Translator: Silver Editor: Namorax
Return to Doranto
I had been invited to join the talk between Margrave Branier and King Aspuraf, two individuals who had fought each other for decades
Anyone who was inford of such a thing would have been nervous or paralyzed by the prospects of such a situation.
However, I wasnt in a position to refuse the invitation.
Together with Ariane and Chio, I was in the middle of transporting the migrants recruited amongst the recently freed beastn slaves of Soulia to the new village.
After the number of immigrants had been determined, Chio and I had returned to the hidden village and reported the turn of events to the current Hanzo of the Blade Heart Clan, ca back here and began moving the candidates to the village being constructed.
Itd been a busy last couple of days moving the capable recruits to various locations via Transfer Gate.
Initially, Id been doubtful of the reason behind the summons, but I was completely caught off-guard by Margrave Braniers story.
Yet another undead army had attacked the capital of the Salma Kingdom.
Although it had been a rough estimate, Margrave Branier had co seeking a truce with King Asparuf in order to combat the two hundred thousand strong undead army.
Ariane hadnt been pleased when they asked for our assistance, as we had already fulfilled Lilles request to save Nozan Kingdom. That could have been written off as a personal request, but she had judged that a direct request from a human nation needed to be decided upon by the great elders.
Though I felt that she hadnt allowed
much choice in the matter, as a person who had accepted the na Raratoia Id say she made the right decision.
However, if I pulled back here all of the ti and effort I put into stopping Lilles tears would go to waste.
According to the Margrave, the location of Salma Kingdoms capital city ant that his territory would be the next target of the undead horde once the city fell.
In other words, Nozan had a bit of a reprieve until the two hundred-thousand undead descend up it.
In the worst case scenario, the devastation of Braniers territory would only buy a brief period of ti before Nozan shared the sa faith, and the humans who had emancipated the non-human slaves and agreed to illegalize slavery would be wiped out.
That wasnt all. If the Branier territory fell to the two hundred-thousand undead, then the elven village that touched upon the territorys border, Doranto, would be in peril.
That villages warriors had already engaged the undead scouts and the damages theyd suffered had been the reason the village had sought aid. Currently, a group of Canadian warriors and Arianes father, Dylan, were stationed in Doranto at the grand elders behest.
If such a situation ca to pass, we needed to speak with Dorantos elders and Dylan to start working on counterasures.
In order to avoid certain problems, it was necessary to bring Ariane with
to Rouen Forest.
Apologies, Chio-dono. One of us has to stay in the capital.
Once we had reached one of the palace rooms King Aspuraf had provided for our stay, I bowed my head and apologized to Chio.
Kyun?
Ariana caught Ponta by the scruff her neck as the little fox gave
a confused look, while she offered her own apology.
Im sorry. Chio-chan, if we take you to Doranto itd be uncomfortable for you in a variety of ways, and I rather not expose you to the elves disgrace once more its hard to believe that theyre elves at all.
Arianes brows knitted as she let out a sigh after saying her piece.
The bad impression she got from our first trip to Doranto seems to have struck closer to ho since the elves had been responsible for it.
No, I dont mind, Ariane-dono. This is an ergency that cant afford to be bogged down by unnecessary conflict. Please give my regards to Dylan-dono.
Chios ears twitched atop her head as she waved away the situation.
I nodded in agreent with what she said.
Alright. There are a lot of things to do so lets go to Rouen for the sake of expediency.
Ponta took her usual position atop my helt while Ariane and I checked our equipnt and baggage,assuring our preparations were complete.
Nothing was wrong on Arianes and Pontas part so I took out a makeshift booklet and began flipping through the pages.
The majority of the pages were filled with drawing of various locations that I had visited in this world.
My long-distance transfer magic was capable of taking
to any location Id been to before, but its usefulness weakened the more ones mory faded. Id made these drawings to compensate for that shortcoming.
I recalled the mory of a specific scenery as I found the image Id been looking for.
Were off, Chio-dono. Transfer Gate.
I said my goodbyes to Chio and invoked the magic.
The magic formation sprung up with
at its center and spread to Arianes feet before the world around us vanished into a black abyss and weightlessness overca my body.
In the next instant, we stood in the middle of a lush forest instead of the luxurious palace room we had been in.
The location I had drawn opened up in front of us.
Innurable branches stretched above three huge trees that sit on a gentle hilltop.
While the spiral staircase built into the trunks diminished their majesty in comparison to Dragon Kings Tree, they far exceeded the height of regular trees.
Even from here I could make out the various rooftops below the trees roots that made the fantasy-like town.
There was no doubt that this was Doranto, the elven village of Rouen Forest.
We need to get in contact with my father
After a brief glance in my direction, Ariane looked away and went silent.
We said all of that to Chio-dono, but this wont be all that different for us, will it?
A small chuckle left my lips as she sighed at my question.
No use crying about it now, lets go, Arc.
