Chapter 48 Sasaki Natsumi ⑪
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
As the sun began its slow descent, the silhouette of a settlement finally loomed ahead.
A fence of sorts circled the perimeter-a token effort to ward off monsters, though I doubted it would hold up for a second if they actually attacked. As we drew closer, the houses became more visible. While there were a few wooden and stone structures, the village was dominated by Mongolian-style tents, suggesting a people ready to uproot at a moment’s notice.
The air was biting. We were at an altitude of roughly 2000 meters, and since the streets of Rubia¹ had been so temperate, I was freezing in my current gear. I was still wearing Sasaki Shin’s old clothes with the sleeves and hems rolled up. Narumi Honoka was in her original traveling leathers, Lil was in Luck’s clothes, and Leki was swallowed by Honoka’s white school shirt.
Leki’s “outfit” was dangerous in more ways than one. I’d have to keep a sharp eye out for lolicons.
We reached what looked like a gate, but there wasn’t a guard in sight. The inside of the camp was in an uproar.
”Hmm. I wonder if it’s okay to just walk in…” I mused.
”I don’t think it’s a problem, but what about Lil-san?” Honoka asked.
”Don’t ask me,” Lil replied. “I was a wolf. ‘Gates’ aren’t really my thing.”
I hesitated for a moment but decided to head inside. It turned out we weren’t the only guests; a crowd had gathered around a covered wagon. It looked like a peddler or some kind of merchant had arrived.
Whatever. Let’s just find someone to talk to.
”Um, excuse me,” I called out.
”Yes, what is–? ” A young man turned around, stopping mid-sentence as he saw us. His face was so finely featured I couldn’t tell his gender at first, and his ears were long and pointed. “Who might you be?”
”Sorry to intrude,” I said. “We’re travelers on our way to Greedia². There were no guards, so we let ourselves in.”
”I see. Usually, we have sentries, but things are a bit chaotic right now,” he said, his voice confirming he was male. “As long as you don’t mean us any harm, it’s fine. Did you need something?”
”We’re looking for an inn,” I replied.
The Elf man paused, a shadow crossing his face. “…Could you wait a little while? Honestly, now is not the time.”
”Is it because of the merchant?” I asked.
”No,” he sighed. “A villager has gone into labor. The baby is coming, but…”
”Well, that’s a reason to celebrate,” I said.
”Yeah. But there’s a problem. The mother-my sister-is frail. She went into labor while running a high fever. It’s been over a day since the contractions started, and there’s still no sign of the birth. At this rate, we might lose both of them.”
This was getting serious. I leaned toward Honoka. “Is that normal? For labor to last over a day?”
”Don’t ask me!” Honoka whispered back. “I’ve never had a baby!”
Fair point.
”Hey, can’t you do something?” the Elf begged, his eyes wide with desperation. “If you’re travelers, you must have some kind of medicine!”
He was frantic. “Why not ask the merchant?” I suggested.
”I already did. But…”
He glanced at a slightly chubby, kind-looking middle-aged man.
”Now, now, don’t look at me like that,” the peddler said with a dismissive wave. “I don’t deal in medicine. I can’t sell what I don’t have. Besides, the side effects are too risky. I couldn’t recommend it even if I had some.”
The Elf’s shoulders slumped. “Then a potion! One of your guards must have a potion! Please, I’ll pay anything!”
”I’d love to help, really,” the guard replied, her voice sounding oddly familiar. “But if I give up my personal stock, we’re vulnerable. I have to stay prepared in case something happens on the road…”
”Please, I’m begging you!” the Elf cried.
The guard had a point-without a potion or a healer, an emergency on the road was a death sentence. But I recognized that equipment. The sleeveless dress, the jade-colored breastplate, and that straight blonde hair… and the trident. She looked like she’d stepped right out of a game.
”Himezaki-san?” I asked.
”Eh? Natsu…?”
The guard froze. It was Himezaki Rieslett-the one classmate I hadn’t seen since the teleportation.
”Natsuuuuu!”
Himezaki burst into tears and threw herself at me, her arms wrapping around me in a crushing hug.
