Chapter 15 - <7>
The next morning, Ritz awoke to a strange presence. As a former combatant, he was sensitive to odd atmospheres. He listened closely to the murmuring of a large crowd coming from outside the window, but he could feel no hostility.
Peeking gently outside, he saw a black mountain of people surrounding the inn.
"…What is this?"
He muttered, carefully observing the scene outside. This must be what they call a packed crowd. Women in headscarves, middle-aged men in boots, children running around for no reason… These people were clearly not merchants.
Which meant that the people there were, without a doubt, the villagers of Tushil, whom he was seeing for the first time.
He struggled to understand what could have happened overnight to this village, which had been like a ghost town until yesterday. Tilting his head, he quickly got ready and moved to the adjacent room. It was the room where he had unceremoniously dumped the two injured parties, Anna and Franz.
He opened the door without hesitation and found Anna, staggering as she struggled to get dressed on the bed. It seemed her body was too stiff to bend, and she couldn't manage to put on her socks.
"Pushing yourself again? I told you to say something if you can't do it."
As he helped her with her socks, Anna gave a bashful smile.
"Thanks, Ritz. Good morning."
"Morning."
"It's kind of noisy outside, isn't it?"
It seemed Anna, too, had been woken by the presence outside. But when he looked at the next bed, Franz, with the covers pulled completely over his head, wasn't moving an inch. Franz was notoriously bad at waking up.
Reluctantly, after shaking Franz awake, Ritz stood by the window.
Indeed, the large crowd was still in front of the inn.
"What is it? I want to see too!"
Anna struggled to stand up.
"You can't stand yet, can you?"
"I'm fine!"
At Anna's empty bravado, Ritz scratched his head. He didn't think she needed to push herself so hard, but it seemed Anna was the type who couldn't rest until she saw things for herself.
Reluctantly, with a sigh, Ritz lifted Anna into his arms and stood by the window.
"Whoa… that's amazing…"
As Anna let out a voice of admiration, Franz, though still unsteady, stood beside them.
"What is this…?"
"…I wonder what it is."
For some reason, everyone was loitering around the inn, chattering loudly with bright faces. Had word gotten out that they had driven away the merchants?
But it was impossible for word to have gotten out. The only way was if someone had told the villagers.
"Maybe Morris-san…"
Anna muttered.
"That's the only thing I can think of…"
As he agreed, there was a knock at the door. The door opened hesitantly, and Morris poked his head in.
"Good morning. Sorry, but this has turned into a big deal."
Morris scratched his cheek apologetically.
"This crowd?"
"Yeah. We're surrounded. Sorry about that."
"Did you tell the villagers?"
At Franz's quiet, expressionless question, Morris waved his hands frantically.
"No, no! It wasn't me. It was the village chief."
"The village chief?"
"Look, I told you yesterday that the village chief was mixed in with that group, right? Well, that same village chief came here this morning."
According to Morris, the village chief had indeed been disguised among the merchants they had gathered yesterday.
The village chief, unlike the other villagers, had repeatedly gone to warn the merchants not to cause any more trouble in the village, and because of that, he was often seen walking outside his house. Of course, he also went to where the merchants were staying outside the village.
Encouraging and cheering up the frightened villagers was also an important role. Now that the village was in this situation, it was even more so. It was precisely because it was a small village, a small community, that such a person to connect the villagers was necessary.
There was no way such an active village chief wouldn't have noticed the mass migration of merchants yesterday. He had happened to witness the merchants walking in a group, whispering, while visiting some villagers.
He followed them from hiding, and soon found out their destination. This inn.
Suspicious of them filing into the 'Goddess's Palm Inn,' the village chief had rushed back to his own house on the spur of the moment. Without even a glance at his surprised wife, he had overturned a chest, spilled its contents, and rummaged through the clothes.
His wife, not knowing what he was planning, had just been in a fluster, he said.
And so, the village chief had disguised himself to look like a merchant and had taken up a position near the entrance of the 'Goddess's Palm Inn'.
"And then this morning, the chief gathered everyone and apparently told them about you. He said that the son of the Lord of Saradio and a strong-looking mercenary would get their herbs back, so they shouldn't worry."
"…Wow…"
"This has turned into a big deal…"
Ritz scratched his head. He didn't mind the merchants knowing, but it would be a pain if the villagers found out too. But now that a large crowd had gathered, it was certain that he couldn't just drop the matter.
He had intended to repay their kindness from the start, so he had no plans to drop it, but it was just a hassle.
To the head-clutching Ritz, Morris handed a piece of paper. He took it and unfolded it to see neat handwriting.
'I would like to speak with the son of the lord. I would be most grateful if you would trouble yourself to come to my residence. Nors Glaive, Tushil Village Chief.'
"A simple letter."
After reading it, he passed it to Franz, who glanced at it and sighed.
"This is why I didn't want to say I was from the Lucina family."
"It can't be helped. We were planning on meeting the village chief anyway. It's easier to go when we're invited, isn't it?"
This way, they could brazenly march into the village chief's house. But before that, there was something else to consider.
"The question is what to do about this crowd…"
It wouldn't be wise to go out the front and get surrounded.
"I have a suggestion regarding that."
Philia gently interjected. In her hand, she held a woven basket.
"Morris will let the villagers in through the front. So, come with me to the village chief's place. I'm sorry, but please make do with this for breakfast."
Philia lightly held up the basket in her hand. It was true that it would be impossible to have breakfast in the dining hall surrounded by this crowd.
Philia's suggestion was probably the best. Ritz turned to look back at Franz, who was still barely dressed.
"Alright, let's go then, Franz."
"Got it. Wait a minute."
Franz slowly began to change. He was borrowing his nightclothes from Morris.
"Wait! I'm going too!"
Anna declared firmly. Ritz sighed and met the gaze of Anna, who was looking up at him from his arms.
"…You can't move, can you?"
