“By the way master, what are your plans for today?”
“I haven’t seen Noel lately, so I was thinking about going to the church.”
Noel isn’t in the inn. She didn’t leave early or anything, she just isn’t here at all. She has a room in the inn, but she only comes by if she has business here.
She’s in this town’s church. She doesn’t like humans, so she doesn’t like to stay in a place where many humans come and go. As a result, when we get to a town, she usually stays in its church.
Noel is considered among the elite in the church, so no one will object to her staying there. Every priest will welcome her, unless they’re really corrupt.
“Be careful, there are many elves in the church.”
“I know that. I’ve been there a few times, and I know what they’re like.”
It’s fine if they’re capable priests, but when they’re elves, they tend to blatantly look down on people because they’re elitist.
For me, the fact that I can’t use holy magic plays a large role. I’m treated a lot differently from the hero, who uses a holy sword and commands the holy attribute.
Although Eclair really doesn’t like that.
“I think it’s been seven days since I last saw her.”
“She left right after we got here. She really doesn’t like a town with a lot of human merchants and travelers coming and going.”
“I’m pretty sure she’s still locked up in the church. Did we even need to get her a room…”
“I don’t think so. That type of shut-in elf won’t go anywhere unless you drag her outside. She reminds me of my former master, who also shut himself in his room.”
Takeshi!
There’s a lot I’d like to say, but I really misjudged you, Takeshi!
“She’s still better than she was before. She used to click her tongue every time she passed by a human.”
“And tell them to disappear any time they got close.”
“Just thinking about all that makes my stomach hurt.”
“I remember how ghastly you looked when she swung her staff and sent Count Eldo flying.”
“Can you blame me? It didn’t feel like he could be bribed, so I thought Noel would stay in that cell forever.”
“Good thing Count Eldo is too nice.”
I feel like throwing up just thinking about that. It was three months after we started our travels.
At the time, Noel was cautious like a cat in an unfamiliar home. Apparently she had trouble with humans in the past, but since she doesn’t talk about it, I don’t know much.
Three out of six members of the hero’s party are humans.
Tora is a beast person, Noel is an elf, and Sasha is a dwarf. Tora and Noel are obviously not human, but a dwarf like Sasha doesn’t really have any noticeable characteristics.
Dwarves are said to have a talent for crafts and smithing. They look like short men and women, but they’re strong, and many have healthy looking tanned skin.
The men have big beards, so they’re very easy to spot. And they famously love alcohol.
Sasha is a dwarf, but also a mage, so her skin is white and she doesn’t really have muscles. She’s small, but she looks more like a short human at a glance.
It also makes sense for a dwarf to choose drinking alcohol as her way of restoring magic energy. Her race is strong against alcohol, so she’s addicted, but at least she doesn’t get sick.
Getting back on track. Half of our party is human, and Noel really didn’t like that at the start.
She’d click her tongue at me when I talked to her, or when our eyes met. Just being near her was enough for her to throw abuse. I feel like she snapped at me even more because I’m a human man. Thinking back, good job me, for dealing with that.
I think it was when I started talking about my past as a mercenary that she started softening up. Maybe something happened to her.
It was also the first time I saw her looking surprised. In any case, that doesn’t have to do with this, so let’s put it aside.
There is a count who has land along the border between the Kingdom of Arcadia and the Duchy of Crematoras, Count Eldo.
He is one of the nobles tasked with protecting the border of Arcadia, and he’s said to be extremely competent.
When we visited his domain, he was having trouble with a monster.
A dragon had taken a nearby forest as its territory, and went into the domain looking for prey.
A lot of livestock was attacked, and people were injured, so they tried to take it down, but the dragon was stronger than they thought, and they ended up being fought back.
We couldn’t bear to let villagers be hurt again, so we stepped in.
We couldn’t let the monster be, after hearing what happened from Count Eldo, and accepted the mission to defeat the dragon.
When we went to the forest, what awaited us was a green dragon, a type of fire dragon. These are said to be young dragons, and among the weakest.
To be honest, after hearing it defeated the people there, I was disappointed.
The green dragon wasn’t much trouble for us. Sasha immobilized it with magic, and I cut its head off. That was it.
The real issue was what happened next.
We went to Count Eldo’s mansion to report that the dragon had been slain, and were sent straight to his room.
He was happy that his villagers wouldn’t be hurt anymore. It was clear why his people looked up to him.
He shook our hands one at a time and sincerely thanked us. If I could go back here, I would’ve made sure to tell him. Noel hates humans, so words will suffice.
Count Eldo shook Noel’s hand like he did with the rest of us, and I felt like I heard the sound of something snap. The next moment, Count Eldo was sent flying.
People can’t normally bring weapons with them to meet the feudal lord, but they made the mistake of letting us right through because we’re the hero’s party.
The moment he took her hand, she brushed it aside. He looked surprised, and Noel grabbed her staff to swing it at his face.
Home run!! He flew completely still.
Even the guards needed a moment to process what happened. We were baffled after watching Noel hissing like a cat.
The guards were just as taken aback, but pushed her down after getting their bearings.
And since they were all human men, she once again began to struggle, but she ended up being taken to a cell.
We figured we were going to be taken to a cell, too, but we were taken to a guest room.
Since we were together, they could’ve very well have imprisoned us no questions asked, but we were told to wait there until the count woke up. Under watch, of course.
They were leaving the decision to him.
He woke up the next day, and looked well, other than his swollen cheek that looked painful.
I wondered what sentence would come, but it didn’t. Count Eldo was a good person. Too good.
“My land won’t come to further harm thanks to the hero and her companions! This wound is nothing in comparison!”
Good enough to laugh away Noel’s crime.
He even wanted to reward us for defeating the dragon. We felt bad, so we tried to decline, but the count was not having it.
There was a back and forth, as he tried to reward us and we declined, until he finally caved in. What kind of person would accept a reward in that situation?
I have nothing but gratitude for his kindness at that time.
◇ ◇ ◇
It’s past noon. I was up late last night, so after taking it easy in the morning, I’ve finally come to the church to see Noel.
I ask an elven priest by the entrance where she is, and I’m told she’s in the backyard.
This is an elf, but one with the kind eyes you would expect from a priest, and seems like a good person.
I head to the backyard, and see Noel facing a tree.
What is she up to?
“Noel!”
She turns around with her blue eyes wide open with surprise, and then jogs her way towards me.
Her blond hair is really bright in the sunlight.
“What is it? Do you need something with me?”
She tilts her head, and I see her elven ears.
I feel like I recognize those earrings, but maybe I’m imagining it.
Anyway, I’m glad to see she’s doing well.
She’s holding a straw doll with a spike, and a small mallet.
What is she up to?
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