Book 4: Chapter 7

Volume 4: Chapter 7

What came to my mind was the Dodo bird that went extinct on Earth.

This bird, found on Mauritius Island, was overhunted as soon as it was discovered because it was a non-flying bird with low wariness towards humans and its meat was delicious. Dogs brought to the island by humans and the rats on board the sailors’ ships also ate Dodo eggs and chicks on the island. As a result, it became extinct.

Similar situation happened with herring fish in Japan. Herring was so easy to catch off the coast of Hokkaido that it was overfished until the haul dropped to about only 1% of what it was at its peak. Although there were signs that the herring population was rebounding in the 1980s, that rebound was also overfished and the herring haul dropped again.

The herring was not eaten in the period when it was overfished, but was instead transformed to fertilizer… Human beings are creatures driven by greed regardless of nation.

「Are you asleep, Reiji-san?」

「No, I’m still awake.」

I offered the bed in the guest room to Asha, and I took the sofa. Sleeping on the sofa felt like heaven compared to inns, but sleep wasn’t coming to me.

The windows were open, the lace curtains fluttered in the wind, and moonlight streamed into the room. It is said that the temperature drops at night and it becomes chilly.

「About the thing you mentioned earlier, the same thing happened in the Elven Forest too.」

「In the Elven Forest?」

「I heard that the Elven forest used to be about three times as large as it is today. The forest cultivated an abundance of fruits. Among them, the golden peach fruit was especially delicious. It was effective against all kinds of sicknesses. However, the number of trees that bore them was limited, and blood was spilled over the ownership of those trees. Finally, when the High Elf royal family decided to take direct control over them, the trees were all burned by someone.」

Fire incidents for humans are already shocking enough, but for elves who consider fire as a taboo, it must have been similar to a heart attack.

「Even after that, there was information that golden peaches were traded in the elves’ underworld society, but now, there is not even a rumor of those fruits.」

「…Does that mean those peach trees no longer exist?」

「Most likely. The trees were damaged when people fought over them.」

I imagined the elves being carefree and gentle as they were forest-dwelling people with longevity, but after hearing Asha’s story, they are not much different from humans.

After that, Asha and I talked about a few more things. Mostly about what to do from here on.

We thought there were only monsters in this world, so it was a fortunate miscalculation on our part that there were people as well, but, one way or another, we want to return to the “Front World”.

「…Not only Chochoriges, but also the people are on the verge of extinction.」

Asha’s foresight was impressive.

**

Kimidori Papa asked me to go to the front lines with him so I can convey my theory to the elders. Not because he felt urgency in what I said, but rather, “That is an interesting reasoning!” he said. Not a hint of nervousness.

As for me, if the Chochorieges become extinct because I decided to ignore them, it would weigh on my consciousness, so I accepted.

By the way, me going to the front lines brought up heavy disputes within the Dragonewt Army, it seems. The reason for the dispute was simple–

「I want to go too, nu!」

「Then I should go, nura!」

「No, I will go!」

It seems that everyone wants to go to the front line and “research”.

However, we, who are the “guests” from other races, were asked by none other than Kimidori Papa — so Kimidori Papa’s decision was final.

「Honestly speaking, I don’t think they’re going extinct at all, but if you will go to the front line with me, I will believe you, nura! Wahahaha!」

The large flocks of Chochoriges that Kimidori Papa saw in his childhood might still be flapping their wings in his memory.

That’s what I’m scared of. If people continue to hunt only for immediate profit, animal resources will become exhausted in the blink of an eye.

「Why must I come as well, nure…」

Kimidori Papa decided to take Kimidori Gorn-san as well. He wants Kimidori Gorn-san to gain experience gradually and find employment in the Dragon Army.

It seems that Kimidori Papa’s research result presentation yesterday persuaded him.

「Don’t use weak words like”nure”, nu!」

「That is my own style. And I have to use advanced words ​​to conduct advanced science, nu!」

The two were arguing about the mysterious words they use to end their sentences.

「My, my, to think the day will come when I can see Papa and Kimi-chan having a father-son fight in this house… I have to thank Reiji-san and Asha-san for this, nu!」Kimidori Mama said, watching the scene.

