Chapter 48, It Wasn’t Intentional (1)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Cyriesus, located in the north of Cyries, had short summers and long winters. Thus, as soon as September began, cool morning winds would start to blow.

 

It was not so chilly that windows needed to be closed, so the windows were still open in the room where the two Princes of Chermil Palace were having their meal.

 

The cool breeze coming through the open window shook the flower petals decorating the table. That caused the eyes of the two silent Princes to simultaneously land on the flowers.

 

Eventually, the eyes that had not met for several days finally turned toward each other.

 

Randel spoke to the Second Prince sitting in place of the youngest, who used to say a word every morning.

 

“I heard you haven’t touched alcohol since Kalian left.”

 

At first glance, it sounded like a praise. In fact, it could have been a compliment. It was a statement that could be taken as saying it was fortunate that he had finally corrected that undesirable habit of constantly drinking at such a young age. If they had been ordinary brothers, that interpretation would have been certainly correct…

 

“Why? Do you find that regrettable?” But Plants, knowing the venomous meaning behind those words, answered with a snort.

 

Randel looked into Plants’ eyes for a moment without answering. It was the kind of gaze that Kalian had once felt, one that thoroughly probed a person’s innermost thoughts.

 

What he found there was uncertain, but Randel simply turned his eyes back to the plate in front of him. Then, in a tone as if relaying passing news, he said, “Today, Renisita leaves were spread in the plaza.”

 

Renisita leaves, though called leaves by everyone due to their resemblance to tree leaves, they were actually the flat thorns of a cactus named Renisita. They had a strong property of absorbing moisture from their surroundings.

 

Occasionally, the Royal Palace of Cyries would spread Renisita leaves on the floor of Harts-ara Plaza. This was to prevent blood from staining the white floor of the plaza when they set up a guillotine – on top of the Renisita leaves.

 

Therefore, Randel was now mentioning the execution of the perpetrator who had attacked Kalian and had been arrested. It was not exactly the best topic to bring up at the breakfast table.

 

The corner of Plants’ mouth twisted upon hearing Randel’s words. It was because he caught on as to why Randel, who usually hardly spoke, deliberately initiated the conversation.

 

“You seem to have a deep misunderstanding.” Plants responded to Randel, who was asking whether Sillike had interfered with Kalian again.

 

In fact, Randel had somewhat anticipated that this incident had no connection to Sillike. He was not unaware of Sillike’s current situation. Hence, Randel did not doubt Plants’ words and nodded, saying.

 

“Alright then. Let’s stay quiet for now.”

 

It was a statement that anticipated the end of their relationship.

 

It meant that eventually, they would have daggers at each other’s throat. It was simply not time yet.

 

With those final words, Randel rose from his seat and went outside, while Plants remained seated for a moment.

 

Whether it would ultimately be Randel or Kalian who remained standing at the end, Plants considered assessing this but soon gave up. Instead, he recalled Kalian as he had last seen him at the banquet, or more precisely, what Kalian had concealed. Plants muttered, looking at Randel’s empty chair.

 

“I don’t know how much more quiet I can be.”

 

* * *

 

Kalian frowned and said.

 

“This is all because of the rain…”

 

The current situation had arisen entirely due to the rain. When departing from Latran, Kalian had clearly decided to take Sia only as far as the vicinity of Hirisca Forest.

 

However, due to that unusually heavy rain that had fallen recently, a lot of the soil had flowed down from the mountains and blocked the only path through the mountains that led to the Capital.

 

Since it was not a situation that could be resolved with Arsene and Kalian’s magic, the group had to inevitably turn back to return back from where they came. In short, they had returned to the mansion, where they had exchanged farewells in the morning, to stay another day.

 

Because of that very rain, that had troubled Kalian, his body was suffering as well.

 

“When I return to Cyriesus, I’ll have to create a device that will allow me to teleport.”

 

Ian was very pleased with Kalian’s words, while Arsene pretended not to hear.

 

Kalian would certainly find the right person to assign the task to and merely supervise, and among Kalian’s current connections, the most available yet capable magician was none other than Arsene.

 

In any case, since they could only dream of such a device at the moment, Kalian’s group changed direction to take a slightly roundabout alternative route. And as they continued along this new path, they ended up arriving right in front of Hirisca Forest.

 

When he tried to drop Sia off in front of the forest and bid farewell, Kalian realised there was no suitable place to spend the night. That was because they were moving along a path that deviated from their planned route.

 

“Come to the village. Together. Luca is there. Elder is there. Sleep and go tomorrow.”

 

But as it so happened, Sia invited the group back to his village.

 

Since that was the most sensible thing Sia had said so far, Kalian agreed. While there was the desire to avoid camping outdoors, the curiosity to see an Elf Village was even greater. Of course, such feelings were not unique to Kalian, as the rest of the group showed very excited expressions upon hearing Kalian’s answer.

 

The Elf Village was typically invisible to Human eyes.

 

Whatever method they used, one had to follow a path that only Elves could uncover to enter the village.

 

Following behind Sia, they wound their way deep into the forest, and amazingly, at a certain moment, a village suddenly appeared. If one took a step back, there would be a dense forest that spread out, but when one takes one step forward again, a proper village with a large valley and several stone houses clustered together would appear as if by magic.

