Chapter 34 - When It Is Time to Take Up the Sword Again
"Because of that, please make sure not to approach the flower fields."
"I understand. We'll let the others know too."
"Did you see anyone else in the flower fields?"
"No, there was no one else besides us."
"I see. Thank you."
"The pleasure is ours."
Having arrived at the flower field considered the most dangerous, I explained the situation to a parent and child playing there and asked them to head home.
It had been three months since I came to this village. Perhaps because I worked as a hunter, they seemed to know who I was, and everyone believed my words without suspicion and cooperated with me.
Without trust, things wouldn't go so smoothly, which taught me just how important daily interaction was.
I had heard that there was no one else in the most dangerous flower field besides the parent and child from just now, but I ran to the area under the trees just to be sure.
With small children, there were cases where they might be buried in the flower field and remain unseen.
"Is anyone there—? If you are, please answer!"
I ran around while raising my voice, but no voice returned to me.
The flower field was in full bloom with multi-colored flowers today as well, with only a gentle breeze blowing.
I stood still and tried to sense the sounds, smells, and the flow of the air, but even with my senses, there was no reaction from any human-like creatures in the vicinity.
...There's no one left, then.
Having made that judgment, I turned my back on the large tree in the flower field and left the area.
Next, while spreading the information to the people on the west side as a reminder, I should head to the house of the village chief, Elgis-san. Things might be hectic there right now with the transmission of information, but that's likely where the future course of action will be decided.
While making rounds of the houses near the flower field just in case, I returned toward the center of the village.
The people living around my house, which was relatively close to the flower field, also seemed to know the information about the monster, and everyone had a somewhat calm attitude.
I felt relieved that there had been no sightings of the Red Bear and that no one had fallen victim to it.
Eventually, I made it back to the vicinity of Toak's house, so I decided to stop by.
I doubted he didn't know, but he was a neighbor and an important friend.
When I reached Toak's house, which was surrounded by lush trees, Toak was in the yard holding a bow.
Relieved to see Toak safe, I called out to him in a casual tone.
"Hey, Toak—. Do you know that a Red Bear came down to the west side—?"
"Tch... You're the fourth person to come here. Of course I already know."
"I see. Well, that's good then."
To think that three other villagers had come besides me, Toak was certainly well-loved.
"By the way, can you even use a bow, Toak?"
I asked, pointing to the bow in Toak's hand.
A Red Bear had appeared nearby. Toak had probably dragged it out to prepare for the worst. He had quite the mindset, making sure he could protect his own life.
"I can make a simple bow myself, at least. I'm not very good at shooting them, though."
Saying so, Toak took a stance and nocked an arrow. At the end of his sharp gaze was a round wooden sign.
The drawn string creaked, and Toak carefully took aim.
His stance wasn't bad; it looked quite good, actually. For someone who said he wasn't good at it, he looked quite the part.
As I watched while feeling impressed in my heart, Toak's eyes snapped wide open, and he released the arrow all at once.
However, the arrow did not fly in a straight line; it pierced a tree about three meters to the right.
Apparently, while he was good at making them, he was indeed bad at shooting them.
"...Oh, that was closer to the center than before."
...Was it really?
"Don't you use a bow even in an emergency, okay?"
"Are you telling me to die?"
I could feel nothing but terror at the thought of a guy like this shooting a bow behind me. If things went poorly, he might be more dangerous than the Red Bear.
I thought so as I watched Toak checking the condition of the string with a sullen face.
Having confirmed Toak was safe, I passed my own house and headed toward the center of the village.
"Aldo-san!"
Then, Elgis-san came running from the single path leading to the village center.
I wondered what was wrong. If it was about the Red Bear, sufficient information should have reached him through Lauren-san? Did he come to check on me, worried because I was closest to the flower field?
"What's wrong, Elgis-san? No Red Bear has been sighted so far, though?"
"N-No, that's not it."
Elgis-san was breathing heavily, perhaps having run from his home.
I waited for his breathing to steady while feeling suspicious of his words.
After a few dozen seconds, his breathing seemed to calm down, and Elgis-san looked up and grabbed my shoulders.
