episode_0060

We cautiously emerged from the mine.

Thanks to Kona, the monsters didn’t attack, making the round trip quick, and the guards we subdued remained as they were.

“Well then, I’ll depart now…”

Spectre said.

He needed to return to the Loredia family’s eldest son, Festo, in the Labyrinth City to reveal the truth about the mine.

If the story spreads properly, the wedding will be ruined.

There might even be a war.

Of course, the Capumo Kingdom between Loredia and Brigal might act as a buffer zone, so it’s hard to say for sure.

“Take this.”

I handed him one of the pouches of gold coins I had brought separately.

It’s quite a distance to the Labyrinth City from here.

Moreover, we won’t be heading straight back but taking a detour to avoid pursuers, which will cost us more money and time.

Of course, Spectre himself is a skilled mercenary, so his fee is high.

For now, he’s a mercenary and the winner of the knights’ swordsmanship tournament in Loredia.

“I’ll pass on any leftover money to Lady Rinde.”

“Sure.”

“And what about Kona? Should I take her with me?”

“What?! No! I have to go meet Onelloi!”

Kona shook her head vigorously.

“Well…”

Honestly, it would be safest for Spectre to take her along.

But the promise with the elves cannot be broken.

Whether it’s a Dark Elf or a Half-Elf, Misty despised breaking promises.

“For now, I’ll take her. Onelloi might know something.”

“Understood. Please be careful then.”

Spectre nodded and turned away, leaving.

Kona and I headed back to where the stable was located.

“Oh? You’re back early.”

Though it was night, the stable owner was still awake, waiting.

“I thought you’d come around dawn. Anyway, are you leaving now?”

“Is everything alright? Horses need rest, don’t they?”

“I’ll leave the tired horse at the inn and switch to a fresh one, so it’s fine.”

“You leave horses at the inn?”

“My friend runs that inn.”

“I see…”

“I used to change horses often since there were many carriages coming and going. Nowadays, they’re idle, so we can leave right away.”

I thought I’d have to wait until dawn at least, so this is fortunate.

“But… you know, right?”

The stable owner drew a circle with his hand.

“I gave you two extra gold coins earlier.”

“Even if the horse rests, I haven’t. I need a potion too, so pay for that.”

“Tsk…”

I took out another gold coin and tossed it to him.

“Haha, thanks. Now, get on.”

We got on the carriage.

“You folks are lucky.”

As we set off on the night road, the stable owner remarked.

“What?”

“You guys aren’t supposed to be here, right? Just had a feeling.”

“Who’s the idiot who openly says that to such people?”

“Well, relax. I’m not planning to deceive you, that’s why I’m telling you upfront. Since the mine closed, business has been slow for me. Meeting a big client like you is rare, so I need to make a good impression.”

“…”

“Don’t glare at me like that. I mean it, okay? Besides, you’re not some lunatic who goes around killing people. You can tell by the way you talk.”

The stable owner pulled out a bottle from beside his seat, opened it, drank, and closed it again.

It doesn’t smell like alcohol, probably a low-grade stamina potion.

“Haha, it really tastes awful.”

“Why go to such lengths, even using potions for this?”

“…Just saying because you’re foreigners, but in this country, there’s no hope.”

…”

“The mithril mine’s importance is clear even to someone like me, a nobody. Closing three doors at once as if it’s nothing? Taxes will soon rise drastically. Many people will starve to death. I’m not sure if I can endure it. The price for transporting Kapumo people was quite lucrative, but now no one is coming.”

“…”

“So, you should make money while you can. You might even have to leave this country.”

“Is there a place to go?”

“Do you know the benefits of carrying passengers like me? You get to meet many people. My wife, son, and I have a place to stay. Of course, you’ll have to pay, but it’s much better than dying from taxes.”

“Well, that’s fortunate.”

“And you know what? Do you realize something?”

“What?”

“You stand out quite a bit.”

“How so?”

“I don’t even know. Something feels… off. Like a human but not quite.”

“…”

Even Lady Jeron from another country found me peculiar.

“Oh, I wasn’t trying to insult you. It’s just that you exude a certain… atmosphere? That’s what makes you unique. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

“I’m not particularly upset.”

“You’re quite broad-minded. Anyway, did I mention? It takes almost five days to reach the capital. But if we hurry, it might only take three days.”

“Fine, I understand.”

I chuckled and tossed another gold coin.

The money we took from Brigal’s soldiers was running low.

Of course, I still had plenty of coins saved separately.

“Shall we make the most of what we’ve received…”

The coachman tightened the reins.

The carriage sped up slightly, cutting through the darkness.

***

And on the evening of the third day.

We arrived at Garudal, the capital of Brigal.

Entering the capital was not difficult.

