An Anomaly in the Hometown
A bright afternoon in the hometown. A group walked along the peaceful forest path where birds chirped. The roads in the North were quite long because without using the regular escort caravans operated by nearby cities, there was no way to resist monster attacks. Still, the group of just over ten people strolled through the forest in a relaxed atmosphere.
"We're heading back to our hometown, but you guys could've stayed in the city."
"It's fine. I've been curious about where you all grew up."
"A village that produced three outstanding talents must have something special about it."
The siblings wore awkward expressions at the students' expectant reactions. I shrugged in response. There wasn't anything particularly special about it. That's why I'd tried to leave the group behind in the city. But Arthur and Werner had welcomed the idea of going out for their surprise preparations, so we'd brought them along. My companions had joined for reasons similar to the students'.
"By the way, it's a shame. If only I could show off the armor made from Nepentula silk, their reactions would've been great."
"Can't be helped since it turned to rags. No spares either."
At Neon's words, I scratched my head with a disappointed look. I recalled the conversation I'd had with Elin, my dedicated armorer, before leaving Edenberg.
'Goodness, in all my life I've never seen anyone treat Nepentula silk armor so roughly.'
'Is it in bad shape?'
'Bad enough that you'd be better off getting new armor. Who on earth did you fight to turn this masterpiece into rags?'
'A rather troublesome opponent.'
'I happen to have some adult Nepentula silk left in the shop, so I'll make you a new set.'
'Thanks. I'll pay once it's finished.'
I adjusted the coat I'd bought from Elin's shop, worn in place of my usual Nepentula armor. As expected from the work of the skilled half-elf artisan, it boasted excellent performance, though it was weaker than what I'd worn before. Even though the lion had fled like a cat in the end, it had been strong. I'd only been pushed back helplessly because I'd fallen for its psychological warfare. If we'd fought at full strength, the outcome would've been hard to predict. Even with Ikelos fused to enhance my body, my win rate would probably hover around seventy percent. Just like how a lion and tiger fight, the one in better condition wins. My fight with the lion had only been possible because it had been thoroughly drawn into my pace. I steadied my mind, looking forward to the day we'd fight again, when a familiar wooden fence came into view in the distance. The faces of the guards at the village entrance were familiar, so there was no doubt.
"It's Trajan Village!"
"We finally made it home!"
Following the excited Ruin siblings as they ran ahead, we headed into the village. The guards at the entrance spotted us and looked surprised.
"Uncle Homel! Uncle Albedo! We're here!"
"Luna? Ruin? Is that really you two?"
"Argo's here too!"
The guards greeted us with delighted faces. They'd been overjoyed to hear rumors that the warriors who'd left on their pilgrimage had made names for themselves in the Central and Northern regions. There had even been a festival celebrating the birth of great warriors from Trajan Village. After embracing one another and sharing the joy of reunion, the guard uncles noticed the people behind us and snapped back to attention.
"Ah, look at me. I've left guests who've come from afar standing at the entrance."
"Come on in. Trajan Village always welcomes visitors from outside."
At the guards' greeting, the group bowed their heads in return and entered the village. There wasn't much to see inside. Unlike Broke Village, Aria's hometown, it wasn't home to a mix of various races living in harmony. Nor did it possess any special spirit trees or resources. Neon and Beatrice wore surprised expressions at the ordinary village scenery typical of the North.
"I expected more since it's where you and the Ruin siblings grew up, but it's more ordinary than I thought."
"Right? I figured there might be some reclusive Transcendent hiding here or something."
"What did you think of our village? It's a place where people live too, you know?"
I lightly pushed back at their impressions and kept walking. The village adults seemed to have gone hunting in the forest, as there were few signs of activity. Thanks to that, we reached the orphanage in the village center without much commotion and knocked on the door with trembling hearts.
Knock, knock.
After a light knock, we waited. Footsteps could be heard from beyond the door, and then the firmly closed door opened softly to reveal a middle-aged man with a disheveled appearance. I couldn't help but smile at the sight. Even after several years, he hadn't changed.
"Who...?"
The wolf beastman with a large scar on his face yawned as he checked the faces of the visitors who'd knocked. Most were unfamiliar, but when he spotted me and the Ruin siblings at the front, his eyes widened. After glancing between us and the group, he seemed to grasp the situation in an instant and pulled us into a hug with a delighted expression.
"Well, look who it is! Aren't these the little warriors who went out and succeeded spectacularly?"
"Ahahaha! It's been a while, Uncle Werner!"
"Uncle, my foot! I'm still full of energy!"
"Come on, you are an uncle! Look at all that beard!"
"Hey now! Wolf beastmen just grow fur fast, you brat!"
After catching up on everything that had happened, we noticed our awkwardly standing companions and spoke to Werner.
"Oh, right. Uncle Werner, we brought our companions with us."
"You weren't planning to leave guests standing outside, were you?"
"Of course not! Come on in! You must be hungry after the journey. I'll bring some snacks!"
Werner thumped his chest and strode inside with a bold declaration. We followed after him. The orphanage was spacious, as it was a place that raised orphaned children and gathered all the village kids for education while the adults were away at work. We passed through ample space upon entering. The orphanage children, having heard the commotion at the entrance, peeked around the corner. When they confirmed my face and the Ruin siblings', their eyes widened and they shouted loud enough to shake the building.
"Big brother Argo and big sister Luna! Big brother Ruin is hereeeee!"
At one child's cry, the once-quiet orphanage instantly grew lively.
"What?!"
"Really?!"
"It is them!"
The children poured into the hallway and swarmed around us, clinging to me and the siblings. Even after several years, the children's affection toward us was immense—perhaps because I'd played the leader among my peers as a child and continued looking after the younger ones even as an adult.
