Chapter 13 - Mythology and the Incident at the Bell Tower
We were back in the city.
We'd only been here for four days, and living out of an inn at that, yet there was a strange sense of nostalgic relief. What was this feeling?
"It feels comforting, doesn't it?"
Fam felt the same way.
We parted ways with Aidan at the guild. The rescued villagers would be placed under the guild's protection for the time being.
After getting a room at the Asuka Inn, we headed to the church. I needed to get my ribs fixed.
"Can you heal this?"
"A donation of twenty silver coins will do the trick," Maira said with a bright smile.
"You miser."
"A miracle from God for a mere twenty silver coins, you know?"
Could you really call a miracle that could be bought with money a miracle? Of course, I paid the silver.
"Still, it's strange," I muttered after the treatment.
"What's strange?" Maira asked, so I told her about the quest. The fact that there had been any survivors was what I found strange. I was glad there were, of course, but I had assumed everyone would have been slaughtered.
"The survivors were all women, weren't they?"
"Huh? Now that you mention it, yeah. Is there a reason for that?"
Maira and Fam exchanged troubled glances.
"Master, that's because the goblins left them alive to bear their children."
"Is that so?" The fact that Fam was the one to answer meant it was common knowledge in this world.
"The child of a monster and a living being becomes a half-monster. They are powerful life forms that strongly retain the monster's traits. A goblin born from a human becomes a powerful goblin as well."
"Huh? A goblin can be born from a human?"
Maira's explanation surprised me.
"That's right. Between two humans, the child born will be of the same race as the mother. If the father is human and the mother is a dog-kin, a dog-kin child will be born. However, a child conceived with a monster will become a monster."
If that was the case, then I understood why Fam and Aidan had been so determined to stay at the village. They had been operating under the assumption that there were survivors from the very beginning.
"So there was some hidden lore like that."
"It's mythology," Maira said, pointing a finger to the heavens.
According to myth, the human race was first created in this world by the gods. Humans deepened their relationships—or rather, their sexual interactions—with all manner of creatures, resulting in the birth of various races like the dog-kin and cat-kin.
"So, humans and dogs and cats..." Ahem! My question was drowned out by Maira's pointed cough.
"Among them, it is said that elves and dwarves were born from unions with the gods."
Dwarves were said to live for two hundred years, and elves for a thousand. The secret to their long lives was their mixed divine blood.
Maira's story continued. Humans also mingled with magical beasts, giving rise to the demon race. The gods, appalled by this utter lack of restraint, bestowed divine punishment and order upon the world. As a result, the existing races became fixed, and the rule of female-dominant lineage was established.
"This is the legend passed down in the church. The elves, dwarves, and demons have different versions, but the punchline is the same."
"Hey, are you sure you should be calling it a punchline? Still, that was helpful."
"If you enjoyed my story, I would be happy to accept a donation."
This church was starved for cash. I made a donation for the sake of Maira's boobs.
After the treatment, we climbed the bell tower. It was just around dusk.
The view opened up, and the wind felt pleasant.
We were the only ones in the observation area.
We could see the entire city. From up here, the city of Richelle was smaller than I'd thought. This world probably had a population that was laughably small compared to my old one. In the center, I could see a palace. It was the residence of House Rugul, the family that ruled this city. The massive buildings surrounding the palace were government offices.
The only other large structure was the arena. It resembled the Roman Colosseum, though its spectator stands weren't even half as tall. The gladiatorial combat one might associate with an arena wasn't held in this city. There were too few people, both as participants and as an audience.
A river and a highway ran through the city from north to south. Following the highway north would lead to the Imperial Capital. The southern highway branched off repeatedly, leading to other cities, but neither the capital nor any other city was visible from here.
Farmland stretched out beyond the city walls, eventually giving way to forest. Small settlements were scattered throughout the woods. Beyond the forest, I could see plains and a lake. And beyond that, mountains.
I couldn't see the sea.
I tried to find the village from Aidan's request, but I couldn't spot it.
"Are we back to gathering medicinal herbs tomorrow?"
"I wonder. My level's gone up, so maybe we should try the dungeon. I want to get a bit more combat experience. Once I'm more confident, I'm thinking of heading to the city of Migul in the east."
On the eastern side of the city wall, I could see a shrine. The dungeon entrance was inside. Mizuki's party, Wind Blade, was probably in there too.
"I'll go with you."
"No, you don't have to come. It'll be a pain if you start crying or want to go back and I try to argue with you."
"Urk... I won't cry, and I'll listen to you next time."
"I'm kidding. I'd be happy to have you with me. You don't have to obey me; just do what you think is right."
Beyond the shrine and the forest, a hazy white mountain range was visible on the far horizon.
"Was your village near those mountains, Fam?"
Fam shook her head.
"No, it's much farther than those mountains."
"I see. It's a big world, isn't it?"
Fam had lived with her family somewhere beyond that mountain range.
"Where did you come from, Master?"
"It's a secret. Up there."
The sky above the city, stained red by the sunset, was already beginning to darken, and stars were becoming visible. I pointed to one of them. Fam looked up at the sky too.
"How did you get here from there?"
She seemed to believe me. Was this a world where such things were possible?
"Do you know anyone who came from the stars?"
"No, I thought that only happened in stories."
Just what kind of person did Fam think her master was? I needed her to stop calling me 'Master' soon. I wanted to sit down with her and have a proper talk.
"The star thing was a figure of speech, a joke. To be precise, I was transferred here from another world."
I didn't think I needed to correct her, but I did anyway.
"You mean, like the holy knight who defeated the Demon Lord 100 years ago?"
I'd heard it was a holy order of knights that defeated the Demon Lord, but perhaps they were called that because they were led by a holy knight.
"I don't know about any holy knight, but it's probably the same thing. That's why I don't know anything about this city, let alone this world."
"So we're both strangers here. I hope we can look out over other cities like this someday."
Fam stopped talking and gazed silently at the starry sky. I couldn't tell from her expression whether she thought I was joking about being a transfer or if she truly believed me.
"Master."
Time passed. The sun sank further below the horizon, and the night was about to begin. Fam turned to face me. Her expression was stiff.
"What is it?"
Fam was staring at me. Her eyes were moist.
"I... I love you, Master. I want to be with you forever."
It was the first time in my life anyone had ever confessed to me. Her nervousness transferred to me, and my heart began to pound. My palms grew sweaty. I had to say something. My silence was making Fam's expression turn anxious.
"We've only known each other for about ten days. And I'm an old man, you know?"
"I don't want you to joke about this right now."
Her lips formed a pout.
"How long we've known each other doesn't matter. I've been drawn to you from the very beginning."
Come to think of it, she had asked me out before we even took Aidan's quest. Had she been planning to confess then? Her ability to express her feelings so directly was dazzling.
"What do you... think of me, Master?"
She timidly reached out her hands and grasped the sleeves of my clothes.
Slowly, she closed her eyes, waiting for my answer.
I brought my lips to Fam's. A light touch, and then I pulled away. A soft sensation. The feeling enveloped my body in a sweet warmth.
Even after we parted, it lingered on and on.
"I think you're cute, Fam. I love you too."
Fam's expression softened. She threw her arms around me.
I wrapped my arms around her back. She was warm. I wanted to hold her like this forever.
I wanted to feel her touch once more. I cupped her chin and turned her face toward mine.
"Master..."
Our gazes locked.
Just then, we heard the sound of someone coming up the stairs.
We quickly pulled apart, but the warmth of Fam's body still lingered within me.
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