Chapter 95

Summary of the previous chapter:

Gerbera retreated with moderate damage.

Rose grounded with severe damage.

6

They arrived at a village nestled in the foothills around midday.

In this world, where settlements are constantly threatened by monsters, it is common for them to be fortified with walls and moats. The pioneer village along the road that cuts through the forest was made of stone, but in other villages, the main structures were built by lining up thick logs and binding them tightly with thick ropes.

Even though the location had changed from the Empire to Akel, this aspect remained unchanged. The modest wooden houses, while somewhat shabbier than those seen in the Empire, did not differ much in appearance.

However, the reaction of the people living there was quite different.

"Ah, that armor. Could you be from the Allied Knights?"

The person who greeted them was an elderly man with a well-worn sword at his waist. He broke into a smile as soon as he saw Shiran.

"Yes. We have come to this village seeking a place to stay for the night."

"Indeed. Unfortunately, there is no inn in this village, but if you would like, I can offer my home."

"Really? That would be very kind of you."

"Not at all. However, I never thought a member of the Allied Knights would visit this village."

"I apologize for the sudden visit and any inconvenience it may have caused."

"Not at all. It is an honor."

It wasn't just a matter of treating them as travelers; the welcome was quite enthusiastic.

From a distance, other villagers were watching them, and some were even calling out to others who were not present, their excitement palpable.

This kind of reaction was rare in the Empire.

"The Allied Knights are quite famous in Akel," Kei whispered to me, who was somewhat taken aback by the scene.

"Although this is not unique to Akel, being a knight is considered an honorable profession. Especially in the Northern Five Kingdoms, where martial values are strong, the knightly orders are very popular. In addition to the royal army and the royal family's Guard Knights, the Allied Knights, who are dispatched to the Cheria Fortress as representatives of the country to serve as a bulwark for humanity, are recognized as a different class of existence."

In a world where life is constantly threatened by monsters, it is not surprising that the knights who venture into the forest and risk their lives to eliminate monsters are considered prestigious.

Moreover, in this country, it seems that there is no issue with Shiran being an elf.

After all, this is a country where the captain is a princess. It makes sense.

The pleasant conversation continued.

"By the way, I've been wondering... Pardon me, but are you not Deputy Commander Shiran of the Allied Knights?"

"...How did you know?"

"Ah, indeed. There can be no other female elf of your age serving in the Allied Knights. Your reputation has reached even this remote land."

It seems that not only the Allied Knights but also Shiran herself was a celebrity. In a way, it was to be expected. After all, Shiran, who serves as deputy commander in the prestigious Allied Knights, is a high-spec individual with top-tier skills in the Northern Forest region.

However, it doesn't seem that she takes this treatment for granted.

Thinking about it, this is the first time she has returned to her homeland after spending so much time at Cheria Fortress. It's probably the first time she has received such treatment.

She turned back and gave a troubled look. The man, who had been focused on Shiran, finally noticed us.

"Deputy Commander Shiran, these people are..."

"Members of the 'Favored Bloodline.' I am currently serving as their escort."

"Really! I am terribly sorry for the lack of proper greeting!"

The man, his face changing, bowed deeply.

The Favored Bloodline are the visitors who have been transferred to this world, descendants of the legendary heroes. Many of the transferred individuals, who often interact with high-ranking individuals, marry into the noble class.

As a result, many members of the Favored Bloodline are of noble descent.

Some of them even have the characteristics of the yellow race, so during this journey, I have been pretending to be a member of the Favored Bloodline.

I judged that it would be less troublesome than being identified as a transferred individual. Additionally, there was now another reason for this.

"However, there is no place in this village suitable for hosting members of the Favored Bloodline..."

"That's not a problem. Any unused shack with a roof will do."

"Absolutely not! Please allow me to show you around."

Led by the man, we stepped into the village.

...I couldn't deny the slight tension in my chest.

After taking a few steps, I turned back and saw Rose, with her braided silver hair, walking quietly at the rear.

Her role was to be a maid serving me and Kato.

It is natural for high-ranking individuals to have someone to take care of their daily needs. For members of the Favored Bloodline, it would not be suspicious to have such a person.

Shiran had given her approval.

The clothes themselves were woven by Gerbera, but the design was decided through consultations with Kato, Shiran, and Kei.

