Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master

A few days have passed since the Hakuki attack, and my injuries have gotten much better.

As the elves, myself, and Larou’iph revealed our hearts to each other in various ways during my reminiscences, it seemed like the sense of distance had changed a little.

Before the ogres attacked, there was a lot of talk about “execution” “torture,” and “hostage-taking” around Larou’iph, but now no one speaks of that anymore.

It seemed that they have changed the way they look at us, including my fight with Aonii, and now we’re treated like normal people, or even more like benefactors, so I don’t feel bad about that.

It may seem like a palpable change of heart, but Larou’iph isn’t going to leave anytime soon, and seemed she’ll be staying here until she feels calm.

“Behold~, with the aid of forest animals and birds, the rough sketch of our map has taken shape…… Ah~ indeed…… hmm~…… oh, no. It’s not to be. With this as the only river nearby…”

While everyone was once again working on setting up temporary shelters, the Chieftain sat alone on a rock, talking to a bird that had flown by.

“Thus far, the menfolk have managed to fetch water on their own for these few days, but it’s a weary task…… should this persist, it will be a burden indeed. Also, the birds whisper of travelers and hunters traversing these parts from time to time…… it’s perilous, verily……

Yes, this was only temporary, and they can’t live here indefinitely.

“Once, this place would have been a fine abode, fortified with spells of concealment strewn about the vicinity…… Still, our presence was discerned by those of lofty skill…… hah……”

“Dear…… by the way, how fare our settlement……”

“It’s confirmed, after a fashion…… our settlement has been razed…… it seems less a matter of we Elves’ escape and more one of not being found…… I suppose they sought to conceal their failure…… by the hands of that Ogre.”

“So it seems. Then, returning after their departure…… seems an unattainable feat now……

Until now, the elves had lived in a secluded settlement where humans and demons hardly ever passed through, but that was no longer the case.

But, it was not so easy to find a place with the same environment as before, unknown to humans or the Demon King Army.

Historically, the war between the Demon King Army and humanity will end in the not-too-distant future.

But, no matter what the Demon King Army does, it’s counterproductive for the elves to interact with humans.

Although they have become somewhat friendly with us, there were also people like the Bockmati family. It’s still a long way off before the Bockmati family will be destroyed.

“Even I can wield some form of concealment magic…… but as for securing water and food……”

“Yes…… and to start the fields anew…… even if we disguise ourselves and venture into town for provisions, procuring for all residents~”

“Perhaps… to gather from the wild creatures nearby… Ah…”

“Indeed… in the end, it may come to that… for everyone but me…”

It seemed that the elves also have a culture of hunting to make ends meet, so naturally they can secure food in that way. Except for the Chieftain, who couldn’t eat meat.

“Even so, we’ll manage with a few days of camping life at most…… as for making this our living area…… it seems quite a task… Ah~, tedious it is……. hey, Dark El….. Ms. Larou’iph, can’t you or the Young man use magic to create a river?”

“Well, I….. don’t have any affinity with water attribute magic.”

“I only have Terran and Lightning attributes…… if I can dig the ground and get water that way, it’s fine…….”

“I can’t do that either.”

“Me neither.”

“Well then, it’s hopeless~……. ah, alas… what shall we do now~”

After saying that, the Chieftain lay on his back on the rock, as if he had lost his will.

“Wait, dear! Can’t you devise a solution?”

“Chieftain~”

“Can we not find an answer through the chieftain’s usual ingenuity or invention…….”

His wife and other elves begged for help, but the Chieftain shook his head listlessly.

“Do not speak so easily…… it was I who suggested fleeing before the ogres attacked, after all…… Hmm…… I shall ponder upon it for a moment. Truly, it’s a matter of life and death…… Hah~…… Mumble…… At times like this…… Perhaps there might be something useful among the tools in that ‘facility’…… Yet it seems futile…… Mumble…… why did I drop the ‘key’…… no, but it doesn’t matter either way…… it would only complicate matters further…… ah~ how vexing.”

It’s quite a difficult problem. But something has to be done.

The Chieftain was trying to laze around in a languid posture, but his expression looked like he was seriously worried.

But how can such a large number of people live in such an environment without being found by others……

『…… Hmm……』

At that moment, Tre’ainar looked at the map that the Chieftain had made.

Ah, I see…… I had yet forgotten the greatest, the biggest, and the strongest brain.