"I can move! I was able to get ready by myself!"
"You couldn't put on your socks, could you?"
"If I'd taken more time, I'm sure I could have!"
"Listen, you're still not well, are you?"
"I'm not sick! I'm perfectly fine!"
In her eyes, there wasn't a single shred of the emotion of giving up. If he left her behind, he was afraid she would seriously crawl after them. Reluctantly, Ritz gave in.
"Alright. I'll take you with me. But I'm not letting you walk."
He couldn't have her collapsing if he let her walk. Ritz had been entrusted with Anna by Anton. Having been entrusted, he had to take care of her properly as an adult.
"So, are you going to carry me like this?"
"…It'll be over my sword, but I'll carry you on my back."
Even for Ritz, it was tough to carry Anna in his arms the whole way.
"Okay! Then I'll bring a cushion so it doesn't hurt!"
At the cheerful Anna, Ritz could only sigh. A short while later, Ritz, with Anna on his back, and the dressed Franz, quietly made their way to the back entrance. Confirming this, Morris opened the dining hall and invited the villagers inside.
"Come on in, anyone who wants to hear the details! We can't talk outside!"
As Morris said this in a loud voice for all to hear, the villagers rushed into the inn one after another. Seizing that moment, they slipped out of the inn. They watched for a while, but it seemed no one had noticed them.
Even though it had been so lively just a moment ago, there was once again no one on the street. Except this time, everyone was inside the inn.
"Well, shall we go?"
Urged on by Philia, the three of them started walking. The village was spacious. The area where the inn was located was on the main street, and the houses were clustered along this street.
A short distance away, fields stretched out in all directions. It was quite a large area. This must be the communal farm. But the field was lined with low trees that had no leaves, and the seriousness of the situation was plain to see.
Philia guided the three of them to a large, single-story building standing beside the huge farm.
A slightly wide garden and a tall hedge made of some unknown wood surrounded the modest house. There were no lookouts or gatekeepers, nor was there a large gate. All there was was a wooden door in the center of the hedge.
"This is the village chief's house."
At Philia's words, Ritz looked at the house before him. It was certainly a large house, but its construction was that of a very typical farmhouse. However, the presence of a stable and a bell tower to signal emergencies showed that this was the center of the village.
"It's pretty small."
Anna, on his back, muttered.
"It's like Vishnu. It's not that the village chief's house is small because Vishnu is poor. This is normal."
"He's the village chief, but it's modest… Unlike someone's house…"
"Ritz!"
"Just kidding, just kidding."
Franz's face twisted in displeasure. He was probably angry that his own house was being brought up. He was a guy who couldn't take a joke.
As he gave a wry smile, the gentle Philia said calmly.
"I'll be going back now. The village chief is a friendly person, so don't worry."
"What? Is it okay for us to go alone?"
To the questioning Ritz, Philia nodded.
"He's really friendly. You'll see when you meet him."
That being said, since his arrogant attitude from the night he had rounded up the merchants had been seen, he was at a loss as to how to act.
Well, he was meeting the village chief, not a merchant. It would be best to drop that attitude. Since he was well-liked by the villagers, he probably wasn't a person like Franz's father.
Seemingly concerned about the state of the inn, Philia hurried back.
"For now, shall we go inside?"
When he prompted Franz, Franz let out a small sigh and took a step forward. Franz, too, had played the part of the lord's son to the hilt, so he was probably feeling awkward. But it was strange to just stand here.
The three of them, steeling themselves, pushed open the wooden door leading to the entrance. What surprised them when they opened the door was that most of the garden was a field where vegetables were being grown.
"Amazing! A field at a house!"
Indeed, with an herb field outside and a vegetable garden at home, it must be a lot of work to take care of them.
"You have to cultivate the land if you have it!"
Anna the farmer was nodding deeply. Franz's family garden was a beautiful park, but from Anna's perspective, this was probably the correct use of a garden.
As they leisurely strolled through the garden, they could see various crops beyond a small path where autumn flowers bloomed. Each time, Anna on his back would tell him the name of the vegetable. He could recognize them as ingredients, but just by the leaves growing in the field, Ritz couldn't tell them apart at all.
Anna was ignorant of the world, but when it came to her area of expertise, she was frighteningly knowledgeable. She was probably knowledgeable not only about vegetables, but also about animal husbandry and child-rearing.
Even though they were inside the gate and should have been on the village chief's property, it was strange that no one had called out to them. If they kept walking like this, it would feel like they were trespassing. He looked around to see if there was at least a servant, but the only person there was an old man in a straw hat engrossed in his field work.
Feeling hesitant to go further in without saying anything, Ritz decided to ask the man for directions.
"Excuse me, we'd like to see the village chief…"
He asked politely, but his voice didn't reach the man engrossed in his work. Anna called out to the man in an even louder voice from over Ritz's back.
"Mister! We came to see the village chief!"
"If you shout that loud, they'll hear you inside."
Franz warned him in a low voice, but the man in the field finally seemed to notice the three of them.
"Can I help you?"
He looked to be around sixty years old. A sun-tanned, kind-looking face, a straw hat, a towel wrapped around his neck, and boots. From any angle, he was a farmer. He didn't seem to be a servant of the house.
"We've come to see the village chief."
When Ritz said that, the man stared at the three of them and then clapped his hands.
"Ah, I see. Then, follow me."
The man took off his straw hat, wiped his thinning hair with the towel, and headed toward the house. Without his straw hat, he looked even kinder.
"Is this okay?"
Franz spoke so that the man couldn't hear. He was probably worried because the man was too casual to be guiding them to the village chief's house.
"He said to come, so it's fine, right?"
"But…"
"It's fine. It's not like your house, where you'll get cut down if you don't show respect."
When he lightly alluded to the Lucina family's private army, Franz fell silent with a moody expression.
"Anyway, let's go."
