Bloodstained Forest
Melvina healed Pontus with rune magic, then placed a dressing over the closed wound and bandaged his stomach. It was fortunate that the sword had avoided his heart and that he was a young, strong man. Had this been Ulrika, she could have bled to death before the wound was closed.
Pontus was treated on top of a carriage that was loaded with food and medicine for the mercenaries.
As for the supplies, although she thought it was a waste, she quickly disposed of them by kicking them away with brute force because of the urgency of the situation.
"Here."
She handed Ulrika a wooden plate.
Inside was a red liquid.
"What is this?"
"It's a potion made from the blood of an Alp, a high-ranking vampire species. It has the effect of synthesizing blood and recovering damage to the body."
"Vampire blood!? I-is it okay for me to drink something like that!?"
"The vampires make their prey drink their own blood so that even if they suck a lot of blood, the prey will not die right away. The truth is, it would have been nice to have transfusion packs of the same type as Pontus' blood and transfusion equipment, but such things are not readily available unless you go to the Night Empire...... The only way I could manage is the potions I have on hand. I am sorry."
In fact, Melvina has a powerful potion, but it was made from the blood of a dragon infected with a special disease. It is so toxic that if an ordinary human were to use it, he or she would surely die before metabolizing the potion's poison.
"Please don't try to force him to drink it. If he vomits it back up, it will be meaningless. But as soon as you can, please try to get him just one sip."
Melvina said and jumped on the back of the wyvern that was tied to the cart.
Wyverns are proud and difficult creatures, but Melvina has always been able to ride any wyvern. Sometimes they are a bit stubborn, but they will usually bow if she gives them a good smack on the cheek.
This wyvern was the one she had her eyes on from the time Christo and she was traveling in the airship.
She made a request to the effect that if it didn't comply, she would have its internal organs pulled out and killed, and it was kind enough to give her a ride. She will probably be sued for compensation by the port later, but she's glad she was able to save two people's lives in the end.
However―― Christo might be disappointed.
In the end, it all worked out, but what Melvina did was just a reckless act.
It looks like they'll ask for more money than just a few gold coins, and if she doesn't do it right, Christo might cut her off.
"Melvina, thank you for helping us."
Ulrika gives her a longing look as she climbs onto the cart.
"I don't know how to thank you... It's because of you that Pontus was saved."
"Pontus-san is still in critical condition."
Melvina said as she whipped the wyvern.
"If you'd like to thank me, please do so after Pontus-san is saved. For now, please encourage him."
"Y-yes."
The wyvern begins to move slowly.
It was overwhelmingly slower than when it was flying at full speed, but considering Pontus' physical condition, she couldn't shake the carriage any further, so it was just right.
"But more importantly, why did you leave the village at this time? I remember that the Baltic city is just beyond the pass. What on earth brings you to this road?”
"Um, that's... How much have I told you?"
Although she returned to the village after telling Eltharion that she would prepare for the trip, she was confined by the village chief and others and was placed under house arrest. In the meantime, it was Melvina who calmed down Ulrika, who was desperate and rampant.
Melvina was told by Ulrika, who had blood rushing to her head, that she was planning to go on a journey with Eltharion to heal his wounds.
"You were planning to meet up with Eltharion-san outside the village... or something like that? The peace treaty is over now, so if you intend to join him, just let me know where the meeting point is and I will head there."
"Was the peace treaty today?"
"Yes, it should have started at noon today."
"From Frontier Count-sama?"
"Yeah... for some reason, I'm currently helping to prepare meals for His Excellency Netzel."
"H-hoh."
"And does Eltharion-san know you've left the village?"
"No, he doesn't."
Ulrika kept her eyes down.
"If the treaty is over, I don't think Eltharion will worry if I return to the village."
"Why did you leave the village last night?"
"Well... the mercenaries... the Band of the Great Hawks came. They said they could help Eltharion. That's why I left the village."
"――――. Fumu. Is this what you mean? A mercenary came last night and said there was a way to heal Eltharion-san, who was critically injured and was on the verge of death. To do that, he needed medicinal herbs that couldn't be obtained in the village, or... he would have to rely on an apothecary outside the village, so Ulrika was told to go and look for them."
"Y-yes! That's right!"
"Did the mercenary call himself the Band of the Great Hawk?"
"Well, he called himself that, or rather, the leader and his deputy came."
"Are you saying Siegfried McCorkindale, a man with crooked bones, and Tiger Black, a big man from a tiger beastman, have come?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. They told me that in Baltic there is an alchemist who can cure Eltharion. His name is......, I forget what it is."
"The faction that attacked you earlier was also the [Band of the Great Hawk of Salvation]."
"Yes. They stabbed Pontus! Pontus jumped out to protect me from being roughed up."
"Where did you meet Pontus-san?"
Melvina asked. Ulrika looked at her with a puzzled look on her face.
"He was just there, of course."
“Urrika-san, you didn’t leave the village with Pontus-san, or you didn’t join up with Pontus-san who followed you along the way, right?"
"Yes"
"So Pontus-san was with the mercenaries?"
"Yes... huh? Hmm...?"
Something is not right.
