070. Three Elders
(Somehow........I don't think it's that different from Karguri.)
Together with Philly, I looked at their hideout in the "Great Sea of Trees," and found that the buildings were no different from those in Karguri, consisting of log cabins made of wood.
(Well, there are plenty of trees rotting around, and that in itself doesn't really matter, though)
The stern, stern look they gave me.
It was so pure that I almost laughed despite myself, and they didn't seem to like me.
Perhaps it would be more correct to call it a "settlement of those who harbor ill will toward the human race" rather than a hideout of elves.
Not only elves and dark elves, but also spirit people and dwarves. There is even "Korobokkur," a kind of dwarf tribe that I have only heard about.
The total number of people in the area is probably less than 100 ― if by any chance they are found by a human army, there is a possibility that they will be overwhelmed by the overwhelming difference in quantity.
It is only natural to be wary of me, and in some cases, they may attack me as if to say, "No questions asked!"
Good grief―as I let out a sigh in my heart,
「Sorry, Yuuto. But we have our own reasons. Please don't do anything strange.」
Philly said apologetically, to which I replied, "I don't mind".
「I mean, from the looks of it, he's really doing "human experimentation" on them, that son of a bitch」
"Go and exterminate the Demon King!" I remember the face of the person who was saying that and I scowl.
I didn't like him from the moment I met him, but I didn't think he was that rotten.
「The only question is, 'Why did he engage in such foolishness?", that's the reason and motive.」
I don't think he would do such a thing for no reason at all, and if he was that far out of his depth, Hanaria should have been in disarray as in wartime long ago.
(Besides...)
If the King is involved, at least Jean and others must know about it.
I didn't have a that close relationship with her, but it's hard to believe that that serious and honorable-looking person would tacitly approve of such criminal activity.
There was too much information missing ― apparently, this was a very dark case.
As I was walking along, thinking about this and that, I heard a voice saying,
「Here we are」
Said Philly, stopped.
Although the structure itself was not so different from the others, it was about twice as big as the others.
「Philly-dono. How can I help you?」
「I need to see Elders immediately. I have a serious concern about him.」
With a sharp look on his face, he said, "Please wait a moment," and then began communicating with the inside. Then,
「Only Philly-dono who can come inside――that's what I've been told.」
「Oh, come on. Are you out of your mind?」
I couldn't help but interject something else.
That earned me a glare from Philly, but...
「She's the only one who can keep me in check at the moment, you know? Despite this, If I let them divide us from your side, who's going to be responsible If I'm doing anything strange?」
I say this with a bad guy look on my face as if to say, "Ihhiihihihihi"
「I'll take the blame. Anyway, I'll let you in.」
「Ah! Philly-dono!」
Without even hearing him stop her, Philly took my hand and slipped inside.
Then, go through the front door straight from the entrance.......We entered a room that appeared to be the innermost part of the building, where three elderly men were sitting on the floor.
「Excuse me. Elders. Due to an emergency situation, I have to let myself here bringing this man.」
She let go of my hand, kneeled on the spot, and bowed. However,...
「You are the only one who gave permission ― why did you bring such a filthy person here?」
The old elf with a crooked back sitting on the left side of the room ―― looking like a hermit with white hair and a white beard ―― was even older than the elves, who have a long life expectancy, and his voice was quite dignified.
「My apologies. Shugiru-sama. In fact, this human being ― he claimed himself to be an "otherworlder"」
As soon as Philly spoke up, the other two also expressed their surprise, saying, "What did you say!?" "Otherworlder!?"
「Is that true!?」
「Does this mean that the King's experiment has succeeded?」
「Perhaps -―but he doesn't seem to have any "cheats," perhaps because the ritual was not originally performed by regular means. Also, I checked this person's status when he was unconscious just now - and it was confirmed that he is a little more special than most humans.」
「Oi, oi.」
You, of all people, checked my status while I was asleep?
Well, she hasn't done anything so far, and I'm just a dumbass for letting my guard down, though. ......
「This man. He was a user of [Soul Eater] even though he was a human being. However, it was described as 'conditional' like a degraded version」
「What? Was there such a description?」
Surprised, I used [Status] on the spot, but there was no such description. Then
「Look. Perhaps you forgot the fact that [Status] is also folia?」
When Philly told me, I involuntarily shouted, "Ah!". And then
「As long as it is a folia, of course, it has "Skill Lv"!」
I had never been aware of such a thing before, nor was I aware of it because there were no other folia - such as [Energy Bolts], for example - that had a numerical value listed behind them.
「Not only [Status], but some folia and skills have "hidden elements" and "special specifications". For example, in order to raise the skill level of [Status], a rare item called "Refining Crystal" is required.」
The one who told me this was a dark elf with a plump figure sitting on the right side of the room.
He looked like a bun ― that was the impression that came to my mind, but I was honestly impressed.
「This is off-topic, but one more thing. Personally, I don't think this one can be ignored――it seems that he has a connection with that traitor」
「What!?」
「The traitor――Leige!?」
The Elders are once again raising their voices, but apparently, that woman is a Dark Elf. It is said that there is a "reason" for this.
「In any case, I personally can't make a decision on my own, so I've come to ask for your judgment.」
「Hmmm. Certainly, it would be difficult for you to decide on the treatment of this person on your own. But...」
An old woman sitting in the center of the room looks up to the heavens and ponders.
She looks like an ordinary human being, but she is probably a spirit person.
Even though I did not concentrate my attention on her, I could feel that she was imbued with an enormous amount of force that was clearly of a different quality.
「Not only is he an otherworlder, but he has a connection with that traitor ......」
「As expected, isn't that too dangerous?」
I could see that the flow was leaning toward "get rid of me," but
「In the first place, why did you visit here at this time of the year?」
When the old woman asked me about it, I told her that it was "for the treatment of gynophobia & ED" and that "I consulted Grieve and she left me in the forest due to [Transfer]".
Sure enough, the Elders on either side were sighing, "What's that?" "I don't understand,"
「...... Good grief. Even that little halfling girl is acquainted with you」
He shook his head from side to side, holding his forehead with his hand as if his head hurt.
「Shees. Since long ago, she has been doing nothing but "free spirited' and 'nonsensical'....」
「Do you know Guriguri, by any chance?」
「Yes. She lived in this village for a while. That said, it was a short time, and she used to have wanderlust. She has been travel all over the world.」
「Wow.」
I didn't know she had that side of her.
To say the least, it is surprising. And...
「Pardon my intrusion. Shugiru-sama. Bando-sama. Roselia-sama. "That man" has returned.」
The man who had just been guarding the entrance outside said, and the four of them, including Philly, suddenly began to tense up.
「???」
I, who had no idea of the inner workings at all, thought, "Aren't these three the 'leaders,' so to speak?" "Who is that person?"――there was someone who stepped into the room. And then
「Yoo, you fucking old man, and fucking old hags! Well, you're still alive, eh!」
Seeing the large man who entered, I couldn't help but yell out.
「Iru's Old man!?」
TLN: Change That gentleman to That man
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