Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Power of the Earth (1)
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In the far northwest from Mezaya, the central city of the northeast, lay a small town called Oklane.
The immense high mountain range commonly known as the Great Mountains stretched from the southeast, across the entire east, all the way to the northeast.
Its countless branching spurs made the east nothing but mountains, while the southeast and northeast had a more balanced mix.
Oklane was a town close to one such spur of the Great Mountains.
Being near mountains meant few villages in its hinterland, and with no notable local specialties from the peaks, it had little reason to prosper.
Oklane, which was frankly a bit embarrassing to even call a town and served merely as an administrative hub for nearby villages, had suddenly become a hot spot since late last year.
The reason went without saying: friction between the earth fairies and humans.
"The town you call Oklane is the closest human settlement to our territory."
Half a day after departing Mezaya for Oklane.
During their first wagon stop for lunch and rest, Akanksha, who had quickly sidled over, spoke up.
She must have really gotten bored riding alone. Sitting closer to Lilia than to Galen, she freely volunteered unasked information.
"Roughly speaking, with that problematic mountain range as the boundary, north and west are ours, south and east are yours."
"The problematic mountain range?"
"The one where the ruins were found."
"Ah."
"Frankly, we're not thrilled with the church's mediation."
Akanksha glanced at the coachmen eating separately off to the side and lowered her voice a bit.
"You didn't know yesterday, but you get it now, right? They wouldn't send a supervisor out clueless."
"I've read the reports on this incident."
Galen replied. Akanksha pouted.
"I don't know what the church wrote, but we're the aggrieved ones. We found the ruins, and then humans barge in claiming it's their land and telling us to scram."
"I know the ruins' location is ambiguous."
"Hmph! They claim it's theirs because they live closer. Ridiculous. Before this blew up, the mountains were implicitly ours."
Humans aren't on good terms with mountains. You never know when or where you might run into vicious beasts. For an ordinary person, wandering deep into the mountains alone was suicide.
Earth fairies, on the other hand, lived in the mountains outright, and even a lone ordinary one could tear apart most vicious beasts.
No matter if the range was set as a boundary, perceptions of that boundary itself differed.
"We weren't trying to monopolize the mountains anyway. We never complained about humans building villages nearby or logging a bit. But after the ruins were found, they flipped their attitude!"
"There's a small village about half a day from the ruins."
"Humans have a village at that distance, but fairies don't—so it must be human territory! That's their logic. Why the church buys it, I don't know."
"Because when human families feud, they often judge territory that way."
"That's between humans! We don't have numbers like you! We can't just plop flags anywhere and build villages—how's that fair to apply the same standard?"
"That's why the church has no choice but to mediate like this."
Galen gave a wry smile.
"Both sides' claims make sense from their perspectives. Both right, neither yielding—what can the mediator do? Split it down the middle."
"Ugh."
"Didn't the church explain it that way?"
"...They did. Yeah."
"It's settled and agreed upon, even if unpalatable. Complaining to me won't change it..."
"Argh, just venting! Can't I even do that?"
Akanksha snapped. Puffing her cheeks sulkily, she grumbled.
"Typical supervisor, so nitpicky. No other humans around—can't you just comfort me a bit?"
"My brother's always pretty rational."
"Yeah, he struck me that way from the start. Still, good job chasing off that Meron verbally."
"Wasn't it Veron?"
"Whatever. Who cares about scum like that."
Galen, inwardly siding with the earth fairies, felt a bit wronged.
Even if both claims held water, since the earth fairies found the ruins first, shouldn't they get more than half?
He'd kept quiet as supervisor-to-be, since badmouthing the church's decision wouldn't look good.
Thinking back, like yesterday at the smithy, Akanksha seemed the emotional type. Or maybe all earth fairies were.
At least she got along with Lilia personality-wise—that was fortunate. Maybe leave all earth fairy communication to her.
As Galen inwardly grumbled, the two women's conversation had already shifted topics.
"But you're a bishop, right?"
"Yes!"
"The bishop I saw last was old-looking by human standards... around fifty? Why are you so young?"
"Well, because I qualified?"
"Qualified? What kind?"
"That's..."
Left alone, she'd probably detail all ten priestly miracles step by step, so Galen summed it up.
"Lilia's just a genius, that's all."
"Huh? No way. Brother Galen's the real genius!"
"Lilia's the true genius."
"Being around you makes me feel not at all..."
