Outlaws from the Southeastward
Outlaws from the Southeastward
The situation where I had to deliver an impassioned defense and vindication of Asilie never came to pass.
"Squad Leader. In the first place, the Human Race is one that rises and falls within a span not even reaching a hundred years, so wouldn't it be right to judge based on this individual member of the Human Race rather than by age?"
"Hmm, but if my last memory serves, even for the Human Race, the adulthood ceremony is..."
"That could have been a means to inform others of the gravity of the matter..."
"Forest spirits have difficulty conveying lengthy messages, after all. I believe it was effective."
It was because the elves, who had been deliberating alongside Cellevian with serious expressions, defended Asilie on their own.
It wasn't that they were looking through tinted lenses; rather, for beings viewing another race, they held a remarkably open-minded and fervent discussion. I'd kept silent for a moment, unable to join in, before Cellevian, having sorted out his thoughts, apologized somewhat sheepishly.
"I'm truly sorry about this. Unlike Asilie, I've spent my entire life only by my tribe's side. Because of that, I often find myself unconsciously falling into closed-minded thinking. You are undeniably Asilie's benefactor, and yet my thoughts veered one-sided again."
I couldn't very well say, 'I think that's a normal reaction.' So I forced a smile and accepted his apology.
"It's fine. That's entirely understandable."
From my perspective, as a thirty-year-old, it felt close to having a relationship with Asilie, but to others, it could only look completely different. If anything, their effort to accept things without prejudice like this was more bizarre and fascinating.
Still, seeing them muttering to themselves, working hard to convince themselves, 'Still, Asilie's thinking wasn't shallow, and her eye for people wasn't lacking...' it seemed even from the elves' perspective, this wasn't an entirely relatable situation.
"In any case, it was fortunate there are still many awake forests in the Western Kingdom region. If winter had deepened just a little more, we wouldn't have been able to meet this quickly."
I couldn't know the exact meaning of the remark Cellevian threw out to lightly shift the topic, but I could hazard a guess. He was talking about traveling through the forest. I, too, had nothing to gain by clinging to the topic of 'Asilie pedophilia allegations,' so I seized on the new subject.
"I experienced it once through Asilie. You traveled through the forest, I take it?"
"Correct. It might be rude to you, who suffered hardship, but it was fortunate that the location we separated was the west. This place is close to the Fire Dragon's domain, so winter's influence arrives very late."
It seemed the travel method, which appeared incredibly convenient, had other restrictions besides requiring the forest to be somewhat contiguous. Cellevian maintained an attitude of nonchalance as he continued his explanation.
"If we move a little further east from here, there's a forest sufficient to loop back to the World Tree. Once we return to the tribe through there, we can likely move to the closest possible point to Itisel."
If forests connect, travel is possible. If the World Tree and a forest are connected, travel from the forest to the World Tree is possible. From the World Tree, as long as it's activated, travel anywhere is possible regardless of forest connection? I couldn't help but marvel at such a completely broken racial trait. While I was lost in admiration, it must have shown on my face, because Cellevian chuckled softly.
"It's true that the authority granted by the World Tree and the forest spirits is very useful, but it's not as all-powerful as you might think. This particular instance... you could say it's mixed with a repayment for what she has done for us."
"Hmm, I see. In any case, I'm simply grateful that you not only treat me favorably at first meeting but also offer your help."
"Ah. I should mention this in advance, but even if it's just a brief pass-through, not all tribe members will be favorably disposed toward you. I want to say beforehand that I live in an environment that gives me plenty of reason to strive to see the world without prejudice."
It wasn't some child-educating line like, 'Not everyone in the world will like you.' It meant that among the elves, there would be those who didn't look upon me kindly.
Well, that was possible. Humans had their misanthropes, so there was no reason elves could not have their own breed of human-hating knife-ears.
"You don't need to worry. I won't mind in the slightest."
"Hmm... It might be different when you experience it firsthand, but I'm glad to hear you say that."
Worrying about nothing. It really was fine.
Because if something unsavory happened, it wouldn't be me who ended up not fine.
◈
After spending a hectic few days due to Asilie's sudden contact, Cellevian looked at Eldmia, who was extremely courteous and composed—a stark contrast to the slightly frivolous-seeming first encounter—and laughed inwardly.