Apart from us, many others were also trying to enter the city, especially nobles and merchants from all over Brigal gathering to witness Slone’s wedding.

Furthermore, with traders and mercenaries looking to do business with them, the entrance to the capital was bustling with activity.

Normally, security would be tighter during such times, but the crowd was overwhelming.

A few coins from the coachman persuaded the guards to let us pass without much trouble.

The wedding would take place at the royal palace, and appearing before the public would be part of the post-wedding parade, so we just needed to be cautious then.

“We’ll stop here.”

“Alright. Take care on your way back.”

We bid farewell to the coachman near where carriages were gathering at the entrance to the capital.

Thus, in the heart of the labyrinthine city, only Kona and I remained from the opposite country.

“…What do we do now?”

Kona asked.

“What else can we do? Now, you take the lead.”

“Me?”

“You know the way around here. Where is the Royal Library? How do we get there?”

“Ah, yes. Follow me.”

Kona had an exceptional memory.

Although she hadn’t lived in the capital ten years ago, she remembered the route she used to take to meet Oneroi occasionally.

The Royal Library was not in the palace but next to the courthouse.

It wasn’t just a collection of books; it felt more like a repository of past precedents and cases for reference.

Of course, unauthorized individuals couldn’t simply walk in, but there was no need to sneak in either.

“Pardon me.”

I addressed the guard at the library entrance.

“Are you a mercenary? What’s the matter? If you’re not authorized, you can’t enter here, so turn back.”

“Ah, it’s not that. I have something to tell the head librarian here. If it’s okay, could you pass it on for me?”

“Hmm? The head librarian?”

“Yes. I heard they are a Dark Elf…”

“…What’s your relationship with them?”

“Just let them know that an Elf from the Labyrinth City, who is a friend of the head librarian, sent a gift.”

“Labyrinth City…? Is it from a distant place?”

“Yes. It’s because an Elf working there is acquainted with the head librarian of the royal library. I have something to deliver.”

“I’ll pass it on instead.”

“It’s a personal item, so… please handle it carefully.”

I handed over the last coin I received from the Brigal soldiers to the guard.

“Hmm, wait a moment.”

The guard chuckled and went inside.

A while later, the hooded woman came out with the guard.

Covered in a cloak that concealed everything, including her ears, she was probably Oneroi.

She glanced at Kona, who was similarly cloaked, and visibly startled.

“…You brought a gift from the Labyrinth City?”

She asked.

“Yes. Her name is Misty…”

I nodded.

“…I know the people you’re talking about.”

At her words, the guard gestured for us to come in.

I took Kona’s hand and followed Oneroi into the royal library.

After passing through a long corridor, we reached an empty lounge where Oneroi removed her hood.

With light green hair closer to pale lime, brown skin, and long ears revealed, she must be Oneroi.

“I am the head librarian here, Oneroi, but the girl next to me is…”

“Sister…”

Kona removed her hood.

“Sister!!”

She ran to Oneroi and embraced her.

“Kona… why are you here…”

Oneroi held Kona and looked at me.

“Please explain.”

“Sure.”

I briefly explained how I met Kona.

“Well… those two…”

Oneroi lowered her head.

“So you’ve been discouraging the human-Elf marriage…”

“…”

“…Thank you for safely bringing Kona here.”

She turned back to me.

“I will compensate you with money. So please forget everything that happened here. It’s not something you can handle.”

“That won’t do.”

“Listen to me. It’s not something an ordinary human should meddle in.”

“Really?”

I removed my helmet.

“…! An Evony tribe…!”

“Explain. What’s that mark on Kona’s chest? And I heard there’s a high-level demon in the Mithril Mine. You must know something.”

“I saw that…”

“Don’t hide anything. Tell me, Elf. This concerns demons.”

“…Promise Kona’s safety.”

“Sister…?”

Sensing the change in atmosphere, Kona lifted her head from Oneroi’s embrace.

“I can’t promise that.”

I flatly refused.

“Does that mean… you’re willing to kill Kona if necessary?”

“…!!”

Startled, Kona looked at me.

“Yes.”

I nodded.

“If needed, I will kill her. Whether she’s guilty or not. If you interfere, you’ll die too.”

I rested my hand on my sword.

“Can you handle that?”

Elves are generally strong.

With their long lifespan, they often have combat training or war experience.

Especially Elves who have been through demon wars…

“Don’t underestimate me just because I lack the Goddess’s blessing. I trained under Misty.”

But I’m no pushover in a fight either.

“So… you’re that human. The one Misty mentioned…”

“You know me?”

“The Master Spearman.”

“…”

During the demon wars, I was occasionally called that…

“The world’s best spearman now wields a sword.”

“Get to the point.”

“Alright. I’ll tell you everything. About Kona, about the mine with demon appearances… You have the right to know. Perhaps this is fate…”