17 – Link
I carried the human and escaped from the cave.
What greeted me was the sharp gaze of the high elves, emitting a murderous aura.
I didn’t understand why they were acting like that again, just because I hadn’t seen them for a while.
As I flinched and stopped, Shiz clicked his tongue and muttered softly.
“What’s wrong? I thought you were a goblin.”
“……”
Did the tree spirits and the elves say that I looked like a goblin?
I remembered what I had heard earlier and my expression involuntarily soured.
They weren’t joking or exaggerating, they really treated me like a goblin.
I had to purify my mana quickly, or else it would be bad.
I walked towards Shiz with my duck feet sticking out.
“Did you clear out the inside?”
Shiz asked me, stepping on the head of a hobgoblin.
I glanced down at the hobgoblin, who was pierced by dozens of spears and turned into a hedgehog.
Why did he run away like that? He just died more horribly.
I shook my head and answered Shiz.
“I guess so. At least there’s no one left inside.”
“Good job. Anything unusual?”
“The person who was captured was not an elf, but a beastman. That’s all I know. It’s the first time I’ve had this kind of experience.”
“What? A beastman?”
I carefully laid down the rabbit-man I was holding on the ground.
The toin tribe, who had been suffering until a while ago, looked much more comfortable thanks to Pii’s magic.
Sizu looked at the toin tribe that I had rescued and muttered with a grimace.
“Wood spirit, these kids are really… They said they caught a long-eared race, but they weren’t elves.”
There must have been some mistake in the process of getting the information.
Sizu glanced at the forest and asked the toin tribe lying down.
“Hey, beastman. You have a peculiar outfit. Did you come from the geomagnetic lake?”
“Yes… That’s right.”
I lowered my head at Sizu’s words and looked at the toin tribe’s clothes.
A torn jacket and a voluminous skirt covered with dirt.
Her outfit looked definitely unusual when I saw it again in the bright place.
It was a familiar outfit to my eyes, who knew about hanbok, but it would look strange to others.
As I stared at the rabbit girl’s clothes, Pii, who was sitting on my shoulder, opened his mouth and tilted his head.
[But how did you get caught by the goblins? The geomagnetic lake is far from here.]
Pii’s question made me and Sizu listen to the rabbit girl’s answer.
The toin tribe, who had been lying on the ground, struggled to get up and opened their mouth politely.
“I came here to check the rumors about the druid. But I met a huge monster and got into trouble.”
“What? There was a monster? Did you encounter it near here?”
“No. I was dragged here by the goblins because I was injured. It’s close, but the distance is a bit far.”
“Which way was it?”
“I remember it was east from here.”
“I got it. You guys just talk among yourselves. I’m going to give the search order to my subordinates and come back.”
Shizu, who cut off the conversation and finished listening to the situation, turned around without hesitation and headed towards his subordinates.
He was cold as a blade, but extremely competent. He really looked like a high elf captain.
Sigh. How am I going to follow that guy around when I’m tired?
As I sighed, looking at the camellia tattoo of the hunting captain, a rabbit-like person who had sat down quietly spoke to me with a bowed head.
“I apologize for the late introduction. Please call me ‘Ivy’. I’m really grateful for saving me.”
“Huh? Oh. Sure.”
“I’m also very grateful to the tree spirit. Thanks to your magic, I feel much better.”
[Huh? Uh. I’m glad you’re feeling better.]
I and Pii, who received the honorific for the first time in our lives, answered with embarrassed expressions.
She wore a dress similar to a hanbok and thanked us with a refined tone. She reminded me of a court lady from a historical drama.
Why is she acting like that?
As Pii and I exchanged awkward glances, ‘Ivy’ opened her mouth again with a more polite attitude.
“May I ask your names, if you don’t mind?”
[I, I’m Pii. And this guy is Gaul Crudd.]
“Pii and Gaul. If it’s not rude, may I ask you one more question?”
[Uh… What is it?]
“I’m curious if you, Gaul, are really the druid from the legend.”
Ivy’s brown head was pointed right at me.
Her rabbit ears, waiting for an answer, twitched as if they were going to poke me.
Come to think of it, he said he came here to verify the rumors about the druid.
I coughed a few times and nodded my head in reply.
“Yeah. I’m a druid. Well, a candidate, actually.”
“A candidate, you say?”
“The goddess of nature appointed me as a druid candidate. I’ll be recognized as a full-fledged druid soon. Probably.”
“Druid candidate… Ah! Excuse me for a moment.”
Evee, who heard the answer, pondered over the word druid candidate.
He seemed to be devising a new plan by combining his purpose of coming here and the information he just obtained.
