Ch.170Chapter 170 – Albheim (3)

The Rangers’ faces were once again filled with shock at Pine’s words.

Of course, we were the same.

‘Did I hear that wrong?’

Just moments ago, I stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds, staring blankly at Pine after hearing that she had been waiting for me.

I carefully asked once more.

“Who… me?”

“Yes. Kay. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Pine smiled and extended her hand.

“…Have we met somewhere before?”

“No. This is the first time you and I have met directly.”

Pine said with a smile.

“However, I knew about you thanks to what the Great One told me.”

“The Great One?”

“I’ll explain in due time.”

After saying that, Pine glanced briefly at the Rangers.

‘So it’s not something to be discussed openly?’

When I cautiously nodded, Pine smiled and turned to the Ranger captain.

“I’ll be going now to transport the injured and guide these people. Return to your duties, Captain Zelkova.”

“Ah, yes!”

The Rangers who had been staring at us in a daze finally seemed to come to their senses and saluted.

Then the Ranger captain looked at me and saluted.

“May the blessing of the World Tree be with you!”

The Rangers thanked us once more before quickly disappearing into the forest.

I quietly prepared to start the carriage as I watched Pine smiling and seeing them off.

+

A little later, I climbed onto the driver’s seat with Eve.

“Kay should rest…”

“Christina said I’m fine, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”

Before starting the carriage, Christina had examined my body and fortunately concluded that there was nothing seriously wrong.

Even though Eve had offered to drive the carriage so I could rest, I couldn’t allow that.

“Besides, there are things I need to hear.”

Actually, the reason I volunteered to drive the carriage was for another purpose.

Turning my gaze to the side, I saw Pine sitting on the driver’s seat next to me.

For reference, the griffon was walking behind the carriage at a constant distance with the injured person on its back.

Soon, Eve looked at Pine with a slightly displeased expression and said:

“Why are you here…?”

“That’s because I have something to tell you.”

“Is that alright?” Pine asked with a smile.

I immediately looked at Pine and asked:

“So, how do you know about me?”

“As I mentioned earlier, it’s thanks to what the Great One told me.”

“Can you tell me who this Great One is?”

Whether the conversation was going to be lengthy, or simply because the driver’s seat was more uncomfortable than expected,

Pine adjusted her posture slightly and continued:

“If I had to say… one could call them one of the benefactors of all elves.”

“All elves?”

Eve asked with slight surprise, and Pine nodded.

“Yes. All elves. Thanks to the benefactors’ help, Albheim could exist and elves could survive.”

Such a being would indeed deserve to be referred to with such high respect as “the Great One.”

‘So they’re an even bigger figure than I thought.’

Having concluded that, I continued to listen attentively to Pine’s words.

“It happened recently when the Council of Elders was convened in Albheim due to frequent disturbing incidents. The Great One appeared in person and asked us to welcome you when you arrived here.”

“Why would…?”

“From what I heard, it’s because they want to have a conversation with you.”

Wants to have a conversation with me.

Judging by the Rangers’ attitudes earlier, Pine seemed to be an elf of considerable standing.

Why would someone whom such an elf addresses with honorifics be looking for me?

“Do you know what kind of conversation…?”

“I’m afraid I wasn’t told that much. The Council of Elders simply prepared by dispatching griffon riders near the capital to welcome you when you arrived, as it was the Great One’s request.”

Then Pine looked at me with a smile.

“Of course, our meeting just now was coincidental, as you were trying to help the elf rangers.”

“I see.”

“By the way, even if you had met other griffon riders, I would have come to escort you. The Council of Elders gave me direct instructions.”

One way or another, it seems I was destined to meet this elf.

Soon, Pine tapped her chest once and said:

“When we reach the capital, we will serve you with the utmost hospitality, so please look forward to it.”

“Ah, yes…”

While Pine said this, from my perspective, the sudden show of goodwill made me rather uncomfortable.

Then I remembered something I had heard earlier and asked:

“What are these disturbing incidents you mentioned?”

“Exactly what they sound like—disturbing incidents.”

Pine said, drooping her long ears.

“You heard the rangers’ testimony about the ogres that appeared earlier, right?”

“They said they appeared suddenly.”

