kscans

Chapter 13 - Mythology and the Bell Tower

We returned to town. We’d only been here four days, and in a rented room at that, so I had no idea where this warm, nostalgic feeling was coming from.

"It’s a relief to be back, isn’t it?"

Famu shared the same sentiment.

We parted ways with Aidan at the guild. The rescued villagers were to be placed under the guild’s temporary protection. After securing our room at the Asuka Inn, we headed for the church. I needed to get my ribs fixed.

"Can you heal this?"

"Of course. It’s easily cured with a donation of twenty silver coins,"

Myra said with a gentle smile.

"You money-grubber."

"A divine miracle for a mere twenty silver? It’s a bargain, is it not?"

I questioned whether a miracle bought with coin could truly be called a miracle. Naturally, I paid up.

"Still, it’s strange,"

I murmured after the healing was complete.

"What do you find strange?"

Myra asked, so I told her about the quest. It was the fact that there were any survivors at all. I was glad, of course, but I had been fully expecting them to have been slaughtered to the last man.

"Were all the survivors women, by any chance?"

"Hm? Come to think of it, yes. Is there a reason for that?"

Myra and Famu exchanged troubled glances.

"Master, the goblins left them alive to bear children."

"Is that so?"

The fact that Famu was the one to answer told me this was common knowledge in this world.

"The child of a monster and a living being becomes a half-demon, half-beast—a powerful life form that strongly inherits the monster’s traits. A goblin born from a human becomes a very powerful goblin indeed."

"Huh? A goblin can be born from a human?"

Myra’s addendum shocked me.

"That’s right. Between two humans, the child will be of the same race as the mother. If the man is human and the woman is a dog-ear, a dog-eared child will be born. However, a child conceived with a monster will become a monster."

That explained why Famu and Aidan had been so insistent on staying behind in the village. They had been operating under the assumption that there would be survivors from the very beginning.

"So there was some hidden lore I missed."

"It’s mythology,"

Myra said, pointing a finger to the heavens.

According to their myths, the human race was first created in this world by the gods. Humans then went on to have sexual intercourse—or rather, to deepen their interactions—with all manner of creatures, resulting in the birth of various races like the dog-ears and cat-ears.

"So, humans and… dogs and cats…"

My question was cut short by a sharp cough from Myra. Ahem!

"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 longevity was the divine blood that mixed with their own. Myra’s story continued. Humans even consorted with demonic beasts, giving birth to the demon race. Appalled by their utter lack of discretion, the gods bestowed upon them divine punishment and order. As a result, the existing races became fixed, and the matriarchal system of inheritance was established.

"This is the legend preserved in the church. The elves, dwarves, and demons have their own differing tales, but the end result is the same."

"Hey, is ‘end result’ really the right word? Still, that was helpful."

"If you enjoyed my story, I would be grateful for a donation."

This church was starving for cash. I offered a donation for the sake of Myra’s ample assets.

After my treatment, we climbed the bell tower. It was just around dusk. The view opened up, and a pleasant breeze washed over us. The observation deck was empty save for us. We had a panoramic view of the city. Seen from here, Richel was a smaller town than I’d imagined. This world’s population was probably a fraction of the one I’d come from. In the center, I could see a palace. It was the residence of the Lugul Family, who ruled this city. The massive structures surrounding the palace were government offices. The only other large building of note was the arena. It resembled the Roman Colosseum, though its spectator stands weren’t even half as high. The gladiatorial combat one might associate with such a place wasn’t held here, due to a lack of both people and participants.

A river and a main road ran north to south through the city. Following the road north would lead to the imperial capital. The southern road branched off repeatedly to other towns, but neither the capital nor any other settlement was visible from here. Farmland spread out beyond the city walls, eventually giving way to forest. Dotted throughout the forest were small hamlets. Beyond the woods, I could see plains and a lake. And beyond that, mountains. The sea was nowhere in sight. I looked for the village from Aidan’s request but couldn’t spot it.

"Will we be gathering medicinal herbs again tomorrow?"

"I’m not sure. My level’s gone up, so maybe we’ll try the dungeon. I want to get a bit more combat experience. Once I feel confident enough, we’ll head for the city of Miglutt in the east."

The city’s eastern wall, and just beyond it, a small shrine. The entrance to the dungeon was inside. Mizuki’s party, the ‘Wind Blade,’ was probably in there right now.

"I’ll go with you."

"No, you don’t have to. It’d be a pain if you started crying or wanting to go home and I had to talk you out of it."

"Urgh… I won’t cry, and I’ll listen to you next time."

"I’m kidding. I’d be happy to have you with me. And you don’t have to obey me. Just do what you think is right."

Beyond the shrine, past the forest, on the far horizon, I could see a faintly white, misty mountain range.

"Was your village around those mountains, Famu?"

Famu shook her head.

"No, it’s much farther than that."

"I see. It’s a big world, isn’t it?"

Beyond that mountain range was where Famu had lived with her family.

"Master, where did you come from?"

"It’s a secret. Up there."

The sky above the city, dyed red by the sunset, was already beginning to darken, and the first stars were becoming visible. I pointed to one of them. Famu looked up as well.

"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."

I wondered what kind of person Famu’s ‘Master’ truly was. I needed to get her to stop calling me that soon. I wanted to sit down and have a proper talk with her.

"The star thing was more of a metaphor, a joke. To be precise, I was transferred from another world."

I didn’t think I needed to correct her, but I did anyway.

"Do you mean like the Paladin who defeated the Demon Lord a hundred years ago?"

I had heard it was a company of Paladins who defeated the Demon Lord, but perhaps they were called that because they were led by a Paladin.

"I don’t know about this Paladin, 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, Master. Someday, I’d like to see the view from other cities like this."

Famu fell silent, gazing up at the starry sky. I couldn’t tell from her expression whether she thought I was joking or believed me.

"Master."

Time passed. The sun sank further below the horizon, and the night was about to begin. Famu turned to face me, her expression stiff.

"What is it?"

Famu stared at me, her eyes moist.

"I… I love you, Master. I want to be with you forever."

It was the first confession I had ever received in my life. Her nervousness was contagious, and my heart began to pound in my chest. My palms grew sweaty. I had to say something. Famu’s expression clouded with anxiety at my silence.

"We’ve only known each other for about ten days. And I’m an old man, you know?"

"I don’t want to be teased right now,"

she said, pouting.

"The number of days we’ve known each other doesn’t matter. I’ve been drawn to you from the very beginning."

I remembered her inviting me out even before we took Aidan’s quest. Had she been thinking of confessing even then? Her ability to express her feelings so directly was dazzling.

"Master… how do you feel about me?"

She timidly reached out her hands and grasped the sleeves of my clothes. Slowly, she closed her eyes, waiting for my answer.

I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. It was a light touch, over in an instant. A soft sensation. The feeling enveloped my body in a sweet warmth that lingered long after we parted.

"I think you’re cute, Famu. I like you too."

Famu’s expression softened. She threw her arms around me.

I wrapped my hands around her back. She was so warm. I wanted to hold her like this forever. I wanted to feel her touch again. I cupped her chin, guiding her face toward mine.

"Master…"

Our gazes locked.

Just then, we heard the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs. We quickly pulled apart, but the warmth of Famu’s body remained inside me.