CH 104

AN: Since there were contradictions in the setting, I made some revision.

[Familiar Face]

In the path leading to the Lisburn village where I was born, there is a dim and narrow road that is only enough to be passed through by a carriage leading to a tunnel created as though penetrating through the base of the high mountains on which trees grew densely.

The only way to enter the village is to take this road or go through the tall and steep mountain.

Five years ago, when I decided to leave the village and become an adventurer in the royal capital and walked along this road with Alfine, I was helplessly scared. Yet, seeing it now, it is surprisingly just a normal road.

It means I too have grown a little, huh.

Steering Diedur, I follow the path in my memory, leading the wagon driven by Suzana.

Eventually, a long and dark tunnel appears before us.

“Suzana-san, it will be a quite a long tunnel from here onwards, so you should light up a lantern.” (Frick)

“Understood. I will prepare it immediately.” (Suzana)

“Suzana, I will put magical light as a spare light source on you, okay? To Frick-sama too.” (Noelia)

After the carriage stopped and Noelia – who showed up from the luggage compartment – chanted a magic, my cloak, along with Suzana’s wagon, begin to be cladded in light, brightly illuminating the surroundings.

“Thanks. It’s a great help. Though I’ll also light up a lantern, it would be troublesome if something happens and it dies down.” (Frick)

I also take out a lantern from the bag attached to Diedur’s saddle, light it up, and hang it on the saddle to use it as a light source.

“But still, even though we have been through tunnels several times before, this one sure is pitch black all the way to the depths, isn’t it…” (Noelia)

“The adults of the village are watching over the exit of this tunnel and managing the people who enter and leave the village, however… I heard that at the time of the Great Invasion, the Abyss Walkers invaded by crossing over the steep mountains.” (Frick)

“The mountains, is it…” (Noelia)

The mountains we have seen along the way here have steep terrains that not only people but also animals couldn’t approach; normally, no one would think that someone would cross it.

“So, when we were growing up, the kids were forbidden from getting close to the mountains; though the adults would go into the mountains on a regular basis.” (Frick)

“Hee, the Abyss Walkers even go as far as attacking such a place…” (Noelia)

As though she is impressed, Noelia looks deep into the pitch-black tunnel.

“Frick-sama, the preparation is complete, so we may proceed.” (Suzana)

Suzana, who have also light up a lantern and hang it, inform me that she is done with her preparation.

Since it has become brighter, the inside of the tunnel, which was hollowed out from the rock surface, come to be visible.

“Then, let’s go.” (Frick)

After having Diedur walks, I start proceeding through the tunnel that shows rugged rock surface.

As I proceed through the tunnel illuminated by the magical light and the lantern light, I soon began to see the exit. Along with the light from the outside, a voice calls out to us.

“This is the village of Lisburn, however, what is your business? From the looks of it, you are an adventurer, but there is nothing in this village, ya know?”

Due to the outside light, the face of the owner of the voice can’t be seen.

Though as I approach, I come to be able to see the face of the owner of the voice.

The owner of the voice was an acquaintance of my parents, Riot Oji-san who were always guarding the entrance of the village.

I came to the village with Alfine last spring, but now that I look like this, can he realize that I’m Finn?

Since Alfine and I went to the royal capital, we were busy working as adventurers, so even though we were always sending money to the orphanage, we only returned to the village once a year.

“Riot Oji-san, it’s me. Lorentz’s son, Finn. There’s some circumstances, so I come to the village, however, can you let me in?” (Frick)

Riot, who I called, looks at me with a surprise on his face.

“Haah!? Finn? Finn, you say? That Sword Saint Alfine’s partner, Finn!? No no, Lorentz’s son should have black hair and black eyes! You must be an imposter! Hey! There’s a suspicious person trying to enter the village!” (Riot)

Having seen my appearance, Riot blows a metal whistle hanging around his neck and points his spear at me.

Then, I see the villagers who heard the sound of Riot’s whistle coming and gathering at the entrance of the tunnel with weapons in their hands.

“It’s the truth. I’m truly Finn. I look like this now due to a circumstance. I just want to meet the director of the orphanage and his wife.” (Frick)

As I thought, no one recognize me as Finn in this appearance.

Even I myself think I’m too different from before.

But if I don’t have them get it somehow, I won’t be able to enter the village, will I…

Noelia, who has gotten off the carriage, pulls the sleeve of me who is having trouble dealing with the matter.

[Shall I tell them about the situation? If I bring up the name of the frontier count family, I think the villagers would be willing to listen to our story a little…] (Noelia)

[No, I think they’ll understand if I explain it properly, so it’s okay. For now, Noelia and the others should stay in the carriage.] (Frick)

After saying so to Noelia, I get off from Diedur and approach Riot, who is turning his spear tip toward me.

“Riot Oji-san, because of your left elbow which was injured last spring, you’re holding your spear improperly again, you know. You have to raise it more.” (Frick)

“How could you kno—” (Riot)

“Besides, if Claire Oba-san finds out that you drink alcohol while working, you’ll be kicked out of the house again, you know.” (Frick)

“Even the name of my wife… No way, are you really that Finn……?” (Riot)

Riot, who is pointing his spear at me, lower his spear tip to the ground when I said his wife’s name.

“Riot-san! Are they suspicious people!?”

The villagers who have come running due to the sound of the whistle try to point the spear in their hands at me, but Riot hold them back by raising his hand.

“My bad, I made a mistake. Despite his appearance, the one in front of us should be Finn from our village.” (Riot)

“Eh? By Finn, you mean that Finn? Certainly, his age seems to be close to Finn, but that guy should have black hair and black eyes——”

“There is a circumstance, so now I ended up having red hair and red eyes… Long time no see, Scott-san.” (Frick)

“It’s really Finn?” (Scott)

The villager who asked was also my acquaintance when I was in the village.

Although he is also surprised at my change, he seems to believe Riot’s words, as he drops his spear.

“Though I look like this, completely different from before, today I came to see the director of the orphanage and his wife for a private matter. The people behind me are Noelia, the daughter of the frontier count family, and her subordinates.” (Frick)

“Geh! It’s really the crest of the frontier count family!”

“Why is the wagon of the family of the hero of the Great Invasion is at a village like this!? Wait, could it be, that young woman, the hero’s daughter – Infinite Mage-sama?”

Having heard my explanation, the two makes surprised faces seeing the crest on the wagon after they pointed their lanterns toward it.

“Please don’t fuss over me as I just came accompanying Frick… I mean, Finn-sama. Also, it would be great if you could let us through to the village.” (Noelia)

Noelia, who had returned to the wagon, is curious about the situation and has once again come out of the luggage compartment.

“Y-yes. Please go ahead!”

Riot and Scott hold up their spears and lean toward the edge of the road, correcting their posture.

“Thank you. Also, I’ll visit your places later——” (Frick)

I bow lightly to them, get on Diedur and go out of the tunnel.

After passing through the dark tunnel and getting used to the outside light, a nostalgic scenery spread out in front of me.

“I’m back…”

In my sight, the village of Lisburn, my hometown, which was built on a flat land surrounded by high mountains, looks the same as it was five years ago.

“The orphanage hasn’t changed either…” (Frick)

“So this is the village where Frick-sama grew up…” (Noelia)

“Ahh, this is the village where I spent fifteen years at.” (Frick)

Noelia, who have gotten out of the wagon and stood next to me, seems to be impressed looking at the village that spread out under her eyes.

Prev | ToC | Next

It seems that the author has noticed the contradictions in the story, though it hasn’t been completely revised yet…