Ritz said only that and followed the man. Frowning, Franz also started walking with a sigh.
When they reached the entrance, the man opened the door without knocking or anything. He dropped the farm tools he was holding with a thud in the entrance, where a long bench was installed on a raised platform so that many people could gather.
Just when he thought the man would finally call a servant, he went straight into the house.
"Are you really sure?"
Franz asked again, but Ritz could only shrug.
"Follow me."
The man beckoned to the three of them, who had stopped in their tracks, from a little further ahead. It felt strange, but they followed the man. Without meeting anyone, the man arrived in front of a certain room and once again opened the door without knocking.
"Now, wait here."
It seemed to be a reception room.
"Is it okay to just walk in?"
Ritz tried asking just in case, but the man just smiled gently.
"It's fine, just sit down and wait."
Reluctantly, he did as he was told, lowering Anna onto the sofa before plopping down himself. He slowly rotated his shoulders a few times. Anna wasn't heavy, but carrying her on his back for a long time made his shoulders stiff.
Anna, too, seemed to have stiffened up from being carried on his back, and she stretched widely.
After confirming this, the man closed the door and left.
After loosening his shoulders, Ritz leaned back against the rather firm sofa and looked around the room. In terms of size, it was about half the size of the dining hall at the 'Goddess's Palm Inn'.
Beyond the sofa set, there was a large desk with its back to the window, piled with documents. Most of the room was taken up by what seemed to be documents and books. One entire wall was a bookshelf.
He squinted to read the spines and saw titles like 'Resident Register,' 'Herb Shipment Records,' and 'Herb Field Ledger.' The books were almost all related to herbs.
"With so many important documents here…"
Franz's mutter was the same question Ritz and Anna had.
"If a bad person came here, they could read them, couldn't they?"
Anna muttered, tilting her head. Even the world-ignorant Anna seemed to have that much common sense.
"It just means this village is that peaceful."
Just as Ritz said that and stretched widely again, the door opened abruptly without a knock. He turned to see the same man from before standing there, holding a tray with tea. At least he wasn't in his farm clothes anymore.
He was wearing a clean brown shirt and linen-colored trousers. It wasn't a big change, but he seemed to have at least straightened his sparse hair.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Here, have some."
With that, the man served tea to the three of them and then plopped down opposite them. He didn't leave, just watched the three of them drink their tea.
It was a strange feeling, but they drank their tea in silence for a while. After a while, unable to stand it any longer, Ritz spoke up.
"Mister, sorry, but we came to see the village chief, Nors Glaive. If the chief is here, please call him."
At that, the man slowly stood up and sat at the desk in the reception room.
"Welcome. I am the village chief, Nors Glaive."
"WHAAAT!!"
Anna shouted in surprise. Ritz was so stunned he couldn't even speak. Franz was just utterly dumbfounded. They had never imagined that this man was the village chief.
"Surprised, are you?"
The village chief tilted his head in wonder.
"You should have just told us you were the village chief in the first place…"
Franz complained in a small, disgruntled voice, but the village chief paid him no mind. He stood up, sat down again in front of the sofa, and smiled gently.
"You didn't ask."
That was true. They had said they came to see the village chief, but they hadn't asked the man where the chief was, or if he was the chief. He glanced at Franz, who seemed to be at a loss for words, speechless.
"You're an important person, but you don't have any servants?"
When Anna asked, the village chief just laughed again.
"Even if I had servants, there's no work for them."
He seemed to be a thorough frugal. That was probably why the villagers liked him.
"That's amazing!"
Anna, who had lived a poor life where those who don't work don't eat, seemed genuinely impressed.
"So, you take care of all the vegetable fields yourself, chief?"
"Of course."
"You're a hard worker! I used to farm too!"
"Well, that's admirable."
Anna and the village chief began to talk warmly about farming. They started talking about harvest times and crop planting. At this rate, the conversation was going to veer off in a completely different direction.
"Hey, Anna."
He called her name in a low voice and poked her in the side. Still wanting to talk, Anna looked a little dissatisfied, but she seemed to remember their original purpose and fell silent.
"I'm Ritz Alster, this little one is Anna Myers, and this is…"
"I know, it's Franz Lucina-kun, the son of the Lord of Saradio, isn't it?"
Franz nodded reluctantly with a look of dissatisfaction. From the chief's tone, it was clear he remembered yesterday's events perfectly. His eyes immediately shifted from Franz to Ritz.
This was awkward. But hesitating wouldn't get them anywhere. Ritz cleared his throat and finally got to the main point.
"Chief Glaive, I heard from Morris-san that you were there last night?"
The chief's face finally turned serious and he nodded. But his eyes always seemed to be smiling, so his face couldn't become completely stern.
"Yes, I was. You, Ritz-kun, seemed like a rather scary person, but you seem quite kind."
Being told that was embarrassing. He wasn't embarrassed to act that way in front of complete strangers, but being told that while being his normal self made him feel out of place.
"Ahahahaha."
He laughed for no reason and scratched his head. In times like these, it was best to play it off. It was Franz who took over for Ritz. The first thing they had to do was cancel the contract and return the money. This was Franz's responsibility.
"We made that contract with the merchants as a pretext to make them leave this village. We don't need the villagers' signature."
"Why is that?"
"Because this is a contract with the merchants. It has nothing to do with the villagers."
"But your promise to get the herbs back still stands, does it not?"
The chief's tone was polite but firm as he said this to Franz. It was supposed to be Franz persuading him, but from the sidelines, it looked like Franz was being pushed back and was at a considerable disadvantage.
"The Roubaix couple saved our lives. We intend to help the village for free as thanks. Therefore, we have no need to receive a request fee from the chief. Please cancel the contract."
Franz said this earnestly, though his face was expressionless, but the village chief just shook his head.
"No, no, I will not cancel the contract. My desire to save the people of this village is genuine."