“Yes. Somehow, monsters have been increasingly attacking rangers suddenly all over Albheim.”

Pine said with sad eyes.

“Additionally, elves have been disappearing in various places.”

“Disappearing?”

“It’s believed to be related to the suddenly appearing monsters, but there are too few clues at the moment.”

Finally, Pine sighed slightly and said:

“Now there are so many injured rangers that we’re starting to have gaps in our security. Because of this, there’s talk of mobilizing even the elite forces of Albheim, the knights and griffon riders, to solve the cause and search for the missing elves.”

“I see.”

“At this rate, I might have to work overtime every day.”

Pine was surprisingly concerned about practical matters.

But that wasn’t the end of it, apparently.

“And on top of that, the isolationists’ protests are becoming more radical…”

“…Isolationists?”

“Yes. Isolationists.”

Pine’s ears trembled slightly.

As if there had been some unpleasant incident, she quietly said:

“They’re a group that causes trouble everywhere, claiming elves should live only among elves. They’re also called discriminators. They blame everything on other races.”

“Is that so?”

“They protest daily, saying other races must be behind the recent disappearances and sudden monster appearances, so we should lock the country’s doors now. There have been several violent incidents during these protests.”

I was about to nod at Pine’s words when I realized something strange and asked:

“…Must be behind it? Not that they are?”

“They stubbornly insist despite having no evidence themselves.”

Pine spoke somewhat aggressively, as if she had a lot pent up.

‘Getting involved with them would be extremely troublesome.’

And they had even caused several violent incidents.

I should be careful not to get involved…

‘Wait a minute.’

If they were that aggressive and shameless, I wondered if they might take the initiative to pick fights with us.

“These days, they’ve been indiscriminately attacking humans and other races visiting villages and cities. Always be careful, and if they start trouble, avoid them immediately.”

As if reading my thoughts, Pine immediately explained.

“They’re really radical…”

“Yes. I don’t understand what good they think comes from acting that way…”

Pine sighed.

Looking at her, I honestly shared the impression I’d had since earlier.

“It certainly seems unsettling these days.”

“Yes. I haven’t seen the elders this troubled by so many problems in hundreds of years.”

Pine said with a sigh.

And listening to her words, I noticed something.

‘She speaks as if she’s attended those meetings herself.’

Being cautious about statements that suggested she had been there, I began to suspect Pine might hold an even higher position than I thought.

Pine looked at me with a smile.

“But as long as you’re staying in Albheim, I’ll be with you most of the time, so I don’t think the isolationists will cause you trouble.”

“That’s a relief… wait, what?”

I was slightly taken aback by Pine’s statement that she would stay with us during our stay.

Eve also widened her eyes slightly and said:

“You’ll be with us during our stay?”

“Yes. It was decided by the Council of Elders.”

Pine answered with a smile.

“I’ll accompany you and provide accommodations, dining locations, and so on. I plan to accompany you as much as possible.”

“…What?”

“I may be inexperienced, but I look forward to working with you.”

Pine bowed her head as she answered.

‘This is burdensome…’

I looked at Pine with a somewhat troubled thought, but whether she understood my feelings or not, she just kept smiling at me.

“This is giving me a headache…”

“I know…”

I responded to Eve, who was speaking quietly.

For some reason, Eve was giving Pine a sharp look, and I absently continued driving the carriage.

+

Several hours later.

After Eve and I took turns driving the carriage, with Pine smiling beside us and occasionally sharing stories about Albheim as background noise, we soon saw a massive gate.

“We’ve arrived.”

Eve said, looking slightly pleased.

Behind the massive gate, armored elves could be seen inspecting people trying to enter the capital one by one.

“The line is quite long.”

“The capital of Albheim is famous as a tourist destination.”

Eve answered with a smile.

“I’ll tell everyone inside to get ready to come out.”

“Please do.”

At my response, Eve smiled and began relaying the message to those inside the carriage.

Then Pine looked at me and said:

“Could you move the carriage over there?”

“Over there? That doesn’t look like an entrance.”

The place Pine pointed to was a small door next to the massive gate.

If anything, it looked like a staff entrance.

And as if to indicate that only authorized personnel should enter, only armed elves were constantly coming and going.

“It’s fine. Please go that way.”