If it’s Tre’ainar, I think he’ll have some good ideas……

『The area around these parts will not do…… then…… perhaps tis best to…』

Oh, if even Tre’ainar finds it hopeless…… then, I guess it’s really no good. So, what will happen to these elves in the future……

『Child ……』

「Hmm?」

『Perhaps… purchasing land… could be an option.』

「…… Huh?」

『Even though there was war being waged all over the land, it was not all without gaps. I never ventured to lands where there was no meaning in war or anything…… this great forest and mountainous region were exceptions……』

「N-no, maybe that’s true……」

『There are some lands in the world that are owned by individuals and are completely untouched. Tis possible to purchase them, make them private property and prohibit entry to anyone except for those involved. By using Espie’s title as one of the Seven Heroes…… in addition to that, if you have the credibility of Slayer as a Hunter, as long as you have the funds, there should be no issues. If you use both of their names to prohibit entry, it is unlikely that anyone will think to intrude.』

Buying land? I had never thought about such a thing in my life.

「No, but as long as we have funds…… where do we get the money? They all have nothing but their clothes, right? No matter how much money the Chieftain secretly earned as a writer, he now has nothing…… even for me…… I don’t have that kind of money.」

In any case, even if I simply suggested that they could buy land or mountains, no one would have the money to buy something like that…… just as I was about to say that, I remembered something.

「Ah… now that I think about it……」

『Yes, you do have the funds. In the city of Weinz…… you deposited most of your winnings from horse races in the depository, did you not?』

I see. Sure, I had a big bag full, and I deposited everything but the money I needed.

Certainly, there are depositories all over the world, and withdrawals can be made from any of them as long as you go through the proper procedures….

「So, I’ll pay for it!?? Well, there’s no point in keeping that kind of money……」

『Then why not lend it to them?』

「Lend them the money ……」

『Clearly, the Destiny Series sold quite well on the Surface World…… in other words, even if he has nothing now, if he writes sequels, the Chieftain will earn a large amount of wealth once more.』

「…… Yes…… if I ask him to pay it back in a decade or so…… Huh?」

Listening to Tre’ainar’s story now, one question crossed my mind.

Don’t tell me that the sequels to the Destiny series keep coming out, not only because the Chieftain wants to write them, but…… no way…

“Hmm?”

And then it happened!

“Huh!?”

Suddenly, the air trembled.

Just like when Hakuki appeared.

“What!?”

“What is that!?”

“Whoa, wait, look at that!”

And at the same time, something strange happened in the sky further away from the forest where we were.

“What’s happening!?”

“What… what is this? I, I sense such immense power…… the birds …… the forest creatures are alarmed…… Huh!?”

A huge pillar of light stretched from the land to the sky.

“W, what in the world is that?! The sky… split!? What, that huge light!?”

The pillar emitted an intense light around us, dazzling even those of us who were far away.

“Wh, what’s…… that…….”

“Brother, what do you think?”

Both Espie and Slayer braced themselves.

Even though I just encountered that Hakuki, what else is going to happen?

「Tre’ainar, what…… is happening? Is this…… magic?」

Even without using the radar, I could feel it on my skin.

It’s a huge, intense pillar of light that stretched through the clouds.

It’s magic power.

But that much magic power……

「…… Tre’ainar?」

I asked Tre’ainar, thinking he might know something, but he didn’t respond.

When I looked back to see what had happened……

『Tis been a few days since the Hakuki attack…… and during that time, Aonii’s death was reported…… ah, I see…… it was the day after that…… I also…… the Demon King Army…… received a report that shook the Demon Realm.』

Tre’ainar gazed wistfully at the pillar of light piercing the sky in the distance.

I’ve never seen Tre’ainar like that before.

So much so that I hesitated to call out to him……

『Hmm? Oh, no…… worry not, child. Although tis visible, the source of that light is far from this place…… there is no problem.』

「I, is that so? But what the hell is that light……」

『Oh, that light…… was generated when two massive forces collided…… the half-destroyed Allied Forces…… along with Hiro, who had risen from the brink of death, is engaged with the Demon King Army there.』

「My father!?」

No way, my father?! Moreover, he was in battle…… with the Demon King Army?

Even though it’s quite far away……. you can still see their power with the naked eye from here?

What a joke……

『For the time being…… you need not worry about it.』

For now, I don’t have to worry about it, so don’t. That’s what Tre’ainar said, but something seemed strange about Tre’ainar.

As he was staring into the distance……

『…… you were one of my pride…… fight without regret…… and rest in peace…… Gouda ……』

I couldn’t hear what he was muttering.