It was Asilie who had once been the formidable woman boldly declaring she would never gift such an earring. She had been a highly skilled comrade, but because of her rough and ferocious personality, they had half-joked about who on earth would ever take her on.
She wasn't without her rough edges, but she was a proud member of the tribe who got along well with everyone. That's why, when the tribal council decided to halt the search for her, many raged, questioning whether a noble sacrifice was supposed to end in slavery.
But for her to have gained such a peculiar connection and remained safe before suffering a great calamity—it was something one could dare claim Asha herself must have been with her.
"Ah, is there anything I should be mindful of while we travel together?"
Above all, what was fortunate was that the more he conversed with Eldmia and observed his actions, the more that initial unsavory misunderstanding faded. Even though only a few hours had passed since meeting him until full night fell, he frequently forgot that he was speaking to a fifteen-year-old human.
This held true even setting aside external factors. Looking at this young human who was easier to talk to than most ordinary humans, Cellevian felt he could understand just a little of Asilie's choice.
"There's nothing in particular. However, the people of the Western Kingdom region aren't particularly friendly toward other races, so there is a possibility you might experience something unsavory because of us."
With seven of them, it wasn't a matter of safety in numbers; being clustered together made them more likely to attract hostility.
Perhaps the orcs that constantly invaded their territory had intensified that disposition, but such reasons weren't important right now.
Eldmia merely shrugged his shoulders at Cellevian's slight warning, showing he didn't consider it a big deal.
"I'm in the same boat, so it's fine. Since we've created a situation where we might each cause unsavory incidents for the other, we can just let it slide and move on."
Was it a consideration meant to lighten the mood and ease the burden? If so, it was a rather pleasant joke, and Cellevian and the other elves all laughed, without needing anyone to start first. Wasn't this what humans called being gentlemanly at times like this? Due to the gentle atmosphere that followed, Cellevian completely forgot his first impression of Eldmia.
Thus, the next day arrived. They matched their pace to the slow steps of those who had to travel on foot, conversing steadily for two days. By the time they reached the threshold of the human city, Cellevian and the other elves had begun to think, just maybe, that Asilie possessed extraordinary foresight and had chosen the human named Eldmia as a future husband.
"You're fine, but ear-lings aren't."
Right. Until they reached the threshold of the city.
Even after showing a plaque that properly proved their identity, the gatekeeper's attitude was a brazen refusal. The jeers of those waiting to enter the city based on his reaction flowed, but Cellevian and the other elves paid no mind.
Those who lived precarious lives without the awareness of divine protection were bound to be anxious, and it was only natural for them to thoughtlessly exude hostility to dilute their own anxiety.
This level of attitude was comparatively mild for the West. Enough to be resolved with just a few copper coins.
"Why?"
However, Eldmia didn't seem to think so, tilting his head sideways and asking back. At that response, which was clearly at odds with the polite demeanor he had shown up until now, the elves' ears twitched with puzzlement. Meanwhile, the gatekeeper, his expression now freshly offended, answered.
"Why what? How am I supposed to know what those ear-lings will pull in the city?"
"That's something for you to watch after you properly verify and let them into the city. If they didn't have any identification plaque at all, I'd understand, but that's not the case, is it? If they cause trouble, that's a matter for me or the Margrave of Kelbast to handle, not a justifiable reason for you to neglect your duties, now is it?"
Huh, it was a surprisingly valid argument. But it was hard to imagine such words getting through to those who were closer to violence than law and logic.
Indeed, upon hearing his words, the gatekeeper's expression crumpled further. He flipped the spear he was holding and thumped Eldmia's chest with the butt, spitting out his words as if chewing them up.
"Ha, fuck. Some uneducated adventurer brat trying to lecture a gatekeeper? You little shit, just because you have a Kelbast identification plaque, does that mean you've got no fear? Having that doesn't mean you can't land in jail, you fucker. Wanna get thrown in with the rats for a week and then come out?"
"Amusing."
Amusing? This?
For a moment, thinking he had misheard, Cellevian checked Eldmia's face. He couldn't help but feel a strong unease at the fierce smile hanging on his lips. It was such a menacing smile that even the gatekeeper, who had been boldly brandishing his spear shaft with the backing of public authority, flinched slightly.
But Eldmia paid no mind to the reactions around him or the spear shaft prodding his chest, simply maintaining his smile and asking back.
"Do you know the law at all?"
It didn't take long for Cellevian to learn what that question truly meant.