27 - Episode 23: The Anomaly in the Elf Village and the Imperial Capital Around That Time
The heavy reality that the peak of MMR was nearly 30 years ago...
'The river...?'
"Yes, as for domestic water, we have hot springs, so we can still manage, and the fields were just planted, so it is not that urgent."
Latia, who had been shown into Kureha's house, explained the situation the elf village was currently facing.
Apparently, since about a week ago, the amount of inflow water in the nearby river had been visibly decreasing. The reason she brought this information to Mahora was that the river flowing through this village also leads back to the same water source if traced to its origin.
The river, which originates from the snowmelt and groundwater of Mount Niakando, splits into three tributaries around the mid-slope, with one extending north to Mahora and one south to the elf village. Incidentally, the central tributary is said to merge into a great river that flows through the center of the Empire.
Latia's visit was part of an investigation into the other tributaries.
'Hmm. That is strange...'
"Mahora has no problems, but..."
Latia nodded as she saw Kureha placing a hand over her mouth and Kazuha sitting in seiza beside her with a solemn expression. Around the time she entered Mahora, she had seen the rice paddies and thought everything was as usual.
"It seems so. The central river was also as usual. In that case..."
The mid-slope of Mount Niakando. It is natural to think that some problem occurred after the river split.
"As I thought, it would be better to go upstream and investigate. I do not really want to go up the mountain, but I cannot afford to say that."
Latia knit her brows, not very keen on the idea.
That was the reason she had not initially investigated by going upstream. For some reason, the density of monsters from the foot to the summit of Mount Niakando was high, and they were strong. According to the hunting guidelines of the Adventurers Guild, it was at a level requiring a gold-rank party. Strangely, those vicious monsters did not intrude from the foothills, exactly at the border with the Feresque Great Forest.
If they were to intrude, there were so many strong monsters that not only the elves but also the beastmen would not be able to live in such a place. Even for an investigation, it was nearly impossible for Latia alone, and it would take time to form an investigation team of elves.
Therefore, Kureha's next proposal was a godsend.
'Then, you should take Kazuha with you. That place is a monster's den. Barrier arts will be useful, will they not?'
"That would be a help, but... is it okay?"
'I do not mind. Depending on the cause, it could become a spark that falls upon Mahora as well. Besides, I am raising this child to eventually be my representative and proxy. She is not a small-livered girl who would break just from being attacked by a herd of Earth Dragons. Right, Kazuha?'
"Yes."
Latia smiled at Kazuha, who nodded while clenching both fists. In the previous Earth Dragon battle, the sisters Kazuha and Sakura had played a great role. Although the Three Idiots ultimately defeated them, it was undoubtedly the sisters who had held them off until they arrived.
In the sense of being lifesavers for Latia, the fox beastman sisters were the same.
"Thank you. I trust you because you and Sakura saved me at that time. Now, as for the—"
Just as she was about to continue with 'the vanguard', the sliding door went slam! and an intruder appeared.
"I heard the story! The elves are—"
"Just to jump in here, the elves are not going extinct."
"This man, the way he continues to run wild even when his old wounds are poked, he really is an elf-ski, isn't he?"
It was the Three Idiots.
It seemed they had been eavesdropping and had grasped the situation to some extent. Geoglyph, who had been left speechless after being interrupted by Later in the middle of his line, cleared his throat and straightened his posture.
"From the looks of it, you need guards, do you not? Then we, the Serious Breakers, shall take on the task."
"Well, the leader says so, and above all..."
"Hot springs! You said there are hot springs!? Is it true!?"
"Y-yes, although right now we cannot adjust the temperature due to the river's water volume, so it is too hot to enter..."
At Latia's affirmation, the Three Idiots nodded.
Mahora had rice, and sake made from it. Likely refined sake made with technology brought by the great ancestors (Saitun). They had, of course, secured snacks as well.
