Chapter 44 – Turbulent Indications (2/2)

As for the two corpses……it would’ve been fine even if we let it remain like that as other demons would come and eat them up, however because other Dryad’s would get a shock looking at it, so I buried them.

☆☆☆

Like that, after finishing the work here, we broke up with Neil-chan along the way and after reaching the city; an unexpected person was waiting for us in front of inn.

It was the person we broke up and let away before, Sherry-san.

Apparently she had been waiting for us.

After running away, she returned to the inn, however didn’t find us, so she waited for our return.

When she thought we returned, but Zari was with us, that she was shocked[1].

Immediately after, Elk (with a red face) ran up to her and whispered something in her ear -『No, this wasn’t that……』『……Ah, is it like that?』-, although I didn’t knew the reason for both of their reaction, neither did I knew about the contents she whispered. After that, Sherry-san told us something that attracted our interest.

That there was a person she wanted us to meet.

Because, in fact, Sherry-san also felt strange about tonight’s raid, and so she had been inquiring the villagers here and there.

And among them, there was a person who gave out information that caught our eye, although we didn’t knew if that information had anything to do with the current incident.

While walking towards the place that person was,

「But why wanting us to meet that person?」

「Hmm, I think it is better to hear the story directly from the intelligence source……to be honest, it was quite a long and complex talk, so I think I would fail to mention many parts」

「No, I don’t mean it like that……what I mean is, why do you want us to hear that talk?」

「Yea, so you meant that? Well, isn’t it the more people the better? It’s not like I don’t know you, I can trust you more or less, and also……」

Also?

「……You might’ve also noticed it right? In that plaza before……」

……Ah, that.

I see, so Sherry-san also noticed that……and called out to me, who might’ve also noticed it (although I don’t know how she made that judgment).

「And also, the demons in that place…….*Mumble mumble*」

「……Eh, is that true?」

「Yeah……oh, we reached. This is the place」

Stopping in her tracks the place Sherry-san pointed to was a big house that felt old and was on a street smaller than the main street.

Sherry-san entered while telling in advance『Excuse us for intruding~』. The person who came out on the entrance to greet us was a hunchbacked old woman.

I’m not that tall myself, but the old woman in front of me made me think that even with her back straight she would only reach my chest area.

Her hair blond-ish white, her skin was darkish.

When we entered the house, she greeted us amiably, and even did the self-introductions. According to that self-intro, apparently, she was a『Dwarf』, a race of demi-human with longer lifespan than humans, and was 114 this year, so to speak was something like the Elder of this『Flower City』.

Seeing her smile and speak in a soft and amiable tone『Welcome』, I, instinctively, remembered the old woman, in my previous world. She lived in the neighbourhood and used to give me lots of snacks.

I was a grandma’s child after all. Things like this, after all, make me calm.

After that, it could be said rare in this world, we were taken to a tatami room, where one would sit on the floor (although the floor wasn’t exactly tatami), and she gave out zabuton[2] and tea. Yes, now I just feel at ease, for no reason.

「Then granny, can you tell them also the story from earlier?」

「Yes, it’s fine. Should I start anew? 」

I was concerned about Elk’s scornful stare, but for the time being, I tried listening to the story Sherry-san wanted us to hear. And like that old woman started her story.

The story by the old woman, who knew about the past of『Flower City』and『Flower Valley』.

☆☆☆

Time goes back to approx 90 years ago.

The『Flower City』of that time was located more in the northward.

That place was near the place from where the demons that raided tonight came from, the『Green Canyon』.

Of course it wasn’t called『Flower City』at that time.

Because, around the time people lived there, they weren’t making a living via『Flower Industry』, but the people of that time lived as『Hunting Tribe』.

They hunted demons, and lived on the demon’s meat and edible wild plants collected from the forest.

At the same time, they would burn a part of forest, change it into cultivation ground and grow crops.

I think it was something similar to the『Swidden Agriculture』that was present in my previous world.

And the people of that city, isolated any connections with the outside world, and were living as an isolated tribe, in the severe north, for not getting in contact with other cities or countries.

However at that time, people started appearing who proposed to migrate to south for a more affluent and safe livelihood.

The city of that time was divided into two parts, the『Migration Faction』, and those who held pride in living as a hunting tribe, the『Reside Faction』. The both opposed each other, and the dispute never ended. Sometimes big fights took place, in which various people were injured.

And on a certain autumn day, finally that day came.

Each faction came to conclusion that their way of living and way of thinking were incompatible, and before the winter of that year, the『Migration Faction』separated ways from『Reside Faction』, and migrated from their birthplace, the north, to the south.

To the place the current flower city『Minet』was located.

The people of『Migration Faction』, including the old woman, were able to live a really safe life that couldn’t be compared to before.

In that time, they got on good terms with the『Dryad』of the forest.

An unspoken agreement was made that in turn for getting blessing from the girls and the forest they live; the humans would not use their forest for Swidden agriculture.

And, because there was a trade route present connecting other countries and cities. Like that they again started interacting with the outside that they had isolated in the past and at the same time they started making special products of『flowers』under the name of profit.

After that, they tried to tell the people left behind in『North』about the affluent lives they lived, and hence tried to negotiate with them, however the people of『Reside Faction』were too obstinate that they didn’t even lend them ear.

They continued that for several years, but finally the『Migration Faction』also gave up, and cut off any contacts with them.

Because there were neither any special product in the north nor was there any advantage in doing trade in that area.

……90 from then, we reach to the current point.

☆☆☆

I see, so this city had a background like that.

Sherry-san had asked her『Is there someone who resents this village? 』before hearing the story.

