Ch.204Chapter 204 – Leaving Alfheim

“I’m sorry.”

Pine said quietly.

“I cannot go.”

With her apology came words of refusal.

As Eve was about to say something, Pine interrupted her.

“To be honest, I want to go with you too. You are comrades I’ve fought alongside, and we’ve spent time together closely.”

Pine spoke with a hint of nostalgia.

However, she firmly continued.

“But Albheim has suffered great damage now. I cannot leave my devastated homeland behind to depart with you all.”

“Then…”

“Asking you to help me restore Albheim is obviously not an option. You don’t have much time to spare in your schedule.”

Pine bowed her head as she spoke.

“I’m sorry. For now, I cannot go with you all.”

“Miss Pine…”

Pine kept her head lowered.

After a moment, Eve sighed softly and said.

“It can’t be helped.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. We were the ones making an unreasonable request.”

Eve said with a slightly deflated smile.

Looking at Eve, Chris quietly spoke.

“But, for Master Kay’s sake…”

“Kay would surely respect Pine’s decision. He’ll understand.”

Eve said with a smile.

“I’m sorry. We’re interrupting your time with your mother.”

[Don’t worry about it. You’re more polite than you look.]

Abies waved her hand at Eve with a somewhat complicated expression.

Then Pine quietly raised her head and said.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Yes.”

“It’s not a token of apology, but I’ll prepare some things that might help your journey and give them to you tomorrow morning.”

With those final words, Pine and Abies exchanged farewells with Eve and quietly walked away.

Eve’s voice quietly resonated.

“This is difficult.”

“I thought Miss Pine would come with us since she seems interested in our group.”

Chris said quietly.

“I invited her to join us thinking that if she came along, it would reduce the burden on Master Kay, but things didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped.”

“It must be hard for her to leave so casually when her homeland is in this state.”

Eve said quietly.

“This won’t be the only chance, and who knows what might happen in the future.”

“For now, we need to find ways to become stronger ourselves.”

Eve nodded at Sera’s words.

“We were lucky this time, but that might not be the case next time. Let’s work hard on our own for a while. So that we won’t be a burden to him.”

I could see Sera and Chris nodding at Eve’s words.

“By the way, this is still a secret from Master Kay, right?”

“Of course. I’m worried he might think we’re meddling unnecessarily.”

“I’m a bit embarrassed, so I’d prefer to keep it hidden too.”

I could hear the three women talking and laughing.

“Let’s do our best.”

“Yes!”

“In that spirit, you’ll help with packing the luggage, right?”

When Eve said this with a smile, I saw Sera pretend to run away before laughing and entering the carriage.

Though their attempt to recruit Pine as a companion had failed, I watched them fondly as they quickly moved past it and worked while laughing.

Then I glared slightly behind me.

“Why don’t you make some noise when you approach?”

“The helmet was just watching something tactless.”

Somehow she had appeared.

Beatrice was standing behind me with a mischievous smile.

“How does it feel? Being surrounded by women who care for you so deeply.”

“…I’ll exercise my right to remain silent.”

If I had to say, I was so grateful I couldn’t lift my head.

Beatrice approached me with a smile and said.

“Treat them well.”

Beatrice was smiling.

But her eyes had become slightly sharp.

“I just arrived so I don’t know everything, but those three probably had complicated feelings up until the moment they tried to recruit Pine.”

“Complicated feelings?”

“Well, let’s just call it women’s pride.”

Beatrice placed her hand on my shoulder and said.

“So treat them well.”

“I will.”

When I nodded, Beatrice’s expression softened.

“I should go help our grateful ladies.”

“That’s good.”

It wouldn’t be right to leave people preparing for tomorrow’s departure on their own.

Watching me walk toward the carriage with a smile, Beatrice said.

“I’ll be off then.”

She took out a cigarette from her pocket and turned away from me.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I quickly grabbed her shoulder and dragged her to the carriage.

+

And so the next morning arrived.

“So many elves have gathered…!”