"Flora hasn't been seen since around noon, did you see her in the flower field!?"
I was startled by Elgis-san's words, spoken with a desperate expression.
"Eh? Flora isn't there?"
In such a dangerous situation? I had assumed she was at Elgis-san's house...
"Yes, we were together until just after noon, but after that, she seems to have gone somewhere without telling Fiona her destination! I thought if Flora were to go anywhere, it would be to Aldo-san's place or the flower field..."
I see, it was only natural to worry if his precious daughter went out at such a dangerous time.
No wonder Elgis-san, who usually wore a gentle smile, had such a panicked expression.
"I went around the flower field just now, but there was no one there except for one parent and child. Surely, she went to the vineyard to see Aisha out of concern?"
"I-I hope that's the case."
I said that to Elgis-san to reassure him, but my inner state was not calm.
Thinking that Flora might not know about the Red Bear and that her whereabouts were unknown, my chest tightened with a painful pang. Honestly, I wanted to start running around recklessly to find her right now, but it was precisely at times like this that one had to remain calm.
It was only because of my experience overcoming situations where life and death were on the line during my adventurer days that I managed to barely maintain my composure.
Calm down, me. Panic narrows a person's vision.
"...I just hope it doesn't turn out like nine years ago..."
I tilted my head at Elgis-san's worried murmur.
Nine years ago?
"Aldo—! Elgis-san!"
That question was blown away by a third party's shout.
Startled by the sheer volume, I turned around to see Aisha running toward us with teary eyes while shouting.
From Aisha's expression, which looked ready to burst into tears, and her voice filled with a panic I had never heard before, it was clear that this was no ordinary matter.
And above all, Flora was not by Aisha's side.
Feeling a sense of urgency at that, I caught Aisha as she ran toward us as if diving in.
"What happened? Aisha!?"
"Is Flora not with you?"
When we asked, Aisha's shoulders trembled within my arms.
"...Ugh, Flora, Flora is..."
"What happened?"
Amidst a bad premonition, Aisha opened her mouth while large tears overflowed from her eyes.
"Flora went to the back of the flower field to pick a Flower of Connection! To the place where the Red Bear might be!"
The moment I heard that, my body almost dashed off at once, but I endured it at the last second. I didn't know the exact location where Flora had gone to pick the Flower of Connection.
I should hear a bit more information before going.
Damn it, even though I had gone to the flower field once. I should have checked the back even if it meant disregarding the danger.
"T-That can't be!? That's exactly the northwestern area where the Red Bear is estimated to be!?"
Elgis-san revealed his shock upon hearing that his daughter, Flora, was in a place where the Red Bear might be.
"Why did she go to pick that..."
"I'm sorry, Elgis-san. It's because I said something unnecessary..."
As Elgis-san murmured dazed, Aisha answered while shedding tears.
Then Elgis-san turned his gaze toward me and, perhaps having realized something, let out a weak sigh.
"...As I thought, is that it?"
I didn't know what he meant by 'as I thought,' but the reason she went to pick the flower didn't matter right now.
The location where Flora likely was was the northwest, in the back of the flower field. Knowing that was enough.
There was no longer any reason to hesitate and stay.
"...I'm going to go bring Flora back."
Having made that decision, I entrusted Aisha to Elgis-san and returned to my own house.
"W-Wait!? Aldo!?"
"Aldo-san!?"
I heard shouting from behind me, but I ignored it for now.
Even opening the locked door felt frustratingly slow.
I threw the door open violently and stepped inside with my shoes still on.
I pulled out the drawer of the storage chest in the back room and roughly grabbed the Mithril Sword wrapped in cloth.
I stripped away the carefully wrapped cloth, and when I checked the blade, the silver, shining edge revealed itself.
...I didn't think I would ever use this again. When the opponent is a monster like a Red Bear, a simple bow without armor is unreliable. I'll allow myself to use this to save someone precious to me.
After returning the mana-imbued weapon to its scabbard, I leaped out of the house without even closing the door.
Of course, my destination was the northwest, in the back of the flower field.