As for why she asked her that……or rather, had been asking every person of the city,

That was because at the time of raid……before I reached the plaza.

The fighting Sherry-san had seen several suspicious peoples’ shadow in the forest. The shadows seemed to mix with the darkness, and disappeared deep in the forest.

The Dark Elves could see well in the dark, so although she couldn’t see their faces, but she could see the people’s figure clearly. Hmm, is that so?

And their physique was a large build. That meant those people weren’t……『Dryad』or『Alraune』.

「What, that forest even has an Alraune?」

「Indeed. But, in that case who might those people be. If thinking on the story we just heard then……the people of『Reside Faction』from 90 years ago, at this late came to south?」

「Well that is true if we assume that the assault by those demons was unnatural. But then, why attack this city? It had been 90 years since the both factions had different opinions, right? It shouldn’t be that they come this late to pick up a quarrel for venting out their anger, right……」

「『We are living hard life in the north, but you people!』Do you mean something like that? Yikes, they sure tiny calibre……or rather we don’t even know if the people of north are even alive now, right」

「Then, maybe they want to chase out the people living in this city and take possession of『Flower Valley』by themselves?」

「Wait everyone just wait. Why is the talk continuing with the assumption of『North』always participating? Like that the outlook on the incident would only become narrow」

Thanks to Zari voicing it out, we three finally『『『Ah』』』noticed his point.

Well he sure was……correct. This was also only one of the possibilities without any evidence.

Well, from Sherry-san opinion just now, there sure were chances that the assault was intentional……so I will place this opinion in a corner of my mind.

But, in that case there would one more problem.

「But look, if this was someone’s intentional work……then those people would’ve used some way to control the demons and made them attack the city, right?」

「Is there any method for that, information broker?」

「Call me by my name……well, it’s not like there aren’t, out there, there are people who do that work」

In this world the ways to『control demons』was largely separated into 3.

1st was to just tame them just like wild animals.

It was to make the demons recognize you as the『master』by using any method, let it be using whip, prey or drugs.

2nd was, an『Ability』like that.

That was something unique and was only usable by people with『talent』specializing in this field of work.

For example the some werecats would be able to affix an emotional bond with some cat-type demons with high intelligence, and based on circumstances, they could enslave it, apparently.

Among them there were also people who were born with this『talent』. Details omitted.

And the third method was to use『Summoned Beast』or『Familiars』.

This was even rarer, and was only known by magic-users who had a definite talent in this field of work. They would make their individual original magic and/or improve the magic formula to completely enslave the demons.

……Mom used to do this, if I remember correctly.

When I tried to learn more details, she cut me off drastically with『 (Due to talent problems), It is impossible for Minato』. Argh, now that I think about it, it would’ve been better to have learnt about it even if it was impossible for me.

I didn’t know what method those people used, but because 2nd and 3rd methods were very rare……then were they using 1st method?

If the『North』was the perpetrator, for argument’s sake, then those people were originally『Hunter Tribe』……so it wouldn’t be difficult for them to tame demons.

But wouldn’t those have a collar or something around their necks……I had checked that mountain of corpses but I hadn’t found out any demon who wore something like that.

Of course, there was also the possibility that they took it off for not leaving evidence.

And it might be late, but does this incident have any relation with the Abduction Attempt on Dryads? They both were strange things and happened at the same time, so I thought they might have some connection.

Anyhow, I didn’t have enough information to make out a judgment……

(For the time being Minato, I don’t know if this thing has any connection, but we can’t leave Neil-chan and others, right?)

(That’s true. Well if it got dangerous I would ask you to give out a telepathic message, and I head to save them)

(So nothing else……got it, I will tell her)

Elk, who had already mastered the『Telepathy』with the help of Dryad girls in just this short time, sent a telepathic message. Damn it, I’m so envious. You damn fucking talent.

And the person, who might’ve wiretapped the talk–with the help of a magic item, or rather why is still ON-, looked at me saying with his eyes『I will help if you need it』. ……Well thank you.

Then the old woman, looking at our looks, seemed to have guessed something, but without pressing questions……she just heaved a sigh.

「Looks like some bad thing is occurring to the forest, it’s so sad……after all it’s a forest that gives us the blessing……. I pray that there are no people in『North』who would do such a thing……if by any chance……」

One beat later,

「If by chance……they enrage the God of Forest, then it won’t be good……」

「God of Forest? Granny does this forest has that? 」

Sherry-san got curious about the old woman’s words and returned a question.

「It’s a legend……from the time, when we were still living in『North』……. If people cross the line and do bad things to the forest, then they would be judged by the anger of God of Forest……」

「……If such a guarding deity was present then it would be good, and would also punish the evildoers」

「Hey, you orange boy, don’t put it out in words. The wrath of God of Forest is truly terrifying……in the legend it is said that several hundred years before, a village forgot it’s gratitude for forest and did bad things, in the end the village got eradicated and only an empty lot was let……It was also said to be the only village that was left to be destroyed in the end among the various villages in the『North』of that time……」

「Eh, did that thing really happen?」

「Or rather, that is already not a guardian deity but a destruction deity, right……?」

……What is there something scary too?

Even if a God wasn’t there……I don’t think it would be true, but if a demon seeming like an angry destruction god was sleeping in this forest and it was the one who environmentally damaged the forest……?

Oh geez, I came to this valley as an escort, but again I could feel that something troublesome was starting to occur……

……Although I would endure that trouble to some extent

And I pray, just『that guy』would become……an imagination or just a by-passer and not get involved with me……

[1] Poor Elk and Sherry.

[2] A cushion giving to when sitting or kneeling on the floor. For more info, Google it, or use your anime memories.