I scanned the rchants sitting next to slowly enjoying their mushroom soup out of the corner of my eyes.
Freya was playing with the dog I just bought her. I thought she was just testing their reactions. I never expected her to actually really like the dog. But, the dog seed to really like the na Prince. He would ignore you if you called him anything else. Its alright. I dont mind. Its not nad Troy, so I dont care.
Freya is my adopted-sister, too, so theres nothing wrong with naming it Prince. Freyas attention was totally focused on scanning the people by us. I cant see through a person completely, but Freya should be able to. Freyas observation skills and wits are far superior to mine.
She looked at them and quietly said, Brother, if you have any plan, it would be best to speed it up. Though we were able to confirm whether or not they are our enemy, we have also given them a reminder in the process.
Uhm, I know.
I gave a small nod and then continued, The most important thing now is that Ive got no clue what exactly theyre aiming for; I have to go with a counterattack strategy. I dont know where to go to find out about their plans, nor do I know if theyre related to the elf-trafficking case, however; I feel that they are definitely involved. The problem is I dont know what theyre planning.
You dont have to worry about that. Brother, I believe that they will let the cat out of the bag. A plot will be kept completely hidden if just one person carries it out. But once you have a lot of people participating, its easy to slip up and get discovered. Since theyve got soone from the village involved, their movents will be very obvious, so you dont have to worry.
Freya looked at and then chuckled softly as she continued, I dont know what they are plotting either. But since its a business deal, money will definitely be exchanged. As for where the money cos from, I need to go with you to a certain place. Mm, we cant approach it without Miss Luna, though.
Luna paused before asking Freya, What place?
Freya took out a gold coin from her pocket and placed it on the table. Luna and I understood with that. What she ant was that she wanted to go to the goldmine. The mine where gold was mined and collected.
Though we knew that Lunas brother was a miner, and we had a map, we never thought about going there. I was occupied investigating the group of rchants and overlooked the matter with the gold.
Freya looked at us and quietly said, Since they are trafficking elves, they must be doing it for profit. So the question is, for what sort of profit? I think that the villagers here want gold more than gold coins, real gold. But this village produces gold itself, so why do they need to acquire gold from outsiders?
You an
Thats right. I am thinking that the gold mine here has not been producing gold for so ti now. Freya looked at Luna, who was shocked, and continued, Miss Luna, twenty or thirty years is a very short amount of ti to elves like you. However, that is a long period of ti for humans. Would a goldmine last after two, three, or even five decades, including the damages suffered from wars? The price of gold is stable precisely because it is a rare mineral. If a goldmine could last for a century, then humans and elves wouldnt need gold.
But but my brother works every day and and the village provides gold Ah! You an but but that doesnt make sense.
Indeed. Its incomprehensible. Neither Luna nor I could comprehend it.
Freya looked at us and patiently explained, Its simple. The gold that was provided was obtained from selling elves. As to where the elves ca from, Im not sure. I also cant understand why they tried to obtain gold after running out. Cant they just notify the capital that they have run out? Why did they have to resort this thod? Elven laws dont require them to provide gold, do they?
I dont think so.
I only glossed over the elven laws. The elven laws are extrely primitive, but there was nothing about gold-producing areas having to produce gold.
Freya stood up and said, Let us go and take a look, then. If it is empty there, then it proves the truth is as I said. If the goldmine is still producing gold, then its another story.
Freya, how did you
I noticed it in the morning. Lunas brothers mining tools were completely covered in dust. It would be understandable if it was because he used them underground and brought them back up, however; I noticed that the inside of his mining hat was also covered in dust. Normally speaking, the inside of a hat which you wore every day wouldnt be covered in that much dust. So that goes to show that he has not worn it in a long ti.
I stood up as well. Luna stood up in a tense manner. She stuttered, Y- yes but but our village.
There is no need for you to say anymore, Miss Luna. From your perspective, the village hasnt changed, but it has changed completely.
Freya looked at Luna and continued in a resolute tone, Because the hearts of the elves have changed, or otherwise, these elves are no longer the elves you happily interacted with back then. I can only sense oppression from the crowd.
I nodded and added, Luna, lets go. Lets go and take a look. You are a mber of this village, so I dont think they will refuse you. But it will be hard for us to approach it.
Uhm yes but but
Lets go, Luna.
I forcefully grabbed Lunas hand. Lunas eyes were filled with despair and suffering. Im certain of it. Everyone wears that expression when their village gets completely destroyed. Moreover, this was a heavier blow to her than the first ti it was destroyed.
But theres nothing I can do about it. This was sothing that was bound to happen.
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The prophet smiled helplessly and said, But that is life. Life is without regrets. My king, the sun has co up. Sorry, you must head off now.
Uhm.
I stood up. The weakness I feel on full-moon nights is sothing I still cant get rid of. I used the wall for support and walked to the entrance. I then turned around to say to him, What happened next is as you all know. I enjoyed my conversation with you, even though it was just recounting my past.
Uhm. Thats good. It is a rare honour for to be able to know of the Hero Kings past. Goodbye, Hero King. Although I do not know if we will have the opportunity to et again, please send my greetings to Miss Nier, Miss Lucia and your children.
I nodded and laughed softly. I said, They are all well. The kids are well too. They are very cute. I will not beco like my father. Humans and elves would be in even more danger if there were to be a few more son-con mothers. Nier Lucia I really love them. Luna too of course
Nothing happened to them that ti, so do you still regret not being at the imperial capital at the ti? What exactly is it that you regret? Was it that you did not save Nier sooner? But Nier was fine too, both her purity and life.
You could say so that was the only thing I dont regret But at the ti, I still really regretted it My body is now so weak precisely because I was late in rescuing Nier
Hero king, please look after yourself
Please tell Nier that
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