episode_0071

“It seems quite far from the center. This weather, at this time of year…”

“I can see a snow-capped mountain range in the distance. A snow mountain… so it is.”

Beyond the open hill, a magnificent mountain range covered in perpetual snow is visible. Its grandeur is such that the distance, whether near or far, is hard to gauge.

Just looking at it makes one feel a chill.

“I don’t think I saw it yesterday. Am I imagining things?”

“The flow of magic might be twisted. It could be distorted because we forcibly crossed dimensions. Or, that mountain range might have appeared suddenly.”

“I’d prefer the former.”

“The fact that so many monsters appeared…”

Erina, along with Austi and Aries, decided to search for the village in the direction Titania indicated.

Even though it was clearly the same place as yesterday, it looked somehow different from her yesterday’s memory.

However, Erina, having recently experienced many things, felt that a change of scenery was nothing special.

“It’s cold. I need to find warmer clothes.”

She put on a light coat over her usual attire to ward off the cold and set off on her way with a light heart.

A dull ache in the back of her neck made her worry about her age, but the cause was different. It was because she had sensed too much magic yesterday.

Her senses were confused. She couldn’t distinguish between black and white. She knew there was an inherent power deep within her body, but she couldn’t understand the black and white of that power at all.

In short, divine power and magic, which were originally perceived as distinctly different layers like water and oil, had mixed together and become indistinguishable.

“Let’s go around the forest. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

Since she couldn’t properly sense magic, she decided to avoid as much risk as possible.

Aries seemed a little disappointed, as she wanted to investigate this unfamiliar region.

Even knowing that, there wasn’t time for it.

Aside from the cold air, the landscape and atmosphere weren’t significantly different from Barham. The cool, crisp breeze was actually refreshing and made it feel pleasant to live in.

With some basic infrastructure maintenance, it could be much better. With the cold, just layering clothes would be enough; it’s something that can be overcome, so not bothering to turn back is probably fine.

There would be administrative issues, but that’s something someone else can handle.

The parishioners don’t necessarily need to hold services. Believing in the goddess is all that matters; weekly gatherings to confirm faith are mere formalities.

However, they invest in the development of portal devices for those who wish to remain faithful and for the nuns. If portable ones are improved, it’s quite possible.

“Erina, are you alright?”

“Yes. I just have some muscle aches.”

“Try exercising occasionally. Though, I suffered too, you know.”

There’s no need to tell them about her condition and cause them worry.

Going around the forest, a fence that stretched along the middle of the mountainside came into view. Judging by its size, it truly seemed like a village; expecting amenities on par with Barham is unrealistic.

Considering that villages are usually built on flat land, it revealed just how rugged the surroundings are.

“Ha… I don’t want to climb a mountain…”

“But isn’t it better than climbing a snow mountain?”

“Let’s just push through it.”

As Austi said, it was low-lying mountain range; with a little effort, it was easily climbed.

As they got closer to the village, a human scent started to emerge. Fields under cultivation and farms growing herbs; unnatural-looking facilities began to appear.

They appeared to have been recently maintained, reassuring the group. If there had been a village but no people, it would’ve been a complete disaster.

“Eek!!”

A sharp scream pierced their eardrums. It wasn’t from their group.

A village girl who had been kneeling, carefully watering herbs, suddenly stood up and encountered the group.

“Oh, hello. We’re not suspicious people.”

Erina greeted them politely, as befitting a nun.

However, the response was unexpected by everyone in the group.

“Mon-monster!!”

The girl, wearing an apron over her one-piece dress, ran away.

“Uh…? Maybe she was talking to me…?”

“No way?? …But we’re the only ones around here.”

“Regardless, why didn’t I sense their presence?”

Aries and Austi were having a hushed conversation, but it was inaudible.

Monster, she had never in her life, not even in the recesses of her subconscious, imagined the day she would hear that word face-to-face.

‘Monster? Monster?? Me? In what sense? Boob monster? Not to that extent…. This is shocking….’

Erina, who had collapsed to the ground, hands on the earth, succumbed to despair, and the other two supported her.

“Ah, maybe it’s because they’ve never seen an elf before? Your ears are unique, you know?”

“That’s possible.”

It wasn’t much consolation, but they accepted her words, and Erina regained her composure.

This was the first time she’d been so mentally impacted, it felt like. The only answer is to forget.

