CH 47

Now that I have finished the end of my deal with the mercenaries, I leave them to on their own. I’m sure there among them, there’s someone thinking about revenge for their comrade I slain and also, I want to find some vegetables.

I wandered around the dark forest till I ended up in a vast plain. I think I went too far south and when I realize I remember that east from here is the town of those mercenaries. What I want is a village so I change course till I smell something.

(They really are everywhere…)

Basically, it’s those nocturnal green bastards. They’re probably doing a night attack and if my deduction is right there’s a chance that they’re on to some village.

Alright, lead the way you green bastards and afterwards I’ll dispose of you.

About an hour of tracking, I exterminate those 28 goblins after I confirmed the village up ahead. It’s troublesome to properly dispose of them so let’s leave them alone and start the infiltration.

Using my mimicry skill, I scouted the position of the fields. Since I’m invisible I tried posing for nothing.

Anyway, I decided to harvest them.  Cabbage and root vegetable like carrots that is quite small and isn’t ready for harvest yet, I packed them all inside the rucksack that I brought along with me. Think of this as my rewards for exterminating those goblins for you, okay?

After that I went away without them noticing, same as how they didn’t notice me harvesting their vegetables.

I really want good assortment of them but I feel like the god of vegetables would be angry at me.

Back then parents would scare their child the god of vegetables would force a picky eater to eat their most hated vegetable which was from a book titled: the good who punishes poor eaters. A book which dramatically modified to suit the needs and culture of the empire.

Speaking of the empire, I need to restock on the clothes I use to protect the magic potions.

My harvest for today was 18 cabbages, 21 carrots and 5 magic potions.

The way back is uneventful and returned to base successfully and quickly fall to sleep which is the penalty of being awake for 48 hours straight.

Morning came and prepped the wild boar I got earlier. Chop up the cabbage and carrots then fry them all together then season them with salt and pepper.

(Ah I really want more variation to the flavor)

I think to myself,

I want more kinds of seasoning. However, such things aren’t made outside the empire meaning that it would be impossible to obtain in the modern era.

(As expected, I don’t want to risk myself for eating those 200 years old products. If only a factory is still in operation, then maybe I can make it…)

Then a revelation had come to me.

(If I can’t have it, I should make it!)

There should be a chance that the method of making them are still around why didn’t I think of that? I can find them at a library or a bookstore!

(To think that it would take me this long to realize it, it’s because all I read is manga!)

I stuffed my mouth with food while wondering how I could apologize for failing the empire and my predecessors that left behind technology and knowledge.

The idea of having vegetables was a success, it gave depth of flavor to my dishes and now on to the next objective.

The elven surveillance mission should be fine to return to, I hope. They’re elves they’re strong enough to deal with it on their own. I mean they tormented the empire so much that’s why I believe that they can return back to their normal lives in a jiffy.

Time is of an essence. I activated my mimicry and went to the river as soon as I finished my meals and clean up. I rejoiced when I looked at the river and no one is still there. I cancel mimicry and excitedly waits for Ms. 6. Unfortunately, no matter how long I waited, she didn’t come.

(Has the time and location changed? No, I don’t think that’s the case…)

If it was a change then it would be my misunderstanding.

[You, elves! Don’t think that you have escaped my surveillance!]

I hid myself and moved along the river but no elves can be found. It might be dangerous but I might have to cross the river and against if it’s useless no matter how careful you are – they are those kinds of opponents.

(Are they aware of me?)

I’m a survivor of the imperial army – then I should live with shame and fight them in a safe range. I don’t just want to see them naked; this is the battle of those who are left behind.

While saying that, I arrived at the place where I first met Ms. 8 but there’s no sign of elves here. I went further south to investigate where I found evidence of some sort of struggle. Slight burnt marks on damage trees as if fire magic was use here.

Does this mean that something happened that causes them to stop coming to the river?

(No, no, no, these are elves that we’re talking about they can overpower anything so I guess there’s another factor)

I guess a little investigation is in order. I started looking for clues, anything that is strange and after a while I found few broken arrows. It seems that they’re fighting someone. If so, I wonder what kind of thing was it? Most monster are objects of nature for elves and they aren’t hostile to them. A perspective that only the strong possessed.

I wonder is this thing powerful enough to overturn such premise.

(That conclusion is still premature, first of all I investigated this area before and found no monster that can even be considered as a threat. If so what or who did they attack?)

I don’t understand why they would attack and I don’t that they would attack a mere monster.

Are they protecting something? Trying to protect a rare animal from carnivore or something?

What if they’re absence is due to mating?

That’s plausible.

Just as I was convinced of it, I heard something from the other side of the river. I instinctively activated mimicry and hid myself and concentrate in listening to the sound.

(Bipedal, walking speed same of that of a human, numbering around 15 or 18, no metallic sound)

I moved away from their path and use my telescopic view to confirm them. A group of elves, armed – o my guess is wrong.

It looks like they have to get rid of something and judging from the trace of battle, it might be vermin or a pest.

No matter how much you worship nature, there’s no elves who will overlook the danger of the forest, and it can be seen from their armaments that they are serious in subjugating it.

I hope it’s not the peeping monster (me) that they come to subjugate.

I was looking at them with such thought when I noticed someone familiar in the group.

The blind folded woman with splendid surrounded by everyone and when I took a step back to open up more distance, she looked at me as if reacting to my move. I have a very bad feeling about this.