Ch.90Chapter 90 – The Saint is Anxious!

The carriage carrying me and Eterna departed from Glesius Academy, heading toward Belsalem.

There are no cities between Glesius Academy and Belsalem.

In particular, the facility I intended to use this time to reach the Grendillet Mountains exists only in Belsalem.

“This time, instead of continuing by carriage, we’ll be using the teleport station in Belsalem.”

“Teleport station?”

Teleport station.

This was the facility that Eterna and I had used previously to travel to the Beventus Border Territory.

This facility, which uses teleport magic circles modified for long-distance travel, was the mode of transportation I had chosen to reach the Grendillet Mountains this time.

“Couldn’t we just go by carriage?”

“To reach the Grendillet Mountains, there’s a place we need to visit first. We’ll need to change carriages there and continue our journey.”

Unlike other regions, there was a specific location that had to be visited before entering the Grendillet Mountains.

“Is that so? This is the first I’m hearing of this.”

Eterna showed a puzzled expression.

She probably wouldn’t understand my explanation.

Even I was surprised when I first learned about it.

“I only found out about this recently. Apparently, you need a kind of pass to enter the Grendillet Mountains.”

The place I needed to go this time.

I naturally learned about it while studying the Grendillet Mountains, the kingdom of the dwarves.

“The city where you can obtain the entry permit for the mountains is located exactly opposite to the imperial border where the Grendillet Mountains are situated.”

“Exactly… opposite? Isn’t that too far?”

“The details weren’t specified, but it’s apparently for security reasons.”

According to what I read, the Grendillet Mountains are extremely rugged and full of dangerous creatures.

Dwarves are beings with robust bodies who handle tools much better than their own bodies.

So the ruggedness and dangers of the Grendillet Mountains weren’t much of a threat to them.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that the Grendillet Mountains are essentially ruled by dwarves. The book mentioned that they take immense pride in having claimed the harsh mountains with their own hands.”

“I think I learned about that too. It was a long time ago, but the priests who were embarking on pilgrimages told us about the places they needed to visit.”

Eterna seemed quite excited now that we were discussing something she knew about.

“That’s why they don’t easily grant entry qualifications to their kingdom. It’s territory they conquered with their own hands, without anyone’s help. So the Empire has arranged for entry passes to be issued in the city farthest from the Grendillet Mountains. Only after obtaining this pass and reaching the entrance to the mountains can one finally enter.”

“Ugh, isn’t that a bit excessive? That means only a limited number of people can enter, doesn’t it?”

Eterna shook her head upon hearing the rules established by the dwarves.

It was her way of expressing that it seemed like too much trouble just to enter.

“That’s why once issued, a pass is valid for about 10 years. It’s a way of earning 10 years of trust through a single hardship.”

“Earning 10 years of trust through a single hardship. That’s a beautiful way to put it…”

Eterna nodded at my last statement.

By visiting the city farthest from the Grendillet Mountains and proving one’s qualifications, one gains the right to enter their cities without any restrictions for a whole decade.

“That’s why merchant guilds that primarily trade with the dwarves of the Grendillet Mountains neither disappear easily nor emerge easily.”

“I can see why. A guild with enough resources to travel such distances wouldn’t easily go bankrupt, and a new guild wouldn’t have the strength to make such journeys.”

Eterna’s words were true.

Merchant guilds trading with the dwarves of the Grendillet Mountains were making much more profit compared to other guilds.

‘Patos. I think the dwarves would really dislike you.’

‘Why is that?’

‘Dwarves hate it when someone tampers with or modifies their work.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘The merchant guild operated by our family trades with the dwarves of the Grendillet Mountains. So I know quite well.’

‘Then trading with dwarves must not be easy.’

‘It can’t be helped. The trade with dwarves brings such enormous profits that it’s worth the inconvenience. That’s why our head of family continues the trade with dwarves despite the discomfort.’

I had heard this from a noble student attending Glesius Academy.

When I checked later, that student’s family was indeed one of the merchant guilds trading with the dwarves.

“But… is it worth investing so much time to travel such a long distance back and forth?”

“People are willing to engage in illegal activities to make money, so if there’s a legal way to make a lot of money, wouldn’t they do even more?”

Our conversation seems to be going off on a tangent.

“We’ll be arriving in Belsalem soon.”

“I wonder how long it’s been since I was last here. A month? Two months?”

“We won’t be using the teleport station right away in Belsalem.”

“What?”

Eterna once again showed a puzzled expression at my statement.

“To ease your burden, I asked Branch Manager Justin to find someone to escort us.”

“Hmm. You asked Justin?”

Eterna seemed to understand somewhat when Justin’s name came from my mouth.

“Who are you planning to bring along?”

“Serin Ekatos. She’s from the Ekatos family and is highly skilled with the sword.”

“Serin… Ekatos?”

Though I mentioned Serin’s name, Eterna’s expression showed she had no idea who that was.

Hmm, it seems she’s not yet famous enough for her name to be recognized.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

I planned to nurture Serin and make her a renowned swordswoman in the future.

Serin Ekatos was also one of the talents who would help create a safe future for me to live leisurely.

“She’s the one who escorted me during my previous journey to Belsalem.”

“Wait a moment. She?”

“…Is there a problem?”

“…No, nothing.”

What’s this? Why is Eterna suddenly showing such a sharp reaction?

‘Could it be that she feels her position is being threatened?’

If that’s the case, Eterna had nothing to worry about.

‘While Serin Ekatos is an impressive person, she can’t compare in importance to Eterna, who has the ability to revive the dead.’

Ah, of course, viewed separately, Serin Ekatos’s value is also quite high.

But Eterna is a person of much higher value than Serin Ekatos, both relatively and absolutely.

In the original game, a strong support makes it possible for tanks to safely draw aggro and for damage dealers to stably deal damage to enemies.

I took Eterna’s hand in mine.

“Lady Eterna. There’s no need to worry. You are far more precious to me than Serin Ekatos.”

What I was telling her now was my sincere personal feeling.

In Erasto Chronicle, about 70% of the characters were so-called “damage dealers,” 29% were tanks, and the remaining 1% were support heroines like healers.

In other words, almost all the heroines I would meet in the future would be damage dealers.

This also meant that it would be difficult to find a proper supporter like Eterna who could fulfill her role properly.

So I intended to treat Eterna well in the future.

She could save my life in an emergency and was the best possible companion for facing demons.

“So I look forward to our continued partnership.”

“Ah, yes! I look forward to it as well.”

Eterna and I looked at each other and smiled.

It seemed I had managed to navigate through the crisis somehow.

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Did my ears deceive me?

Lord Patos clearly said…

‘You are far more precious to me than Serin Ekatos.’

Serin Ekatos.

Whoever you are, I’m the one Lord Patos truly needs.

But I’m anxious. So anxious.

I worry that more people will come to recognize Lord Patos’s charm besides me.

‘Lord Patos should be mine alone…’

Ah! Wait, what am I thinking right now?

Get a hold of yourself, Eterna!

As one who carries on the name of Lumio Sol, I must keep my wits about me!

Stay focused and persevere until the very end!

‘Sigh, I just hope this Serin Ekatos person doesn’t have any special feelings for Lord Patos…’

But cheer up! You can do it, Eterna!

I will definitely protect Lord Patos and this world.

And in the end… surely…