”Natsu, you’re alive! They told me you died… I’m so glad! I’m so, so glad!”
”Whoa, okay, yeah,” I stammered.
I had actually died once, but explaining the mechanics of my resurrection seemed like too much of a headache. I decided to keep my mouth shut.
”I… I got lucky. She saved me,” I said, pointing toward my group.
”She?” Himezaki pulled back, her eyes landing on the three beauties and the child. “Which one?”
”This is Lil. She’s… well, a wolf-girl.”
”My name is Lil,” she said, bowing. “I am Natsumi-san’s wife.”
”WIFE?!” Himezaki shrieked.
She looked from Lil to the little girl in the oversized shirt. “Wait… you were missing all this time and you just got married and started a family?! Is this little girl actually–?”
”I’m Leki!” the kid chirped. “I’m Papa and Mama’s daughter!”
”Oh god…” Himezaki’s knees gave out. She slumped to the ground, looking like her world had ended. “In such a short time… you already have a daughter this old…”
”Himezaki, use your head,” I sighed. “Leki is my daughter, but we aren’t blood-related. If Lil and I had a kid, she wouldn’t be seven years old after a few weeks, would she?”
”………Oh. Right. Yeah. I guess I jumped to conclusions,” Himezaki said, standing up and laughing nervously. But then, another face caught her eye.
”Um, hey, Himezaki-san. Do you remember me?”
Himezaki squinted. “Huh? Who are you again?”
”I figured,” Honoka sighed. “We were only in class together for three days. I’m Narumi Honoka. I’m your classmate… and currently, I’m Master’s slave.”
Honoka looked at me with a blush, her eyes sparkling with a terrifyingly happy light.
”MASTER?! SLAVE?!” Himezaki’s face went scarlet. “Natsu! What the hell are you doing to our classmates?!”
”Wait, it’s not like that!” Honoka interjected. “I wanted this! I did something unforgivable to Master… I should have been killed, but he showed me mercy!”
”That doesn’t mean you make her a slave!” Himezaki shouted.
”Himezaki, drop it,” I snapped. “We don’t have time for this. People are dying.”
She bit her lip, her anger simmering down. “Fine… we’ll talk about your ‘harem’ later. Right now, we have to focus on the birth.”
The Elf brother didn’t care about the drama. He grabbed my shoulders again. “Please, if you have a potion… anything!”
”I have them,” I said. “And I’ll give them to you, but a standard potion won’t cure a fever this bad. It’s just a stopgap.”
”I don’t care! Just give her a chance! I’ll do anything! I’ll be your servant-whatever you want!”
”Just take me to her,” I said.
* * *
He led us into a large tent. Inside, a few Elves were huddled around a young woman lying on a bed of furs. Her stomach was distended, and she was slick with sweat.
”Finally! Did you get the medicine?” an old Elf demanded.
”Wait, Elder,” the brother said. “These travelers can use Appraisal³. They might be able to find out what’s actually wrong.”
”It’s true,” I said. “Honoka and I can both read status effects.”
”I can help too,” Lil added.
I activated Appraisal, bypassing her stats and focusing purely on her status window.
[Status: Pregnancy / Kadra Fever]
”It’s Kadra Fever⁴,” I told the Elder.
The old man’s face went pale. “Kadra Fever… it’s a local ailment. It causes a brutal fever, but it’s rarely fatal on its own. But for someone as weak as Katifira… it’s a death sentence for both her and the baby.”
It sounded like a magical strain of the flu. A potion would just be a drop in the bucket. We needed something absolute.
”Master?” Honoka whispered. “Could I use that?”
”Your skill?” I looked at her. [Protection of Raphael]⁵-it gave her access to [God-Tier Compounding]⁶.
It was a cheat skill that allowed the user to create legendary draughts like Elixirs⁷ from almost any base materials. An Elixir would purge the disease instantly.
”Honoka, can you brew an Elixir?”
”I can,” she said, her face turning serious. “But I need tools. A mortar, pestle, and some base medicinal herbs.”
”Did you say… an Elixir?” Himezaki gasped.