Unable to understand what was causing her discomfort, Ulrika looked down at the lying Pontus in shock.
Melvina turned her body back to the front and organized the information.
(Before the treaty was held, the [Band of Great Hawks of Salvation] sent Ulrika out of the village. They told her that if she went to the Baltic city, there would be a person who could cure Eltharion, so that she could not come back to the village yesterday or today.)
In addition, they attacked Ulrika at the mountain pass when she returned.
As for Pontus, they stabbed him without hesitation, whereas they tried to capture Ulrika instead of killing her. In the previous battle, the attack on Pontus was aimed at his head, while the attack on Ulrika was only to hit her on her leg.
"What happened to your hair, Ulrika-san?"
"Oh, I cut it off because I am going on a trip. It looks better, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it suits you very well. Where is the hair you cut off?"
"Hoe? D-don't ask such a strange question. I left that thing in the house."
"I see."
(And got some of the hair)
Melvina narrowed her light blue eyes.
The [Band of the Great Hawk of Salvation] was a famous group of berserker warriors in the hero territory.
Although they are perfect in terms of military strength, they are an abnormal believer in the Holy Tree and believes that all of the Holy Tree's enemies should be killed, even women and children who cannot fight.
Having been deprived of the prey known as the dragon race, which they had relentlessly hunted for many years, they next came to the former Soderholm territory in search of new prey.
Frontier Count Netzel was planning to make a peace treaty, but it's hard to imagine that Siegfried and the others will obediently follow this.
(Maybe it's just my imagination, but... The [Band of the Great Hawk of Salvation]'s aim is to prevent or destroy the peace. Ulrika is being used as a pawn for that purpose. If they threaten Eltharion-san by saying that they have kidnapped Ulrika, he will go berserk and start attacking the forces that he thought were responsible.)
Also, under the pretext that Eltharion had broken the promise, the Band of Great Hawks would be able to confidently crush the swamp.
(There are too many political considerations involved for the Band of Great Hawk to do this alone. ――Is it the new bishop? If I remember correctly, he was having a loud argument with His Excellency Netzel in the dining room.)
He said, [There is no way we can have peace with these swamp vermin]. [Now that I am the bishop here, I will have to get rid of all the filthy garbage]. [If we are going to have peace, I will go to Holy Tree Church later]. [I will formally send you a letter of protest].
It was frowned upon not only by Netzel, but by almost everyone present.
(Maybe it would be better to get Ulrika-san back to the village as soon as possible. However, if my delusions are true, it seems like she won't be able to enter the village easily. The nearest road is probably blocked. If so, should I take a detour or jump over it with the wyvern?)
She should avoid fighting.
If she fights any longer, she will cause trouble for Christo.
Of course, it would be no good to be captured quietly at the blockade point.
In order to jump over with the wyvern, it is necessary to put the two of them on the wyvern's back, but the wyvern does not want to put anyone on its back except those whom it has approved. It was also too dangerous to fly a wyvern at night without any landmarks.
Melvina can withstand falling from a certain height, but Ulrika and Pontus can die depending on the impact if they fall from a height of several meters.
It's better to stop flying with a wyvern.
Then, the only option left is to take a detour.
They would approach the village from the west side, the opposite direction from the field where the Band of Great Hawk was camping.
From there, the adventurer's guild is also nearby, so they can borrow a messenger bird from the guild and contact the village ahead of time.
"Why did Melvina come to help us?"
As she was thinking, Ulrika called out to her from behind.
The potion in her hand was already empty.
Luckily, Pontus seemed to have enough strength left to swallow the potion.
"Everyone in the village was looking for you. Your grandmother was crying until her tears dried up."
"I-Is that the only reason you came after me?"
"Yeah"
Just by briefly following her footsteps, it was easy to guess that Ulrika had gone quite far.
However, there is no way to enter any city without a pass.
It is an act of suicide for a young woman to run away from the village alone, with almost no food or money.
If they leave it alone, she will either be eaten by wolves, or she will get stuck somewhere and drown.
Melvina was supposed to return to the royal capital tomorrow or the day after, so if she don't find her now, she'll probably die without anyone finding her.
Her life could have been saved if she made a little effort, but by turning a blind eye, it would have ended in tragedy.
When she thought that, her body moved on its own.
"I'm sorry. Thank you so much. You are our hero."
"No, no. It's not like we don't know each other. I'm glad that Ulrika-san is safe."
When Melvina said that, she smiled.
"You have so many friends because you naturally have the ability to help others.''
"Eh? I wonder. Friends...? To begin with, I don't really understand what the definition of a friend is."
"Is that so? But don't you talk to everyone on good terms?"
"I don't know if we get along well or not, but I like talking to others. I'm very curious."
"It's a characteristic of a person who has a lot of friends."
"Is that so?"
She doesn't know much about Melvina.
Rather, Malevina thought of herself as an introvert.
However, when it comes to self-evaluation, those around her are usually more accurate than her own. ――She had learned that.
Melvina said, [We'll take a little detour], and turned left at the three-way intersection.
× × ×
Around the time the day changed, Melvina and the others arrived at the Adventurer's Guild branch in the former Soderholm territory.