Whether they came to see us off or not, elves surrounded our carriage.

Moreover, our carriage escort was a familiar face.

“I’m glad to see you’re safe, Captain Zelkova.”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

It was Ranger Captain Zelkova and his subordinates whom we had met before.

“I was surprised to hear about your two-rank promotion.”

“…It’s not because of my own merit.”

Zelkova had been promoted two ranks because many of his superiors had died during the battle with the demon race.

I was honestly extremely surprised when he appeared offering to escort our carriage, as I had misunderstood his intentions.

We proceeded to the plaza with Zelkova and his subordinates escorting us.

-“Look, the one sitting in the driver’s seat is…”

-“He’s quite…”

-“Are the women sitting next to him his lovers? Wives?”

“We’re getting quite a lot of attention.”

Honestly, I had expected only Lumen, Abies, and Pine to see us off.

Looking at me, Zelkova smiled bitterly and said.

“I hate to say this, but we suffered a lot of damage from the demons. The citizens’ anxiety has grown.”

Zelkova’s expression was somewhat dark.

“Were there many civilian casualties?”

“Fortunately, the demons didn’t attack them, so there weren’t many casualties.”

Zelkova said.

“But for some reason, all the elves who were imprisoned have disappeared. Somehow they managed to evade the guards’ eyes.”

“Evaded the guards?”

“I suspect someone took advantage of the battle to help them escape.”

Zelkova sighed.

The rangers would probably have a hard time recapturing them.

“Stay strong.”

“Ah, yes. Anyway, with Albheim’s forces reduced by the battle, public safety will likely deteriorate, and citizens’ anxiety and discontent will grow. There’s also the issue of the bereaved families.”

After saying that, Zelkova smiled slightly and continued.

“So the Council of Elders has made a decision.”

“A decision?”

“They’ve decided to spread the story of heroes who answered the call of the great one in a time of crisis, fought against the demons, and repelled the Demon King.”

Zelkova added with a weak smile.

“They intend to suppress discontent for a while with the story of these heroes. And buy some time too.”

“So it’s all calculated.”

I thought there was no reason for them to praise us, but that was the reason.

At least now I understood why this crowd had gathered.

“These are citizens who wanted to see the departing heroes at least once. Isn’t it amazing how many have gathered in just a few hours since the announcement?”

“Ah… yes.”

Still, since it had only been announced a few hours ago, the crowd was only large enough to make the carriage’s passage slightly difficult.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I unconsciously touched my face.

“We’re almost there.”

When Zelkova pointed ahead, I could see Lumen, Pine, and Abies standing there.

Behind Lumen, a warp gate was open.

“Well then, stay healthy, Captain Zelkova.”

“Yes!”

After briefly greeting the rangers who had escorted us, I drove the carriage forward.

Pine stepped in front of us and said.

“On behalf of the elves gathered here, and those who are not present, I sincerely thank you for your help.”

Pine bowed her head in greeting.

As I hesitated slightly about how to receive her greeting from atop the carriage, Pine smiled and said.

“It’s alright. We don’t want to take up more of your time either.”

“I see.”

Eve, sitting beside me, smiled and bowed her head.

“Before you leave, we have prepared some items for you. Please accept them.”

“We’ll accept them gratefully.”

As soon as Eve finished speaking, several elves approached pulling carts.

I could see weapons, food, and what appeared to be valuables inside.

The carts were attached to our carriage, and something like a lid was placed over them.

“We’ve prepared them so they won’t be lost inside the gate. I apologize for not being able to offer more.”

“This is more than enough.”

At my words, Pine smiled and stepped back.

[As I said yesterday, Abies and I will stay here to help with the recovery. I’m sorry we can’t help you for a while.]

[But when you find the Philosopher’s Stone, either come here immediately or contact us. Then Lumen will come and help with the ritual.]

Lumen and Abies each said a word.

[Well then. Enter the gate.]

“I will.”

I directed the carriage toward the gate.

‘…Should I tell her?’