‘Phew…. Let’s forget it. It must have been a misunderstanding. They must have mistaken me for something else momentarily.’

Climbing the winding mountain path, the long palisade wall protecting the village finally greeted them.

The strong structure despite significant damage spoke volumes about the harsh times it had weathered. A magnificent palisade roughly twice their height; it didn’t seem likely they would open the gate.

Even the absence of guards made it feel rather ominous.

“Hmm. No one’s around. How do we get in?”

“There must be a way to call them in. Seems they are too busy to even have guards.”

Austi carefully examined the gate, discovering a distorted little bell. After checking on Erina to get her permission, she rang the bell.

A dull sound, far from clear, resounded.

After waiting a moment, a section of the wall, high enough for people to pass through, sank into the ground and the gate opened.

“That’s strange. They opened the gate without hesitation. It doesn’t feel welcoming, does it.”

“If we have to force a reason… If they have the intelligence to ring the bell, it might mean it’s alright to come.”

Aries offered an explanation, though even she wasn’t convinced by it.

Carefully passing through the strangely deserted gateway, they were greeted by a humble village.

A tranquil landscape unimaginable in the city of Barham; the buildings are widely spaced and few, making it feel very desolate.

A quieter and more spacious village than Erina’s hometown.

A strangely quiet ambiance.

“There’s no sign of anyone. No sounds of movement at all.”

“Come now, someone opened the gate, didn’t they?”

Walking along the quiet dirt road toward a prominent house near the center, but as Austi said, not a single person or animal was visible.

It almost felt like a truly deserted village, yet there were clear signs of human habitation.

“Should we investigate from the back?”

“No. Meeting the local lord is our priority.”

Erina stated firmly. They would know what was happening in this village most accurately.

“Kyaak―?!”

“What is it?”

The source of the scream was, again, a villager.

The same reaction; upon seeing Erina and company, they immediately ran away.

“This is strange. It’s so strange. These people, they’re actually alive, right?”

“Even if they’re dead, they couldn’t obliterate their presence. Ah, just a joke.”

“R-right.”

Aries chuckled awkwardly, wondering if that was elf humor. Erina decided to ignore it.

However, the villagers who gradually began to appear on the street were clearly avoiding them. Although they no longer screamed like the previous two, they sent hostile glares while keeping a distance.

Though the inexplicable hostility might have made them cower, Erina didn’t care.

“There’s no church. Ah…. It’s quite sad.”

She was already half-gone from the mental impact of the word “monster,” rendering her largely immune to further damage. With a wide field of vision, she simply surveyed her surroundings; it helps her think less.

“Wait, you two.”

“Ah―?”

A suspicious figure, like the prophet they’d met yesterday, their robe’s hood pulled low, called out to them.

“Who are you?”

No strange sensation, and their face was clearly visible when they raised their head.

“You are outsiders. Where do you come from? No, that’s not important to me. Take this.”

“This is…?”

Handing them three rings: silver rings with purple hues, clearly not ordinary objects.

“It seems to be made with magic…. I don’t feel any malice. But, we don’t have any money.”

“A misunderstanding. As you can see, the villagers are extremely wary of outsiders…I made these.”

Erina readily accepts them. If it helps restore her fractured mental strength, that’s all she wants.

Since Aries has assured her that there’s no danger, there’s no problem.

True to form for a ring forged by magic, it adjusts automatically to fit her finger.

She began to sense a thin membrane-like barrier enveloping her body.

“With this, you can communicate. My apologies for the late introduction. I am Prim. A dragon.”

“Yes…?”

“Dragon??”

“My current form is due to a curse on this village. It has nothing to do with your goddess’s issues, so don’t worry about it.”

If Levi were present, she would have grilled him/her relentlessly; fortunately, they weren’t there.

“A simple act of goodwill by a dragon. Well then, excuse me.”

“Wait, there’s something I’d like to ask. There was someone wearing a similar robe before. Powerful magic… to distort space? Do you know anything about it?”

Prim paused before answering.

“… No, nothing. I don’t interfere with the goddess’s servants.”

“Then…. Alright, since you didn’t answer, I’ll ask something else. Are you currently fixed in human form?”

“A greedy creature. Yes, at least for now.”

Erina smiled.

Now the task is simple. It’s a bit of a gamble, but judging by the other two’s reactions, they’ve concluded that the dragon’s power is mostly gone.

It will be possible, it is possible. Bestowing the goddess’s grace is surely possible.