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Chapter 62

"Our village has been suffering from severe monster attacks recently."

"Attacks?"

So she did have a serious matter. Had giant ogres been invading? For monsters to attack an elf village, enough to come to the dwarves? It felt strange, and I tilted my head.

Elves are usually quite strong, aren't they? Heh. Normally, yes.

I sniffled and listened to the elf with interest.

"The frequency has increased abnormally, and types of monsters that don't usually appear are roaming the forest. Normally it wouldn't be a problem, but……."

For the first time, the elf averted her eyes. Her gray eyes drooped toward the ground, deflated.

"The monsters have grown stronger, unlike before."

Monsters…… stronger? My black eyes widened.

"You mean the monsters have changed?"

It's uncommon for a monster's habitat or state to change so drastically. Elija stroked his chin and expressed doubt.

"There are even some with strange shapes."

The appearance of mutated monsters.

Oh? I subtly looked down at myself and quietly hid in Elija's arms.

Was that why she disliked me?

I rolled my eyes to gauge the elf's reaction. She no longer paid any attention to me, her expression deeply furrowed as she raged at the suffering of the villagers.

"It's hard to adapt to the changed ones suddenly, and their numbers increase day by day, causing immense casualties among our fighting forces."

With battles continuing without rest, weapon and armor supplies weren't keeping up, the elf finished explaining quietly.

"It's become difficult to meet the demand with what our village produces alone. And we can't ask humans for help."

Because we can't risk the village's location being discovered by untrustworthy people.

"So you thought it was better to ask the dwarves for help than the humans."

Elija smiled sheepishly, as if he understood. Well, from what I'd heard, trading elves secretly among humans was still common.

"Partly that, but also the assumption that dwarf-made equipment would be more effective against the monsters. However……."

Even though she'd offered to pay for it, why wouldn't the dwarves listen?

The elf stood with her arms crossed, looking bewildered.

"Hmm……. What exactly did you say to them?"

I'm curious too.

What did she say to be turned away on the first day?

"Naturally, I said I needed weapons and asked for them."

"……."

Yes. And, that's it?

"……Just that?"

"……?"

What more is there?

The elf's gray eyes looked at Elija as if to say, 'What is this question?'

Somehow, this elf…….

"Wait, didn't you explain the situation?"

"I said monsters had increased, so we were short on weapons."

Her communication skills are abysmal……!

Unable to hide his flustered, shaking golden eyes, Elija kept asking questions.

"How did you mention the payment?"

"That."

The elf hesitated.

"For the details, we'll need to discuss it with the elders once I return, after I've secured the support."

Excuse me? Elija and I stared, our mouths hanging open dumbly.

I didn't mishear that, did I?

"……There are still many factions opposing the idea of asking the dwarves for help. So I couldn't bring a proper payment offer yet. I do have some advance payment, though."

From the way she trailed off, it seemed this wasn't a settled matter. What, so the elf side has no intention of yielding first?

"……You need help, but with that attitude, of course they'd get angry."

"I told them we could pay."

Ha.

Elija and I let out a big sigh.

The one in need of help is the elf, so why is she being so rigid? Or is she just an idiot?

Was I imagining it, or did the elf's eyes, staring blankly at us, look like those of a wild person who'd lost all social skills?

"We shouldn't have listened to her story……."

I nodded in agreement with Elija's frustrated voice.

The village is in danger because of monsters. Listening closely, there were some uneasy points, and most importantly…….

"So what should I say to get them to listen again?"

That elf!

Just standing silently in front of the elder's house, waiting day after day—it's really bugging me!

"Wouldn't it be better to go back to your village, clearly organize your position and attitude, and then return?"

"From my perspective, this is urgent. We don't have time to wait for the elders' decision."

"But you need to coordinate with the other elves first."

If you don't have a good idea, I'll be on my way. She slowly blinked once and turned her head.

"……If you keep this up here, you'll just get kicked out again."

"Since I've judged our forest to be in danger, I have no intention of backing down at all."

The elf resumed her steadfast, open-ended wait. She was definitely the most persistent person I'd ever seen.

Just as Elija and I were shaking our heads in disgust.

"Hey, why aren't you coming in!"

Delro's loud voice rang in our ears. Walking with long strides from behind, Delro had already changed into sturdy-looking leather armor.

"Now I'm supposed to take care of everything troublesome, am I?" he grumbled.

"At least watching those dwarf craftsmen at work was fun, so there's that."

Delro strode over and chak handed Elija his sword.

"Ah, you picked it up for me. Thanks."

"What's this."

Delro pointed his chin at the elf and sent a silent look as if asking what happened.

"Ah, nothing much. Just about her business in Berg……."

Hearing that, Delro crossed his arms and shook his head.

"Hey, young master. I understand you're fascinated because it's your first time seeing an elf."

Of course, it's my first time too! Delro burst out laughing pa-ha-hat.

"No matter how pretty they are, get too close to an elf and you'll end up as a pincushion of arrows. Didn't you see last time?"

"……Delro. Echo was curious."

"Keu-ha-hat! Sure, sure. Looks like you got thoroughly ignored again anyway."

Delro patted Elija's shoulder with his cauldron-lid-sized hand and wrapped an arm around him.

"Let's go! We've got mountains of work!"

"Ah, but I was talking to the elf."

I, held in Elija's arms, was also dragged along by Delro. Without even glancing at our noisy group, the elf stood silently, her figure growing distant.

Why does she look so pitiful just from having one conversation?

"Eriya. That thing about monsters getting stronger."

"Huh?"

On the way back to the inn, I spoke to Elija, unable to shake a nagging feeling.

Something was definitely off. At that time…….

"That ogre suddenly got stronger too, right?"

Elija's golden eyes wavered slightly.

"……Ah, wait."

He tapped his chin with his finger. Lost in thought, as if reviewing the situation, Elija suddenly lowered his head toward me.

"Definitely, its regeneration rate increased abnormally. And at the very end, its speed was unnatural too."

It was enough to believe it was a monster even from the Forest of Darkness. Elija nodded.

"Right! That's why it was weird."

"Thinking back, it's definitely unsettling……."

With a feeling like a stone had been lodged in my heart, we entered the inn, and Zendor, who had been waiting for us, immediately caught our eye.

"Hmm, you're finally here? Look at this gem. Do you think more petals would look better?"

Zendor toddled over, holding the gem he'd been working on. Afraid of his surprise gift being discovered, he'd been practically living here carving the gem. Hmm. I narrowed my eyes as I looked at Zendor.

"What do we know about flowers? I'd be happy just to get a gem that looks like that right now."

Delro waved his hand, looking bored.

Between those words, Elija and I exchanged glances.

A dwarf who's close enough to us that he might at least listen to talk of the elf.

And a dwarf who witnessed the monsters' abnormal symptoms with us.

If Zendor helps, wouldn't the other dwarves be more willing to listen to the elf?

"We have a witness here."

"Zendor saw the ogre too."

As we stared intently at Zendor, he subtly stepped back.

"……Ahem, have I been coming too often?"

Zendor's brown eyes darted, fondling the gem in his hand.

"Zendor, there's something we need to discuss."

"It's impor-tant!"

Sensing he was about to be dragged into something troublesome, Zendor broke out in a cold sweat.

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