”She can make them,” I confirmed. “Elder, if you have tools and any herbs at all, bring them. Now.”
”An Elixir?! If you can truly craft the Draught of Life, we will provide anything you need!” the Elder barked.
”Wait… are you really going to make an Elixir?” A female Elf stepped out from the shadows, dressed in a short scarlet Miko outfit.
”Don’t ask too many questions,” I said, giving her a pointed look. “We’re trying to stay under the radar. Keep this between us.”
”I… I understand,” the Miko-Elf said, bowing. “Everyone, not a word of this leaves this tent!”
The villagers scrambled, returning minutes later with a mortar and a handful of local herbs. I added my potions to the pile.
”It’s all on you, Honoka,” I said, resting a hand on her shoulder. “Save them, and I’ll give you whatever reward you want.”
Honoka’s eyes lit up with intense, focused lust.
”Whatever I want, Master?” she whispered in my ear. “In that case… when we’re done, I want you to take me right here… I want to feel the wet, rhythmic squelch of your big ck sliding deep inside my psy until I can’t think…”
…Is that really a ‘reward’ for you? I wondered.
—
Summary:
Natsumi and his group arrive at a high-altitude elven settlement where they reunite with their missing classmate, Himezaki Rieslett. The village is in crisis as an elven woman is stuck in a dangerous labor due to a local fever. Natsumi decides to use Honoka’s cheat skill to craft a legendary Elixir to save her.
—
Trivia:
- The altitude is 2000m, explaining the sudden cold.
- Himezaki was the only classmate Natsumi hadn’t seen yet.
- Lil previously identified herself as a wolf, not just an ‘ear-girl’.
- Honoka’s skill ‘Protection of Raphael’ includes God-Tier Compounding.
- Leki is not blood-related to Natsumi despite calling him Papa
—
Character Insight:
Natsumi shows a mix of pragmatism and suppressed empathy; he is willing to help the elves but maintains a cold ‘overlord’ facade. Honoka’s extreme devotion and masochism/lust are highlighted through her choice of ‘reward’.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Kadra Fever’ is a narrative device to force the protagonist to reveal a ‘cheat’ ability in a high-stakes environment. Himezaki’s reaction to the harem setup is a typical ‘straight man’ trope in isekai novels.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Honoka – A member of the relief team with healing magic. Despite her cute, short, ‘transistor glamour’ appearance, she is cold-hearted and mocks Sasaki, now a bound slave to him.
• Narumi – Narumi Honoka. A member of the relief team with healing magic. Despite her cute, short, ‘transistor glamour’ appearance, she is cold-hearted and mocks Sasaki. Black hair, black eyes.
• Sasaki – The protagonist. Height 168 to 171 cm, weight 57 to 59 kg. He has a baby face, but he hides his eyes with his bangs. He was bullied by the Sugita gang just because his name sounded like a girl’s name.
• Leki – Lil’s daughter. Height: 140 cm, B-W-H: 70, 54, 69. She looks more like a Siberian Husky puppy than a wolf. Honestly, she just looks like a stuffed toy, recently transformed into a human form. Now use great axe as weapon.
• Luck – Shin’s partner and a wind magic user. Hunter from Rubia. Deceased.
• Shin – A level 18 greatsword user and Hunter from Rubia. Jade rank.
• Lil – One of the heroines. Height 166 cm, B-W-H: 90-56-90. She is a top-tier beauty with long indigo hair down to her waist, a large scar on her abdomen and sharp golden eyes. She has wolf ears and a tail.
• Rieslett – A half-Japanese, half-Swedish girl with a youthful appearance. Often mistaken for her mother’s sister. A blonde or brunette girl. Currently wearing a black cloak over a white shirt, accented with a red ribbon tie. A navy-blue, knee-length pleated skirt, black knee-highs, and brown leather shoes.
• Natsumi – The protagonist. Height 168 to 171 cm, weight 57 to 59 kg. He has a baby face, but he hides his eyes with his bangs. He was bullied by the Sugita gang just because his name sounded like a girl’s name.
• Katifira – Elf woman in labor, sister to the young elf man. Suffering from Kadra Fever.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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