And after a while, Evee, who finished his thoughts, bowed his head again and spoke politely.
“Benefactor. If it’s not too rude, may I invite you to our city?”
“Your city?”
“Yes, that’s right. The city located on the leyline lake, Cheongcheongyeongwol.”
The blue and clear moon that reflects, Cheongcheongyeongwol (靑淸映月).
I don’t know how I understood the meaning, but it was a pretty beautiful name for a city.
But how did I really understand it?
As I was amazed and intrigued by the feeling, Evee, who raised his head, looked at me and said.
“Originally, druids are said to be close to the wild as well. How about visiting the leyline lake and building your reputation….”
Evee’s suggestion was summarized as follows.
‘Druids are not only guardians of nature, but also of the wild. So don’t just be friendly with the elves, but also with the beastmen.’
In other words, it was a scout offer.
What should I do about this?
As I stroked my chin and fell into a dilemma, Pii, who was sitting on my shoulder, whispered quietly to me.
[Gaul. I think this is a good opportunity.]
I asked for permission from Ivy and leaned my head against Pii.
“What’s so good about it?”
[You can’t use natural magic right now, but you’re good at physical enhancement. The race that uses physical enhancement most efficiently is the beastmen.]
“So?”
[If you go to the beastmen’s village, you can learn a systematic mana operation method. If you’re lucky, you might get something like the blessing of the wild.]
“The blessing of the wild?”
[It’s a miracle that the god of the wild gives. If you get that, you’ll become incredibly strong! You’ll be able to show a strong appearance even without using magic, right?]
“Really? So I don’t have to learn natural magic?”
[That’s right! You can give the impression that ‘you’re strong without magic, so why bother?’ You know. It’ll be easier than purifying mana, so I think it’s better to follow Ivy to the leyline lake.]
I abandoned the goddess of nature and clung to the god of the wild.
It wasn’t a bad or suspicious act, since druids were guardians of nature and the wild.
More than anything, I liked the fact that I could get away from the elves if I followed Ivy.
If such a polite and patient lady lived in this city, wouldn’t it be more comfortable than living in the high elf’s city?
This was a perfect offer that I had no reason to refuse.
I nodded my head vigorously to show that I agreed.
“What are you whispering about?”
Just then, Siz, who was giving orders to his subordinates, came back to us.
You have to strike while the iron is hot.
I looked at Siz with a determined expression before my resolve faded.
“Siz. I’m going to follow Ivy to the Vein Lake. I have to visit the Blue Moon as a druid candidate.”
[Yeah. Ivy is injured, so she needs an escort. We’ll take her there safely. It’s a win-win situation.]
I had a reasonable excuse, and Pii’s support was excellent.
But our benefactor, the high elf Siz, was not convinced at all.
“Stop talking nonsense and go take a shower. You’re dirty and smelly. How can you be an escort?”
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“……”
“Those tauren will be taken by my subordinates. You guys should stop thinking about useless things and return after washing up.”
“……”
I felt speechless when he said I was dirty and smelly.
Pii and I stuck out our duck-like lips and protested silently.
Then Siz made a very fierce expression and growled fiercely.
“You can never escape from my hand. Give up and think about getting stronger.”
I could see his intense obsession in his green eyes.
It was not a pleasant obsession that sprouted from affection, but a hot obsession that stemmed from rivalry.
I felt a chill and my hair stood on end.
I felt a primal sense of danger and backed away from Siz.
Then, sensing the mood, Ivy politely intervened and said.
“It seems like you have a lot of work to do. I will let everyone know about your kindness when I return to the Blue Moon. Please feel free to visit anytime.”
Seeing Shizu’s reaction, it seemed like he was having a hard time, so I decided to give up cleanly before I got into trouble.
It might have felt like he had no feelings, but his eyes filled with deep regret erased that thought.
Judging by the atmosphere, running away to the mana lake was a bad idea.
If I clung to him with regrets in this situation, I would only look pathetic.
This time, I had to be satisfied with making a connection with the beastmen.
I turned around coolly, saying goodbye to Ibi.
“Ah… well, I’ll come to visit next time.”
“Yes. I will be waiting for you. And thank you again. I will never forget the favor you did for me by saving me.”
Ibi still greeted me politely, leaving a strong impression on me.
It was true that I had done a great thing, but his gratitude was so excessive that I felt embarrassed.
But it wasn’t a bad feeling.
I chuckled and walked through the forest.
“But am I that dirty and smelly? It’s not my fault, it’s because of the polluted mana.”
[You are just dirty and smelly right now.]
Oh no.
Suddenly, I felt disgusted.