Chapter 284
Chapter 284
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: City of Flames
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"A Dark Elf requested a meeting with me?"
"Yeah."
Fienne looked flustered.
Lona had a good idea why.
"Isn't it weird? A Dark Elf, of all things?"
"...You didn't...!?"
"Huh?"
"You weren't rude to that Dark Elf, were you!?"
Fienne, who had been lost in thought for a moment, blurted it out in horror.
Lona couldn't help but chuckle softly at her reaction.
"Come on, Fienne. What do you take me for? I'm a saint in public eyes, a gentleman of high society—no way I'd lose my composure in front of a Dark Elf."
Lona explained just how dignified and polite he'd been to the Dark Elf.
"She must've been a lady."
"Well, yeah. If it had been a guy, maybe I'd have slipped up like you said?"
"Either way, your handling was commendable. Staying polite in front of a Dark Elf isn't easy."
"What's gotten into her all of a sudden?"
The mutual praise and respect felt awkwardly embarrassing.
Lona sensed something from Fienne's unnatural demeanor.
"Wait, do you know her?"
"You said it's a Dark Elf who knows Rishir, right?"
"Yeah."
"There probably aren't many like that."
"...Maybe."
Lona tilted his head.
"Do you even know what that guy's been up to outside the city? Honestly, even if he suddenly showed up riding a giant's back and then flew off on a dragon, I wouldn't be surprised."
No matter how you slice it, that's a bit—
Fienne started to say, but closed her mouth.
A little while ago.
Thinking of Rishir reminded her of the time she'd briefly mistaken him for a dragon.
"...You're right. I was being hasty."
"Haha, hasty's a strong word. So, Fienne, what's the big deal? Who are you thinking of?"
"Oh, right. You haven't heard yet."
"Heard what?"
"About Rishir. The story of his master."
"...That guy had a master?"
Lona blinked in genuine surprise.
"I figured he just hatched from an egg one day as a full-grown adult who could already use magic and swordsmanship."
"That does sound more realistic. But surprisingly—no. Yes, that's right. That man does have a master."
"You don't mean Master Meltas or something, do you?"
"No. Not those who want to be his master. There's someone Rishir truly, uniquely acknowledges as his true master."
"...My god. That's insanely intriguing. I'm even forgetting to complain about why you're telling me now."
Lona paused in thought, then shook his head seriously.
"That guy's master... what kind of monster is she?"
"Well, to put it simply—she's more ordinary than you'd think."
"Ordinary?"
"For that man's master, I mean. Realistically, she's extraordinary, I suppose."
"Ah, got it."
Fienne gazed off into the distance.
Her crimson eyes replayed past memories.
To tell the story of that master, she had to recall her first meeting with the man.
"..."
Her refined expression twisted with humiliation.
Even amid the humiliation, she somehow looked amused.
Fienne began recounting the tale of a certain Dark Elf, starting from that first encounter, to Lona.
"...His master?"
"Yes."
"...And he abandoned his disciple in less than a week?"
"...Yes."
"Is that even a master-disciple relationship?"
"..."
Lona raised an objection, and Fienne had to accept it.
Pamon.
That Dark Elf was, in every sense, exceptionally qualified to be Rishir's master.
In a wide variety of ways, indeed.
"Anyway. She's the benefactor who gave him a pivotal turning point in life. Without her... who knows. He might still be rotting away in that family even now. In that sense, you could say she fulfilled her duty as a master."
"True. Holding on and teaching forever doesn't make a good master."
"Right."
"Still, a week is kinda short."
"...Yeah."
Clap!
The reminiscing ended there.
Lona clapped his hands to liven up the mood.
"So, that's it? The Dark Elf I met is Rishir's master?"
"Yes."
"...Yeah, I get why you freaked out. If I'd been rude to her, it'd turn into a huge hassle."
He swept back his elegant bangs with a dynamic flourish.
"Blessings upon this body's ingrained dignity."
"Ah. Yes. May you receive many~."
"And one last thing."
"What now?"
"You sure? That the Dark Elf I met is Rishir's master?"
"...Pardon?"
"It's just—the impression was way off. From the legendary master. And the Dark Elf I met. She was... how should I put it? So composed? Dignified? That's the vibe I got."
"...By any chance, what did that Dark Elf look like?"
"I hear if I want to meet Rishir, I should find you. Hope I got the right person?"
"Ah..."
"Excuse me?"
"Ah! Sorry. I was just lost in thought—"
The councilor's proxy and his secretary exchanged glances.
Really?
No.
Eh?
"If it's not too rude, may I ask why you're seeking Sir Rishir?"
Fienne collected herself and showed maximum courtesy.
The Dark Elf with light pink hair exuded elegance even sitting demurely.
The shadowy figures standing silently behind her.
The atmosphere was anything but ordinary at first glance.
