Chapter 59 - To Whom!?
Along the forest road at the first monster-infested area after leaving the Holy Capital. In such a dangerous place, there was a church that also served as an inn. Here, a Healer would join the party.
"If it is healing, leave it to me, Emiel. If I can accompany the Hero on their journey, it will surely be a valuable learning experience."
A handsome man with tall stature and silver-rimmed glasses. With light brown hair that could look orange depending on the scene, he was a man who seemed to embody the ideal of an embracing older brother character.
After crossing about two more towns, there was a bit of a commotion at a certain small coal mine, and they met a Martial Artist. He joined the party immediately.
"Huh? Didn't I introduce myself? Come to think of it. I'm Faras. Nice to meet you, sis. And the rest of you... and one creature?"
So he said.
Sensitive about his short stature, he was a shota character rivaling Bis for the top spot. Elenoa vaguely recalled that the shota from the Hero's side and the shota from the Demon Lord's side were in a state where their fans glared at each other.
With this, most of the capture targets had gathered, leaving only one person remaining. It had been about a month so far. Half of this time was spent on the girl's sword and magic training.
The journey, which would take less than two hours if played through a screen, felt very long. There had been about two boss battles, and nominally, everyone's level was around fifteen.
The sound of air being sliced rang out.
"Hey, hey."
With a heartless voice, four goblins fell one after another. Green blood soaked into the ground.
The girl and her companions, who had been staring blankly at the scene, greeted the fairy who returned to their side with tense faces, saying, "Welcome back."
It was a victory seized within five seconds of encountering the monsters and starting the battle. If it were her own power, it would be fine, but a victory by a single fairy felt too empty.
"Somehow, lately you've been very... um, energetic?"
The girl cautiously spoke to the fairy, who had settled on her shoulder.
For the past week, Elenoa's motivation had been strangely detached from her usual self. There were many scenes where she crushed multiple enemies in a single turn with the fairy's lightning speed and barrage of magic right from the start.
And at times, just when she seemed to be floating blankly in the air and looking into the distance, she would suddenly dive toward the ground and start rolling around.
Was it a fairy's instinct?
Or some new kind of status ailment?
The Healer, among others, had read two books about fairies in the last three days and even attempted to examine her personally. However, the fairy, who seemed to "dislike humans," did not allow it.
The fairy was restless. And rightly so. In the mountainous country of 'Asra' they were currently heading toward, the final capture target, Louis Stylus (Elenoa's husband), was waiting. Since those around her had no way of knowing these circumstances, her behavior appeared even more eerie.
The knight chimed in at the fairy, who was shyly saying, "Am I energetic? Hehe," despite no one praising her.
"Can't you be a bit more calm? Even Hasumi is troubled, you know."
"Is the Hero troubled?"
"Not at all. It's a good thing to finish things quickly, yes."
"She says she's not troubled."
"You're being perfectly reserved, aren't you?"
"But we're running low on food soon, and humans get tired easily, so it's better not to waste stamina, right?"
"That's true, but... For someone so germaphobic that they say things like 'don't touch my wings,' you're fine with rushing straight into monsters. What kind of thought process is that? At this rate, those thin wings of yours are going to tear someday."
The fairy glared at the knight with a pout.
"If they tear, I'll have them healed."
"By whom?"
"Anyone will do."
"Now, now, let's stop this lovers' quarrel here."
"It's not a lovers' quarrel!"
"There's no way it's a lovers' quarrel!"
When the Healer scolded them, the two simultaneously voiced their objections.
The Hero's Party crossed the mountain path and entered the country.
Respecting the girl's wish not to stand out as the Hero's Party, they passed themselves off as just a group of adventurers. Although they would need to show the mark on the back of their hand, which was proof of being a Hero, to the gate guards, and reporting to the King or local lord was unavoidable, they basically desired a quiet stay.
Elenoa did not fly within the town.
Since being a fairy alone made her a target, she was tucked into the pouch at the girl's waist.