"Different fields—why compare? Both geniuses."
"Fine, fine. Got it."
Akanksha halted their genius debate with an exasperated look.
"You two are all bite and suck—total chaos. Dating?"
"Y-Yes?! N-No!"
"I don't know human customs well, but do mercenaries casually drop a bishop's name?"
"Well, not official settings. Friends do it."
He'd stopped using 'Sir' or whatever after wintering in the Dawn Archipelago. Lilia said no need for formality.
Since then, just a tad more casual. Earth fairies were imaginative emotionally too. Calling her by name—what of it?
"Anyway, not my business. So both geniuses, huh?"
"You could say that."
"Wanna spar then?"
"Pardon?"
Galen and Lilia blinked at the sudden proposal. Akanksha grinned.
"Geniuses have pride in their skills, right? Don't you wanna see how great earth fairies are? Crush 'em once?"
"Sure!"
"Whoa, such a gracious offer."
Lilia's eyes sparkled; Galen smirked.
Akanksha, who'd meant it as a jab, got flustered instead.
"Huh? W-What. You're in?"
"Yes!"
"Backing out now?"
"N-No. I thought humans hate this stuff?"
"We're a bit unusual."
Sparring was usually with priests, same-sect, or trusted friends.
Let your guard down, and they might injure you badly with ill intent.
Plus, exposing martial arts or magic revealed weaknesses.
Mages especially: magic specialized, not omnipotent—max strengths meant glaring flaws. Who broadcasts their Achilles' heel?
But Lilia never considered that; Galen was level-up obsessed. They welcomed the spar.
"I'm grateful actually, Akanksha... ma'am? Lord? What do I call you?"
"Just Akanksha. Human titles mean nothing."
"Got it. Surprised you suggested first. All earth fairies love sparring?"
"Personal differences, sure. But few hate it."
Makes sense: fairies shared racial magic, like all same-sect.
So maybe no concept of hiding personal techniques.
'Things are smoothing out nicely.'
Earth fairy racial trait or innate magic—the 'Power of the Earth.'
He'd pondered natural contact; half a day in, she handed him the chance. Tears of gratitude nearly.
"So, now?"
"Lunch done? Gotta travel afternoons—light preview? Just till digested a bit."
"Agreed."
Consensus quick.
Lilia briefly explained to coachmen, got okay.
No driver would refuse a bishop.
Not a big ask—just drive faster later for delay.
Left coachmen with wagon, trio distanced generously.
No fallout risk; no spectacle for them.
"Alright, who first?"
Akanksha clapped tiny fists.
"May I?"
"By all means!"
Lilia yielded, knowing Galen's earth magic interest.
Galen thanked, faced Akanksha. Lilia naturally referee.
"You're a mage, right?"
"Did I say?"
"No sword? No other weapons seeming. Gotta be mage."
"Correct. Water mage."
"Didn't need to say that much."
"Fair spar. I know you use Power of the Earth."
"Huh? How much you know?"
"Tough, heavy, strong?"
"Not much then."
Akanksha smirked confidently.
"Fair—I don't know your water style. Never seen a water mage."
"Really?"
"Our area's not water-mage friendly."
"Right, yeah."
Forgot briefly—no water nearby woes recent.
Though magic entry short too.
"Fine. I'm older—I'll yield first strike."
"Not wise against a mage."
"My tactic: advance while tanking."
"...Seriously?"
"Dead serious. Most earth fairies too."
"Then... no holding back."
"Hit hard! Not going easy, right?"
Akanksha boasted loudly.
Galen pondered, extended left hand.
Bracelet unraveled, flowed to ground. Hit dirt—instant cat form.
"Oh?"
Smooth gem-carved cat strode haughtily under Akanksha's amazed gaze.
Midway between, crouched—then spherical.
Shwooo!
Exploded huge in blink.
Akanksha's head tilted back tracking growing spirit.
Soon, upper-body water giant emerged.
Massive spirit dwarfed mid-sized ship, loomed over petite earth fairy.
"...Uh, um."
Akanksha kept confident face.
Couldn't hide twitching eye corner.
"You're... huge..."
"You said don't hold back."
"...You're clueless."
Grumbling Akanksha—water giant raised arm reprovingly.
Enormous water pillar slammed ground.
Bwoooom!
Water sprayed everywhere like bomb blast.
That instant.
A status window appeared before Galen's eyes.