"I made a promise to him."
"...A promise?"
"The kindness he showed me. And what he did for us Dark Elves. I vowed to repay it all."
"What he did for the Dark Elves...?"
"Oh, and I haven't introduced myself."
She rose from her seat.
"I'm Katria of House Sahila."
Sahila.
They toppled the sand mountains that blotted out the sun and built a city for Dark Elves there.
All Dark Elves were equal under their house.
The rightful ruler and sovereign all Dark Elves served.
Sahila e Katria.
The tribe's princess placed a hand on her chest and bowed her head politely.
"..."
"..."
Fienne and Lona were dumbfounded.
Tribe's princess?
Tribe's benefactor?
Suddenly?
What the hell did that guy do now...?
Katria e Sahila.
Leading a formal delegation to pay respects to Rishir on behalf of the Dark Elves, she had essentially entered Bondales alone.
Considering the chaos in Bondales over the Elf expedition.
That was why the Dark Elves' campsite was secretly positioned away from Bondales.
-Aren't they your kin?
In that campsite area, uninvited intruders were prowling.
-Then why observe them from hiding like this, without mingling? Like some criminal—
The man voiced his doubt through his one eye.
The Dark Elf started to reply with her usual vibrant smile.
[Guilty as charged!]
But the talking book cut her off.
"Duran, criminal~?"
The criminal Pamon groaned as she looked around the group.
"Anyway, what brings House Sahila's people here?"
She then turned her gaze toward the city on the horizon.
"Elves, Dark Elves... We come to see our Rishir after so long, and what kind of mess is this—"
Pamon sighed deeply.
"Something huge is going down, but our Rishir isn't tangled up in it, right?"
"That's it?"
That was Rishir's reaction after attending Professor Delron's lecture on "What is Iphrien?"
"That's it...??"
Delron was utterly flustered.
Was there any part of his lecture that warranted that response?
He'd consistently emphasized how massive and mighty Iphrien was, hadn't he?
"...Ah!"
Then it hit him.
"Indeed, no matter how mighty the city, it must seem small in your eyes, Sir Rishir!"
-Look at this worm blabbering!!!
"Y-You're—Sir Rishir's spirit...!"
-You're a worm!!! A worm graced with wisdom too grand for its station!!! As you say, even a city piled high by worms is too narrow to contain the vast vessel that is Joo-in-ni!!!
"Yes! Exactly as you say!!! No city can contain Sir Rishir! Even this world is too small for him!"
-A worm glimpsing a fragment of wisdom? Pity!!! If I weren't bound to serve Joo-in-ni, I'd have taken your pathetic existence under my wing!!!
"An honor!!!"
"..."
What are you two doing?
Rishir glanced back and forth between the excited spirit and the bald man.
Delron's subordinates looked deeply troubled.
Who has a heart of stone? Him.
"Of course, that's not what I meant."
"Ah, Sir Rishir!? Then what did you—"
"The grand name 'City of Flames' led to some overly elaborate expectations, shall we say."
"...For example?"
"Half-joking, I half-expected rivers of lava or blast furnaces flowing through the streets."
"..."
-...
Sympathy gazes of "no tact..." from around them.
"Rishir, even by my common-sense standards, you've got some odd quirks!?"
"...!"
Even acknowledgment(?) from Ratsil of all people.
Rishir had to admit his modern sensibilities, steeped in fantasy games, were a bit over the top.
"That said—it is an impressive city."
Rishir reflected on Delron's words, recalling the cities he'd seen so far.
First that came to mind was Ilradein.
The elves' city was grander than any he'd visited, but—
Blended so seamlessly with nature that its scale was hard to grasp.
Like using an entire forest district as a city?
But Iphrien seemed different.
A straightforward mega-city.
From Delron's tales, its size was at least twice Bondales.
Not to mention the funds and military might it commanded.
"Yes. I earnestly hope we pass through here without incident."
Even Caroer showed tension.
"Agreed. If we get entangled with that—"
Even Lunadien.
Rishir felt their tension rubbing off, speaking cautiously.
"Lunadien Duke. By 'that,' do you mean someone we shouldn't cross? If so, maybe another route—"
"No. Nothing for you to worry about. It's not bad blood—just pure aversion between one person and another."
"..."
Rishir suddenly recalled his grand master's kindly face.
Not that—even facing the Star of the Flower Garden at night in the forest, she hadn't recoiled that much.
"What kind of person could make you—"
Star of Ashes.
That was the name from Lunadien's lips.
Lunadien seemed reluctant even to say it, immediately clicking his tongue and shaking his head.
Star of Ashes...
Rishir mulled the name over silently.
Sounds familiar from somewhere—
"That's—"
"Elves?"
"So the rumors were true..."
"Then that hero who took down the dark swordsman is with them—"
"Damn. If not for the elves, I'd have said something."
