Chapter 66 - Ray of Hope, an Invitation to the Abyss
The story told by the girl (Estarian) I protected, who looked like a child, plunged me into confusion.
She said that they were descendants of the ancient Estar, the ones who spread the threat known as the Demonic Forest upon this world, and spoke of an unknown Skill called Tamer... no, she called it a Gift they received from God, and said that their time of living was vastly different from ours.
However, I came to understand that what she narrated was the history of this world, unknown to most people.
If I were to disclose this raw information immediately, I couldn’t fathom the extent of the chaos it would cause across many nations. Therefore, as my elder brother suggested, I decided to keep everything concealed. Of course, sharing the secret with my brother was a given...
She seemed to have somewhat... opened her heart to me.
But things couldn’t remain as they were. Her existence would eventually become known beyond the Fortress. For now it’s fine, for now. Because she’s protected within the Fortress, which is, so to speak, my private space. But secrets can leak at any time. The Fortress is no exception. There are quite a number of people who are permitted to visit.
Thus, I understood that it would be better to move the forty Estarians to a place where they wouldn’t be seen. However, I didn’t want to ignore their wishes. They had already endured more than enough hardship. I decided to prioritize their will. ...I asked her as gently as possible.
“What do you want to do from now on?”
“I want to... return to the village. ,@,l@;k;lkp@;m...Of course, I’m grateful for your help and want to repay you, but I... ・,;:km; ...have nothing.”
“You want to return to your village. I see... Then, how about this? We can only go as far as the Middle Forest. The place where we saved you was near the border of the Shallow Forest and the Middle Forest. I want to know more about you all. If we could keep in touch, that would be the best thanks I could ask for.”
“Right... ,mSomlSomk; ...The elder said, ‘Outside, there are no people, only evil monsters.’ But... there were people. But they were evil... You seem different. So, it’s fine. That’s why... Haaah... Haaah...”
“Are you having trouble breathing?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Your breathing, you see, has been bothering me a little. The Deep Forest has a much higher concentration of mana. Compared to that, here outside the forest is like having no mana at all for you. The air you usually breathe is different. Even if your stamina returns, I fear your bodies might break down.”
At my analysis, she seemed to ponder deeply. Perhaps recalling what happened after being abducted by the empire... Why couldn’t they, with their abundant internal mana and ability to wield magic, resist the empire’s restraints... There seems to be a key there. She must have realized it too. She muttered softly.
“Hmm, I see. So that’s how it was... So that’s how it is... If it’s the Middle Forest you mentioned, we’ll be fine, so meeting there to keep in touch would be good. When you come, we’ll have “@ｌ;:,.@p hmmm, ‘tamed’ monsters watch over the Middle Forest so that we’ll know.”
“You can even do that? That’s amazing, I can’t quite comprehend it.”
“I didn’t expect... to find people like you living at the edge of this side of the forest... Everyone at the Fortress is kind, they let us wash with nice-smelling stones, use warm beds... The food is delicious too... The world is vast.”
“Indeed. Discovering the unknown is so thrilling.”
“The elder says, ‘Knowing that there are things you don’t know is good.’ So, this encounter must be a good thing too.”
“I sincerely hope so. Once everyone’s strength returns, I’ll take you all to the Middle Forest.”
“:.・・¥・.@...Sorry for the trouble... No, ‘thank you’.”
Her occasional mixed, alien pronunciations. My interest in the unknown language never wanes. If My Friend was here, he’d follow me around and pester me about it. If I could meet... meet My Friend again, I decided in my heart to tell him all about this encounter in detail. That guy wouldn’t spread the information and would probably want to enter the forest.
――――――
I finished the conversation with the representative of the protected Estarians. It was a meaningful discussion. However, it’s better to keep their ability hidden. According to her, there are no more Tamers in the empire. On a separate occasion, I brought up the matter that had been on my mind and asked how the empire had managed to acquire the means to enter the ‘Demonic Forest’ without suffering any harm. I guessed she would know.
She said that the slave traders, acting as the empire’s agents, had plundered their Demon Repellent Incense. When the first Estarian was captured, they noticed the Monster Repellent Incense they carried. To ensure the imperial soldier’s actions in the middle layer of the Demonic Forest, the Estarians were harshly interrogated, even tortured... and forced to make Monster Repellent Incense for the empire, she said bitterly.
The reason they weren’t killed was to seize their knowledge and because they were Tamers who could freely control monsters. I think it was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. All the captured Estarians were protected in the Fortress without a single loss.
She says, “That method will soon be unusable.”
...They’re not fools. They wouldn’t tell everything to those who tormented them. They have the firmness of will and didn’t break under torture. In fact, they didn’t inform the empire that the Monster Repellent Incense loses its effectiveness over time. The last batch of Monster Repellent Incense she made with her comrades has already expired, she smiles darkly with meaning...