Kyun! Kyun!
Atop my head, Ponta let out a cheerful bark and started wiggling her fluffy tail, almost as if she was attempting to cheer Ariane up.
The two of us began making our way towards Doranto, but the three huge trees distorted my sense of distance and it felt as if we werent making any progress.
However, the view of the village gradually cleared when I looked in its direction.
A stone and wooden wall surrounded the town, the robustness of which made
certain that common monsters would be incapable of breaking it.
The number of small fields scattered about the outside of the wall was more in line with rural human village farms than those of Canada.
We advanced for a while until we finally reached Dorantos entrance. The two gatekeepers stationed there glared in our direction when they noticed or approach.
The two elves crossed their spears and shouted at us when we finally reached the main gate.
This is Doranto Village, outsiders and other races are forbidden from entering!
One of the n gestured for us to leave while the other one nodded along with his partners statent.
Annoyed by their attitude, Ariane responded with a glare of her own.
I am the daughter of Dylan Targ, leader of the party dispatched from Canada. Will you allow
to speak with my father? Ti is of the essence.
Ariane voice was laced with a quiet anger, but the pair didnt seem to notice it and stubbornly denied our entrance.
No, If there is a ssage, Ill deliver it while you stay out here. Speak your business.
Those who had co in the villages ti of need even though she was the daughter of another villages elder, they blocked her path because she was of a different race. They werent all that flexible, but their actions could be interpreted as so kind of courage.
If it had been , Id have let her pass as quickly as possible.
A threat to this villages continued existence is fast approaching. Do you people understand? The monsters that critically wounded your warriors a horde of them could be on the way as we speak. Convey that to my Father!
Her white hair seed to be distorted by intense heat, but Ariane sohow managed to suppress her anger and convey a ssage to Dylan.
However, after hearing the ssage the pair shared a look before they grabbed their stomachs and started laughing as if theyd been told a hilarious story.
Hahaha! Theres sothing wrong with this little lady, right? A threat capable of destroying the village, are you talking about those undead that caught a patrol off-guard?
As if in sync with one another, one would scrutinize us while the other laughed.
The warriors who engaged the undead were young and inexperienced. Theyd been chasing another monster and took an unnecessary risk pursuing the undead. Experienced warriors like us would never make such a mistake. The relief efforts of the other villages have been exaggerated.
Ariane was left dumbstruck by the mans remark.
Are you serious? Youre speaking about warriors from the sa village, right?
One of the n snorted when he saw Arianes expression.
Hmm! I heard from those who defeated the undead that it wasnt anything special. There was nothing left but a few dozen damaged sets of armor the humanoid undead had worn!
All of the emotion drained from Arianes face and she tried to walk by the pair as if they werent even there.
However, her path was imdiately blocked.
Hey, ignoring us and trying to enter the village. Do you think wed permit that?
The gatekeepers tone had a bit of anger in it when he talked down to Ariane, but from my point of view, the two of them were too high off their own superiority to notice they were treading in a minefield.
The air around us changed and I swore I heard auditable hallucinations of sothing snapping.
A wall of flas sprung up out of nowhere and encircled Ariane and the two gatekeepers.
Shed reached her boiling point and now magma was starting to spew from the ground.
!? Are you insane!? Why are you evoking such spirit magic so close to the village!?
While one of the n accused Ariane of being crazy, I personally felt that they were the crazy ones here.
Kyun.
Atop my head, Ponta belted out a disgruntled cry before curling up into a ball to avoid getting hurt.
Cha I command thee, almighty wind
A wind current began to swell in-between one of the gatekeepers hands after he clicked his tongue at Ariane and began chanting. However
Scatter!!
With a single word, a giant fireball appeared at Arianes side and launched itself towards the ground in front of him, the resulting explosion echoed throughout the village and canceled out the current.
The two were left dumbstruck when they realized that the wind between the mans hands had dissipated
However, she saw no reason to stop there and unleashed another spell against them.
Biding earth, by my will, fulfill my goal
Instead of her usual song-like chants, her voice took on an indignant tone as whip-like earthen tendrils sprung from the ground and shot towards the two gatekeepers in accordance with her will.
The two guards tried to defend themselves with their spears but the tendrils knocked them aside before entangling the pair.
You said you were experienced, didnt you? Two hundred years? Or is it three hundred years? Im not even a hundred years old yet, and Im still wondering when I can get serious?
Ariane lips twisted into a sneer as she spoke to the two n in a delighted manner, but contrary her voice, the tendrils ensnaring the two tightened further. They were statues being consud by stone pillars.
Gyaaaaa!! My leg, my leg is broken!!
Damn it, damn it!!
Even though the previous explosion had attracted many elves to the village gate, none of them moved as they watched tears stream down the pairs face.
However, a single elven man divided the crowded as he stepped forward.
Enough, Ariane! Release them imdiately!
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