Chapter Eleven: A Brief Return Trip
We traveled to the village using Portal Shield.
“We’re back!”
“Rafu!” Filo and Raph-chan gave cheerful shouts.
“It looks like there haven’t been any problems here,” Raphtalia stated.
“Ah, they’re back! Yay!” Keel spotted us and rushed over. “Welcome home! Have you defeated those bad guys trying to kill Raphtalia?” The last time we’d talked to them it had been the morning before leaving Siltvelt by ship, so a fair while ago. Hearing Keel, Ren also showed up.
“Naofumi, how’s it going?” he said.
“We just found a dragon hourglass during our trip, actually, so we came to check in at the village,” I explained.
“I see.”
“We’ve made good progress though! What about you?”
“No more attacks have come at all. I’m thinking it’s since they worked out you’re striking at Q’ten Lo,” he answered. Hmmm. So they didn’t have the leeway to strike here anymore. They’d had issues with things like language already. And bringing in more manpower over such a distance wasn’t going to be easy. Not to mention, with the homeland under attack, they’d need everyone they could gather back at home.
“One thing, Naofumi. What did you say to Eclair prior to your departure?” he questioned.
“What do you mean?”
“Eclair has been complaining about something you said to her. About not having any capacity as a governor? Something like that?”
Uwah. Yeah, in order to keep Melty happy, I might have told Eclair to back down. I’d only told the truth though, so it couldn’t be helped. It was a fact that Eclair had spent far more time training than she had dealing with paperwork.
Best to just ignore this topic and carry on.
“If the village isn’t going to be attacked, Ren, I’m adding you to the invasion party. You’re with us now. No ships involved anymore, so you’ll be fine.”
“Phew, good thing.” Ren nodded, looking relieved. He really didn’t like swimming, did he? “I admit, it was a bit worrying, watching this place in your absence. Everyone in the village has been quite worried, with S’yne gone as well.” For that reason, having S’yne here had been quite convenient. Even though she wasn’t supposed to go, she went anyway.
“They have anti-hero techniques and other unique stuff, but honestly, the enemy is so stupid it’s actually getting a bit ridiculous,” I quipped.
“It’s sad, almost, that I can’t deny that statement at all,” Raphtalia muttered, sounding almost lost for words.
We proceeded to give Ren a simple breakdown of everything that had happened in Q’ten Lo. Of course, that included having discovered the weapon power-up methods.
“So this will help make us stronger?” he asked.
“I want to see Raphtalia’s homeland for myself!” Keel’s eyes were shining, tail wagging, as he asked. “Take me with you! Please, take all of us with you!”
“Even so, we still don’t know when the village might be attacked. I’m worried about leaving this place too undefended,” I said.
“So why not take everyone from the village?” Ah. Take everyone here to Q’ten Lo? I looked at Raphtalia, and she was making quite a face.
“That’s too many people, surely. We’ll take you for a visit once everything there is taken care of. Just hold on until then.”
“I thought it was a pretty good idea,” Ren said.
“If we all go into battle, leaving the village empty, what happens if thieves show up?” I cautioned. We had gold and other valuables here, in no small number.
“We could leave Melty in charge. How about that?” Hmmm. That was an option.
“Mr. Naofumi.” Raphtalia still wasn’t convinced.
“Look at it this way, Keel. We’re in Q’ten Lo, essentially fighting a war. I’m not raising you all to fight on the battlefield, so just have a little more patience,” I explained. We couldn’t afford to get distracted from our true goal —to rebuild and prepare for the waves.
“I see. Too bad,” he groaned.
“Once all the problems there are cleared up, I’ll take you.” It was a good place for a bit of sightseeing. I’d definitely give it some thought.
“Maaaster! Can I go and see Mel-chan?” Filo was clearly glad to be visiting.
“Yeah, off you go. Just stay in the village and we’ll get you later, so have some fun.”
“Yaaay! Mel-chan!” Filo was gone in the blink of an eye.
“One other thing. They have hot springs over there that are effective on curses. Seeing as we didn’t get a portal to the Cal Mira islands sorted out, maybe we can use them to heal ourselves,” I surmised. We were suffering from a number of cursed heroes, including myself, and it was about time we took care of that. We were definitely at a disadvantage in battle due to the weakening they caused.
“Rafu.” Raph-chan went to greet the monsters in the village. We should probably go about recovering Rat and Wyndia from Siltvelt too.
“I have to say it again, this teleportation is really convenient,” I commented. A distance it would take weeks to cover on Filo or Gaelion, traveled in an instant. “Normally it should be available at all times, but there are too many regions we can’t use it now. It’s a real pain.”
“Yeah,” Ren mumbled.
“So? Ren, have you learned to swim?”
“Bubba Sword can now swim about fifteen meters! I taught him!”
“Hmmm.” I looked at Ren, and he looked away. All of this time, various techniques, and he could only swim fifteen meters?
“Don’t be too hard on him, Mr. Naofumi,” Raphtalia reprimanded.
And that was how we ended up taking Ren to Q’ten Lo.
