Chapter 13

In the half-elf nation of Lathewood, people gathered in the central square of the village.

"Beastman? Who is that? They're not from Lathewood. Could it be that an adventurer has returned?"

"No, I think it's one of the travelers."

"Besides that beastman, there are elves and humans. There are three travelers in total, it seems."

"Elves!? Is it really okay to let them into the village!?"

"Apparently, they are the saviors of Lady Reifa. Lady Reifa herself invited them in."

"Reifa... If that's the case, there's nothing we can do..."

"...Hey, what is that beastman doing?"

At the center of the murmuring crowd, the one drawing attention is Reeve. She placed a large pot on a platform made of firewood and stones, which she had taken from the village warehouse. Then, she took out a <Magic Pouch> from her chest and shook it upside down over the pot. A large amount of granular objects flowed out of the pouch like a waterfall. The granules turned out to be highly nutritious and delicious, high-performance [food]—white rice.

"E... Ehh!?"

"What is that? It just keeps coming out!"

"There's no way it can all fit in such a small bag, right?"

"A magic item... But even so, the amount is..."

The sound of the rice being poured into the pot continued without stopping, and before long, the bottom of the pot was completely covered in white. Reeve then shook the <Magic Pouch> a few times with the opening facing up, and when she turned it back down, a large amount of cool water started to pour out of the pouch into the pot.

"..."

The people who witnessed this unbelievable scene all opened their mouths in astonishment.

Without paying any attention to the crowd's gaze, Reeve used the <Ignition> spell to light the firewood. She then added several pieces of meat and vegetables to the pot and began stirring the contents with a large ladle. Occasionally, she added seasonings, tasting as she went. Once she was satisfied with the taste, she put the <Magic Pouch> back in her chest. With her free hand, she grabbed another large ladle and continued to stir the contents of the pot thoroughly.

The pot contained a large volume of food, and the strain on her arms must have been considerable, but Reeve continued to stir without breaking a sweat, maintaining a cool expression.

Within a few minutes, a pleasant aroma began to waft from the pot.

"...What? Is she planning to serve a meal?"

"Mom, it smells good!"

"Shh. Be quiet."

People who had been watching from a distance began to gather, drawn by the smell. Before long, Reeve was surrounded by more than a hundred villagers.

However, no one stepped forward to approach the mysterious travelers. Among the crowd, a young girl peeked out from between the people.

"Dog lady, is the food ready?"

It was Rilifa. With a bright, cheerful smile, she approached Reeve casually. Her natural demeanor made the crowd forget to stop her, and they watched her movements with interest.

"Actually, I'm not a dog, but it's almost ready. Would you like to taste it?"

"Really?"

"Yes. As per Helian... sir's instructions. Here, please."

Despite stumbling over her words, Reeve ladled a bowl of the nutritious porridge from the pot. She made sure to include plenty of meat and vegetables. After tasting it herself to ensure it was safe, she handed the bowl to Rilifa.

"Wow, it looks delicious! Thank you, Great Tree, for your blessings!"

Rilifa recited the traditional Elven prayer before eating the porridge. Immediately, her face lit up with a different kind of smile—a mix of surprise and joy.

"It's delicious! What is this? It's incredibly good, Dog lady!"

"I'm not a dog, but I'm glad you enjoy it."

"Hey, everyone, come and eat! It's even better than the castle food! Look, look!"

Encouraged by Rilifa's beaming smile, one by one, the villagers who had been watching from a distance began to approach Reeve. Reeve handed a bowl to each person, starting the food distribution.

Once the flow began, it didn't stop. A long line quickly formed in the central square of the village.

...

It seems they have accepted us.

Helian, who had been watching from a distance to avoid provoking the villagers, let out a sigh of relief. The travelers, including the hated elves and humans, had been somewhat wary, but now it seemed they could successfully provide the food.

Rilifa's willingness to eat the porridge first had helped the villagers accept it.

Rilifa was now using her whole body to explain how delicious it was, acting like a child. Her innocent behavior was endearing and calmed the hearts of those who watched.

If not for the series of events where they had made a pact, Helian would have thought of Rilifa as just a carefree child. Her performance was that natural.

