Chapter 23

The day after obtaining information from the arms merchant Goliath.

Eliott was making preparations for departure early in the morning in one of the rooms in the palace. Lloyd then arrived.

"I've managed to cancel all the appointments with the guests, citing the investigation of the undead beast that appeared yesterday. Combined with the originally planned leave, it should be about five to six days."

Since returning to the castle yesterday, Lloyd had quickly adjusted the schedule to head for the hidden village and arranged for them to depart in the morning.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Lloyd, for the trouble."

"It's fine. Thanks to Bishop Powell's cooperation, it wasn't too difficult. Convincing Marcus and Richard was more troublesome."

Lloyd smiled wryly.

"Is it better that they don't know yet?"

"Yes... I suppose so..."

Eliott couldn't help but wonder how they would react if they knew the current situation. It was easy to imagine that their disappointment would be more than just that, and he didn't want to think about what might come next.

—We have to get back to normal as soon as possible...

"Can we reach the village in a day if we ride directly, instead of taking two days by stagecoach?"

"Well, that's possible, but we won't be able to talk if we arrive in the middle of the night. Calm down."

Lloyd tried to soothe the anxious Eliott.

"How long will it take to repair the sword...?"

"We won't know until we ask."

With a clue in hand, anxiety also grew, and silence filled the room. The sound of rustling clothes as he put on a hooded cloak to avoid attention seemed unusually loud.

The silence was broken by a light, cheerful voice as a knock sounded on the door.

"Eliott, good morning! Hey, is it true that you're taking a break?"

Seeing Emily's face, Eliott relaxed his tense shoulders.

"Yes, but for a few days, I'm heading to investigate the undead beast from yesterday."

"Oh, really... I thought if you were on leave, we could go on a date in the capital, Eliott. Well, if it's work, I guess it can't be helped..."

Eliott patted Emily's head, which drooped in disappointment.

"Right. I'll try to finish as quickly as possible and make time for you."

"Yay! I'll talk to Marianna to see if I can take a break at the same time!"

Emily's eyes sparkled with joy, and she left with a light step, apparently to consult with Marianna.

"Is it okay to make such a promise..."

In the silence that returned, Lloyd asked with a sigh, and Eliott frowned, smiling wryly.

"We can't let her be sad. Time is precious; let's go."

With that, Eliott left the room quickly to prepare for departure. Lloyd paused, his hand on the door that had closed due to the delay.

"...I wonder when she prays."

Lloyd's whispered question went unheard. To forget the words he had just spoken, Lloyd took a deep breath, opened the door, and followed Eliott.

Along the road connecting the capital and the provincial territories, a small stream flowed, and several water mills stood. Behind them was a vast forest.

"This is strange. I thought it was around here..."

Eliott looked around but couldn't see any side paths leading off the road. It was still early morning, and the mist made it somewhat dark, but visibility wasn't that bad. Yet, all he could see were dense trees stretching into the distance.

After a full day of riding from the castle, the destination they finally reached didn't seem like a place where people lived.

"Did we take the wrong path...?"

"No, this road is a straight one. The water mill we heard about from Goliath was definitely there. Since it's called a hidden village, the path leading to it might be hidden from view..."

Both men looked at the forest before them.

They walked through the underbrush and weeds along the forest path from the road but found no traces of a path or any markers.

By midday, fatigue had set in.

They had been riding non-stop since yesterday, and Eliott, exhausted and anxious, furrowed his brow and gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist.

"...There were a few houses before the water mill. They're probably the stagecoach station. There should be people there; let's ask them."

Eliott nodded, though reluctantly, to Lloyd's suggestion. Given the circumstances, they would rather not be seen, but they had no choice.

A few small houses stood along the road before the water mill, huddled together.

At first, Eliott thought they might be the destination, but the houses looked like ordinary farmers' homes and didn't seem to be where a blacksmith would live.

The presence of a small stable and watering place along the road suggested it was a stagecoach station.

When they visited, an old woman with a bent back lived in one of the houses.

"Ma'am, do you know of a village called the hidden village around here?"

"The hidden village...? Oh, you mean the blacksmiths' village... You couldn't find it, huh?"

When Eliott nodded, the old woman smiled gently.

"If you couldn't find it, it means you weren't invited. ...Well, there's nothing you can do, so give up."

"Invited? Do we need some kind of introduction or something? I must go there. If you know anything, please tell me."

Eliott couldn't consider giving up.

Anxiously and impatiently, he pressed the old woman, who sighed deeply, looking genuinely troubled.