Chapter 26 - The Adventurers of Nirouette
[A human is attempting to breach the barrier.]
It wasn’t Haku returning.
Haku was my familiar, after all. He had permission to freely enter and exit the barrier, so I wouldn’t normally receive a message like this.
That meant one thing: there really was someone trying to approach my camper van, just as the message suggested.
Cautiously, I stepped out of the vehicle and peeked outside. A group of four men and women stood just beyond the barrier.
They seemed to be trying to get closer to my camper van, but the barrier was stopping them, making them look like they were performing some sort of mime.
"Hey! You over there!"
"Ah, yes! What is it?"
The moment our eyes met, a brown-haired man called out to me.
Startled by his sudden shout, I froze for a second.
It reminded me of the first time I met Haku—I had learned then that voices could still reach across the barrier from the outside.
"We’re the adventurer party 'Wings of Dawn,' based in Nirouette!"
"One of our companions got injured during a battle with monsters! We’ll pay whatever it takes—could you spare some potions or medicine? Please!”
"Our friend’s life is in danger! We’re begging you!"
I glanced at the boy slung over the brown-haired man’s shoulder. Blood was dripping from his forehead and legs.
He had lost so much blood that his face was pale and ashen.
Their imposing gear initially startled me, but considering they were adventurers, it made sense.
It didn’t seem like they had approached me with ill intentions—they were genuinely seeking help.
"I-I understand. Please wait a moment."
I hurried back into the camper van, grabbing the camping first-aid kit, clean cloths, and some lukewarm water. Then I returned to the adventurers.
"Sorry, I don’t have potions or medicine. You’ll have to make do with these supplies.”
"No, just having medical supplies is more than enough. You’ve saved us."
I handed the first-aid kit to the adventurers outside the barrier. They spread out a sheet and carefully laid the injured boy on it. Using the lukewarm water, they began cleaning his wounds and wiping them with the clean cloths.
I was no expert, so I had no idea how to handle severe injuries. But the adventurers seemed experienced, efficiently tending to the boy’s wounds.
"The wound is deep. It’ll need stitching."
"Eslina, can’t you use healing magic?"
"I’m sorry. I used up all my magic in the last battle..."
The brown-haired man asked, but the blonde woman shook her head apologetically.
For a moment, I considered giving them one of my Lipovitan D, but those were for recovering stamina—not for healing injuries or curing ailments.
"We’ve got no choice. We’ll have to stitch it ourselves..."
The bearded, middle-aged man seemed ready to make the call when I hesitantly raised my hand.
"Um, I have Lauresia flowers. Would that help?"
"Lauresia flowers do have magic-restoring properties, but only in small amounts. Unless it’s at least white grade—or wait, is that blue?!"
"A blue Lauresia flower?! That’s the highest quality there is!”
"This... this could restore my magic immediately, but..."
"Losing five gold coins is a big blow, but it’s nothing compared to saving a friend’s life."
I knew Lauresia flowers could restore magic, but I hadn’t realized it was worth that much.
"Please give it to us."
"Here you go."
The brown-haired man handed me five gold coins, and I passed him the blue Lauresia flower.
I felt a bit guilty, as though I was taking advantage of their desperation. But Haku had scolded me before, saying I shouldn’t hand things out for free or I’d never hear the end of it.
The blonde woman didn’t hesitate—she swallowed the blue Lauresia flower whole.
After closing her eyes briefly, she pointed her staff at the boy lying on the sheet.
"Heal."
A jade-colored light emanated from the tip of her staff, enveloping the boy’s body.
The large wounds on his forehead and legs began to close, as if time itself was rewinding.
By the time the light faded, the boy’s face looked much more relaxed, and his complexion had improved significantly.
It seemed his life was no longer in danger.
We all let out a collective sigh of relief.
There was something strangely funny about it, and when our eyes met, we couldn’t help but laugh together.
●
"Thank you so much. I don’t even know how to properly express my gratitude."
"Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad your companion is safe."
As we all sighed in relief, the adventurers straightened up and composed themselves.
"Let us formally introduce ourselves. I’m Franz, the leader of Wings of Dawn."
"I’m Eslina, the mage."
"I’m Dormund, the tank."
"And the one lying down over there is Rick, our scout."
"I’m Tooru, a traveler."
"""Tohru?"""
All three of them repeated my name, their awkward pronunciation making me wince slightly.
"If it’s hard to pronounce, you can just call me Tohru."
"Sorry about that. We’ll call you Tohru then."
I’d thought only Haku, a White Fenrir, found my name difficult to pronounce, but it seemed people from this world struggled with it too. At this point, I didn’t care anymore—Tohru would do just fine.
