novelzi Chapter 167
Chapter 167
Monster Circumstances
A peaceful village came into view. I think it’s still early morning, but the villagers were already busy working. They wake up early!
“My, my, it’s rare to see travelers.”
As I was looking around the village, an old man, who had been working in the fields, stopped and called out to us. At first, he looked at us suspiciously, but when he noticed us children, he immediately relaxed and smiled. The children effect is amazing.
“Good morning. Does no one come to this area?”
Ravi-san smiled and asked this in response. She seemed used to it.
“That’s right. Just those traveling merchants! You’re headed somewhere, right?”
“Yes, to the central capital.”
“Wow, that’s quite far. There’s no shops here, so you won’t be able to resupply. Two villages over, it’s a bit larger, so head there.”
He’s such a friendly old man. And kind. He’s telling us what we need to know even though we haven’t even asked.
“Two villages over, is it? Thank you. By the way, how long does it take to get there?”
“It would take about a day and a half, on foot. Ah, that’s right! Hey! Jet!”
The old man, who had been thinking with his arms crossed, called out to a man taking care of a horse in the distance. Such a loud voice! It’s like he’s projecting from his diaphragm. His bold aura reminds me of Nika-san, I can’t help but to grin.
“Hmm? What’s up?”
The man, who seemed to be called “Jet,” came over to us. He had short, curly, dark brown hair, and was well-built. But he still seemed young. Maybe in his thirties? Ah, I made eye contact. But his amber eyes, a darker shade than Ravi-san’s, immediately softened.
“Could you take these kids two villages over? You’re headed there to resupply, right?”
“Yeah, I was about to leave. There’s not much room in the wagon, but if that’s okay, you’re welcome to ride.”
“Are you okay with that? That would be a big help!”
How lucky. Apparently, it’s his once-every-ten-days trip to buy food and daily necessities for the village. He said we’d arrive by the evening, since it’s a horse-drawn carriage. Jet-san said he’d load up with goods in the village tomorrow, then return the day after. He warned us that it would be a bit cramped because it’s currently loaded with vegetables from the village, but we’re getting a ride! That’s all that matters!
“Well, wait here for a bit, until the carriage is ready.”@@@@
“They can’t be born on this continent, because there are so few magic particles in the air. So, no, there aren’t any.”
Ah, I see. It’s a harsh environment for monsters, because there are so few magic particles. I’d forgotten, because my body was slowly starting to get used to this.
“But there are some around the mine.”
“Eh, really?”
Ronny, who had been listening to our conversation, said this. Around the mine? That means...
“The area around the mine... does it have a high concentration of magic particles?”
“Yeah. But I don’t think it’s as much as the Demon Continent... We can use magic.”
Now that he mentions it, that’s right. If there weren’t any magic particles, the spirits wouldn’t be able to live, and Ronny, a Dwarf, wouldn’t be able to use nature magic. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that the mine here’s connected to the one on the Demon Continent with a teleportation magic circle. But this gives us some hope. Because, it means I’ll be able to use magic once we get to the mine, right?
“Shou-chan, if there’re magic particles, can you go to the Demon Continent on an errand, even if we’re far apart?”
That’s right. I thought maybe it would work, since the Demon King’s on the Demon Continent, so it wouldn’t be that far. I whispered this to the magic stone in my bracelet, to confirm. I can usually communicate with them in my mind, but since they’re weak right now, I spoke out loud. The bracelet’s hidden under my clothes, but they should be able to hear me.
『It depends on how concentrated the magic particles are, but I think the distance won’t be a problem if I’m going towards the Demon Continent.』
It said it should be okay, because its strength would gradually recover as it headed for a place with more magic particles. And I can just call it back when it’s done, it can teleport back to me immediately because of our spirit contract!
“Meg’s... spirit?”
Ronny asked this as I was talking to Shou-chan. Ah, that’s right, since he’s a Dwarf, he can hear Shou-chan’s voice.
“Yes, a voice spirit. I’ll introduce you sometime.”
“Voice? That’s rare... I have a contract with an earth spirit. I’ll introduce you when we get to the mine.”
Ronny lightly tapped his chest, so he must be hiding a magic stone necklace under his clothes too. An earth spirit, huh? I’ve never met one, so I’m excited. We grinned at each other.
“...What a strange conversation.”
Licht, who had been watching Ronny and me, tilted his head, looking confused, and I couldn’t help but to chuckle. Sorry, sorry! Because he was making a funny face!