Volume 3 Chapter 8 Hometown
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Puruun’s Perspective
”Ms. Puruun. Today, a letter arrived from Queen Asuka, and it seems that the project team is finally moving to capture the gate. Here, this is your copy.”
Saying this, Emperor Balmstra handed me the letter from the Queen.
”Is it finally happening? It’s been nearly 2 years since Yuuta couldn’t return… I’ve been staying here for quite a while, too…”
”That’s true. However, once the gate opens, I will have to send you back to your country, so I must do whatever it takes to win you over before then.”
”I truly appreciate the Emperor’s kindness, but my feelings remain unchanged.”
”Ah, sending out a technician just to help my romantic rival… I really am too kind.”
The Emperor said this with a joking tone.
But the Emperor genuinely cares for me, a hostage.
The first intimate moment was my fault due to an accident, but since then, he hasn’t forced any relationship on me. It’s as if he just comes by to relax, spending an hour or 2 chatting before he leaves.
And even now, while I read the Queen’s letter, he watches me with a smile.
”What does it say?”
”Well… it says the gate is predicted to appear in the mountains near Tokura Village… that’s my hometown. And I think this gate might be related to the one Yuuta and Ms. Akari used to teleport here.”
”I see… it sounds like a story with deep ties. But it’s Ms. Puruun’s hometown. I’d like to go there someday.”
”No, no. Even if you come, Your Majesty, it’s really just the countryside with nothing… but I wonder if everyone is doing well.”
The Queen’s letter said that Melon was also a member of the gate capture team, and that she told me to be patient a little longer… I wonder if she’s had a baby yet?
”…If the gate’s capture is finally becoming a reality, it seems I have more things to do.”
The Emperor muttered sadly.
”What is that supposed to mean?”
”Ah, no. Just talking to myself. Don’t mind me…”
Even so, the Emperor’s flustered reaction felt a bit unnatural.
And at that moment, I had a thought.
It’s possible the Emperor is behind the series of terror attacks…
Of course, I harbored this suspicion even before coming to this country, but could it be that I was swayed by his kind demeanor?
But now… Confronting the Emperor with this suspicion would yield nothing.
My options are limited for now, but I must pay close attention to His Majesty’s movements as much as possible.
* * *
*Melon’s Perspective
It seems that traveling from the Royal Capital to Tokura Village now takes less than 3 months.
This time, it’s not a large caravan like the merchant guild’s, but a lighter one, and thanks to some improvements made along the way in the past decade or so, it’s surprisingly faster than when I went to the Royal Capital, taking less than 4 months.
Right now, I want to have at least a little time to spare.
”Hey, Master. Do you think we’ll see any sandworms?”
Karin asked Ms. Sharlin worryingly.
”No. I haven’t encountered them much since I found a way to spread repellents beforehand. Thanks to that, I can get through the desert a lot faster… but if you do encounter one, you’ll be no match for them, so run away as fast as you can,” says Ms. Sharlin, laughing.
And while passing through the Castell Mountains, Ms. Sharlin had a serious look on her face, but Mr. Stanford doesn’t know that it was Ms. Sharlin who killed Mr. Gregory and Dr. Moore here, and she probably won’t tell him that in the future.
And then… we arrived.
Tokura Village.
It must have been a decade since the last time.
But nothing has changed.
”Big Sister Melon. Is this where I was born? It’s so much more run-down than Kashiwagi Mansion. I can’t believe people live here.”
Karin said with a sigh. No, Karin, that’s a bit rude.
We headed straight to the Village Head’s place, but the Village Head from when we lived here passed away 3 years ago, and now Okia is serving as the Village Head.
”Oh. Is it really you, Melon? You look completely different… and this is the baby Karin? So, where are Puruun, Yuuta, and Akari?”
Okia joyfully welcomed us and chatted happily.
”Ah, everyone is busy with different jobs… and about us…”
It seems that news about Yuuta and the queen hasn’t reached this remote area.
”Ah, so it’s about the research on the gate? I received word via swift messenger, so we’re all prepared. Feel free to use the village square. We can provide some tents if you need them. Also, the house that Barua and you used back then is still empty, so you can use it as well. For more details, just ask Sodon.”
Sodon has become quite a nice guy, apparently with 2 wives and 3 children.
”So, Melon. I’ve arranged for a few vacant houses, so you decide the assignments. I couldn’t prepare for the bodyguards, but you can set up tents in the square. By the way, you sisters are the pride of the village. Puruun is the chief secretary, and you’re a court mage… and Ellulu is amazing too, right?”
”Yes. Big Sis El is now the top designer in the Royal Capital.”
”Yeah. Damn it. I should have tried harder to woo Ellulu.”
The vacant houses were assigned to each of the project team members, me, Karin, and Ms. Sharlin.
Liutenant Reina and her subordinate Zahar, a total of 5 women, decided to use the largest old house.
Ah… I really miss it.
Imenji (Dad) looks like he’s about to pop out from behind that door…
Karin and I went to Ellulu’s family home that night, delivered the letter we had, and talked a lot about her, which made her parents very happy, but they didn’t seem to understand her being Yuuta’s third wife.