 

As for Sia, who had guided the group to the village, he had disappeared somewhere saying he would explain the situation to the Elder. Soon, another Elf approached the group before long and asked.

 

“Which one is the King of the Humans?”

 

At those words, Kalian looked at Ian. It was because he was momentarily confused, not understanding what the Elf meant. At the same time, Ian was looking at Kalian.

 

When Kalian looked around, he saw that all eyes in the group were on him. Seeing this, the Elf approached Kalian, who quickly clarified.

 

“There’s no such great person as the King of Humans here.”

 

“Is that so? The Elder wishes to meet the King of Humans.”

 

“Then they’ll never meet.”

 

It was said that Elves had sent congratulatory envoys for Rmain’s birthday celebration festival, but unlike those Elves outside, the Elves here seemed unfamiliar with Human hierarchy. In any case, Kalian did not think it necessary to explain this in detail at this moment, so he said.

 

“While I’m not the King of Humans, I am the leader of this group.”

 

The Elf nodded and said to Kalian.

 

“Good. Follow me.”

 

Kalian followed the Elf and came face to face with the Elder who was in the largest house in the village. The Elder, a considerably handsome man with silver hair like Hina, said to Kalian as soon as they met, “I am Zher, the Elder of Hirisca village. Sia is my son.”

 

Kalian was quite surprised at those words. It was not so much the surprise that Sia was the Elder’s son, but rather the fact that the Elder’s son was going around selling sculptures. [Wouldn’t an Elder of a village be equivalent to a Provincial Lord for us Humans?]

 

In any case, having received the greeting, and since the other party was not Human, Kalian nodded briefly and introduced himself. “I am Kalian. Kalian Rain Cyries.”

 

At those words, Zher’s pointed ears twitched. Zher looked at Kalian and said,

 

“Pleased to meet you.”

 

“I heard you wanted to see me.”

 

That was asked with the expectation of receiving some words of gratitude for bringing Sia back safely. But Zher’s words were quite different from what Kalian had expected.

 

“That’s right. I wanted to see you because I have a favour to ask.”

 

Kalian’s eyes widened. To ask for something on their first meeting, and to a benefactor who had saved his son, no less – not even offering thanks but jumping straight to a request.

 

“Whatever it is, I find it difficult to understand why I, who just arrived here, should fulfil a request from Elves.”

 

To Kalian’s words, mixed half and half with fatigue and irritation, Elf Elder Zher replied.

 

“Because you are the King of the Humans.”

 

“Not all Humans, just Cyries. I am not a King, I’m a Prince.”

 

“Same difference.”

 

Facing Zher, who was saying things that could get his head cut off if someone mistook his meaning, Kalian smiled fiercely and warned.

 

“It’s very different.”

 

This kind of conversation going back and forth, Ian, who could not get a word in while watching this spectacle, felt like tearing his hair out.

 

“Anyway, I’d like you to help us with our problem.”

 

Zher, who had brought up something unreasonable beyond imagination, continued speaking without even asking for Kalian’s opinion.

 

“Recently, Luca has returned but then left the village with two other Elves.”

 

“No, wait a moment.”

 

“They haven’t returned for over ten days, so three days ago, two more went out to look for them, but they haven’t come back either.”

 

Kalian was about to ask what this had to do with him, but Zher did not stop. There simply was no gap to interject.

 

“I told them that the Human world isn’t so easy to navigate, but they insisted on going out and then disappeared. I’d like you to help me find them. The Elves here don’t know much about the Human world. I cannot send out more Elves.”

 

“Are you asking me to find five Elves who have disappeared from here? Why should I?”

 

“Because you are the King of the Humans.”

 

They were basically going in circles.

 

It seemed that Elves had disappeared from a Human village, and since they did not know the outside world well enough to find the missing ones, they needed the help of Kalian, who had just arrived.

 

But no matter what, the reason why Kalian had to solve this problem seemed somewhat flimsy, and the attitude with which they were asking for help was not very good either.

 

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

 

Finally, Kalian stood up.

 

Darkness had already fallen outside, but Kalian intended to leave the Elf village right away. He would rather sleep outdoors than spend an uncomfortable day in such a place.

 

Then Zher opened his mouth again to detain Kalian.

 

“I’m not asking for help in return for nothing. I’ll give compensation for it. Of course, I’ll also pay you for saving Sia.”

 

Kalian had vaguely heard from Ian before. Elves could not live with debt, so if they received any help, they would always repay it with compensation according to their standards.

 

Kalian’s eyes briefly turned toward Kyrie. Even Kyrie, who was only Half Elf, had been like that.

 

The Elder looked at the standing Kalian and asked.

 

“You’re heading to the land of Siegfried, aren’t you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The Elder nodded and then answered.

 

“The Human path is too slow, but if you use the Forest Path, you can reduce the journey to a quarter of the time.”

 

A journey that would take more than two months. He was saying he could reduce that distance to a quarter.

 

[You’re saying I can travel to a destination that would take two months within a fortnight?] Kalian’s shoulders twitched.

 

Kalian quickly turned and sat back down.

 

[Five Elves have disappeared! Of course I should help!]