With Shiran's supervision, the design was meant to meet the requirement of covering most of the body while not appearing suspicious in this world.

Indeed, no one seemed to notice that Rose was a monster with a doll's body, and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Rose seems to be doing well."

"Yes."

While whispering to Kato, we walked past the fields on either side.

In doing so, I noticed a difference between the villages in the Empire and this village in Akel.

The villagers on guard duty, of course, carried spears, wore leather armor, and had bows and arrows on their backs. However, even the other villagers, regardless of age or gender, had short swords at their waists.

Even the farmers working in the fields had a set of weapons set up in the shelters they used to avoid the rain.

While armed villagers were common in the Empire, it was not to this extent.

It felt more like "warriors doing farming" rather than "villagers being armed."

This might be due to the smaller scale of the village and the insufficient development of the surrounding area, leading to frequent encounters with monsters and a lack of manpower. Nevertheless, the proximity of life and battle was striking. It was as if living itself was inseparable from fighting.

"Hey, Kei, is this a typical village in Akel?"

"Yes, but?"

"Doesn't it seem a bit too militarized?"

"Yes, it might seem that way at first. In Akel, even the farmers in the villages are warriors. This way of life is said to have been taught by one of the heroes associated with Akel hundreds of years ago."

"It's quite different from the Empire. It feels like they are always prepared for a monster attack."

"Defeating a monster is difficult for children and the elderly, but if they can blind one eye in exchange for being killed, it reduces the danger for everyone else."

Kei said this matter-of-factly, but the content was quite intense. It made sense given the martial culture of the country.

While we were talking, we arrived at a slightly larger single-story house. After exchanging a few words with the man's family, we were led to a room.

"I will call you when dinner is ready."

After handing over the lodging fee, the man said nervously.

"There are extra rooms, so the master and his wife can share, and Deputy Commander Shiran and her sister can share."

Leaving these words, the man hurriedly left.

The Favored Bloodline are of noble descent and are also descendants of the legendary heroes, who are revered almost like religious figures in this world.

The man's respectful attitude, which seemed to suggest awe, was somewhat amusing, but what caught my attention was his peculiar way of speaking.

"Master... and wife?"

I turned to everyone, wondering what he meant, and met Kato's eyes.

"Ah."

We probably realized the man's misunderstanding at the same time. Kato's face, which had suddenly turned red, suggested that she had realized it too.

It was understandable.

—In this group, I am the only male.

—Excluding Shiran, her sister Kei, and Rose, who is dressed as a maid, who else is left?

It was a simple matter of subtraction.

"Ah... sorry."

"No, it's okay..."

Kato, with a flushed face, busily stroked her ponytail. An awkward silence filled the air.

"...Well, let's go into the room."

I decided to encourage everyone to enter the room.

"Still, Shiran is quite famous, isn't she?"

Once inside the room, I opened the conversation to dispel the awkward atmosphere.

"I was a bit surprised."

"Me too."

Shiran, sitting on the bed next to Kei, chuckled.

"I am from this country, so I was aware of how the Allied Knights were perceived... but still, it's a bit unsettling to see such enthusiasm for our visit. I didn't want to boast, but now that the captain is captured, the Allied Knights are effectively disbanded. It's a bit awkward to call myself a knight now, and that man doesn't know this."

"Shiran..."

"I'm just talking nonsense."

Shiran shook her head. Her honest blue eye turned to me.

"More importantly, Takahiro-sama. We need to gather supplies and information about the area."

"Right. We need to confirm if this is close to our destination, Diospiro."

"Then we don't have much time. Let's finish the negotiations before sunset."

Shiran started moving efficiently. Despite her actions, it didn't seem like she was still bothered by the earlier incident...

"Hey, Shiran."

As Shiran was about to leave the room, I called out to her.

"Even if the knightly order is disbanded, the fact that you were a knight and what you accomplished doesn't change. You're not deceiving that man, are you?"

"...Takahiro-sama."

Shiran turned back, looking a bit surprised. A small smile appeared on her face, half hidden by the eye patch.

"Thank you."

As I started to follow her, Kei grabbed my hand. Looking down, I saw her smiling happily.

I returned her smile and followed Shiran.

◆This is a bit short, but I'll cut it here for now.

I'll update again.