Seeing this, Helian's conscience gave a slight twinge.

"..."

Draw the line.

Helian reminded himself of his situation.

He had told Rilifa he would help "within his means." This was part of fulfilling that promise. Providing a meal to the villagers, who likely hadn't had proper food, was within his means.

Reeve and Ertina's <Magic Pouches> were filled with food supplies. White rice, in particular, was an excellent [food] that helped maintain the morale of marching soldiers.

If food supplies ran out, the [Hunger] status effect would set in, causing a significant decrease in basic stats, loyalty, happiness, and morale.

For an army on the march, fully armed, falling into [Hunger] and causing a rebellion would be disastrous. Some soldiers were equipped with valuable gear, and if they turned against their own, it would be a serious problem.

Therefore, Helian had instructed that, on expeditions, one quarter of the <Magic Pouch>'s maximum capacity be filled with food. Usually, there was an excess of supplies, but it was better than running out. Helian, who preferred to have a safety margin, thought this was fine.

Reeve was releasing a considerable amount of food from the <Magic Pouch>, but since they planned to return soon, there was no worry about a food shortage.

Incidentally, this food distribution had been approved by the highest authority. After returning from a meeting, Reifa had been approached by Helian and Rilifa about providing food. Initially, Reifa was hesitant, saying, "We should be the ones to thank you, this is too much." However, with the combined efforts of Helian and Rilifa, she eventually agreed, saying, "I apologize. I am grateful for your kindness."

Perhaps because the villagers were watching, Reifa didn't bow, but her response conveyed deep gratitude.

It seemed that the food situation in [Lathewood] was indeed dire. The village had taken in people who had fled from the capital, far exceeding its capacity. After three weeks, the food situation had naturally worsened.

Shaking his head to dispel the negative thoughts, Helian turned to the girl beside him.

"Then, is there a legend about the Demon King in the Abyssal Forest?"

In a corner of the village, away from the crowd, Helian was gathering information from Reifa.

Initially, he had planned to ask Wrenli or other half-elves, but Reifa had volunteered to be the one to talk. She said it was to repay the favor.

Helian thought that as the leader, Reifa must have many responsibilities, but he decided not to mention it.

Even if Reifa had some ulterior motives, it didn't matter. Helian would only help within the limits of his promise to Rilifa. He had no intention of getting involved in their problems any further. As the king of a nation, he couldn't afford to.

Therefore, he should focus on gathering information without worrying about unnecessary things. No, he must.

"Yes. According to Elven lore, the Abyssal Forest is where the Demon King once existed. There are many other legends, such as the 'Forest of Wandering,' 'Land of Rare Beings,' and 'Forbidden Netherworld,' but the truth is uncertain. However, the Abyssal Forest has been considered a forbidden land since ancient times."

Reifa answered fluently, as if reading from a textbook.

"Mostly, even without these legends, no one among the elves or half-elves would willingly approach the Abyssal Forest."

"..."

"Why is that?"

"Occasionally, powerful monsters come from the Abyssal Forest. They are so strong that even a group of monsters from a regular forest couldn't defeat them. Sometimes, hunting parties are formed, but success is rare. Usually, they can only change their course."

"What happens to the monsters that aren't defeated?"

"Most of the time, they rampage for a while and then disappear back into the Abyssal Forest. For elves, it's like a natural disaster. We can only wait for them to leave. The same applies to us, of course."

The village was close to the Abyssal Forest. Asking why they built a city in such a dangerous place would be a foolish question.

For the persecuted half-elves, this area was probably the only place they could establish a settlement.

"Moreover, the Abyssal Forest has a mesmerizing effect that confuses people. If you go too deep, you can't find your way back."

"I see... So, if no one among the elves or half-elves approaches the Abyssal Forest, do other races do so?"

"Yes, there are humans. Specifically, adventurers. They come for the special materials that can be found in the Abyssal Forest."

Adventurers. An interesting keyword, but for now, he would file it away in his memory and focus on gathering information about the Abyssal Forest.

"Some high-level adventurers even go out of their way to hunt the monsters from the Abyssal Forest. The monsters seem to contain rich magical energy, making them a source of special materials."