The village chief looked back at Franz with eyes that held a firm resolve. Franz flinched back as if pushed. This guy is stubborn, Ritz thought with a wry smile.
"There's nothing I can do, so at the very least, I've invested in you all… is that not acceptable?"
"But then…"
Completely defeated, Franz muttered something under his breath. For Franz, who was not good at talking to people, he was doing his best, but the village chief was one or two steps ahead.
As Franz tried to say something again, the chief, after a moment of thought, gestured for him to stop and spoke with a soft smile.
"Alright, let's cancel the contract."
Franz's face showed relief as he took out the contract.
"Then, please cross out this name with two lines from a pen."
The village chief complied obediently. After confirming that the name had been removed from the contract, Franz returned the contract fee he had brought, still in its bag.
"So the contract is now cancelled."
The village chief took the bag and looked at it intently, then began to write something on it. He seemed to be writing for a long time, but since Franz was having a bit of trouble putting the contract away in his bag, no one paid it any mind.
Just as he finished putting it away, the chief, having also finished writing something, nodded in satisfaction. As everyone watched, the chief spoke words that were surprising.
"Well then, shall we make a new contract?"
"What?"
Franz, who had finally turned to face him, asked back, his eyes wide with surprise.
"What about?"
The village chief placed the bag containing the contract fee on the table and slid it toward Ritz. Ritz caught the envelope with one hand before it could fall.
"I am hiring you. Personally."
Franz put a hand to his forehead and let out a big sigh.
"That's why I said it's fine for free."
"Just look at the bag."
Everyone's eyes gathered on the envelope the village chief was pointing at. Ritz, who was holding it, picked up the bag he had just received. The chief's fluent handwriting was on it.
'I, Nors Glaive, chief of Tushil village, hereby entrust the entire investigation and resolution of the Arlie theft case to Ritz-kun, Anna-kun, and Franz-kun. Upon resolution of the case, this envelope is to be brought to the village-run herb shop. Herbs will be provided at a service price for the amount enclosed.'
"It's simple, but my signature is there. It'll work as a contract, won't it?"
"But…"
The chief shook his head, stopping Franz from saying anything more.
"I have made a contract. Even if you return that money, I will set aside your share at the herb shop. Whether you take it or let it rot… that is your choice. But wouldn't it be a waste to let it rot, Franz-kun?"
Franz looked at Ritz in confusion. Ritz could only give a wry smile. At this point, all they could do was accept the request.
"Understood. We'll accept the chief's request. In fact, we can't exactly travel without herbs."
At Ritz's words, the chief seemed visibly relieved. This must have been the best strategy he could think of. To be refused after going this far would be awkward, and perhaps even rude.
"Well, well, Ritz-kun, from what I heard yesterday, you seem quite experienced, so I thought I shouldn't let you get away. My old heart was pounding, wondering if you'd accept my shallow thinking."
The chief stood up laughing and offered his right hand to Ritz.
"Don't give me so many herbs I can't carry them. We're not running a peddling business here."
Ritz also stood up and shook his hand with his own right hand while making a lighthearted joke. Franz and Anna also took turns shaking the chief's hand. The contract was made.
"Well then, now that the contract is settled, shall we get down to business?"
Ritz and the others sat down on the sofa again, ready to listen. Canceling the contract was the main pretext for coming here, but their real purpose was to gather information from the village chief. The chief also straightened his posture with a serious face.
"First, I'd like to ask about the night the Arlie in this village disappeared."
At Ritz's question, the chief looked up as if in thought.
"I didn't notice a thing. As far as I know, there were no gusts of wind, tornadoes, or anything of the sort."
This was the same as the Roubaix couple.
"Then, did you see any suspicious individuals?"
"I didn't see anyone on that day. But, it was about a week before the Arlie disappeared. A so-called surveyor came to my place."
The village chief's story was as follows.
About a week before the harvest, on a fine, sunny day, three men appeared before the village chief. Each of them carried a strange object.
One was a short man, holding a transparent glass bottle, which he cradled in both hands as if it were precious. Another was a slender man, holding many transparent stakes about thirty centimeters long and a hammer to drive them in. The other was a well-built man, carrying what looked like a tripod used for surveying, and writing utensils.
"We've come from the Royal Capital Sears. We must investigate the quality of this year's herbs and report to the king. Please allow us to measure the size of the herb fields."
The well-built man holding the tripod-like object said this with a kind-looking face. The village chief, thinking that if it was the king's order, such things might happen, casually agreed and guided the men to the fields.
Then, the men drove in the transparent stakes and placed the bottles on them one by one. Of course, next to them, they were also doing something that looked like measuring with their surveying tools. The village chief thought it was strange, but he assumed that the Royal Capital had started using an advanced surveying method, so he didn't even ask.
After the men left the village, he had completely forgotten about the surveyors. The transparent stakes had apparently been left there even after the men left.
"It wasn't until recently that I realized those men were suspicious. Thinking back, they said they were surveying the herbs, but they didn't show any interest in the leaves at all."
The village chief said all this at once. It was certainly strange. If they were to investigate the total herb harvest, they should have checked the quality of the leaves in addition to surveying. Also, the necessary equipment for surveying was not being used.
"Chief, those men weren't carrying a rather long pole, were they?"
At Ritz's question, the village chief nodded.
"They're fakes. We've been had."
Franz and Anna, not understanding the meaning of Ritz's mutter, looked at each other in confusion.
"Ritz, I don't get it."
Ritz explained to Anna.
"Uh, basically, there's a thing that looks like a tripod with a peephole, and you put a pole where you want to measure and see how it looks… probably…"
Though he rattled it off in a rush, Ritz, not being a civil engineer or a surveyor, was of course not an expert on such matters. But he had seen surveying scenes here and there, not just in this country. It was a method where a man with a tripod looked at another man holding a pole taller than himself. Even the well-traveled Ritz didn't know of any other method.
