Chapter 315 - Arriving in the Imperial Capital

I woke up on the floor and then stretched my sore body. Then I took out my face washing tools from the hollow bag, which I had been using as a pillow, and then went outside. I washed my face with water I made with magic, and then brushed my teeth before returning to the house to chew on some bread. We’d be returning to the imperial capital today. Thankfully, the weather was quite nice.

“We can finally go back…”

I muttered. It had been a long battle. Perhaps on the same scale as the battle against the orcs. That had really worn me out mentally… Was Arthur doing well? I still needed to return the holy sword, so it would be nice if we could meet him again.

“Ah, you are already up.”

“Yeah. Morning.”

It was quite rare for Daniela to be up this early. I thought she would be the last one to get out of bed, but perhaps she was only like that when it was just us. In spite of just getting out of bed, she looked wide awake.

After that, a less awake looking Marcel and a normal looking Silket came out of their room and we had breakfast. I had already eaten earlier. But that didn’t stop me.

After having a pleasant meal around the table, it was time to clean up. As we didn’t have the tools with us, we had to use what was in the house. We swept the floor and wiped the tables and made the bed. By the time we were done and had picked up our belongings, a voice rang from outside.

“Heeey! We’ll be leaving soon!”

“Got it!”

I answered to the Jade who had been sent to call everyone. I made sure that we hadn’t forgotten anything, and then we stepped out of the house.

Then we headed to the main square. The others had already gathered together. We had fought a lot, but everyone was alive. It was the result of good teamwork and obeying the orders of a solid leader. This wouldn’t have happened if it was every man for himself. They would have had trouble just building the campsite at the frontline. So we were pretty lucky to have the members that we had.

“Oh, are you late? Silvergreeen.”

“It’s common courtesy to clean up after yourselves!”

“Woah!”

I lightly kicked the snow with my Legs of the God Wolf enhanced foot. Needless to say, Adlus was covered in snow by the time I stepped into the line. Adlus spit out the snow that got into his mouth and then coughed as a way of bringing back a more serious atmosphere.

“Mm, so. You’re all here now. We will now begin our journey back to the city. But the quest doesn’t end until we reach the guild. So keep your guard up.”

Everyone answered and then the march began. Felz was with us. The villagers back in the city were probably worried to death over him…

It could have just been me, but everyone seemed light on their feet as they walked. They were almost cheerful. Of course, they still remained cautious. They were Adventurers after all. As for me, all I was thinking about was a warm bath and eating lots of good food…

We didn’t encounter any trouble on the road. It was peace itself. When I asked about it, I was told that monsters rarely appeared in this area, to begin with. Even more so because it was the icesnow season. The Adventurer I had asked was born in the imperial capital.

“A stampede like this has never happened before.”

“Hmm…it must have been quite a shock then.”

“Exactly. The guild was frantic as it tried to gather a team together.”

Well, I guess it was something that was difficult to be prepared for… An attack involving an abnormally evolved being and ancient elves. We’d all be happy if it was a once every hundred years kind of deal.

“Makes you really appreciate the times of peace…”

“Yeah. Ah, you can see the city now.”

“Ohh. I feel like I’m coming back home.”

“Well, you are…”

And like that, we finished the mission and returned to the imperial capital. I had fought and made new friends. I would have to try to use this experience so that I could continue to survive…

The Namila villagers who were now protected by the city were being housed at the military lodging facility that Daniela and I had stayed at previously. We were told this by a soldier who came out to greet us at the gate. So, we just had to return Felz to them and this whole business would be over.

“Don’t do anything dangerous like that again. The villagers have enough to worry about.”

“I know. Miss Marcel and Silket already told me that.”

“Good. Then I have nothing left to say to you.”

We had stayed in the north district long enough to get through by just having our faces recognized. And so we entered and went straight to the military lodging facility. We met a few acquaintances on the way and so I waved. Whenever this happened, Felz would look at me with an expression of awe, which was quite embarrassing.

