The Master of the Brave - Chapter 141
The Master of the Brave
Chapter 141. Messages
“Hey, Wynn. I went to Elnasa with Seri-san, did you know? The city of the elves, the city of the World Tree, Elnasa.”
“It was amazing. I was impressed that there is such a place in the world.”
Seri nodded at Abel’s words as she spoke proudly to Wynn.
“I see, how nice. I’ve always wanted to go there too.”
“Yes, I guess I’ve finally seen a part of the world that Wynn hasn’t. What do you think? Are you jealous?”
“Honestly, yes, I am.”
“When you see the World Tree, you’ll understand why it’s called like that.”
“I’ve also seen a World Tree Sapling growing in Liesbert-san’s village…”
When Wynn looked at Liesbert, Liesbert smiled and shook his head after Seri translated Wynn’s words into Elvish.
‘A Sapling could not compare to it. The roots of the trunk of the World Tree are as big as a mountain.’
“A-As big as mountains?”
“Oh, you mean the World Tree? I wonder how tall it is. You can’t see the top of the tree because it is hidden by clouds.”
Abel didn’t understand Elvish, but from Wynn’s word “mountain” and the flow of the conversation, he guessed they meant the World Tree and explained.
“At the root is a huge lake of fresh water, dazzling with the reflection of the drops of light spilling from the World Tree.”
“It was beautiful, wasn’t it? It was like stars scattered all over the night sky, or as if a jewel box had been turned upside down…?”
“It’s always like day, isn’t it? Even at night, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to sleep because of the glare.”
“Is it light at night, too?”
Wynn asked, and Seri shook her head.
“There are several caves at the base of the tree. They are very large and spacious… I’ve heard that it’s completely dark in there, and that the elves use magic to artificially control day and night.”
“Heeh…”
It was fun to hear about that scenery He had never seen before. As much as he wanted to continue this conversation forever, there was one thing he really needed to ask Seri.
“So, Seri, did you get to meet your… relatives?”
“Yes, with Tiara-sama’s help. I was able to meet my father’s relatives. But they could not accept my father who left his homeland nor me, who was born with human blood in my veins…”
“I see…”
“Oh, but it’s all right.” Seeing Wynn’s shadowed expression, Seri hastily waved her hand in front of her face. “My homeland is the Empire, you know? There’s no way I can start a new life in Elnasa now. Besides…” Cutting off her words, Seri looked at Liesbert.
‘I got a seed from a World Tree sapling in Elnasa. I’m going to plant it in the ruins of my village and restore it.’
“I’m going to help with that, too.”
“Oh, I see.”
Leticia, who had been listening quietly to Wynn and the others there, gave a small nod of her head.
“I see, both of you…”
“Yes.” Seri smiled and nodded.
“I see. Letty, what’s wrong?”
Leticia looked at Wynn with a dumbfounded expression on her face.
“Seri-san and Liesbert-san started a relationship, you know? That means the two of them are going to work together to restore the village.”
“Oh, that was it.”
“Oh, my, how slow you are, Onii-chan…”
“Letty-chan. Wouldn’t be the first time Wynn’s been slow, would it?”
“I know, but…”
Abel laughed and looked at Leticia.
“What’s wrong with you guys?”
“But it doesn’t matter anymore, because he told me he liked me, so…”
It was Leticia who let out a sigh and mumbled the second half of her words in a small, cheerful voice.
As they prepared to use the tub, Laura went to the kitchen to prepare the food and then busily made her way to Simurgh. Wynn had asked Laura to contact someone. She knew the guards who guarded the gate on her way to and from the market in the square in front of Simurgh’s outer wall. It was mid-afternoon when Wynn and his friends arrived at Laura’s house, and as the sun set behind the mountains, Laura returned with a figure in her cart.
“Good morning, Wynn. Letty-chan, long time no see.”
“Paul-san!”
“It’s been a while, Paul-san. You’re looking well.”
He was an old friend of Wynn and Leticia. Paul, who took care of them as a senior adventurer when they were young, and was now working as an employee of the Adventurer’s Guild. He had injured his leg and could no longer continue as an adventurer, so he rode on the back of a cart pulled by Laura’s horse. To Ifelina, Paul was also her beloved older brother, and she was quick to jump into his arms.
“I was confident that you would be safe from the battle of Erz and even if you went to Lyon. Glad to see I wasn’t wrong.”
“It was hard the way to the abandoned mine in the Majil. Oh, right. That’s when Oort-san and the others showed us the way.”
“Oort-san? Woah, that brings back memories. I haven’t seen him in a long time, Oort-san, Louis-san, and Eliza-san. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them… how are they?” Paul’s face filled with tears as he heard the nostalgic names of the senior adventurers who took care of him and Wynn in the past.
“They’ve been well. Louis-san and Eliza-san got married and settled in Erz. All three said to give you their regards, Paul-san.”
“I see. So now they live in Erz. Well, I’m sure they could make themselves a fortune.” Paul murmured with deep emotion after hearing Leticia’s story. As a failed adventurer himself, he must have felt something for the three senior adventurers he admired. “Well…” It took him a short time to be deeply moved. When he looked around at all the faces gathered at Laura’s house, his expression tightened. He only looked like a clerk organizing jobs at the Adventurers Guild. “I’m sure the reason you sent for me to this house was to ask me for something important…”
When Paul said that, Kelvin bowed his head slightly and spoke.
“It is as you suppose…”
“Well, just look at all these faces. Wynn, Letty and Her Imperial Highness. And then there are her squires.”
“Yes, we have a request for you, or rather for the Adventurers Guild. By the way, my name is Kelvin. I’m second in command, more or less.”
