Chapter 94
Chapter 94
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Change of Pace (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
If you drew a straight line on the map of the Northeast Diocese from Mezaia to Oklane,
extending that line would take you right into earth fairy territory.
In other words, crossing the mountains near Oklane offered the theoretical fastest route to their destination.
Of course, that assumed they had the strength to survive the evil beasts they'd encounter while traversing a mountain range with no proper paths.
But with a party of three Gold-rank adventurers, they were the ones the evil beasts needed to worry about. No issues there.
"The detour goes way up north. It'd take about twice as long, but at least there's something you could call a 'path' there."
"What, do we really need to take the long way? It's not like it'll be super comfortable either."
"True enough."
"Then let's just go straight through!"
It was only 'relatively' easier—the constant camping and mountain climbing were the same either way.
Short and intense, or long and leisurely. That was the difference.
Galen and Lilia chose the former. It wasn't grueling for them at all.
"Want to buy a mule each?"
"A mule? Why a mule?"
"Doesn't matter to me, and probably not to you either, Lilia. But Galen, your stamina's kinda weak, right?"
"...Compared to you two."
It stung his pride a bit, but it was a fact, so Galen pouted.
Priests had Vitality Miracles, and earth fairies looked like human boys and girls on the outside but were something else entirely. Even without magic, their raw physical specs could crush an average human man.
"So riding something's better than walking, yeah? And in mountains, mules beat horses hands down."
"If we can lead them, I'd prefer that."
"I won't take you through anything too rough. You can snipe groups from range, so no worries about the mules getting attacked."
And so, before leaving Oklane, the three bought a mount each.
"...You're not buying mules just because your legs won't reach the stirrups on a horse, are you?"
"No! Mules really are better in mountains!"
Whatever the real reason, the mules made the trek much easier.
The difference between trudging endlessly on foot and leisurely riding except on rough patches was huge, obviously.
They should've used them sooner... but trips like this, with so much mountain travel, were rare.
In any case, it took five days to cross the range.
Nothing much happened along the way.
And that was the problem.
"We're really here. Just gotta head down from here."
"Hmm."
Akanksha pointed below the ridgeline, but Galen and Lilia both seemed a tad lukewarm.
"It's really just a little ways off..."
"Yeah..."
"Huh? What's up?"
Akanksha looked puzzled. The two glanced at each other, then Galen scratched his cheek and spoke up.
"Ah, it's nothing."
"Spit it out. What?"
"You said we'd run into 'a few' evil beasts on the shortest route, right?"
"Yeah?"
"There were really just a few. I figured you were downplaying it to reassure us."
"...Isn't no beasts better?"
"I was looking forward to some hunting after so long. Haven't had much chance lately!"
Akanksha's confusion deepened at Lilia's words, question marks practically floating in her eyes. Galen shrugged lightly.
"You wouldn't know, Akanksha, but Lilia's famous back home as a priestess who hunted evil beasts like crazy."
"R-Really?"
"I wanted to purge every harmful thing!"
"And we met while she was doing that to me too."
"What about you?"
"Hunting them was my training."
Since leaving the eastern frontier, they'd been around people so much that chances to fight evil beasts were practically nil.
Galen had hoped for some XP, and Lilia to reconnect with her roots. They'd been quietly excited.
But the journey had been too peaceful.
There were fights, sure, but not satisfying ones.
"Just too many weaklings. Annoying, no real gains..."
"If strong ones lived here, we'd be the ones in trouble, right?"
Akanksha grumbled.
"It's the border, but this range is basically our turf. If we knew strong ones were around, we'd hunt 'em quick. Why leave 'em?"
"Fair point."
"If you're that hungry for hunts, do it somewhere else. Soon..."
"Soon?"
"Never mind. Too early to bring it up. Let's head down."
Akanksha brushed it off and led her mule ahead. The other two followed, heads tilted.
The distant speck sharpened into a clear view.
A basin nestled between mountain slopes—like a miniature eastern frontier zone.
"It's pretty different."
"Yeah."
The terrain was similar, but the vibe was worlds apart. Lilia leaned over from her mule and commented; Galen nodded.
The architecture was a bit alien, but what stood out more was how 'low' everything was.
Earth fairies were shorter than humans on average, sure, but even accounting for that, it felt unusually squat.