However, it was the person we were the most acquainted with that ran up to us.

“Ah, Mister Asagi!”

“Miss Licoris. It’s been a while.”

It was Licoris Ladiaray, the woman who had guided us through the north district. Was she guiding someone else today?

“I hadn’t seen you in so long, I assumed you had traveled off already…”

“No, we were just on a quest to deal with a stampede in the north. We succeeded and have only just returned.”

“I see…oh!”

“What is it?”

Miss Licoris suddenly stopped her nodding and shouted loudly, much to my surprise. Well, Daniela more than me.

“Someone has gone missing. It’s the chief’s second son. Mister Asagi, you wouldn’t have happened to see him?”

“Uh…”

I glanced over to Felz. He had gone pale. Perhaps the words ‘gone missing’ carried more weight than he was expecting.

“Could it be…is that him?”

“Yeah. I saved him when he was being attacked by a goblin outside of the city. He said he had left because he wanted to protect the town.”

“Thank heavens…he is safe. Oh, so you must be on your way to return him to his guardian?”

“Yes. Or should I leave him with the military?”

“No, there shouldn’t be a problem if you do it. People recognize you here and I can report to them for you. That is, if you don’t mind?”

I nodded willingly. That had been my original intention anyway. Make sure Felz got back safely.

“Well, I must be going now. Thank you, Mister Asagi.”

“Yes. Be careful.”

Miss Licoris fell into her always perfect salute and then went running off towards the castle. Things should settle down now. We just had to finish delivering Felz.

“Hello, Mister Hipericam.”

“…Hmm? Oh, it’s you, Mister Asagi. What is it? Did you get kicked out of your inn?”

The man who looked up to greet us was in charge of this lodging facility. He always looked drowsy.

“No, that’s not it. We came to deliver this boy. He’s from Namila village.”

“Ahh. The one that was reported missing… Well, well. If you only knew how they were searching so desperately for him.”

Yes, I had heard something. I guess everyone knew about it now… And it was no wonder…

“Well, I will make a report about him being found then. You should take him back to his guardian now.”

“Ah, Miss Licoris said she was going to do that.”

“Her… Well, she’s certainly an active one, isn’t she? Hmm. Oh, you’ll be wanting to go to room 316. I believe it’s the same room you and Miss Daniela used when you were staying with us.”

The memories. It was a good room.

We left Hipericam and I held Felz’s hand as we went up the stairs. A few other people recognized us and we greeted them. As for Felz…he was starting to look very nervous.

“What’s wrong?”

“…I’ll probably get in trouble.”

“No, you definitely will get in trouble…”

He had left the city in the middle of a stampede. Crying wasn’t going to get him out of it.

“…Mister Asagi, you can talk on my behalf.”

“Don’t be stupid. You started this. You’ll never become an adult if you can’t deal with the consequences of your actions.”

“Buuuuuu…”

To his credit, he continued to climb the stairs without running away. Even Daniela seemed a little impressed as she nodded approvingly.

“Besides, I think he’ll also be very happy.”

“Huh?”

“His father died, but his little brother has returned alive. How could he not be happy?”

“…”

Daniela had lost both of her parents… Perhaps she understood how Felz’s brother felt.

“Go and face his anger, and then accept his embrace. And everything will be solved.”

“…Fine. I don’t mind if I’m scolded. I’ll say that I’m sorry and tell him that it’s all over!”

“Yes, that’s good.”

“I can go by myself from here. Thank you for bringing me.”

He hadn’t been scolded yet, but Felz had the determined expression of a man. He would be fine.

“Go and face him then. We’ll be waiting downstairs.”

“Yes. See you later!”

The room was just up ahead now. I handed the key to Felz and he walked towards the door without hesitation. We watched him disappear into the room and then left.

It went without saying, but the sounds of angry shouting and crying could be heard immediately.