"…So it is. I finally realized it a few days ago and went to the field to pull out the glass stakes, but for some reason, every single one of those transparent stakes had been shattered to pieces."
"Shattered to pieces…?"
A glass stake… if it was something that could create a wind strong enough to rip off Arlie leaves, what could it be? It couldn't be glass.
"Something transparent that creates wind… huh."
Ritz put a hand to his chin and thought. Come to think of it, he had seen something like that somewhere recently…
"Ah!"
Ritz and Anna cried out at the same time.
"Anna, get it out, the bow and arrow!"
Yes, the crystal bow and arrow that Anna had. When shot into the sky, it could create a defensive wall of wind power. It was a magic-infused bow and arrow that amplified Anna's weak wind power many times over.
"I didn't bring it!"
"Of course you didn't!"
She was injured, and there was no way he would have let Anna, who was supposed to be immobile, carry such a thing. As the two of them played dumb, Franz stood up with a sigh.
"I'll go get it."
"You? I'd be faster."
Usually, Ritz was the one to do the physical work. Franz was reluctant to move. But Franz shook his head and quickly left the room.
"What's with him?"
He tilted his head and looked around the room. Thinking the conversation was over, Anna and the village chief had started talking cheerfully.
"That in the garden is carrots, isn't it? It snows quite a bit here, doesn't it? Do they become snow carrots?"
"Oh, you know your stuff."
"Yes. It's colder in Vishnu than here, so storing winter vegetables under the snow is common practice."
"I see. You're from Vishnu! How are the crops in Vishnu?"
"Well, in Vishnu, as for leafy vegetables…"
The two of them were getting unusually excited about agriculture. Ritz didn't think he could keep up with this atmosphere. There was no need to force himself into the conversation, so he watched from a distance and felt he understood why Franz had gone back to get the tools so quickly.
He must have figured he couldn't stand this overwhelming torrent of agriculture talk. Even if he hurried, it would take Franz over thirty minutes to get back.
Being left alone between these two during that time was tough. Ritz wasn't interested in turnip cultivation, the use of icehouses, methods for preventing waterways from freezing, or how to preserve straw in cowsheds. And all of it was being discussed with a high level of excitement, as if it were the most enjoyable thing in the world.
Just as his ears, which were larger and heard better than normal, were getting tired of the two's conversation, a breathless Franz returned. In his hand was Anna's arrow.
"Here!"
He handed the quiver to Anna while catching his breath.
"Thanks."
Anna said thanks and took out the wind arrow from the quiver. It was transparent and looked like glass, but since it was made of crystal, it had a faint glow.
"Yes, this is it. It looked just like this!"
The village chief said as he took the bow and arrow. There was no mistake; the culprit had used that crystal stake to create wind. They probably used a wind spirit. But how?
"I see, so things like this exist in the world. Can anyone use it?"
When the village chief asked, Anna shook her head.
"They say only a spirit user can use it. Maybe Franz could use it too?"
Anna cheerfully handed the arrow to Franz, but he shook his head.
"I have my hands full with my own flames. I'll leave it to Anna."
"Really?"
As Anna put the arrow away, Nors's eyes widened.
"Are you a spirit user?"
"Yes."
The village chief nodded several times and looked at Anna's face.
"To be so young, that's amazing."
To the deeply impressed Nors, Anna just laughed.
"Even if I'm young, I'm already thirty years old, you know."
"What did you say?"
"I'm some kind of race, apparently. I don't know what, though."
To the shyly smiling Anna, Nors seemed even more surprised. After letting out a deep, troubled sigh, Nors's eyes narrowed nostalgically, and he murmured reflectively.
"Come to think of it, I met a member of the Spirit Clan once, a long time ago."
"The Spirit Clan?"
Anna looked at Ritz, but he just tilted his head. The Spirit Clan never left the forest. Especially now, the only members of the Spirit Clan to come out of Ciedena Forest would be Ritz, his father Karl, and his mother Ciela. Considering that, the person the village chief met was probably Ritz's father, Karl.
"It was about forty years ago. I was just a little kid."
Perhaps he had some memory of it, as Nors's eyes narrowed even further. If he knew that Ritz was from the Spirit Clan, he would probably be even more moved, so Ritz kept quiet. He also signaled to Anna with his eyes to stay quiet. For a change, it seemed to get through, as Anna didn't say a word.
Ritz had the village chief show him the field where the men had set up their suspicious contraptions. He hoped this would lead to something…
"Thank you, chief. We're going to go take a look at the fields now."
Ritz stood up with Anna on his back.
"Alright, let's go to the scene!"
"Yeah! Let's go, Franz!"
Compared to the energetic two, Franz, who had just come back from a full sprint, let out a lone sigh.
"…Try to be a little more considerate of me…"
Of course, he would ignore that mutter. Even if he had silenced the merchants, if days went by, their complaints would surely rise.
Then they would be back to square one. They had to catch the culprit as quickly as possible and, if it was still safe, get the Arlie back.
Leaving Nors's house, they walked to find a place where they could see the entire communal farm they had just passed by. The communal farm was on a high ground where the river forked, and it spread out in terraced fields toward the village.
Most of it was ravaged, and even to the amateur Ritz, it was clear that the situation was dire.
"Man, this is even worse than I heard."
Just as he had heard, the fields were in a terrible mess. It certainly looked like the aftermath of a strong gust of wind.
"To do something like this when they're working so hard to grow it is unforgivable!"
Anna the farmer was furious. If Anna's fields had been subjected to such a thing by someone's malice, the culprit would not have gotten away with it.
"The other fields seem to be fine."
Franz, still catching his breath, said this calmly. Around the devastated fields, herbs that had grown in their natural state swayed in the gentle wind, unharvested.
Since there was no Arlie to mix them with, they had probably been left unharvested. Not only the Arlie, but also the herbs being unusable was a huge loss.
