Yuusha-sama no Oshishou-sama

They were deep within the forest, where it was impossible to reach on horseback.

The trunks of the surrounding trees were so wide that an adult could reach around the tree, and his hands would barely touch. The overgrown leaves blocked the sunlight.

It was a world far removed from humanity, a ravine filled with lush greenery.

Its inhabitants, the elves, ruled the forest. Compared to humans, they were blessed with abundant magic power, longevity, and a highly developed civilization.

The elves’ distinguishing characteristic were their elongated ears, crystal blue eyes, and alabaster skin. Their slender-looking bodies belied supple muscles. The hundreds of years of experience acc.u.mulated over hundreds of years of their life far surpa.s.sed that of humans.

Their capital lied at the center of the Alfana Continent, at the roots of the World Tree that towered over the continent.

From the reports of the few humans were permitted to enter the capital, they praised its splendor and magnificence as rivalling that of Dragonkind, one of the strongest races of the land.

The dragons were one of the reasons that the Demon Lord, who was feared by even G.o.ds/Spirits, could not dominate the entire continent with his demons and subordinate monsters.

Humans of every nation made it a principle not to interfere with the Elven domain deep within the first at the center of the continent. Likewise, the elves, with the exception of the eccentric individuals who did take interest in it, would not recklessly interfere with the world outside their forest.

“Vice-Captain. what should we do now?”

“I wonder…”

Kelvin took a glance at the elves surrounding them. There was no opportunity to use magic. Any suspicious movements and they would immediately be turned into pincushions.

The second time they had taken a break after entering the forest, Wynn had reported to Kelvin that he felt like they were being watched.

Kelvin heeded Wynn’s warning, and was beginning to think that it was because of some monster observing them, so the three were being careful, but–

“I didn’t think that the source of those gazes were actually the elves.”

“No matter how you look at it, they clearly don’t look friendly to me…”

Locke had a cramped smile.

“I heard that the elves didn’t really bother themselves with the human world.”

“Likewise, I didn’t think that I would receive such a welcome from you elves. I have never heard of human knights being surrounded like this.”

Their next course of action was dependent on the elves’ response.

“Freeze! Don’t take another step!”

The elven man who had shot an arrow at Wynn’s feet shouted at them in Elvish.

The elven language was a required subject in the Knight Academy[1], since the elves were one of the prominent races in the continent.

Kelvin stopped walking, obeying the elf’s command.

Wynn scanned the surroundings.

Five elves were in plain sight, but there could be more than that.

“We are from the Knight Order of Remulshil Empire. Lieutenant Royce, also known as Count Elstead, should have notified you that we would be contacting you, no?”
“I have not heard anything like that.”

“How strange… We had arranged to meet with them.”

Kelvin muttered, perplexed.

”Drop you weapons.
We’ll detain you for the time being. We’ll hear you out in our village!”

The elf who spoke with Kelvin, raised his hand up. A few of the elves who had their bows aimed at them stepped forward, collecting the sword that was still impaled in the goblin and the weapons Locke and Kelvin had dropped.

Then, they compelled the three to follow the them.

“I wonder what they plan to do to us…”

“They don’t seem to intend to hurt us, though.”

They weren’t tied up, but a short spear was held to their backs. It was probably because it would be hard to walk in the forest while tied up.

Wynn gently stroked the dagger at his waist. Their swords and short spears were taken from them, but they were allowed to keep their daggers and knives.

Since they were not restrained, they could defend themselves against monsters or animals that approached in the forest.

“It seems like they are going to take us to their village. That was our destination in the first place. In a way, aren’t we being escorted to their village? Just relax.”

From the start, Kelvin.seemed like he wanted to have the elves fight if they were attacked by something. His face still wore the same carefree smile as always.

In the first place, the elves only pointed their weapons at the three, and didn’t do anything else. Of course, if they saw any signs of opposition, it wouldn’t end there.

“Well, we can’t really do much in this situation. Let’s just obediently do what they say.”

Wynn and Locke exchanged questioning glances, but Kelvin was right. They couldn’t do anything right now.

It was better for them to do as they were told. As he walked, Wynn searched for the elf who seemed to be the leader of the group.

He was the one who had caused such an abnormally menacing atmosphere.

If Captain Royce’s message regarding them didn’t reach the elves, then Wynn and the others would be treated as dangerous intruders.

He could understand why they were extremely on edge.

However, the leader elf’s gaze contained a sort of dark gleam. Rather than mere caution, his eyes contained another emotion. Wynn felt like he wanted to cut them down at a moment’s notice.

The other elves also appeared to feel the abnormal hostility coming from the leader. They seemed anxious as they walked.

That might have been why Kelvin had spoken in such a lighthearted manner.

Due to the tension, the group walked through the forest in silence. Silently, they made their way towards the elven settlement.

“Whoa…… ”

“How… wonderful… ”

The settlement was about as large as a village, which was a modest size for one of the prominent races on the continent, but the splendid scenery made up for what it lacked in size.

A gigantic tree that gave off a pale glow towered over them in the center of the village.

Despite the surrounding trees blocking the sunlight, the giant tree’s soft glow illuminated the whole village. On its branches, pools of water from the mountain stream reflected the tree’s glow, creating a truly fantastical scene.

