Chapter 211 - Momoka and Days in Niiren
It’s not good to see you all caught up in this.
Talsa raised his voice.
"Master Mash has elevated Mariantte-sama to the head of the One-land Family. And he decided to leave her enemy forces. I think it's a realistic decision for Mariantte-sama with low political ability, but it's also true that she's in a delicate position."
He crossed his arms and stared at me intensely.
"You're being roundabout. What do you want to say?"
I asked Talsa.
"In other words, it will take a long time for Mariantte-sama to become independent. Until then, Master Mash's backing is needed. I'd like you to refrain from acting in a way that makes it seem like you don't trust her."
He was right. But, given the current situation, I didn't think Mariantte could negotiate to take Sam into her care successfully. I should negotiate with her together, now that I was involved. Suddenly, I noticed that Marmie and Momoka were listening with dark expressions.
"You want me and Mariantte to negotiate with Clovis, but it's fine if you just set up a meeting. Couldn't you borrow the strength of your mother?"
"...My mother's strength isn't a guarantee. Mash is underestimating Clovis's ability."
"What do you mean?"
"...What's Mash's level now?"
She told me to check my status sheet.
"Thirty."
It seemed to take longer to reach level 30 than it did to reach level 20. The amount of experience needed probably increased with each level. However, I felt like my level had risen rapidly by going around the 40th and 45th floors of the Area Guardian in the Crystal Palace.
"...Normal people take a certain amount of time to level up. Especially magic users. Clovis has lived for over 700 years. Even without skills like Mash's, he has that much experience."
"Level only increases the job's bonuses, right? The base power is more important? I haven't really felt the benefits of leveling up."
Besides, seeing people with original talent like Marmie and Misaki made me think that level didn't even matter. In particular, the magic that could be learned by leveling up seemed weaker than the magic that was independently developed. Marmie's lightning shot was a prime example of this.
"...That's because the enemies Mash challenges get stronger according to Mash's level increase. In a sense, the corrections are working so that you can fight strong enemies."
Hearing her words, I spent some time thinking about what would happen if I fought the Goblin King who was occupying the near-coastal settlements, but it still seemed impossible without Eidan.
"In any case, it is impossible for someone at level 1, no matter how talented, to defeat someone at level 99. The level bonus works to that extent. But most people retire or die before reaching level 99. But we elves can continue to level up regardless of time."
"Is Clovis that amazing?"
"...He's known to be an expert archer, mage, and swordsman. Besides the difference in lifespan between humans and elves, we also age much more slowly near our lifespan."
In other words, their physical and mental strength didn't decline due to aging. Now that I think about it, both Marmie's parents and the elves guarding the gate today looked young. So did Marina, Marmie's mother.
"Humanity is said to live long even after losing reproductive capacity. It's different for elves..."
"What is that?"
Maira interrupted and asked. She was acting as if she didn't want to interrupt the conversation, but the color of her shining, curious eyes couldn't be hidden.
I had a habit of standing up at meetings. However, Maira was sitting down without me knowing, drinking tea that Patricia had made and put down. Claire must have come here while we were out, or Patricia must have bought it from Mateo Trading Company. I wanted some, and then she handed me a teacup just in time. As I took a sip, the rich aroma and flavor of tea leaves spread out, and I suddenly felt hungry. I wanted to go to Kalpurna's place, but Misaki hadn't returned yet. And it looked like the conversation was going to continue.
"In the world I came from, it was called the Grandmother Hypothesis. Many organisms die along with the loss of reproductive ability, but humans are given a long time. The reason why humans live long after losing reproductive ability is because women who stop menstruating participate in raising children and grandchildren, increasing the survival rate of the family and group as a whole."
Maira nodded with interest, but quickly tilted her head.
"That idea doesn't seem right. We don't stay young like elves, and while there are exceptions, it is not the same for most races besides humans. Of course, women of other races also participate in raising children after menstruation."
"If we were to follow mythology, could it be that their characteristics mixed with the traits of the species they interbred with before interbreeding with humans?"