"Anyway, let's search around the fields."
At Ritz's suggestion, Franz nodded and started walking with his head down. He was looking for signs of the stakes being driven in. In any case, just standing here wouldn't accomplish anything.
"Now, what to do with you."
Ritz spoke to Anna on his back. With the poison still in her system, he would have preferred her to stay put. But he was also well aware that she wouldn't listen to such a request. As expected, Anna began to struggle on Ritz's back.
"Put me down! I want to search too!"
"Listen, have you forgotten you're injured?"
As Ritz complained while being kicked in the back, Anna wrapped one arm around his neck, lifted her upper body, and peered into his face.
"I'm fine! I look fine, don't I!?"
"That's dangerous! I'll drop you!"
"I don't care if you drop me! I want to search too!"
Her eyes were serious, and it didn't look like she would accept any of Ritz's persuasion. Since running into the incident in Tushil, he had realized that Anna was quite stubborn and wouldn't budge once she had made up her mind.
"Stubborn…"
He said it under his breath, but Anna heard him clearly. The distance between them was just too close.
"I'm not stubborn! There are people in trouble, and they helped us, so it's wrong not to do anything!"
"That's true, but I've judged that it's better for you not to move."
"I can judge my own body! I'm not a child!"
Anna declared in a tone reminiscent of her time as a caretaker at the orphanage. She certainly wasn't a child in terms of age. But from Ritz's perspective, who had lived five times as long as Anna, she was a child.
"From my perspective, you're more than enough of a child."
"From your perspective, even the village chief is a child!"
"You…"
This was an opponent he couldn't seriously persuade. Ritz was once again amazed by Anna's stubbornness. It didn't seem like any amount of coaxing or wheedling would convince her this time.
With a sigh, Anna forcibly slid off Ritz's back and stood in front of him. The eyes that looked straight up at Ritz were clear and unwavering, without a single cloud of doubt or hesitation.
"What I can do, I want to do myself! I will absolutely not forgive the person who did such a terrible thing."
At the strength of her straight, justice-filled eyes, Ritz thought of a nostalgic friend and fell silent.
Even if she was a child, even if she was ignorant of the world, a person who could run straight down the path she believed in was a dazzling existence to Ritz.
He knew that no matter how much he struggled, he could never reach that side.
And he was no match for a person with eyes like these.
In that case, he had no choice but to yield. Ritz let out a big breath and scratched his head.
"Alright, alright. I'll let you help."
"Really!?"
"Yeah. But in exchange, you absolutely must not overdo it. If you collapse, Franz will feel responsible again, and I'll feel responsible for forgetting the herbs. And I'm especially entrusted with you by Priest Anton, you know?"
"Ah… right."
"So if you start to feel tired, just take a nap or something. I'll carry you back to the inn."
"Thanks, Ritz!"
Anna's eyes lit up happily. When they shone in the light, her emerald eyes sparkled as if reflecting the sunlight. Compared to Ritz when he had just set out on his journey, their ignorance of the world was common, but this forward-looking, straightforward attitude was the complete opposite.
Ritz gave a wry smile and scratched his head. He thought he had taken on a burden, but this might be a rather interesting existence in its own way. It was interesting to watch someone like this, who was his complete opposite.
"I'm definitely going to find the culprit! On my pride as a farmer!"
"Pride as a farmer, huh…"
"Yep! I'm going this way."
Anna, who looked fine at first glance, took a step forward and suddenly stumbled. It was no wonder, since it was the first time she had stood up in two days. Ritz instinctively reached out a hand.
But Anna endured without taking Ritz's hand. She probably knew that if she fell here, she would be carried on Ritz's back again.
After planting her feet firmly for a while, Anna let out a small breath. It seemed she was enduring the numbness in her body.
"See, I'm fine, right?"
Anna smiled, looking confident. Anna's guts were incredible. Still, it would probably be best to keep an eye on her.
"Well then, let's search."
In a tone that suggested he wasn't paying attention to Anna, Ritz turned his back to her. A little ahead, Franz was walking slowly with his back bent low. The transparent stakes were said to have shattered, so all they could do was search for the fragments.
So that Anna wouldn't have to walk as much, Ritz walked far ahead at a brisk pace. This way, the remaining Anna would have no choice but to search the surrounding area. This kind of consideration, Anna probably wouldn't notice.
Ritz went down the hill quite a way, then turned back to confirm the figures of Anna and Franz and sighed. In this vast field, searching for the shattered fragments of a thirty-centimeter-long transparent stake was no easy task.
For now, he was grateful that Nors had limited it to 'around the field,' so they didn't have to go inside.
Despite spending a considerable amount of time, they couldn't find a single fragment. Thinking about it, it had been over two weeks since it had shattered. The wind would have blown in that time, and the soil would have been churned up, so it was unlikely that the transparent fragments would be visible to the naked eye.
As the sun began to set and the autumn wind blew cold against the three of them, Ritz finally gave up. Being tall, bending over was hard labor.
"Break time!"
He tapped his lower back with his hand and returned to the starting point, where Franz returned with a similarly exhausted look on his face. Anna also returned and sat down on the grass.
"We can't find it."
Anna, her energy from earlier now halved, muttered.
"If only we had some kind of clue."
Franz, sitting on the grass with his legs thrown out, muttered blankly.
"A clue, huh…"
Ritz also sat down next to Anna and Franz and looked up at the sky. The eastern sky was beginning to darken. They would have to give up for today. Just as he thought that, he had an idea.
"Say, your arrow, it can use the power of the wind spirit, right?"
He asked Anna the thought that had just occurred to him.
"Yeah. It's made of a material that the wind spirits love, so they lend me a little power. I'm a water spirit user and can't use wind power, so it's pretty convenient."
"Right. But, do you think it's possible to search for traces of the wind spirit with that arrow?"