Galen puzzled over it briefly until Lilia's next words clicked it.
"Everything looks single-story."
"Ah."
That was it.
He didn't have Lilia's eyesight, but the shapes confirmed it. Stretched wide, never tall.
Unlike human buildings where single-story would feel off.
"We draw power from the earth."
Akanksha, overhearing, explained simply.
"Ah, so closer to the ground feels more comfortable?"
"Nah... Our powers make us heavy when we use 'em. Casting from upstairs would be trouble."
"Oh."
Swing a water giant's fist and not budge? Do that on the second or third floor, and you'd crash through to the first.
Easier to just stay on the ground floor than worry about control up high.
"No stockade around the village?"
"No need."
"Not worried about... intruders?"
"Pointless. Against anyone."
Every earth fairy was Silver-rank warrior material. Technically mages, but fought like warriors.
One could rip apart average evil beasts solo—no need for defenses.
And against foes threatening Silvers, a wooden fence wouldn't help.
So the village exuded peaceful, quaint charm. Like something from a fairy tale.
Especially with everyone looking like boys or girls.
"This isn't the destination anyway. Little farther."
Akanksha led them through the village.
No fences meant no checkpoints. They just strolled by on mules.
"Akanksha! Heading out?"
"Who's the humans?"
"Guests. Guests."
Passing earth fairies greeted her casually.
No idea if word spread ahead, but no hostility toward the pair. Fine.
Somewhere between indifference and curiosity? Better than no flower showers or whatever.
They pressed deeper into the basin.
Unusually, villages were outer, fields and pastures inner.
Then it started feeling busier.
"From here, you'd call it a city by human standards. No walls, though."
Town, maybe? Galen mused internally.
Denser than villages, but not quite city-scale.
Earth fairies were few compared to humans. Single-story buildings sprawled wide, feeling sparse.
"Brother, brother! See that?"
Plenty to catch their eyes, like tempting country bumpkins fresh in the big city.
Though the earth fairies stared back just as curiously.
"Okay, okay. Time for sightseeing later. First things first."
Akanksha tugged them along.
To the city's tallest building—easy to spot, sticking up alone.
Up close, not multi-story; just a high-ceilinged single floor.
"Red Rock Alliance headquarters."
"Huh. Smaller than I thought..."
"Yeah, a bit."
"Kinda spartan."
"League doesn't do much usually. Ruins dives need league-wide effort, but how often?"
City-state style, so somewhat central for local villages—unlike human city halls.
Loose mediation body. With experts like Akanksha, some authority.
As they chatted entering, the reception earth fairy greeted.
"Hey, Akanksha. Those humans the ones?"
"Yeah. Lord's in?"
"Uh... Out."
Akanksha halted mid-stride to the office.
"Out? For what?"
"Patrol..."
"Patrol out of nowhere? Since when's he so diligent?"
She shot back incredulously. The receptionist hemmed and hawed.
No point grilling him. What could a staffer do, hold the boss?
Akanksha scratched her head irritably and turned.
"Sorry, gotta wait a bit."
"No problem."
"I'll show your quarters. Rest there. Let me know when the Lord's back."
"Got it."
HQ was small but multi-building.
Akanksha guided to the guest annex.
"Not like we get visitors usually. Humans invited here? Not that I know."
As she walked the hall chattering,
'Someone's here?'
Galen sensed a lifeform via Water Flow Manipulation. Tilted his head.
Maid? Nah, earth fairy? Too still.
"In you go. Make yourselves—"
Akanksha froze guiding to the lounge.
Spotted the earth fairy girl lounging casually, leg crossed on an armchair.
"Heard a familiar voice. Akanksha, it's you."
The softly smiling girl said. Akanksha scowled.
"Sis, why're you here?"
"Can't I visit?"
"Say something first! Damn, now I get why the Lord's gone. He bolted!"
"I won't bite if you don't chase."
The girl glanced leisurely at Galen and Lilia.
"You're Galen, you're Lilia?"
"Ah, yes."
"That's right. You're... Akanksha's big sister?"
"Yep. Radika."
The self-introduced girl grinned.
"Also vice-chair of the League Council."
"...No clue what that means."
"Well, basically—"
"Don't overthink it."
Akanksha cut Radika off curtly.
"Means she's the strongest of us."