「Umm… this might sound strange coming from me, but Asha and I escaped from our tribes’ town, and yet, aren’t you a bit too trusting and too accepting of us?」

「Yes, indeed. You mean the forbidden love that transcends race, right!?」

「No!」

Asha’s nose scrunched as I answered immediately.

「See, Asha is also making a sullen face.」I said.

「…………」

…Oh man, why is Asha glaring at me?

「A-Anyway, I didn’t think we would be welcomed so kindly.」

「Why, nu?」

If I have to give a reason why, for a town that is united by a single race like this, it would be natural to be wary of outsiders. After all, in the “Front World”, the Lev Magic Empire is extremely wary of foreigners.

「We are all a family, the last few people living in this world, after all. There is no way we wouldn’t accept you.」

「————」

S-So dazzling! Kimidori Mama is shining like a holy saint!

「Wahahaha! Reiji-kun, don’t fall for my honey, okay!」Kimidori Papa said, already done with his father-son fight.

I’m not gonna fall for a married, dragonewt woman, with an adult child. It’s much too troublesome.

**

We moved to the front lines on foot.

Though, it was more like jogging. I heard that dragonewt people can run all day long without tiring. Of course, riding a horse would be faster, but their number is small, and above all, horses are not suitable for traversing through forest paths with poor footing.

「R-Rei, Reiji-san!?」

「Asha, you’ll accidentally bite your tongue if you speak.」

I couldn’t let Asha run all the way, so I decided to carry her in princess carry. And maybe switch to a piggyback ride when my arms get tired.

I stuck close to Kimidori Papa, who was running in front of us like flying through the thin forest.

「Kimidori Gorn! You’re slow, nu!」

「Haa, haa… M-My body grew dull, because of the long research… haa, haa…」

…Kimidori Gorn-san, your papa is running at this speed while wearing armor and carrying a long spear, so please do your best.

「Reiji-kun, you’re quite powerful, aren’t you! And it looks like you have stamina too! So what do you say? Won’t you join the Dragonewt Army–」

「I’m not joining. I mean, I just have a physical enhancement skill orb.」

As soon as I answered, Kimidori Papa suddenly braked with a startled look.

「…What’s wrong?」

「…Ah, nothing…」

He replied in a weak tone, which is unusual for Kimidori Papa. No, his tone is always in MAX volume setting, so returning to the normal setting makes it feel weak, but it’s actually just his normal voice.

Papa started running again and I followed him.

「The dragonewt tribe have almost no skill orbs at all, so… does the underground human village have a significant number of skill orbs?」

Ah… that’s what it was.

In this world, skill orbs can only be obtained in a dungeon.

Therefore, the amount of yield is very small.

(But it shouldn’t be the case that there are significantly lesser skill orbs in this world.)

El-san(a rabbit, age unknown), a High Priest of the Kruvan Holy Kingdom, also said:

Skill Orbs circulate between the two worlds.

If the two worlds are the same, then there should be eight skill orb production points, starting with the “First Altar”.

(I can go searching for those points, but I’m not here to pick up skill orbs. And the monsters here are much worse than in the “Front World”. I can’t imagine it will be safe to go searching for them.)

I saw a gigantic monster when the sky above the Lev Magic Empire broke. That monster is somewhere in this world.

For the time being, I have no choice but to answer that I don’t know about the underground human village.

「I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hide it, but I am not an underground human and Asha isn’t a dark elf.」

「I know.」

Eh, you know!?

「That is your relationship “setting”, right, nu?」

You don’t get it at all. And why are you making that “I’m smart, aren’t I?” smug face? You got it wrong, man.

「Umm, no, it’s not– nevermind. Anyway, I don’t know how many skill orbs there are in the underground human village. Is there any other way to get skill orbs other than a dungeon?」

「I heard that it was found in a forest long ago, nu… but that forest also fell into the hands of monsters.」

Asha twitched in my arms.

Just my guess, but it’s probably the “Third Forest”.

As I expected, the eight points that produce skill orbs also exist in this world.

(I don’t know how large is the monster influence, but it might be a good idea to secure at least one safe place which produces skill orb before I return to the Front World—)

While thinking about that, we hurried ahead.

About half a day later, when the sun was about to set, we arrived at the front lines where the elders of the dragonewt tribe were.