I just turned my head to look at Pine.

“Pine?”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask you something?”

Pine tilted her head at my question.

“What is it?”

“We’re comrades, right?”

At my words, Pine was silent for a moment.

But soon she smiled and said.

“Yes.”

Pine said with a slightly trembling voice.

“Although I can’t go with you all…”

She smiled and said.

“If there’s anything I can do to help you, I’ll definitely come running.”

With tears in her eyes, Pine said.

“Because we’re comrades.”

“That’s right.”

I moved the carriage toward the gate.

[May peace be with you on your journey.]

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

Following the voices of Pine and Lumen, various voices could be heard from behind.

The carriage passed through the gate.

+

Several hours after Kay’s group had departed, in the evening.

[Pine looks a bit depressed.]

[Leave her be. That child wanted to go with them.]

Lumen and Abies were conversing with each other.

Lumen was doing something with a magic circle floating toward the roots of the World Tree, and Abies was standing behind him talking.

[Did something happen?]

[Why, are you going to meddle?]

[If I had to say, she’s my friend’s daughter, so I’m concerned.]

After saying that, Lumen added slightly.

[Strictly speaking, Pine is closer to being your avatar.]

[…That’s technically correct.]

A being created using her blood and flesh.

Abies glared at Lumen and said.

[But that child is like my own. So I’d like her to be treated as a proper living being.]

[Of course. The elves feel the same way.]

That was also why Pine received high regard among the elves.

While her character and strength were factors, being like an avatar of the elves’ hero was the reason she was respected.

[Well, I heard that ancient elven leaders often left descendants that way, so it’s not that strange.]

It was an old custom now, but among the ancient elven leaders, some were forbidden to marry.

So Lumen remembered that quite a few created their own avatars to leave descendants.

[You were a bit different though. You couldn’t forget your first love, Abies.]

[Stop it… You didn’t end up with your first love either.]

Abies snapped at Lumen, who was speaking in a slightly teasing tone.

Abies quietly said.

[Thanks to that, I felt complicated seeing the silver-haired girl. Do you feel the same?]

[I’m fine… Though her appearance was certainly similar.]

Lumen quietly said that her personality seemed a bit different.

Soon Abies sighed and said.

[Let’s stop here. We’re old folks who should disappear from this era.]

[Oh, to hear you call yourself old. It seems like just yesterday you were denying that you’re five times older than the hero.]

[If you keep being cheeky, I’ll beat you with my bow, you bag of bones.]

After a moment, they both chuckled.

It was all in the past now.

That’s why the members of the hero’s party could keep those memories and laugh about them.

[Anyway, Pine is my daughter, so she has similarities to me. For instance, being somewhat attracted to ‘men from another world.’]

[She probably didn’t show it much. Just like you didn’t.]

But, Lumen added.

[Still, I think that’s partly why she took care of Kay’s group beyond my instructions.]

[I suppose so.]

Lumen thought that if it had been just his order, Pine wouldn’t have entered the World Tree’s labyrinth with them.

[By the way, when I see Pine, I sometimes think of the hero.]

[Why?]

[The hero showed great interest in beings born like Pine, calling them ‘clones.’]

Saying it was a technology with many applications.

Lumen said.

And hearing Lumen’s words, Abies seemed to remember something and quietly said.

[Many applications, huh.]

[What’s wrong?]

[I just suddenly felt a bit uneasy.]

Abies looked at Lumen and said.

[Hey, Lumen.]

[What is it?]

Abies quietly said.

[What do you think someone who doesn’t understand the value of life could do if they misused that technology?]

Lumen thought for a moment before speaking.

The condition of the question was that an evil person would use it.

The best way to misuse such created life forms.

From a mage’s perspective, Lumen thought of options while setting aside his conscience as much as possible.

[There are several possibilities. The first that comes to mind is…]

After thinking, Lumen quietly said.

[Living sacrifices.]

At Lumen’s words, Abies’s eyes grew slightly sharper.