For a moment, Anna's mouth hung open with a stunned expression. It seemed she hadn't even considered it.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You said before that this arrow is like a snack for the spirits, right? If there was a spirit user behind this incident who used this, then the spirit here would have been a wind spirit."
"Yeah."
"Then, can't you do something to interact with the wind spirit with that arrow? If there's still a wind spirit here, I think it would react."
At Ritz's suggestion, both Anna and Franz were staring blankly with their mouths open. Since they were both apprentice spirit users, they might not know much about spirit magic.
Ritz himself, on the other hand, was from the Spirit Clan, specialists in manipulating spirit magic. He couldn't use or even see spirits himself, but he had a wealth of knowledge from watching his father and mother.
"Can you do that?"
Anna looked at him, her large eyes widening even further.
"Who knows. If it doesn't work, we're done for the day. We'll just head back to the inn before dinner. But it doesn't cost anything to try, right?"
When he said it lightly with a cheerful smile, Anna also smiled back.
"You're right! We might find something, so we should try, right!?"
"Yeah. Nothing to lose."
"Yep!"
Her energy restored, Anna stood up and looked down at the view below. Ritz casually glanced in that direction as well and saw that the entire field could be seen from here.
"Umm, first, I'll get this wind arrow ready…"
Muttering, she took the wind arrow from the quiver, stuck it into the ground with both hands, and quietly folded her hands in front of her chest. She took a deep breath and prayed quietly.
"O wind spirit, who governs song and harmony… and freedom, reveal your form before me."
It seemed quite different from her usual abbreviated prayer.
"So you're not going with, 'Mr. Wind Spirit, please tell me where you are!' huh."
At the prayer, which was different from usual, Ritz couldn't help but mutter. It seemed to have reached his ears, as Franz shrugged.
"Anna is a water spirit user. She can't normally use wind spirits, so she has to be formal."
"I see."
"Even I… can only use fire…"
Franz muttered under his breath. Recently, Franz had become able to create small balls of fire as long as there was something to act as a medium, like a lamp.
He had also reached the point where he could light a torch with a thought. He could produce a small flame from his palm and send it flying, but his control was laughably bad.
As for whether Franz's skills would be useful on their journey, they were convenient for various things like cooking, starting fires, and lighting lamps.
Simply put, he was a human ignition device. Still, it was more effective than setting his own house on fire.
"It's frustrating."
The words Franz had just muttered caught his ear. He glanced over and saw that he was looking at Anna with envy.
Ritz also watched Anna. Praying before the arrow stuck in the ground, she looked like a fine spirit user from this angle.
But after waiting for a while, there was no reaction at all.
"Guess it was no good after all."
Just as Ritz said this to Franz in a low voice, a small whirlwind occurred. In the direction the wind passed, a faint light could be seen.
But the light was flickering, on the verge of disappearing.
"Over there, Franz."
"Huh? Me?"
"Of course. Even if there was a spirit, I can't see it."
"…Right."
Franz took a small breath, stood up, and headed toward the light at a brisk pace. While seeing him off, Ritz checked on Anna, who was concentrating so hard that a light sweat had broken out on her forehead.
She looked to be in a lot of pain. Maybe he had pushed her too hard after all. But Franz, who had reached the source of the faint light, raised his voice.
"It's a dying Aerial!"
Franz was holding something in his palm up for them to see. But to Ritz's eyes, it was just a faint, pale light that blended into the darkening night.
He knew that Aerials had a girlish appearance, and their delicate bodies, which could be held in both hands, were transparent and slightly greenish. They were the spirits his mother Ciela favored, and as a child, Ritz remembered having his hair whipped up and things in his hands blown away by their various pranks.
Perhaps a little excited, Franz returned here at a jog. In his hand was a faint light. It must be an Aerial.
"Ritz, Anna. It's not moving."
Franz looked at his palm with concern. Normally, an Aerial was a wind spirit of lower rank than the Sylph of the four great elements, with a girlish appearance and a lively personality that loved freedom.
For it to not be moving was no small matter. Spirits normally disappeared, but they did not die. If it was so weak, it was a wonder it had lasted this long without disappearing.
"Is it okay…"
"I can't tell. Anna, we found it. It's an Aerial."
When Ritz called out, Anna took the arrow and came over to the Aerial with a slightly more unsteady gait than before. Anna, too, looked at the Aerial, her face clouding with worry.
"Franz, this child isn't dead, right? What can we do to make it better…"
The two spirit users looked at each other in confusion, apparently having no idea what to do. But Ritz knew the solution.
"It's probably about to run out of power. Spirits don't die, but they disappear if they use up all their power."
"Then, what should we do?"
To the desperate Anna who wanted to save the Aerial, Ritz answered simply.
"There's nothing to do but share your power."
Franz and Anna were even more confused after hearing the answer.
"How?"
"It's a type of healing magic. You share the power you use to handle spirits with this spirit."
"Share?"
"Yeah. Apparently, you pour the power you use when handling spirits into the spirit itself."
Even as he explained it himself, Ritz gave a wry smile. He could put it into words, but for Ritz, who couldn't even see spirits, it was something he couldn't do at all.
"Well, only Anna can probably do it. Your specialty is healing magic, after all."
"Yeah!"
"But it's different from healing a wound. You have to give it a similar wind power. And that's where we try using this arrow."
Ritz took out Anna's arrow again. This arrow could use the power of wind. Whatever spirit he used, it would change that power into wind. In that case, he just had to touch the Aerial with this arrow and cast a healing spell.
Anna, having heard the explanation, happily took the bow and arrow.
"I'll try it!"
Confidently, Anna touched the tip of the bow and arrow to the Aerial and held the back herself. She chanted a healing spell as usual.
The wind arrow gave off a faint glow, but the light didn't seem to be flowing into the Aerial. And on the caster Anna's forehead, large beads of sweat were forming.
This must be her limit. But if this continued, the Aerial would disappear. It was faint, but it was a pity to lose something that could be evidence.
