Feeling restless, getting sick, getting injured, getting beaten up with a stick, and learning shocking truths about my father…
It has been quite an eventful two weeks, but at last, we have arrived at our first destination, Kirk Village.
「Oh, I can see it now. So that is Kirk Village」
「Yeah. We are one day late though」
「No, no, it was almost exactly as you predicted, Jisrare-san. That is impressive」
「Thank you」
Jisrare-san predicted we would arrive at Kirk Village in two weeks, and in reality, it took two weeks and one day.
It is true that we were off by a day, but it is fair to say she was almost perfectly accurate.
To be able to predict it so precisely just by observing Hezrat-kun’s movements a little is remarkable.
「Still, I am a bit nervous. After all, this will be my first time meeting people other than elves」
I am a little worried about whether I can handle cross-cultural communication properly.
「It will be fine. The people of Kirk Village are all gentle」
「I see, I see」
Gentle people, huh. Hearing that is reassuring.
Yeah, it will probably be fine. I feel like it will work out somehow.
In this life, I am an elf, but in my previous life, I was human, so it should be fine——
…Hmm? Wait. Actually, does that even count?
I have been assuming that humans here are like ordinary humans, but I do not actually know for sure.
What if something really strange shows up…
What if they have green skin, are completely bald, and instead of hair, have antennae growing out of their heads…
「Kii」
「Hmm?」
Just as I was getting lost in unnecessary worries, Hezrat-kun, the giant rat, spoke to me.
「What is it?」
「Kii」
「Ah… well, but…」
「Kii」
「I see… that might be true…」
Hmm… even so, that also feels a bit…
「What do you think, Jisrare-san?」
「It would help if you translate first」
「…Ah, my apologies. Actually, Hezrat-kun is asking if I could send him back before we head into Kirk Village」
「Send him back? Hezrat?」
「Yes. Even though he is a summoned creature, he is still a monster, so if he appears in the village, he might startle the villagers…」
「Ah… I see…」
I understand what Hezrat-kun is saying, but sending him back here feels a bit…
Hezrat-kun has worked hard all this time——in fact, since he has been carrying me on his back the whole way, he might have worked even harder than I did…
It feels a bit unfair that Hezrat-kun, after finally reaching Kirk Village, cannot enter it. Missing out on this moment just seems too pitiful.
「Hezrat-kun is wearing clothes, and he looks clean and fluffy. I do not think people would be that afraid of him…」
「Yeah. In the first place, there are not many people who would be afraid of a giant rat」
「…………」
「…………」
Well, that way of putting it feels a bit… off…
Even Hezrat-kun seems to have a slightly complicated expression.
「But children might be scared」
「Ah…」
I see. For small children, it could still be frightening.
Hmm… that is not ideal. It would be unfortunate for the children, and for Hezrat-kun as well.
Though, given some time, I feel like the children might grow fond of Hezrat-kun instead.
「For now, since this is your first time going to Kirk Village, it might be better if you go alone at first」
「I suppose you are right… First impressions are important. Entering the village with a monster right away might make people think I lack common sense」
「Yeah. I think you are right, Alec」
「Ah, sorry. That was something Hezrat-kun said」
「I see… Hezrat really is very smart…」
He is a smart and considerate summoned creature I can be proud of.
「Alright then, I will send you back. Sorry about this, Hezrat-kun」
「Kii」
「Thank you. I will summon you again when the time is right」
「Kii」
「Alright then, 『Return: Giant Rat』」
「Kii…」
I got down from Hezrat-kun, gave him a brief hug, and then sent him back.
Alright. Let’s do this.
For Hezrat-kun’s sake as well, I need to make the most of this and do my best with this cultural exchange.
「Then, Jisrare-san, shall we head to Kirk Village?」
「Yeah. …Hmm?」
「Is something wrong?」
「Over there」
「Oh?」
When I looked in the direction Jisrare-san pointed, I saw a figure heading toward Kirk Village, just like us.
「Oh? Could that be… someone from Kirk Village?」
「Probably」
Maybe he had gone out somewhere and was now returning to the village? Looking closely——
「Oh… he is just a normal middle-aged man…」
A normal middle-aged man… walking along.
Not a youthful beauty like an elf, and not green either. Just an ordinary human, casually walking.
…Somehow, that actually feels reassuring.
Since Meiyu Village is full of young, beautiful people, seeing an ordinary man like that is strangely comforting. I even feel a bit of familiarity.
「…C-can I try talking to him?」
「Hmm? Sure」
「I see… alright, let’s go」
Deciding to interact right away, Jisrare-san and I started walking toward the ordinary man.
Goodness, this is a bit nerve-wracking after all.
◇
「H-hello——」
When I greeted him and approached, the ordinary man stopped and turned his gaze toward us.
Hmm? Looking at him more closely, he might not be that old after all. Probably mid-thirties, with a fit build and a fairly sharp expression.
Judging from his equipment and the magic bag slung over his shoulder, he might be on his way back from hunting.
「Ah, hello there」
「…………」
「We have been traveling from the elf forest and just arrived here. Are you perhaps from Kirk Village?」
「…………」
「Um… ah, were you hunting today? How was it? Did you catch anything? Judging from your gear, I thought maybe… um… yes」
「…………」
…I tried to speak quite friendly, but the ordinary man did not respond. He stayed silent. Completely silent.
Did I do something wrong…?
I might have spoken a bit too fast because of my nerves. Maybe that is why…
The man is looking at me with a somewhat surprised expression…
「Ah, um… well, the weather is nice today, isn’t it? It has been getting cooler lately, making it a comfortable season」
「…………」
「The heat has eased quite a bit… right? Something like that…」
「…………」
I tried switching topics and starting with the weather, but still, no reply.
Even though I went with the safe topic of the season, perfect for starting a conversation, he did not say a word.
Even though it is the weather… the weather topic I trust so much…
「Um, well…」
「…………」
「H-how are you?」
「…………」
No good…
I wondered if elves and humans might use different languages, so I tried greeting him in English, but that did not work either. He did not even reply with 『I’m fine, thank you』.
…Well, thinking about it, it would be strange if that actually worked.
Still, what am I supposed to do here——
「Hello」
「…………Huh? Ah, hello. …You are the one who came to the village a while ago, right」
「Yeah」
The one watching from behind me——or rather, unable to keep watching any longer——Jisrare-san spoke to him, and he responded immediately.
Wait, what…? Then why was I…
「And your name was——」
「Jisrare. And this is Alec」
「Hello…」
「…………」
As expected, no reply for me.
What is this supposed to mean? That is just cruel. Why am I the only one being ignored? Though… maybe it is not exactly ignoring, since he is staring right at me…
「I am glad we could talk today. Thank you」
「Ah, yeah. Well then…」
「Yeah. See you」
It seems she decided to end the conversation. Jisrare-san gave her farewell, and the man resumed walking toward the village.
He occasionally glanced back at us——or rather, at me——as he walked away.
「…Did I mess that up somehow?」
After seeing him off, I asked Jisrare-san.
「No, it is not that you messed up——well, actually, the cause is probably you」
「Eh…?」
So it is my fault…
What could it be…? Should I have started with the weather right from the beginning…? Leading with the weather topic…
「We might need to take some measures」
「Measures…?」
I do not understand, but if something can be done, I want to fix it. Not being able to hold a conversation at all like that is rough.
…More importantly, I would like to know the actual cause.
「For now, let’s try again another time」
「Huh? Does that mean we are not going into Kirk Village right now?」
「Yeah. We are going back」
「Back?」
「To Meiyu Village」
「Meiyu… what?」
next chapter: After a month, returning to a relaxed slow life in the countryside
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