Rat and Wyndia had made good progress with their ecology research in Siltvelt. It was a perfect jumping-off point to bring them with us. When I showed a branch of sakura lumina to Rat, her eyes had sparkled as she investigated it. Her curiosity in Q’ten Lo was definitely increasing.
“Oh! That looks like an interesting ecosystem! Count us in!” she exclaimed.
“Where’s Gaelion?” Wyndia asked.
“On a separate operation, providing transport to Atla and her group. We’ll meet up again with them soon.”
“Okay.”
“Right, we’re going to go and check out the vicinity.”
“Go ahead. There might still be enemies around here, so be careful.”
“I know the drill.” With that, the two of them headed out. They were going to be joining the rear support but bringing them with us looked to definitely advance their research.
After that, I also checked in with Imiya’s uncle, who was running the weapon shop.
“Master and Erhard are here?” he asked.
Seeing as he wouldn’t be gone for long, I had him close up shop and led him to Motoyasu II’s workshop in Q’ten Lo.
“Yeah. They should have arrived at the workshop by now. Let’s go and see them. Come with me.”
“Sure.” Imiya’s uncle, if I remembered correctly, had his training as a blacksmith interrupted by family issues. He’d filled in a few gaps by helping the old guy out, but this was a good opportunity for him to get some proper experience.
As another plus, it wouldn’t hurt to have another pair of eyes on Motoyasu II.
All of those factors in play, I took Imiya’s uncle to the old guy and his master.
“Oh? It’s Tolly! Kid, what’s going on here?” the old guy asked. We’d arrived at Motoyasu II’s workshop to find an incredibly large forge. Everything was well tended to, and it even included an ironworks. The furnace was always lit, and the smokestack on the roof always belched smoke. It even had magical facilities. Just from that perspective, the old guy’s store couldn’t hold a candle to all this. Of particular note was a device that looked to have some real magical properties, an oven that looked like it might bake bread connected to some kind of handle.
“There was a dragon hourglass in the old city. Knowing you’ve still got a lot of work to do, I had him close the shop at home and brought him here,” I told the old guy.
“That makes me worry a little about Melromarc, but that’s definitely a big help,” he said.
“Geh! Now Tolly too?” Motoyasu II looked first at Imiya’s uncle and then glared at me. “You fiend! How much pressure are you putting on me?”
“Just shut up and keep working. You can have your fun once you’ve taught the old guy and Imiya’s uncle all of your techniques!”
“Shut it! I had a splitting headache that lasted three days, thanks to you!” he bellowed.
“Don’t look at me. You ordered those drinks,” I snapped. I only made the, shall we say, adjustments.
“It’s been tough watching master and making sure he doesn’t run off,” the old guy commented, crossing his arms. “With Tolly here that should get easier.”
“Well, okay. I’ll do my best,” Imiya’s uncle said, looking like the responsibility was maybe a bit much for him—a reaction very much like his niece would have given in the same situation.
“Oh, and those Spirit Tortoise materials you were asking about, old guy? I made the arrangements, so just say the word.”
“Great! That’s a big help. If my master and I work on them together, I’m sure we’ll be able to make some great new gear!”
“Damn your eyes, all of you! Very well, Tolly! I’m going to hammer you into shape, so I expect a cut of your profits later!” he growled. What crazy conditions. He was training two students, so he expected to see a return? Well, bad luck, pervert. Any profits created by Imiya’s uncle would be coming to me. Nothing for you, old goat!
“Ah, something else. I brought Ren along too, the Sword Hero,” I announced.
“Huh? Is this the moment you introduce me?” Ren spoke up, having quietly listened to us until that point.
“Yes. We’ve got a sword that looks pretty good. I was thinking of having you copy it, Ren,” I told him.
“It’s still being purified. I’ve no idea what will happen if you lay your grubby fingers on it,” Motoyasu II growled and pointed to the weapon hanging on the wall in a corner of the room. “Even with the facilities here, this is going to take a bit more time.”
“A sword? Interesting. It does have an incredible energy. Like, I feel the sword . . . throbbing, I might say.” As he spoke, Ren placed his hand on the hilt of his own sword.
“Ah? Interested in weapon-making, are you?” Motoyasu II spat.
“Ah, well. A little. I do like to collect fine weapons.”
“Hmmm. You’ve got a woman-repelling aura about you, much preferable to that Shield moron. I think we’re going to get on. Very well. Maybe I’ll teach you a few things, if you’ll help me escape later,” he went on. Seriously, he had some stones. Saying stuff like that right in front of my face!
“S-sure, that sounds good. My name is Ren Amaki.” What the hell was Ren smiling for? He’d been roundly mocked! “Woman-repelling” was not a compliment!
“Enough of this, anyway. Ren, you just keep an eye on that old perv,” I commanded.
“Very well.” He nodded. With that, I left Ren at the workshop.
“My sword! Noooo!” Motoyasu II’s cries rang out the moment after we left.
“I’m s-sorry! I completely forgot. My curse makes things I touch degrade!” The damage was one sakura stone of destiny sword. It wasn’t going to be easy to get Ren to copy any weapons. I promptly ordered him to head to the hot springs as soon as possible in order to fully recover from the curse.
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