"I see. Lifespan comes from humans, and the speed of aging comes from the traits of the interbred species. But why is Mash's theory only for women? Men live just as long, right? Is male reproductive ability different...?"
"That's something you'll be taught later. You'll come to understand it through your own experience."
"Fwaah? Mash, that's..."
Maira blushed and looked down.
"...Mash, I forgot to mention, but you can choose whoever you like from the elven guards outside. My mother chooses and assigns people she thinks you'd like as guards."
Marmie said. I wish my mother would come herself. Still, why do they push everything onto me? If it's the special skills they're after, other transfer students would be fine too. But in this world, people especially worship Racshell. There's the Great War of the Gods too, but it felt too biased. Still, it was convenient for me, so I kept quiet.
"You can't do that at all!"
Maira shouted, looking at me.
"Mash..."
Momoka, who had been silent until then, muttered. Her eyes were deeply sunken.
"What's wrong?"
"Clovis... I didn't know his first name, but an elf man with that name was with Yuuki."
"..."
The room fell silent. I wasn't the only one who held my breath. Momoka and Chihiro made eye contact. They nodded to each other slightly.
"It was about half a year after we came to this world. Chihiro and I had a hard time but we managed to find companions. We finally managed to live a normal life even in this world. We might have gotten a little carried away then. At that time, Yuuki approached us in a friendly manner at first. But then, he attacked us while we were exploring a dungeon in the city of Niiren. It was a complete surprise attack, and two of our companions were killed. They were dungeon explorers who were a married couple. They always took care of us, a little noisy but kind and warm teachers."
She must have been trying to remember them, because her mouth loosened and she looked upward with nostalgia. However, she bit her teeth together and immediately changed to a harsh expression.
"Then we counterattacked, but they escaped."
It happened about a year and a half ago. If it was Yuuki who attacked, it would be the fourth and a half year since he came to this world. Fam's village was attacked after that, so Sam wasn't traveling with them.
"Were there any children amongst them?"
"There was. A girl. But she wasn't there during the battle."
"Yuuki is around 20 years old, tall, dressed as a warrior, well-built, and..."
Momoka widened her eyes when she heard my words.
"Do you know him?"
Her eyes widened, she grabbed my arm, and she shook my body. I recalled Mizuki's beaming smile and her crying face. I never wanted to see that smile directed at other men again, or her crying because of me.
"The Yuuki we know is Misaki's ex-boyfriend, and she's gone to meet him."
Maira said on behalf of me, as I couldn't answer.
"Marsh, we said we were lovers, right? Saying that while hiding such a secret..."
"Wait a minute. Misaki's ex-boyfriend's name is Yuuki, and I learned that he came to this world and was in this city after I came here. I didn't think that Misaki's ex-boyfriend was the Yuuki who fought you."
Maira answered on my behalf.
"Maira, Yuuki isn't Misaki's ex-boyfriend. Just a senior."
"Mash... I understand that you want to deny it, but a beauty like Yamase-san couldn't have not had a boyfriend in her original world..."
Momoka gave her a pitying look only at that moment.
"Why is that! I denied that he was a senior. Fam heard it too. You should be able to see that Mizuki isn't lying. Right?"
Fam nodded, not feeling like joining our conversation.
"The only thing I could understand at that time was that Master believed Misaki's words."
"..."
While I was stunned, Momoka gently tapped my back, as if embracing me.
"Well, Mash is right. Yamase-san and Yuuki are just senior and junior. Let's just leave it at that."
Hearing her words, the doubt towards Misaki that had disappeared reappeared in my heart. I was starting to feel annoyed.
"Rather than that, let's talk about Yuuki and Clovis. Marsh, you seem to be talking about negotiating with them, but we're not going to do that. We'll never let them escape next time, we'll finish them."
At that moment, the entrance door opened. Misaki's face appeared. Alongside her was Mariantte's figure.
"Why is everyone standing without sitting down? Oh, Hii-chan!"
Misaki was surprised to see Momoka.