Ch.168Chapter 168 – Alfheim (1)

It had been a few days since I woke up after being unconscious for two weeks.

Only after Christina and Sera examined me multiple times and discussed my condition with each other was I finally allowed to resume my normal life, on the condition that I wouldn’t overexert myself.

That’s why I was sitting in the driver’s seat, ready to drive the carriage after a long time.

“You could just rest, you know.”

“Everyone’s doing their part. I can’t just lie around.”

I dismissed Eve’s concern and gripped the reins.

To be honest, resting would have been easier on my body.

I’m not the type who feels compelled to work every day.

But I felt uneasy about it.

“When everyone else is busy working, I feel too self-conscious just resting.”

“A doctor’s orders are absolute for a patient. Even if you feel fine, a doctor might see otherwise.”

Eve said this, then smiled and looked to my side.

“Isn’t that right, Christina?”

“Yes.”

Christina, sitting next to me as I drove the carriage, answered with a smile.

“You might have felt perfectly fine, benefactor, but we spent days worrying that you might stop breathing at any moment.”

Her tone was even, but Christina’s eyes were a bit frightening.

She was probably concerned about my health, but honestly, both she and Sera had had an almost predatory look in their eyes these past few days.

It seemed they had permitted me to act normally, but only if I remained within their sight so they could feel at ease.

‘I’m not some child left alone by the water.’

“Benefactor sometimes pushes himself too hard, so we worry. I suspect you might try to sneak in little lies about not causing trouble.”

“I agree. It feels like leaving a child by the water—I just can’t feel at ease.”

Christina and Eve exchanged these words and laughed together. Their bond seemed to have deepened while I was unconscious.

“But there’s no need to follow me around like this…”

“Patients should listen to their doctors.”

“…Fine.”

It seemed they wouldn’t budge on this matter.

For the time being, I’d have to accept Christina and Sera keeping an eye on me.

As I let out a small sigh, Christina gave a wry smile and said:

“Besides, I actually feel more uncomfortable inside the carriage.”

Christina said with a somewhat stiff smile.

“…Indeed, the atmosphere inside must be difficult to approach right now.”

After Eve’s words, everyone on the driver’s seat looked back, as if by unspoken agreement.

Turning my head toward where Sera’s room would be, I quietly asked:

“She’s shut herself in to study the golem core, hasn’t she?”

“…I think something changed in her thinking after what happened in Sestas.”

Christina worriedly mentioned that Sera didn’t seem to be sleeping well these days.

After looking at both of us for a moment, Eve nodded slightly and said:

“I don’t think we need to worry too much. She still remembers to come out for cooking duty and night watch.”

Then Eve added, as if just remembering:

“And Beatrice said she’d help. She’s in there with her now, right?”

“Yes. She seemed quite excited about it.”

Beatrice had volunteered to help when Sera started researching golems, and frequently went into her room.

Once she went in, she’d stay secluded almost as long as Sera, researching together.

“I peeked in once, and the atmosphere was incredibly serious.”

“I never would have guessed Beatrice was that type.”

It was hard to imagine from her usual demeanor, but when Beatrice entered Sera’s room to help with golem research, she seemed like a different person.

Both of them exchanged facts and hypotheses without any hint of humor, researching the incomplete golem core they had obtained earlier.

“According to Beatrice, it’s a type she’s never seen before.”

“Sera’s grandmother must have been quite remarkable.”

I agreed with that assessment.

For Beatrice, who had been through various experiences at the magic tower, to show interest and say she’d never seen anything like it was significant.

I’d even heard her grumbling that while she could tell it was an incomplete golem core, she couldn’t figure out how to complete it.

“I wish they’d take breaks now and then.”

“Sera is… well, she’ll be fine. Beatrice is in there looking after her too.”

Then Christina tried to reassure me:

“You might not know this, benefactor, but Beatrice actually tries quite hard to take care of Sera and me.”

“Haha, that’s a lie.”

“That joke goes too far.”

When I laughed along with Eve, I could see Christina giving a bitter smile.

‘Actually, I know all about it.’

From what I’d seen when Sera was learning magic from Beatrice, Beatrice taught her diligently and took good care of her.

She might seem rough and careless with me, but she seemed to take good care of younger women and animals.

I suspected that while Beatrice’s involvement was partly due to her own interest, she was also there to make sure Sera didn’t push herself too hard.

“Still, it would be good for both of them to get some fresh air occasionally.”

This was my genuine concern.

Except for mealtimes and changing night watch shifts, it was hard to see either of them.

I would at least run into Beatrice occasionally when she came out to smoke, but Sera was practically invisible.

Maybe I should force her to come out sometime.

“By the way, the journey has been quite pleasant. No major problems.”

Christina smiled and changed the subject.

As she commented on the well-maintained though unpaved road, Eve responded:

“Outsiders are only allowed to travel on designated paths, so they probably focus their attention on those.”

“I heard rangers immediately catch anyone who strays without permission.”

Eve nodded at my words.

Then she muttered with some displeasure:

“Still, I wish they wouldn’t approach for inspections quite so readily.”

“Oh? Did something happen?”

In response to Christina’s question, Eve waved her hand slightly and said:

“I think it’s because our carriage has magic on it—elf rangers kept detecting it and coming over to check.”

“…That happened?”

“Yes. They approached frequently.”

Eve sighed as she spoke.

Then Christina suddenly remembered something:

“Ah, I’ve heard elves are excellent at detecting magical energy—I guess that’s true.”

So that’s why we were inspected so often.

The rangers were detecting the magic on our carriage and coming to check.

“But they haven’t come since the day before yesterday, so I think word about us must have spread.”