”It’s not that Mr. Yuuta is bad, but at this rate, I won’t get to see my first grandchild…”
Ellulu’s father lamented, but I told him that Beastfolk and humans can indeed have children together.
* * *
Preparations for gate capture began the next day.
First, Yuuta and Mama Akari set up a forward base near the riverside hunter’s cabin where they spent the night when they first arrived in this world, using it as a base to explore the mountains.
This is also right by the place where my father, Barua, fought the Goblin King to his end, and in between work, Karin and I went there to pay our respects with flowers.
With help from the villagers, a decent-sized temporary hut was built in about 3 days, and equipment and magic tools for gate capture were brought in.
The storage batteries from Kashiwagi Mansion should arrive within a month.
”We’re almost ready.”
Lieutenant Reina is talking with Mr. Sistemador.
”Yes. All we need now is for the gate to appear as predicted…”
”We’ve done everything up to this point. Now, let’s pray to the gods.”
”That’s right.”
* * *
Using the riverside forward base as a foothold, the mages and guards from the Royal Capital army formed small groups to venture into the mountains and search for signs of the gate.
According to Mr. Sistemador, when a gate forms, the flow of mana in the air becomes slightly unnatural, and even low-level court mages can sense it when they get close.
That’s why, even though I’m a second-class mage, I’m still part of the court.
The rotation for reconnaissance missions is coming up.
And my bodyguard?
For some reason, Karin is following along too.
Well, there are regular soldiers, so it should be okay…
”Big Sister Melon. Did Mom and Dad really transported in here in the beginning?”
”Yes. I was still young, so I don’t remember everything, but… my father and the villagers brought them to our house in the middle of the night, when they were buried in the snow… Even though it was winter, they were only wearing thin underwear, and Mr. Yuuta was covered in blood… After the Elf priest healed them, my sister and I took off their clothes and put them in a straw bed.”
”Huh. So if they hadn’t been saved by this village, they would have both died? Then I wouldn’t be here now either!?”
”Maybe so.”
I said, and Karin looked at me with a serious look on her face.
But yeah… that’s where it all began.
So many things have happened….
In the end, that day we returned to the front base without discovering the gate.
A few days later, an unexpected guest arrived at the front base.
”Ah, Tethyrkan. It’s good to see you well.”
”Huh? Oh, Mister Goetec! What brings you all the way out here?”
”Well, let’s just say it’s a greeting. I’m still a priest assigned to the Border Defense Force in this area. I’ve received orders from the Royal Capital to assist with your work. So, I thought I’d come to see your face. Should anything happen, you can count on me.”
”That’s… very much appreciated.”
”So, Tethyrkan. I’ve heard that this operation involves a certain person named Yuuta. He was supposed to head to the Royal Capital to investigate the gate. Is that related?”
”It is related… If it’s about you, teacher, discussing some confidential matters shouldn’t be a problem.”
With that, Baron Tethyrkan recounted the events to Goetec.
”I see. Did that person succeed… It’s ironic that after finally returning to his world, he cannot come back here.”
Then, Karin and I were called.
”Teacher, this girl is Yuuta’s daughter, Karin. And over here is Melon, the one from Tokura Village where you first helped Yuuta.”
I explained that I was the second daughter of Barua, and it seemed that the priest Goetec somehow remembered me.
And the priest took one look at Karin as she greeted him and said,
”I see. Your right hand has become immobile due to an injury. If you don’t mind, can you show me up close?”
Karin came to stand next to him, and the priest placed his hand on her right shoulder. He closed his eyes and seemed to be following the flow of mana.
”Yes. Certainly, blood is flowing through it now, but it seems that the nerves that move the muscles have been severed. So if this continues…”
The priest made a grim expression.
”What’s wrong?”
Baron Tethyrkan asks the priest anxiously.
”If this continues, her blood flow will gradually worsen, and her right hand will start to rot in a few years… It would be better for her body if it’s amputated soon.”
Both Karin and Baron Tethyrkan were shocked by this.
”Is there nothing that can be done, priest? This child is far too pitiful.”
While I closed my eyes and listened to my words, the priest replied.
”Hmm. If you care about her appearance as a girl, there are options like a prosthetic hand…”
At that moment, Karin, who had been quietly listening to the priest, suddenly raised her voice.
”Priest! I want to keep this right hand! I’ll do anything. Is there no way!?”
Perhaps overwhelmed by Karin’s fervor, the priest opened his eyes and took a deep breath.
”Our Elf healing cannot reconnect severed nerves. However… I have heard stories of a technique from long ago, one that uses surgical methods instead of healing to reconnect them. But I can’t recall where that was or what it actually entails… Its credibility is also questionable.”
”So, what if that technique is found?”
Karin looked at the priest with pleading eyes.
”Hmm. It might be worth searching for. Your father solved the mysteries of gates that I never could have imagined. If it’s you, perhaps you could do it. And… while the decision about amputation can wait, don’t forget to regularly massage your right arm.”
Karin’s eyes sparkled at the priest’s words, and she answered, “Yes!!”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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