“I thought the Squire Corps was run by Her Highness Cornelia, no hierarchy.”
“In terms of the system, yes, but the captain… I mean, Count Royce von Elstead and I served in the role of leaders in the unit from which they were previously assigned. It’s as if the customs of that time have been carried over directly.”
“I see. So, Mr. Second-in-Command Kelvin, what is it you want the Guild to do?”
“I want it done immediately. I want them to contact the Marine Trading Company and act as a go-between for the men His Highness Alfred has in Simurgh,”
Hearing those words, Paul’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“So the Crown Prince is finally planning to retake the Imperial Capital?” Paul looked at Cornelia for a moment. She was sitting next to Wynn, on the opposite side of Leticia, staring at Paul.
“The Guild will only have to contact the Marine Trading Company, correct?”
Kelvin nodded at Paul’s confirmation.
“Right. Although maybe after contacting the Marine Trading Company, they’ll have them contact us as well.”
“I get it. And you will also want us to be your contact and intermediary with the Company.”
“I suppose I should praise the Adventurers Guild. Did they know so much about us?”
“Of course. I hope you don’t underestimate the Guild’s information network. Since we also think that the Crown Prince’s subordinates, the knights of the Zaunas faction, will soon be in action.”
“Zaunas faction?” Wynn said, surprised at those words. “By the Zaunas faction, you mean the principal Zaunas?”
“That’s right.”
When Wynn asked, Kelvin nodded broadly.
“I had heard that the high-ranking knights who were loyal to Principal Zaunas when he staged his coup were executed and the rest were all exiled.”
Locke could not hide his surprise. He turned to look at Lino, who was sitting next to him, and then at Wedge, who was visible over Lino’s head.
“Speaking of which, I heard that it was His Highness Alfred who got rid of the Zaunas faction.”
Lino said, and Kelvin smiled.
“Yes, that’s right. His Highness Alfred executed the order. That is how it was meant to be. But please think about it. The knights who went over to the Zaunas faction were all fierce warriors who had been sent to the Continental Anti-Demon Alliance and had been through fierce battles. Many of them were also comrades-in-arms of mine and the Captain. They were, without a doubt, the strongest and the elite of the Empire. It would be unthinkable to lose them in vain.”
“So you let the world think you got rid of them, but kept them as a hidden force?”
“Though the mastermind behind it all was our captain.” Kelvin smiled and nodded to Cornelia. “Even though Prince Neumann took over the imperial capital where the emperor resides, his highness Alfred agreed to it because of his presence. The knights of the Zaunas faction had been living in Simurgh, hiding their past. Even if Simurgh was occupied and the gates were closed, they could open them from inside with their strength. The knights of the Zaunas faction are experts who have fought over a hundred battles. Their skill level will be different from the knights who have been locked in Simurgh.”
“Huh~, the Captain~. I didn’t know that he had foreseen these events so long ago.”
“No, to be precise, I directed things for this situation to happen. The captain and His Highness Alfred…”
Lino’s words were denied by Kelvin.
“Since the battle at Erz was resolved and the armies of Lyon and the Crown Prince marched into Cliffdorf territory, I knew it was a matter of time before they made a move on the Imperial Capital as well. This time, the guild must support the Crown Prince’s faction in the shadows. Leave it to us to get in touch with the Marine Trading Company.” Paul picked up the conversation and assured Kelvin.
“Can you do that without them knowing we’re hiding here?”
“For us adventurers, those lookout soldiers see as well as a blind dog. We can get under their noses and make contact with the prince’s men as much as we want.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Kelvin said, and shook Paul’s hand firmly.
“I’m going to collect a lot of money from the empire when this is over. I’ll see to it that we get a generous reward.”
“Not that it’s going to hurt my pocket, so feel free to charge me for any necessary expenses you have. If you want, I’ll make it up to you, even if I have to add some color.”
“Haha, that’s great. But the guild motto is clear accounting. I’ll accept the sentiment and be grateful.”
Kelvin and Paul. The two interacted with each other as if they were the most experienced adventurers. Wynn, Cornelia and the rest of the team looked at them admiringly as they shook hands with smiles that suggested their experience as veterans.
“Right. What brought you here, Tiara?” Outside this circle of imperial squires and adventurers Guild employees, Leticia asked Tiara, remembering she was there.
“When Seri visited Elnasa, the will of the World Tree spoke to me.”
“The will of the World Tree?”
Tiara nodded at Leticia’s question and then looked at Seri beside her.
“It wanted me to go with this girl to the imperial capital of the Lemmrousell Empire. Then it projected an image in my mind.”
“An image?”
“Letty. Deep within the Imperial Palace, a being of great power awaits the two of you.”
“The two of us? That means not just me?”
“That’s right, you two.” Tiara said, and looked at Wynn.
“Onii-chan and me…?”
Tiara nodded.
“And what about that powerful being? Why are they waiting for us?”
But at Leticia’s question, Tiara shook her head with a pained expression on her face.
“I’m sorry, Letty, I can’t answer that question.”
“Tiara?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to answer you, it’s just that I’m not allowed to say it. I’m sorry, Letty. The will that has spoken to me through the world tree wants it to be so.”
“What did that will intend to…?”
“I can’t tell you that either. But I have come here, Letty, because that will has asked me to. When the time comes, I will surely help you.” Said Tiara, and stared into Leticia’s eyes.
“I understand. If you say so, there must be something important that you can’t tell me. But I will keep in mind that there is someone waiting for me and Onii-chan in the depths of the Imperial Palace.”
“Thank you, Letty.” Tiara nodded at Leticia’s words and bowed her head once more.
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