On the way to the inn, they saw many apples. They seemed to be a specialty product. The scent of apples drifted through the air, with stalls selling tea and baked goods lining the streets, making the air on the roads very fragrant.
The famous sweets placed in each room of the inn as a small hospitality gesture were also apple pies.
When the girl—Hasumi—put down her luggage, the fairy energetically flew out.
"Phew."
"Thank you for your hard work. Sorry for making it cramped."
"It's fine, I'm used to it."
Hasumi reached out her hand to the fairy flying around the room. The fairy then landed neatly on her palm.
As the only two women in the traveling party, the two of them were on good terms.
Even though they had secured two rooms, one for men and one for women, it was too early to rest. They had to decide what to do next.
While lightly hiding the fairy, the girl entered the next room, where the Martial Artist, Faras, raised his hand in greeting, saying, "Yo."
Everyone settled onto beds or chairs, taking their seats, and the meeting began.
"Does anyone have business in this town?"
"I don't."
"Me neither, really."
"I just think it would be nice if we could rest."
"I see. Elenoa?"
"............"
Everyone looked at the fairy, who gave no answer.
Elenoa was staring intently toward the window.
"Elenoa?"
"Ah, ah, yes, I don't have any particular business either."
"...I see."
Elenoa's strange behavior was not something that had just started.
Basically, the strength of a fairy was that they could survive on their own, so she rarely desired things. So they decided to set her aside for now, and the girls discussed buying food and the fact that, come to think of it, they were low on burning water. As a result, they decided to split the shopping between today and tomorrow.
As the meeting was coming to an end, Hasumi asked about something that had been bothering her for a while, facing the fairy who was spacing out by the window.
"That hair ornament is beautiful."
"...Hm? This?"
It was a hair tie that held the fairy Elenoa's hair in a loose braid. The translucent blue stone attached to it was quite eye-catching.
"I received it."
"To whom!?"
The one who stood up from his seat with a clatter at Elenoa's answer was none other than the knight, Alois.
—Why react that much?
At the gaze of the puzzled fairy, the smiling Healer who said, "Ah, youth," and the other two, the knight flinched with an "Ugh."
"It's fine, isn't it... whatever..."
"Hmm. Well, it's fine. I'll make some tea."
"Eh, yes, please."
With a swoosh, Elenoa flew up, floating the prepared cups and apple tea leaves. Hasumi and the men followed her with their eyes. Only the knight looked unsettled, but he seemed to calm down and sat back down in his chair.
Just as everyone stood up to go shopping soon.
Knock, knock.
There was a sound of knocking on the door.
It was an unspoken rule that the Healer (Emiel), who held the older brother position in the group, would handle visitors. After confirming that Elenoa had hurriedly dove into the bed, Emiel went to greet the guest.
'Yes, who might it be?'
In the not-so-spacious room, the voice was clearly audible. The group inside listened in silence.
The guest was a middle-aged man, judging by his voice.
'I am a messenger from the Royal Palace. Hearing that the Hero is here, the King has expressed a strong desire to welcome you as guests. I have come to escort you, hoping you will accompany me.'
'...Please wait a moment.'
Emiel returned once and met the girl's eyes. She thought for a moment and shook her head apologetically. Accepting this, he nodded, saying, "That would be for the best," and went back to respond.
'I am truly sorry. We are honored by the invitation, but the Hero is tired and wishes to rest. Having secured lodging here, she prefers not to stand out.'
'Is that so? That was rude of us. ...Then, how about the day after tomorrow? By pure coincidence, a birthday party for the Princess will be held. If the Hero, symbol of peace, would attend, the Princess would surely be delighted. We guarantee the Hero's safety and the skills of our court chefs.'
'Hmm, however, this is a journey for the purpose of defeating the Demon Lord, so we do not have formal attire.'
'We are prepared to lend dresses and accessories. We strongly invite you, the Hero's companions, as well.'