"Franz, share your spirit power with Anna. That's the only way she can use it."
"What…?"
"The wind arrow doesn't choose the spirit user's attribute. In that case, you should be able to share your spirit power with the Aerial too."
"…But I can't use healing magic."
"Anna can take care of that part."
"Huh?"
Ritz explained to the confused Franz and Anna.
"You just concentrate on pouring the power you use to control spirits into the Aerial from over the wind arrow. Anna, you hold the center of the arrow and distribute that power into healing magic."
"Can you do that?"
Anna stared at Ritz and asked. The only thing he could do for Anna was to nod confidently. After all, Ritz had the knowledge of a spirit user but none of the skill.
"Franz, let's try it!"
Anna, who seemed to have no energy left to stand, urged Franz on strongly. Franz also nodded and reached for the wind arrow.
"It's been around since the day of the incident without disappearing, so its life force is strong. It's worth a try."
He was just saying it since he wasn't doing anything himself, but the two who were told nodded with stiff faces. They both knew well that there was no other way but to try it.
Their hands were placed on the arrow, and Anna's prayer began. Franz desperately gripped the arrow and prayed under his breath.
Desperate sweat beaded on both their foreheads. Ritz, who had no spirit power, couldn't tell how the two of them were pouring their power in.
But he could feel that it was difficult.
He found himself thinking that if he had spirit power, he could help. For Ritz, who was born into the Spirit Clan but couldn't use spirit magic, it was a deep-seated complex.
The black hair tied back was also a kind of good luck charm, in the hopes that he could see spirits like his mother, a skilled spirit user.
After a while, Franz looked up as if he had noticed something. His gaze wandered slightly. Then Franz put his hand to his chest and took something out. It was glowing in his hand. From its size, it looked like Franz's jewel.
Instantly, Franz's concentration increased. His restless eyes closed, and the wind arrow began to fill with light. The naturally overflowing power seemed to be flowing through his touched hand to Anna.
Eventually, Anna opened her eyes and slowly offered a prayer.
"O water spirit who governs healing. Share the spirit power flowing within me with the Aerial and grant it healing."
The faintly glowing light suddenly flared up. Anna desperately supported herself while sending power, and Franz continued to concentrate intently.
Eventually, Anna released her hand from the Aerial and gently tapped Franz's hand. Franz returned to his senses at that.
"It seems to be okay now…"
Anna said with a smile, and then, with that smile still on her face, she fell forward. For someone who had been bedridden until yesterday, it must have been too much of a major technique.
Before she hit the ground completely, Ritz caught Anna. Her face was satisfied, and it was clear the spell had been successful. On top of being stubborn, she had the skill to pull it off. Ritz was amazed by Anna.
This one was going to be something big.
"Good work."
Anna, who had lost consciousness, was lifted by Ritz. If he carried her on his back, she would probably fall off.
"You too, good work. You did well."
"…Somehow…"
Franz fell onto his back on the spot. He would need a short break. Ritz also sat down on the spot, still holding Anna.
Franz, lying on his back, muttered.
"It was there…"
"Hm?"
"It was inside me… the Fire Dragon…"
Franz covered his face with his arm.
"When I gripped the jewel, an image of rising flames came to me. The Fire Dragon said it was the source of my power. I was able to feel the power of the flames for the first time. The flames are inside me. It's not something you command from outside…"
After saying all that in one breath, Franz fell silent again. The autumn wind blew cold against his cheeks. Franz's golden hair also swayed in the wind.
"I'm glad. I can use spirits properly…"
At Franz's single phrase, he realized. Since burning down his house with the Fire Dragon, Franz had only been able to light small fires, like a match. He had probably been feeling anxious that he didn't have the talent of a spirit user after all.
But now, as a spirit user, he had been able to save an Aerial. That would surely lead to his confidence and growth as a spirit user.
Ritz looked at Franz, who was still dazed with his arm over his face, and the unconscious Anna, and his eyes narrowed. Both of them were properly facing forward toward their goals. That straightforwardness was something Ritz didn't have now, so it felt dazzling.
Compared to these two, he could see how lazy he was. Ritz had been refusing to look forward.
Since that time he had parted with his friend.
But watching these two, he somehow felt like he wanted to look forward a little more. He even felt like he could relax a little more.
A journey with no destination, a long journey ahead. But he hoped that during this journey, he could also enjoy himself.
"For now, shall we head back to the inn?"
"Yeah."
Franz stood up unsteadily. He carefully lifted the small, shining light and nodded toward Ritz.
"I'll bring the Aerial back too."
"Right. Just meeting the Aerial is a big score."
Ritz stood up, still holding Anna. She was completely unconscious. He couldn't have her condition worsening, so it was best to just toss her in bed at the inn. He happened to look at Franz and saw him gently touching the light in his hands.
"What are you spacing out for? I'm leaving you behind."
"I'm coming!"
Just as the sun began to set, a beautiful sunset spread across the western sky. It seemed they had just barely made it by dusk. From tomorrow, it would be a search for the culprit based on this clue they had finally obtained.
Walking back to the 'Goddess's Palm Inn,' Ritz had a thought and looked at Franz.
"What?"
"To be honest, I didn't think you'd actually be able to send power to Anna."
When he said it quietly, Franz nodded with a serious face.
"…I didn't think so either."
His attitude was strangely meek, but Ritz sensed that he was a little proud of it.
"And Anna, too. She was able to send power to the Aerial. That's a pretty advanced technique, so I honestly thought it was a long shot. You guys are amazing."
It wasn't something an apprentice spirit user could do. But by accumulating practical experience like this and not giving up, both of them would surely grow a lot. As a guardian, he was happy about that, and as a fellow traveler, even more so.
"I'm starving. I wonder what's for dinner tonight."
As if to cover up his own serious words, Ritz cracked his usual lighthearted joke.