Eve said this, but it seemed more like wishful thinking.

When I thought about it, armed elves approaching for inspection would be intimidating.

While the rangers probably had no ill intent or desire to harm us, the mere fact of armed forces approaching would naturally cause tension. I could easily imagine her mental fatigue.

“…Do you want to go inside and rest?”

“I’m fine. Just being like this is restful enough for me.”

Eve smiled and moved closer to me.

After glancing at Eve, Christina also subtly moved closer to me.

‘They’re close.’

I turned my gaze away from them and focused on the reins.

Gradually, the outside sounds began to grow louder, and I started to feel like I could hear even Eve and Christina’s breathing more intensely.

‘Not again.’

I shook my head vigorously and redirected my attention elsewhere, which finally helped.

Eve looked at me with concern.

“Are you alright?”

“What do you mean?”

“Lately, you seem more… sensitive, I suppose? It looks like it’s been difficult for you.”

“Did it show that much?”

“Yes.”

Had she noticed even though I deliberately didn’t mention it?

‘Maybe I should have said something.’

I realized I’d made a mistake—this would only make her worry more.

Immediately, Christina’s hand began to glow, and the light swept over my body.

“…You don’t seem to have any issues…”

“It’s just a temporary phenomenon. It’ll get better soon.”

In truth, I was already accustomed to these episodes compared to when I first experienced them.

‘Is this another side effect of transforming into a dragon?’

Dragons have several times better sensory abilities than humans, so that could be it.

Besides, considering I could hear the rustle of clothes from outside a door in Sestas, this would have happened sooner or later anyway.

‘I’ll just have to get used to it myself.’

Fortunately, I’d already discovered that redirecting my focus elsewhere helped.

It was only disorienting when I was caught off guard by a sudden increase in sensory information, like just now. I was confident it would improve once I got used to it.

By the time I finished that thought, Eve was still looking at me with a worried expression.

I smiled at her and said:

“There’s nothing to worry about. It’ll get better soon.”

“…If it gets too severe, please tell us. Sera and I will find a way to help.”

“I will.”

After that exchange, the atmosphere felt a bit gloomy.

I decided to quickly change the subject.

“At least it seems like we won’t have any trouble here, which is fortunate.”

Eve nodded slightly in agreement with my words.

Usually when driving a carriage, we had to be prepared for sudden attacks, but here, with elf rangers patrolling and standing guard, we could relax our vigilance a bit.

I just needed to make sure Moo got enough rest along the way.

From a driver’s perspective, it was the epitome of tranquility.

“We’re almost at the capital, so we just need to focus on arriving safely.”

“Right.”

With Christina’s cheerful voice discussing what to do upon arrival as background noise, we continued forward.

“It’s nice when things are peaceful.”

I closed my eyes calmly, smiling at the pleasant breeze.

-BOOM!

“Oh come on, seriously?”

There was an explosion.

Then the sound of weapons clashing began to reach us.

Birds suddenly took flight, and distant shouts that seemed to belong to elves shattered the peaceful atmosphere.

“Weren’t we supposed to just enter the capital smoothly like this?”

“There’s no law saying that has to happen, but I really thought we would.”

Even Christina muttered with displeasure.

Just moments ago, we were peacefully discussing what to do in the capital, the very picture of ordinary life.

“Damn it. Why can’t we ever travel in peace?”

A complaint escaped my lips involuntarily.

But the situation had changed, and that was that.

I quickly looked toward the source of the sound and concentrated.

Gradually, the surrounding forest became clearer, and the sounds grew louder.

-“…ogre!”

-“Temporary retreat…”

-“But…get hurt! More importantly, where did…”

“Kei, can you hear something?”

I nodded at Eve’s question.

“Looks like ogres have appeared. From the rangers’ confusion, it seems they showed up suddenly.”

-Moo!

As if agreeing with me, Moo started making noise.

The animal’s instinct had probably detected something dangerous nearby.

Eve’s expression sharpened.

“That’s strange.”

Eve was right.

The roads in Albheim were regularly patrolled by rangers.

That meant monsters shouldn’t be able to appear suddenly by normal means.

At the very least, rangers shouldn’t be caught off guard and fighting back in confusion.

Something was off.

“What should we do? Should we turn back?”

Eve asked, taking the reins from me.

After thinking, I answered:

“I’ll go check it out and come back.”

The distance was considerable, but my body was much stronger than an ordinary person’s.

If I ran at full speed, I could quickly reach the source of the sound.

Since the road was a single path, I just needed to run straight ahead without worrying about getting lost.

“Come slowly. I’ll go see what’s happening.”

“But…”

“I’m coming with you, benefactor.”

Christina said with a serious look, holding her staff.

“Stay here. It’s dangerous.”

“No. I’m coming with you.”

Christina looked at me and said:

“Not stopping you from going is already a huge concession on my part. Since you haven’t suddenly exerted yourself recently, I can’t just let you go somewhere that might involve combat.”

“But still…”

“If I come with you, we should be fine even if a dangerous situation arises. If you’re going, my condition is that I come along.”

I silently looked at Christina for a moment.

And Christina stared right back at me, clearly unwilling to back down.

‘Can’t be helped.’

I should be the one to yield in this situation.

“Patients should listen to their doctors. Alright.”

“Yes!”

Christina said with a smile.

Then I looked at the still-worried Eve and said:

“Just in case, ask Beatrice to keep watch around here too.”

“…Be careful.”

Eve said with a concerned face.

I handed her the reins, then put on my helmet and said:

“We’ll be back.”

After saying goodbye to Eve, I jumped down from the driver’s seat.