"Eslina, your ears are pointed. Are you an elf by any chance?"
"That’s right. Is this your first time meeting one?"
She tucked her hair behind her left ear, deliberately emphasizing its pointed shape.
"Yeah, it’s my first time seeing one up close. Your ears are really long."
In the capital of the Kingdom of Othelonia, most of the population was human, with only a few elves here and there. I’d passed one once, but this was my first time having a proper conversation with one.
As the tavern staff had mentioned, elves were undeniably beautiful.
"I get it, but could you stop staring so intensely? It’s a little embarrassing."
"Sorry, I couldn’t help it. You’re stunning."
"Well, I suppose it can’t be helped if it’s your first time."
When I bowed my head apologetically, Eslina didn’t seem too displeased, sweeping her bangs aside with her hand.
"I’m a dwarf, as you can plainly see. Feel free to gaze at me with the same admiration."
"Yeah, that’s not happening."
Unlike Eslina, who was a beautiful woman, he was a rugged, burly man. There weren’t many guys who’d be captivated by that.
"So, Tohru, are you heading to Nirouette by carriage?"
"Well, yeah."
It wasn’t exactly a carriage, but since they were asking about a mode of transport, I nodded along.
"If it’s not too much trouble, could we hitch a ride with you to Nirouette?"
"In exchange, we’ll handle your protection along the way. How about it?"
"Ah, actually, I’ve got a familiar, so I don’t really need much in the way of protection."
"A familiar?"
"Yeah, and it looks like he’s just coming back now."
As we were talking, I spotted Haku sprinting toward us in the distance.
"What is that?! A white wolf?!"
"No, it’s way bigger than a normal one!"
"It’s coming this way!"
Franz, Dormund, and Eslina panicked, drawing their weapons as Haku closed the distance.
This wasn’t good. Haku might retaliate if they pointed weapons at him.
"It’s okay! That’s my familiar!"
"Tohru, I’ve returned."
"Yeah, welcome back."
"Hmm? Who are these strange humans?"
"They’re adventurers."
I introduced each of them to Haku and explained that one of their companions had been injured, so I helped.
"...I see."
Haku nodded indifferently, clearly uninterested.
It seemed that Haku's interest in humans other than me was truly minimal.
"It speaks human language?!"
"Could it be... a White Fenrir...?"
Dormund exclaimed in surprise, while Eslina spoke while trembling.
"Oh, right. Haku’s original name was that, wasn’t it? Is he famous or something?"
"Famous doesn’t even begin to describe it! He’s one of the strongest monsters! Intelligent enough to speak human language, faster than the wind, and capable of unleashing slashes from his countless tails that can cleave through steel like it’s nothing...! His presence is so iconic that he’s even on a national emblem!"
"I-is that so?"
"'Is that so?!' How can you, his master, not know that?!"
Well, I mean, I was summoned to this world pretty recently. I barely knew anything about monsters. Not that it would’ve changed anything—I wouldn’t have refused a familiar contract with Haku even if I’d known.
"I don’t mind my strength being so well-known even in the world of humans, but I can’t stand the idea of my image being used on some emblem without my permission. Which country is responsible?"
"Eeek!"
Haku leaned in close, glaring at Eslina with a piercing gaze.
Under the pressure of one of the most powerful monsters, Eslina’s face turned pale. Feeling sorry for her, I quickly stepped in between them.
"And what exactly do you plan to do if you find out?"
"I’ll confront their leader and demand to know who gave them the right to use my image."
"Absolutely not."
Knowing Haku, I was sure it wouldn’t end with just "demanding answers."
He’d probably end up demolishing some castle as punishment for using his image without permission.
"I’m trying to enjoy a peaceful journey here. No picking fights with countries, got it? Do I make myself clear?"
"......"
Haku turned his head away, deliberately avoiding my gaze.
He’d clearly heard me, but it didn’t seem like he planned on listening.
"If you don’t listen to me, I won’t make you dinner."
"Hey, that’s not fair!"
Apparently, even Haku couldn’t ignore me when his meals were at stake, causing him to panic.
"Well? Your answer?"
"F-fine. I understand. I am a magnanimous being, after all. I’ll overlook the matter of the emblem this time."
As soon as I got his agreement, a collective "Whoaaa!" of amazement erupted from nearby.
"You actually got a White Fenrir to listen to you! That’s incredible, Tohru!"
"You really are the White Fenrir’s master!"
"To speak so firmly to one of the strongest monsters... that’s something we could never do."
Franz, Eslina, and Dormund were all clapping, their eyes sparkling with admiration.
But to me, Haku wasn’t some awe-inspiring creature. He was just a slightly spoiled, gluttonous companion. At this point, it was far too late for me to see him as anything else.
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