―― In other words, the empire has lost all means to cross the Demonic Forest.
Then, for a while, there’s no problem in hiding the existence of the Estarians. There’s no need to inform the empire that the Estarians are here. It’s information they’d want to keep secret too. And... the empire thinks they lost the Estarians along with their soldiers. The situation made it seem so.
There’s no need to bring the rescued Estarians to the public stage. Their knowledge and history are too much for current humans to handle. Only I, with memories of a world beyond this one, could accept their existence after some shock, I surmise.
Eventually, when time is ripe and humans reach the Deep Forest on their own, it’s enough to prevent unnecessary conflicts. From my conversation with her, I understood that this world isn’t solely for humans.
―――― § ―――
For confidentiality, I had my elder brother come to the Fortress to talk. Upon his arrival, I reported the conversation content with her. My brother’s expression turned to astonishment. He couldn’t believe that a legendary country actually existed and its descendants had survived to this day. However, their appearance eloquently spoke of the differences from us. That they could receive the God’s Gift of Healing Secret Art, which only humans can receive, seemed unbelievable to him.
But facts are facts. They are our long-lost brethren. Now, perhaps as a species, they are isolated. However, we can communicate and even share emotional subtleties. Culturally, conversing with them is far more possible than with the empire’s people. After sharing various information, my brother asked me.
“What do you intend to do with them? You can’t keep them in the Fortress for long, can you?”
“Yes, I’ve confirmed their wishes. They wish to return to their village in the Deep Forest. I thought it better to let them return to their original dwelling place rather than keep them near the kingdom. However, they agreed to keep in touch. What do you think?”
Upon hearing my report of sending them back to the forest, my brother showed a troubled expression for a moment, then nodded, saying “that makes sense.” I promised to take them to the Middle Forest once their strength returned, and I must fulfill that. The content of our discussion was so fantastical that we agreed to keep everything concealed.
Now, revealing the existence of the Estarians might plant ambitions in someone again. Until the day humans can cross the Demonic Forest on their own, it’s crucial to continue our exchanges quietly. I don’t particularly seek to gain an advantage over others. My brother feels the same.
A phrase that aligns with our shared understanding as brothers came to mind.
”It’s not yet time.”
Although it was full of shocking events, I’m satisfied. I can tell Old Man all about it. During the two weeks until her comrades regained their strength and were ready to travel, she came to my office whenever she had time. We talked after dismissing others. It’s not something others should hear. I carefully took notes while she told me various interesting stories about the Deep Forest.
In return, I gave her several magitech tools. Apparently, in the Deep Forest, using fire is taboo, and they hadn’t eaten warm food until captured by the empire, which I found somewhat pitiful.
As a token of friendship, I gifted her a thermos (Pot) and magitech tools for warmth. To prevent mana depletion, I embedded a magic battery of high count rank. These magitech tools should last quite a while as they operate on minimal mana.
“・:.p@:.”＠!! T-thank you! Now I can drink warm tea! The elder will be happy too! I’m so happy, thank you!!”
She, who had become somewhat fluent, expressed great gratitude. Well, it’s a token of friendship. Being a Craftsman, I prepared enough for everyone, easily producible at the Fortress. She seemed quite surprised watching that, now that I think of it.
And then, the day of departure.
The Fortress’s female communicators gifted everyone hooded cloaks to hide their horns. A set of travel necessities. I prepared longbows, but they were too long, so I gave short bows instead. They were too weak... So, I gave them crossbows I had previously prepared for training, which they accepted with wide-eyed surprise.
――― Somehow, a feeling of fun emerged.
I also gave everyone a “knife” as a memento. Artificial magic ore knives. Master had made a lot for training, which were lying in the Fortress warehouse, so I enchanted them with the usual runes before handing them over. Come to think of it, they... I knew they had vast internal mana, but when I measured it simply, some were at marquis rank. I was a bit surprised.
Well, yeah... living in such dense mana, it makes sense...
―――――
The farewell was brief.
At the waterfall in the Middle Forest. We parted with the forty Estarians at the entrance to the Middle Forest. Also, it seemed that if I ever visited this place again, I would be caught in their detection network. That’s what she said when we parted ways.
“Come anytime. Thank you so much for helping us! See you!”
Their steps were light as they advanced into the depths of the Demonic Forest, where survival is difficult. And I reached a truth. That we shouldn’t always be in opposition to the Demonic Forest. There might be a future where we coexist with the forest. I strongly felt that.
Well, for that, one needs a robust body and swordsmanship skills to deal with monsters and magical beasts alone...
Someday... someday.
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