And hot springs. A secret spring in the depths of the great forest. If Japanese culture had flowed in to some extent, there would surely be open-air baths. No, even if there weren't any, they would make them now that they were here.
"There is local sake. Moreover, it is mostly Japanese sake and tastes good."
"Sensei has the bath set in his storage magic, right? There should be local snacks too, how about it, Princess?"
"I processed fish procured through our trading company and put them into Geo's storage magic before we departed. There should be no problem."
In other words, they could do it.
The luxury of adults tired of society.
Namely—.
'Other-world hot spring sake...!'
These Three Idiots were now in a hot spring trip mood, completely ignoring the elves' problems.
●
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Capital's Adventurers Guild, Dusk had a grim look on his face.
When he, a seasoned veteran who already had a stern look, made such an expression, he looked like a vicious criminal, causing general staff to freeze like frogs stared down by a snake. Even the secretary who dealt with him closely on a daily basis felt that she did not want to speak to her boss in this state.
"Well? Was it found?"
Dusk asked the secretary who visited the Guild Master's room as soon as she entered.
"No, the mansion they use as a base seems to be empty. I managed to hear from the caretaker, but as for where they went..."
Having received the report that it was a swing and a miss, Dusk instructed the secretary to leave the room and became alone. He leaned his body against the back of the chair and let out a deep, deep sigh.
"I ordered a week of house arrest, but do not vanish immediately after that house arrest ends..."
He was talking about the Serious Breakers.
The fact that they slaughtered a herd of Earth Dragons was now a rumor throughout the Empire.
Well, if it were just that, Dusk would have honestly praised them, saying they had made a name for themselves and that it was good. An adventurer belonging to the guild had achieved a great feat. It was an achievement to the point where he thought he might personally give them a monetary gift.
If they were "normal" adventurers.
However, the backgrounds behind them would not let them be normal adventurers.
Geoglyph was the third son of a Margrave. Marianne was the granddaughter of the currently popular president of the Romanette Trading Company. Even Later was a disciple of 'Jinrai (Gado)'.
They were so overbearing that even people with decent backgrounds felt intimidated.
That said, such is human desire. Whether it be power, military force, or financial power, there was no end to the people who were attracted to strong people and wanted to become friends. However, if one requested it arrogantly from the front, there was no knowing what landmine they might step on. They were the kind of people who could win against a herd of Earth Dragons. If one stepped on a mine, explosive scattering would be unavoidable.
If so, why not just pull strings from behind, was the conclusion of those around them—and the victim of that was Dusk.
In other words, there was no end to the inquiries asking to meet the Serious Breakers or to be introduced to them. If this were the nonsense of commoners, he would dismiss them by telling them to go themselves, but due to his position as Guild Master, there were people in positions that he could not ignore. In fact, the numerous parties (dining meetings) that the Three Idiots had been incessantly forced to participate in recently were coordinated by Dusk.
Somehow, this man had unwittingly ended up in a position like the Three Idiots' manager.
In the midst of that, the disappearance of the Serious Breakers—no, their flight. They had politely left a note with the mysterious words 'I am just going to the convenience store for a bit' and a mysterious drawing made of dots and lines. It goes without saying that Dusk screamed, 'Where the hell is the convenience store!'
Since then, Dusk, who was being pressured from all sides, held his head and groaned.
"Where did those Three Idiots go...!"
He could not have dreamed in his wildest dreams that the three idiots on the run were currently in a hot spring trip state.
●
A single girl is walking through the valley called the Giant's Path.
A blue-haired girl wearing priestess clothes—Lilitia. She struck the ground with the shakujo in her hand, looked up at the sky, and took a deep breath as if sniffing the air.
"I can smell Big Sister from this way..."
Having sniffed out the scent of her beloved girl, she gazed in a certain direction.
"Please wait, Marie-onesama...! This Lilitia—will go to see you now!!"
Beyond where she began to walk spiritedly—was the village of Mahora.
Next time, again tomorrow.