them since Miho seems to dislike(?) it… Wait, what?

“My name isn’t what those idiotic parents gave me! Listen carefully!!”

The beastkin who was invisible moments ago—now groping Miho’s chest and seemingly rubbing her thighs with a fluffy tail—peeked her face out from behind Miho’s back and raised her voice.

But, wait. Why are YOU here?!!

“My name is Chikuyo!! The proud sister of Miho and a dignified fox beastkin, Chikuyo!!!”

[-Occupation: Magic Swordsman- Level: 185 Name: Chikuyo.]

The fox beastkin wearing a kimono that doesn’t fit this world at all, who was teasing her own sister, shouted.

And that’s how this woman, an NPC eligible to join my party, announced herself.

————-

[Miho’s sister, Chikuyo – Character Design]