From some point, the expedition started encountering groups coming from the opposite direction more frequently.
Whether Thor Mun's news had spread, they eyed the Elf expedition warily but without fear.
That led to the phenomenon.
They stepped aside to the roadside, watching the expedition pass with curious stares.
Being human gawkers.
Naturally, the elves didn't like it.
Considering elven temperament, they'd prefer fearful foes.
"Rishir! More and more people as we go!"
But.
The elves didn't mind.
No.
They welcomed it.
"They're all coming from Iphrien, right?"
As Ratsil said.
The sharp increase in travelers meant the city was that much closer.
The expedition was nearing its end.
Keep straight past Iphrien on the main road?
A slight exaggeration, but Bondales was practically one step away.
Soon.
The expedition left the main road and set up camp.
Joy was short-lived.
Now came the tense part.
They needed to send a herald to the city for entry permission.
Until now, small and mid-sized towns along the way bowed to the expedition's overwhelming force, but Iphrien was different.
The mega-city had no need to yield.
Might not even bother.
A perfunctory wave-off to formal heralds issuing a rejection, and the expedition could do nothing.
"What if Iphrien denies entry!? We've come this far—turning back? How many more days would this drag on!?"
"Hmm... At least half a month delay, minimum?"
"Rishir!!! What's with those forlorn eyes!!! Because of 'half a month'!? That span an eternity to short-lived humans!? Wasting that long time!?"
"Do you think humans are mayflies?"
The expedition carefully selected personnel with grave concern.
Not too intimidating, but not too weak-looking.
Make a strong impression, but a positive one.
Finally.
The lineup was set.
Delron of Thor Mun.
Ratsil of the expedition.
"Just two people okay? Ah, not that I doubt you two."
Rishir voiced cautious concern.
All eyes turned to him instantly.
-What're you saying?
Every face said as much.
"What're you talking about, Rishir? Not two—three people."
"Pardon?"
"Me, Delron, and Rishir."
"..."
His name hadn't come up once during deliberations.
Everyone had taken it as a given, unanimously.
"Th-Thanks for the complete trust...?"
And so.
Rishir headed to Iphrien's main gate with the two.
A horse ride for a set time, and they'd arrive.
"Hm?"
Then, exactly halfway by scheduled time.
Rishir's group spotted a cluster off the main road from the opposite side.
Déjà vu.
Just like the gawking crowds for the Elf expedition.
But odd.
No Elf expedition here to gawk at.
Or waiting for one?
"Rishir!"
"...Yes!"
The three exchanged glances simultaneously.
As Rishir's group drew near, the cluster stepped onto the road to meet them.
Too refined an air for mere bandits or thugs.
The middle-aged man at the center exuded more presence than Delron or Ratsil.
Delron, a famed mercenary. Ratsil, elite of the Great Forest Watch.
Tension built between the three.
"Owner of the holy sword. We've been waiting for you."
The middle-aged man bowed politely to Rishir.
Rishir was drawn in by the peculiar aura.
"Waiting... for me?"
"Yes. We foresaw your arrival at this exact time, this place."
The man's eyes held blazing flames.
"Foresaw...?"
Ratsil and Delron were overwhelmed by his mystical presence and words.
Order of Ashes.
That's what the group Rishir's party met called themselves.
Per Delron's explanation, they were a massive faction within Iphrien.
Influence enough to make even the Crimson Tower yield.
For them to approach us first...
Rishir couldn't shake the tension, wondering what was coming.
...Nothing happened.
About 30 minutes since the Order of Ashes welcomed them, as if foreseeing everything.
They were still in the same spot.
"..."
Slight bewilderment crept onto their faces, cracking the impenetrable mystic aura.
Ratsil and Delron, once awed, now felt an odd familiarity—
Rishir spoke up.
What are we doing here?
What next?
His tone toward the Order held subtle expectation.
As Delron said, they had ample authority to grant the expedition passage.
"...We await one who carries the ember, like you."
"Ember?"
"The Saintess. Know anything? By our 'sight,' she arrived here, same time, same place—as you. With you, the hero. So we assumed you traveled together—"
Rishir recalled.
The Proxy Saintess.
The moment he'd fulfilled her duties in her stead.
Rishir nodded in understanding.
"Ah, that—"
"Oh, you have a clue!"
"Probably me."
Accustomed to being treated as World Tree Mother or whatever, Rishir said it casually.
"..."
What.
Is this.
Their expressions had flipped upon seeing each other.
"Any other details to note?"
"...Frankly, no time for this. Hurry and regroup with the Saintess! Dark wizards and demons might lurk nearby—perhaps she's under attack!"
"Ah. Got it."
"You have a lead!?"
"Yeah, probably me."
"!?"
He couldn't follow the conversation's flow.