"Big brother Argo! Look how much stronger I've gotten while you were gone!"
"Sis! I made this bread, want some?"
"Big brother Ruin! You promised to teach me ranger skills when I grew up, right? I'm an adult now!"
The group looked horrified at the sight of the children chattering away in a huddle. Children already had boundless energy, but thanks to the breathing method, they'd become monsters who truly never tired, triggering an instinctive sense of threat. Still, we handled them with practiced ease.
"Oh my, Charles, you've gotten so strong!"
"Hehe, really?"
"Of course! If you keep growing like this, you'll make a fine hunter!"
"Not a hunter—I want to be an adventurer like you, big brother!"
"That's possible too! The future is yours to decide."
While I soothed the child clinging to me, the Ruin siblings each took charge of their own groups of kids. Once we'd satisfied them all, we headed to the kitchen, where the scent of freshly baked bread wafted out. Werner was there, skillfully preparing tea. When we entered, he set out tea and snacks on the table.
"Ah, thank you."
"Eat as much as you like. The orphanage may lack other things, but food is plentiful."
The students smiled awkwardly and offered their thanks. The children naturally joined us at the table, each reaching for tea and snacks—a sight that was filling just to watch. Adela, quietly sipping her tea, poked my side.
"Argo."
"What?"
"Is Werner family with Vergo?"
"That's right. He's also Veronika's younger brother."
"I see. No wonder their scents were similar."
Adela nodded in understanding at my explanation. At the same time, Neon, who'd overheard, looked surprised.
"No wonder their names and appearances were similar—I was wondering. So they're family?"
"Vergo, Veronika, and Werner are famous in the North."
It would be strange if they weren't famous, given that all three siblings had built tremendous reputations in the adventurer industry. Vergo had risen to a position no one could deny, Veronika had become the North's strongest Gold-class adventurer, and Werner, though barely, had reached Gold-class as a promising adventurer. At my explanation, Werner, seated across from me, chuckled.
"Promising, my ass. I'm a has-been now."
"A has-been? You completely recovered after drinking the potion I gave you."
I shut down Werner's feigned weakness. Even if the artisan's potions were expensive, their effectiveness was certain. I still vividly remembered how hard I'd worked to earn enough money for a potion that could treat Werner's aftereffects from when I was young.
"It's been a long time since I left the field, so I am a has-been."
"Still can't get enough of raising disciples, can you?"
"Ahem, you three were just exceptionally talented."
Werner coughed awkwardly at Ruin's pointed remark. I smiled, having expected as much. Eight years ago, Werner had come to Trajan Village to rest after sustaining injuries during the operation to repel Magranas. At first, he'd taught us as a way to pass the time. The adult in charge of the orphanage was usually the most skilled person in the village, and at the time, that had been Werner. As befitting an outstanding adventurer, Werner had absorbed all sorts of knowledge and, upon discovering us soaking it up like sponges, had become hooked on teaching disciples and passed on everything he could. After teaching us all he knew, he'd sent recommendation letters to Orbis Academy, where Veronika was, so we could learn what he couldn't teach. That was how the Ruin siblings had ended up enrolling at Orbis Academy. As for me, having cleanly given up on becoming an adventurer upon learning I could never reach the pinnacle, I'd taken a job as a guild employee. The students, having heard the rough outline, sparkled with interest.
"So Luna and Ruin came to Orbis Academy thanks to you, Mr. Werner?"
"Something like that?"
"Wow, then if it weren't for Mr. Werner, the academy would've been done for."
"Huh?"
Werner looked puzzled at Harne's words. The academy being done for? He tilted his head at the remark, which only academy insiders could possibly understand, then brushed it off. More than that, he was curious about what his disciples had been through outside.
"By the way, what kind of exploits have you pulled off out there for the rumors to reach here? I'm dying to know—tell me some stories."
"That's right! I've been wanting to hear about you guys!"
"You must've solved some incredible things outside, right?"
"I want to hear stories about big brother and big sister!"
At Werner's words, the children sparkled with curiosity. They clung to their chairs, begging to hear about our exploits, and I smiled softly. Since we'd had a few exploits worth bragging about, I opened my mouth to explain—when the hunters who'd gone into the forest early that morning returned, making the outside noisy.
"Damn it! Another bust today!"
"This is troublesome. What kind of monster is it?"
"At this rate, it doesn't seem like a temporary phenomenon. We might need to call in adventurers."
The hunters who'd returned from the forest were fuming, as if things hadn't gone well. I looked at Werner questioningly, and he scratched his head with a troubled expression before explaining the anomaly that had occurred in Trajan Village.
"It wasn't anything too dangerous, so I wasn't planning to ask for your help, but..."
"It's fine. We came all this way—we can't just leave without doing anything."
After hearing Werner's explanation, we looked at one another. Though we didn't speak, our expressions said everything.
"This is... that, right?"
"Probably that."
"Don't tell me it's that?"
The Ruin siblings and I sparkled with interest. The academy students, still lacking Northern sensibilities, looked puzzled, but Neon, Adela, and Beatrice caught on to our conversation and lit up the same way.
"Is it really that?"
"The possibility is high."
"We can probably look forward to it."
At our unified hypothesis, we turned to Werner. He shrugged with an awkward face.
"I don't know, you brats. I'm good at fighting, but I'm no ranger, so my tracking skills are only basic."
"But you must've found some traces, right?"
"I did find some... but they were traces I couldn't match to any monster in my memory."
At Werner's words, I clenched my fist as if I'd expected it. It seemed the anomaly in Trajan Village was the work of a new species of monster.