'...Understood. We will accept your kind offer.'
'That is wonderful. Then, here is this.'
Such a conversation was heard.
The girl was startled, but seemed at a loss for words at the rapid development. Before she knew it, Emiel had returned, and in his hand shone a glossy white invitation.
"W-why did you say we would go!"
"No matter what we said, that person intended to invite us. I judged that it would be better to meet them here rather than give a bad impression by refusing. One never knows what might happen on a long journey, and I think some tolerance for glamorous occasions is necessary. It is disobedience to orders, but... shall I apologize?"
"...It's fine. I'll do my best..."
"That's our Hero."
The girl glared resentfully at the Healer, who spoke nonchalantly. Looking dejected, she scooped up the fairy (Elenoa) and returned to the next room.
'Elenoa!'
"...Wha!?"
She jolted awake.
Elenoa looked around; it was still the middle of the night at the inn.
The men were in the next room, and Hasumi was sleeping soundly in the adjacent bed. Elenoa, wary of who had called her, flew to the next bed to stay by Hasumi's side.
But thinking about it carefully, she knew that voice from before.
It had been transmitted to her brain. That voice, the most comfortable one for Elenoa, was so familiar that she could recall it even with a sleepy head.
It was him.
Convinced of the voice's source, Elenoa flew to the protruding window this time.
It was a new moon. From this room on the second floor of the inn, the stars were clearly visible. There were no figures outside.
'Louis?'
Elenoa called out to him without making a sound. The answer returned in a few seconds.
'...Could it be, Elenoa?'
'Yes. You startled me. What's wrong?'
Checking on Hasumi just in case, it seemed she could not hear it either. Confirming that she was fast asleep, Elenoa focused again on Louis's voice in her mind.
Judging from the hazy, doubtful tone, Louis was somewhat dazed.
'...Is this the thing from the contract...? This is not my hallucination, is it?'
'Yes.'
A method of communication born between master and servant who had formed a contract. Plainly called telepathy. It was something that could connect over greater distances as years passed, and in a relationship of only a few decades, it could only be used within the distance of a single country.
It had been exactly a month since their last conversation.
Even knowing that he was not there, Elenoa looked outside.
His condition was indeed somewhat strange.
'What's wrong?'
Thinking it a pity that the communication might have been cut off, Elenoa called out repeatedly.
'Hello?'
'...I apologize. I woke you. I did not intend to call.'
'That's fine, but did something happen?'
'Nothing happened. There is nothing I should put into your ears.'
In other words, there was something he could not let Elenoa hear. If Louis judged it so, she had no choice but to comply.
She looked at the clock. It was already two in the morning.
Thinking about it then—Elenoa furrowed her brows.
'Did you have a strange dream? You think about too many things, Louis-boy.'
'Think too much, you say. ...Yes. There is one thing I would like to ask of you.'
'Hm?'
'If the place where you are is not dangerous, would you sing for me?'
Hmm. Elenoa was puzzled. She tilted her head toward the sky. Though doing so would not convey anything to Louis.
'I don't mind, but are you really okay?'
'Yes. To avoid thinking too much, I will abandon my thoughts and sleep.'
'That's a drastic measure. But will my song reach you there?'
'I will use some wind magic to deliver your voice. Fairy songs harmonize well with the wind.'
'Nn, understood. I will sing in ten seconds.'
As declared, exactly ten seconds later, she took a deep breath. She sang the song Louis liked best into the night sky beyond the window.
A fairy's song would never disturb those who were sleeping.
She would meet Louis the day after tomorrow. At the Princess's birthday party, the Hero's Party—the capture target characters—would finally be complete.
Elenoa knew this.
Recalling that the Hero would meet the mage before the fairy did, Elenoa gripped the hourglass under her clothes.
It was natural for the female protagonist to meet the capture target. Without even thinking about whether to trust him or not, she was simply anxious.
—When I meet Louis, I'll check his affection level first.
With such a resolution, Elenoa sang.