Chapter 5 - The Fairy of the Flower Field
After leaving my hemp bag with my belongings at the village chief's house, I went outside carrying only portable rations like cheese, raspberries, and biscuits.
I vaguely remembered the way to the flower fields.
If I recalled correctly, I just had to follow the tree-lined path stretching west from the plaza in the center of the village. That alone should lead me to those flower fields.
I headed south from the village chief's house and walked west from the plaza.
As I walked for a short while, the presence of houses and people gradually thinned out, and the path changed into a tree-lined road.
The way the lush green leaves swayed in the wind felt as if they were welcoming me.
The trees were lined up as if to lure me deeper and deeper, continuing far ahead.
When I listened closely, I could hear the sounds of insects from the bushes and the chirping of birds perched in the trees, which was pleasant.
During my adventurer days, I mostly went to places where many monsters lived, so I didn't have much leeway to slowly enjoy nature.
If I could feel this refreshed, I should have gone for walks or picnics with my party members.
Back then, I was just desperate to get stronger and to survive.
Even if I had passed through a road like this in a carriage, I feel like I would have been sleeping, doing muscle training, or just ignoring it as a mere road. Thinking about it now, what a waste I was making of it.
I might understand now how my party members felt as they looked at me with exasperation.
As I went deeper and deeper, the tree-lined path took on a somber atmosphere, becoming reminiscent of a forest.
"But, once I get through here..."
Those beautiful flower fields should be there. My destination was close.
With every step I took, I felt my pace naturally quicken.
I crunched through the soil, moving my legs with all my might. Gradually, my pace went from a fast walk to a run.
Beyond this was the place I had yearned for.
Since the day I thought of it in the royal capital, how many times had I dreamed of it and pictured it in my mind?
I dug up old memories from nine years ago and filled in the gaps with my poor imagination.
Even so, I had never once been able to imagine a scene that I was satisfied with. I had always denied it, thinking the image burned into my eyes and brain wasn't like this.
But the correct answer was here. The scenery that had fascinated me nine years ago and had never left me since.
The rows of trees gradually broke away, and a dazzling light could be seen from beyond.
As I ran toward it—a vast flower field spread out before me.
Vivid red, pink, orange, yellow, and white flowers were blooming in profusion, continuing far into the distance. There were flowers of colors I couldn't describe with my meager knowledge or vocabulary, and some had gradations of color.
This was a carpet of flowers.
There were many types of flowers, and just by glancing at the flowers nearby, I could see things like rapeseed, tulips, poppies, and kiruruku.
The sky stretched out blue as far as the eye could see.
When the wind blew from somewhere, the flowers blooming all over swayed gently, and a sweet scent drifted through the air.
".........."
I stared at the flower field spreading across the area without blinking. No, it would be more accurate to say I couldn't take my eyes off it because it was too beautiful.
Looking at this beautiful scenery that seemed out of this world, it felt as if this place alone had been isolated from the rest of the world.
Seeing the fantastical scene woven by the colors, I thought this:
The memories I had dreamed of were not even worth mentioning. The actual scenery was so beautiful that it was presumptuous to even compare them.
In my imagination, the colors, the flowers, and the atmosphere were different. Besides, there was no smell, no wind, and no sound. It was full of things that were missing.
I thought I couldn't forget the sight from nine years ago and that it was burned into my mind, but I was forced to realize that human memory is a vague thing.
"...I finally made it."
Dry words escaped my mouth reflexively.
This was the scenery I had been seeking. The place I had sought incessantly for a month and a half.
I had finally reached it.
Just thinking that made my chest feel warm, and various emotions like joy and movedness welled up, causing tears to naturally fall from the corners of my eyes.
Surprised by the tears streaming down my cheeks, I hurriedly wiped them with the back of my hand.
Were these tears of emotion? I didn't know.
I had never experienced anything like this.
I was bewildered by emotions I didn't quite understand, but I felt that the emptiness born after I subjugated the dragon was somewhat filled by coming here.
Once the tears subsided and my emotions calmed down, I started walking.
I wanted to gaze at these beautiful flowers not just from one side, but from various angles.
I walked, choosing places where flowers weren't blooming as much as possible.
As I walked and looked around, I could see that there were many types of flowers.
There were flowers with shapes I had never seen, some strangely long and thin, some short, and some with many layers of petals, but it was frustrating that I didn't know their names at all.
However, it also felt a little fun to imagine what the names of these flowers were, when they bloomed, and what their flower languages were.
I proceeded through the flower field while savoring the colors and sweet scents of the flowers, and the smell of soil and grass. Just by walking here, the good scent of the flowers soaked into my clothes, making me think I might not even need to wash them. I speculated that the floral scent drifting from Fiona-san came from using the flowers.
Looking at the flowers and thinking about various things, I crossed a small hill with gentle undulations.
I walked for hundreds of meters and crossed the small hill, but the flower field continued beyond it.
Moreover, the shapes and colors were slightly different from the flowers I had been seeing earlier.
Just how many types of flowers were there in this place alone?
Another point that was different from before was that there was a lone tree far in my line of sight.
It wasn't large or small, just a tree that looked like it could be anywhere, but it was strange how well it blended in with the flowers here.
It was almost as if it were a place saying to take a break under that tree.
It would surely feel wonderful to lie down in the shade under that tree and take a nap. It would undoubtedly be a perfect summer retreat.
I wanted to try lying down there for a bit, so I started walking toward the tree.
The word summer reminded me that the colors of the flowers here change every time the season changes.
Who was it that told me such a thing?
It was nine years ago, so I couldn't remember well...
Since it was frustrating to have a memory that felt like it was on the tip of my tongue but wouldn't come out, I decided to push it out of my head for now.
It wasn't like it was that important anyway. For now, I would enjoy this beautiful scenery.
As I continued to move slowly while enjoying the view, I arrived near the tree.
"My legs are a bit tired, so maybe I'll take a break."
As I approached the tree to settle down in the shade, a woman emerged from the flower field spreading out behind it.
She had vivid golden hair that reached down to her waist, and her round eyes were jade-colored like emeralds.
Perhaps because she had a bit of a baby face, she looked younger, but her features were well-formed, making her look almost like a doll.
Her slender frame was wrapped in a clean white blouse, and her rounded hips were covered by a navy blue skirt.
She was such a beautiful woman that I almost suspected a fairy living in the flower field had popped her head out.
From the various flowers and nuts visible in the basket in her hand, I could tell she had been gathering until just now.
The fairy-san was looking this way with a dazed expression.
Since it felt a bit embarrassing to keep staring at each other, I decided to try calling out to the fairy-san for the time being.
"...Um, hello."
"—!?"
When I started with a greeting, the fairy-san's shoulders jumped in surprise.
She might have been startled because a twenty-seven-year-old man suddenly spoke to her.
At any rate, so as not to scare her, I stayed still without moving a single step and watched over her with as gentle an expression as possible.
"...Ah, um..."
Her face turned a little red, and she muttered something in a small voice while acting fidgety.
Her jade eyes were busy, shifting their gaze toward me and then away. Was she a shy person?
As I watched her, wondering what to do, she made an expression as if she were plucking up her courage and—
"...H-Hello!"
She shouted, and then ran off toward the village with great momentum.
As I watched her back quickly grow smaller, I muttered to myself.
"...Do I really have such a scary face?"