"So, a considerable number of adventurers come to [Lathewood]? Given its proximity to both the human realm and the Abyssal Forest, I suspected as much."

"Yes. To us, it seems like madness, but there are always a certain number of people who dream of getting rich quick or gaining fame. However, they bring valuable foreign currency when they visit, so we are grateful for their presence, even if it's a selfish opinion."

"An understandable view for a ruler."

Aware of Ertina's gaze from behind, Helian spoke the appropriate lines.

In reality, from a ruler's perspective, whether they were curious or mad, these visitors were valuable for the nation's economy.

Circulating money within the country alone would eventually lead to a growth limit. Helian had experienced this in [Tactics Chronicle].

"However, I don't see any adventurers around."

"About a month ago, a group of monsters attacked the eastern border city. An emergency call was issued to nearby adventurers, and they all went to the border city. It was a large-scale attack, and they are having a tough time there. The war with [Noblewood] started three weeks ago, just before that... Bad timing, to say the least."

"Border city...?"

"A human frontline city built on the border between the human realm and the demon realm. It's also called the shield of humanity."

"I see."

While he had expected as much, the information was new to him. In [Tactics Chronicle], he had never heard of such things.

The demon race existed in [Tactics Chronicle]. Camilla of the Sixth Legion was a demon. However, he had never heard of a "demon realm." There were NPC-ruled demon territories, but the term "realm" had a different nuance.

...There are many other things I want to ask, but my head is starting to feel overwhelmed. It's not a matter of my intelligence; anyone would feel this way after encountering so many significant events in a short time. A slight headache was already forming. He had no intention of stopping the information gathering, but he needed to calm down for a moment.

He moistened his throat with water and observed the scene in the square. The people gathered there seemed to be enjoying the food Reeve was serving.

"It seems to be well-received... That's good."

Reeve, as a royal aide, was trained to be a versatile character, specialized in single combat but skilled in various fields. She had many non-combat skills, including <Cooking>. The crowd around the pot seemed to be enjoying the effects of her <Cooking> skill. Both adults and children were eating with relish.

Even the tense soldiers were taking turns with bowls in hand, looking relieved for a moment.

Most of them were half-elves, but there were also members of other races.

"That... Is that a Wargcat? It's quite small."

"Yes, it's small because it's a half with a kobold. It's a relatively recent addition to the citizens of Lathewood."

I see. With kobold blood, the size makes sense. There were also rabbit-eared beastmen and a few dwarves. The dwarves had slightly less beard than usual, so they might be half-dwarves as well.

"...There are many races here. There are a lot of half-elves, but I'm surprised to see dwarves. Aren't elves and dwarves generally on bad terms?"

"Yes, Lathewood was founded by half-elves, but it was formed by various races coming together. We all worked hard to build this nation, Lathewood."

"A multi-racial nation, then."

Reifa chuckled. "Not quite that grand, but yes. The weak races, who had no one to rely on, came together to form a nation. That's how it happened. So, there's no racial animosity. We encounter conflicts due to different customs, but we resolve them by compromising. We have to help each other to survive."

Reifa spoke humbly, but it was clear that they had built a nation with their own strength, without relying on anyone else.

Helian could imagine the immense hardships they had faced. No, he couldn't even imagine. It must have been a level of hardship that couldn't be fully described. Pretending to know would be an insult to their efforts.

Therefore, Helian simply said, "It's an impressive nation." Reifa looked slightly surprised but proudly said, "It's a nation I'm proud of," with a gentle smile.

After that, Helian and Reifa continued their casual conversation until Reeve finished distributing the food.

Helian was wary that Reifa might ask for something, perhaps requesting the combat support of Reeve and Ertina, but she didn't bring up such topics. They talked about trivial things like favorite foods, hobbies, and how Rilifa had always been spoiled and had trouble with manners.

Even in such a dire situation, Reifa could maintain a smile and engage in such trivial conversations, which impressed Helian. He wondered if he could do the same if he were in her position. He had no confidence at all.

...Speaking of which, how is my own country doing?

While thinking about Lathewood and the princess sisters