“Hey, Locke. I know that Leticia went on an arduous journey as the Brave. But I’m also kind of envious of her. As she travelled around the world, she probably saw many different things and met many different people… I know it was hard, but I still envy her. The world truly is wide.”

“… Is that so…”

Wynn couldn’t help but stop in his tracks as he tried to take in the view.

Since the elves’ own village was being praised, they didn’t rush their captives, but instead waited for them.

“Is that large glowing tree the World Tree?”

“No, it’s actually a sapling of the World Tree. Underground, the World Tree’s roots span the entire continent. New saplings are born from those roots. I heard that the elves made their capital and their other settlements from these saplings. Nevertheless, I never thought that even the sapling would be this beautiful.”

The three people stopped speaking for a while as they admired the scenery.

“If this is just a sapling, then how beautiful would the real World Tree be… I would like to see it myself one day…”

“Alright, that’s enough. Get moving.”

The elves began to urge them to resume walking towards the village.

As they got closer to the center of the village, they could see the sapling more clearly.

“Those drops of light are glowing?”

As they approached, it became clear that the tree itself wasn’t glowing, but droplets that were gushing out from the tree were giving off a soft glow. These droplets were the source of the tree’s glow when seen at a distance.

Wynn was so enthralled by the scenery that he had forgotten that he was under escort.

“Enter.”

The three were brought to the one stone building among all the wooden buildings in the elven community.

It must have served as a holding cell.

This time, all of their weapons were taken, and they were locked up in the cell.

“… Now what do we do?”

Locke struck the cell’s stone wall. It was a st.u.r.dy building.[2]

The building’s two windows allowed light and air into the cell. A head could almost fit through the cell’s windows. The sole entrance to the cell was locked tightly from the outside.

“It’s pretty much impossible to escape from here.”

“I wonder if they will give us food…”

Wynn rubbed his grumbling stomach. The bag filled with rations were confiscated along with their weapons.

“… It’ll be pretty bad without food, huh. That aside, have you felt any magic power, Vice-captain?”

“Nope. It’s been completely sealed. It’s similar to the Empire’s Magic Sealing Barrier. The magic formation is probably also different, using elven magic.”

“Eh? I didn’t feel it…”

“Well, you barely have any magic, Wynn. It’s not surprising that you didn’t feel anything.”

“The Empire’s Magic Sealing Barrier uses six towers surrounding the capital, and the tower in the capital. The seven towers are activated by a magic formation that amplifies magic. I can’t see anything like that here. Locke-kun, when did notice that magic was being disrupted?”

“I noticed my magic being sealed when we entered the cell.”

“That was the same for me. That means that the magic sealing spell only affects this building.”

“Are magic sealing spells really that hard to create?”

“They are. I happen to know a bit about magic that prevents the casting of spells and magic that seals magic power of specific targets. However, it is really difficult to create a spell that affects only a certain area, and affects any number of people. Only a handful of people– rather, only people on the level of the Brave, the Great Sage, or the Saintess would be able to use it, but as far as I know, but I haven’t heard of anybody else apart from them.”

“It really is hard, huh… ”

Kelvin nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. You know that any sort of enhancement magic will have a lower effectiveness when cast on somebody else other than yourself, right? One’s own magic is thought to resist the effects of other people’s magic. It is the same with magic sealing spells. Back then, each person’s magic was sealed, but that would require an enormous amount of magic to suppress our magic. An average human magician would have to use all their effort just to weaken their target’s magic power.”[3]

“But I feel our like magic has been completely sealed here.”

“Yes. It is as Locke said. Just like it was during Zaunas’s coup, our magic has been completely sealed.”

“So elves have that much magic, huh…”

“Elves do have more magic power than humans, but they don’t have enough magic power to seal any number of people within a certain area as it is her. I fear that the World Tree sapling is supplying the magic power for this.”

Wynn took a peek out the window.

He could see the radiant tree from where he was.

“Are those lights actually magic power that is being emitted from the World Tree?”

He recalled that when Leti became serious, she also emitted a golden glow as magic power flowed from her body. A single person was able to create the same phenomenon as the World Tree. Once again, he was reminded that Leti, the Brave, was extraordinary.

“We have neither weapons nor magic. Nor do we have any food, so it looks like all we can do is sleep.”

Locke laid down on the floor. There wasn’t any furniture in the room. As for a blanket…

“It seems to be a decent blanket… hm?”

Kelvin walked halfway to what seemed like a pile of blankets in the corner of the room, then stopped.

“What is it, vice-captain?”

“No, did anything move just now?”

Wynn walked beside Kelvin, and his eyes also widened. The blanket was moving up and down, ever so slightly.

Kelvin and Wynn looked at each other. Locke prudently got up without making a sound.

Wynn quietly snuck up to the pile of blankets. He looked towards Kelvin and Locke, and they nodded. He pulled back the blankets, and grabbed the wrist of the person under there.

‘Huh? It’s thinner than I thought’

A slender arm.

“――――! No… let go… Please, don’t kill me…”

They heard a feeble sob.

“Huh? A girl?”

The girl hidden under the blankets trembled, sobbing in terror as she looked up at Wynn.

Translator Notes