At Pine’s urging, thinking it was worth a try, I moved in that direction.

Soon, the elf knights who saw us approached.

“Stop, that’s not an entrance.”

“Move your carriage back immediately…”

Unlike the seemingly good-natured elf rangers, the knights tried to stop us with stern, expressionless faces.

However, they stopped when they saw Pine sitting next to me.

“I am Pine of the Blue Pine clan. May we enter?”

Pine stated her clan name, which somehow gave me a feeling of impending bad memories.

In any case, she must not have been of ordinary status, as the knights began to look surprised.

“W-We apologize!”

The knights immediately backed away and saluted us, or more precisely, Pine.

“May we enter?”

“Of course!”

At Pine’s word, the passage reserved for authorized personnel opened.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Pine whistled.

-Whistle!

-Screech!

The griffon that had been following behind our carriage immediately stood beside it.

Pine pointed to the griffon, or more precisely, to the ranger lying on it, and said:

“There’s an injured person here who needs care. Please take them to the ranger headquarters quickly.”

“Understood!”

The knights who had come to stop us quickly began to transport the injured ranger, and Pine smiled and said:

“Then let’s go in.”

“Ah, yes.”

-Moo!

As soon as I gently tugged on the reins, Moo bellowed as if understanding and entered the passage.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something else, Pine said:

“By the way, you seem to be too formal with me, but please feel free to be more casual.”

“No, even if you say that…”

It was difficult to be casual with an elf whom ranger members and knights couldn’t treat carelessly.

Seeing me being somewhat uncomfortable, Pine’s ears drooped.

“…We’ll take it slow then. Now, let’s…”

Just as she said that, Pine’s ears suddenly stood straight up.

Her expression changed briefly, and then she looked at me and said:

“…It seems the Great One has come out to meet us.”

“How do you know?”

“Magic. They spoke to me directly.”

After saying that, Pine got down from the driver’s seat and climbed onto the griffon she had originally ridden.

Then, looking at me from there, she said:

“This way. Please follow me.”

I drove the carriage following Pine.

We passed through a fairly wide passage and continued along a road made of intertwined massive trees.

“Where are we going?”

“I’m not sure…”

After following Pine with somewhat anxious expressions for a few minutes with Eve,

we soon arrived at a wide area atop a massive tree, and Pine dismounted from the griffon.

“Where is this?”

“It’s the training ground for the elf knights.”

Pine answered Eve’s question.

“Excuse me, but could everyone inside the carriage come out and wait? I’ll bring them shortly.”

Pine said only that much before quickly crossing the training ground and disappearing somewhere.

After staring blankly after her for a moment, I immediately relayed the message to those inside the carriage, and soon Beatrice, Sarah, and Christina came out.

“Kay, where are we?”

“She said it’s a training ground. She asked us to wait…”

As I answered Sarah’s question, Eve and I also got down from the driver’s seat and went to join them.

Christina stretched her back as she looked around, and Beatrice began searching for and lighting a cigarette.

Then Beatrice approached me and spoke:

“Who could it be? This Great One who knows you.”

“It felt like they had met our benefactor before…”

Based on what they had heard before boarding the carriage, Beatrice and Christina each expressed their doubts.

“Kay, did you hear anything…?”

“I didn’t hear anything definitive. Just that they’re called a benefactor of the elves.”

“A benefactor of the elves…”

As Sarah was lost in thought, looking at the World Tree:

“They’re coming.”

Soon, Pine could be seen walking with someone wearing a hooded robe.

The hood was pulled down deeply, hiding the face.

‘…Who is it?’

Somehow, it felt familiar.

They approached step by step.

And finally, as if recognizing the familiar robe, Sarah widened her eyes slightly and said:

“Could it be…?”

“Sarah? Do you know them?”

Just as Sarah was about to answer, Pine and the robed figure had already arrived in front of us.

Pine stepped forward.

“Then I’ll introduce you. This is our benefactor…”

The robed figure raised a hand to stop Pine.

Soon, they stepped forward and looked at me.

[It’s been a while, hasn’t it?]

A voice echoing in my mind.

“You can’t be…”

[I’m glad. You seem to recognize me.]

I thought the robe looked familiar.

The figure lowered their hood.

And beneath it appeared a pure white human skull.