Although it is called a branch, it is just about five rough log cabins lined up, with a campground attached to it where a large number of people can camp.
Considering the current situation where a private military organization called, the Adventurer's Guild is in charge of maintaining public order in areas where the Yggdrasil Kingdom's military is not maintaining public order properly, the shabby facilities of the Adventurer's Guild seemed to be a major problem.
If the Adventurer's Guild had been a more solid organization, Ulrika and Pontus wouldn't have faced such a terrible experience. In the first place, there may never have been a future where this frontier was threatened by the god of the swamp.
While the Adventurer's Guild advocates peace for the people of Yggdrasil, it only cares about gaining wealth by hunting monsters. As a for-profit organization, it can't be helped, but Melvina thought that she should be able to make a profit while also protecting the peace of the people.
If she hadn't been picked up by Christo, she would have become an adventurer.
The reason she came up with this idea wasn't just because she had a growing love for monsters. In fact, one of the reasons was that she thought that she, who was young and had noble ideals, could change the organization.
She was laughed at by her teacher, but if she didn't embrace her ideals first, nothing would begin.
By following Setanta's footsteps, Melvina has learned that it takes a strong will to carve out one's destiny.
"Sorry for making you wait."
While she was kneeling down and meditating at the campsite where the fire had gone out, Ulrika came out from inside the Adventurer's Guild building. Pontus was following behind her, using a cane.
Actually, she wanted to rush straight into the forest from the Adventurer's Guild branch, but considering the return of the wyvern, the report to the village, and above all Ulrika's stamina, she had no choice but to take a break.
Ulrika had been crossing the mountain since last night without eating or drinking much.
They were also exposed to the danger of death by mercenaries.
As expected, if she doesn't eat properly and relax her body with hot water, she will fall ill.
"Pontus-san, please wait here."
Melvina stood up and said that, but Pontus shook his head in desperation.
"I don't want to. I'm going with you. Let me go. If I let Ulrika go now, Eltharion will take her somewhere, won't he?"
"You were stabbed in the stomach. The wound has closed, but it hasn't completely healed. Just standing there like that must be extremely painful."
"No! I can't believe Ulrika is going away! I'm going to stop her!"
"Then, this is a matter between me and Eltharion. I will go with Eltharion. Pontus, take care of Grandmother."
"I'm not going to let you get away with such irresponsible talk, you idiot!"
Pontus raised his thick arms, but as if in severe pain, he leaned on his cane and groaned.
"Pontus..."
"Do you understand? The old hag who was left behind by you is all alone, right? What will happen to everyone in the village who relies on her medicinal herbs? What about the old hag who regularly comes to buy medicinal herbs?"
"......"
"Besides, once you leave the village, you won't be listed in any ledger, you'll be a wanderer. What are you going to do with your life from now on? Are you going to wander forever with Eltharion? Eltharion's wounds won't heal, and he'll die!"
"It doesn't matter what I do."
"Not good! I don't think it's good! That's why I'm angry!"
"Did you leak the information to the Band of Great Hawk because you wanted to keep Ulrika-san?"
When Melvina quietly intervened, Pontus' face became dismayed.
"What is it, you brat? Even though you're just a brat, you're trying to lecture me?"
"Pontus! Melvina saved your life."
"Tch..."
"Pontus-san, what is the purpose of the Band of Great Hawk? How did Ulrika end up outside the village?"
"――――"
Pontus made a face as if he had just bitten a bitter bug, but in the end, he lowered his shoulders and began to explain the situation.
As expected, Pontus went to ask the Band of Great Hawk to kill Eltharion after he had a falling out with Ulrika.
Since the interests of the other side coincided, it was decided that Eltharion would kill Frontier Count Netzel.
If Eltharion kills Netzel, the peace will be broken and the mercenaries will kill Eltharion this time.
After losing Eltharion, Ulrika loses the reason to leave the village and ends up staying in the village.
In layman's terms, it's a win-win relationship.
"It was decided that Ulrika's presence would be used to get Eltharion to kill the Frontier Count. Ulrika is his prized toy, and if he wants to save her, he will have to kill the Frontier Count. If we threatened to kill her, the ruthless elf would surely kill him. That's what I explained to Siegfried."
"What the hell... Pontus, you're the worst."
"Ha? I didn't do anything wrong! I did it to protect you! Separate from him! Even if you're with Eltharion, nothing but ruin awaits!"
"Pontus, you idiot! Stupid! Idiot! Apologize to Eltharion!"
"Why should I! I won't apologize! I'll tell him, Eltharion, to his face! Ulruka is mine! I'm going to make him face the reality that Ulrika will be unhappy if she goes with you!"
"Both of you, please calm down. ――If Pontus-san' story is true, Eltharion-san should have received the threatening letter and is debating whether or not to assassinate His Excellency Netzel."
"Ha, he might have already killed him."
"Idiot, just shut up! You idiot!"
"Wait, what are you doing! I’m injured!"
"Please stop fighting. ――I understand the situation. Ulrika-san, we need to show Eltharion-san that you are safe as soon as possible. Pontus-san... do you just want to talk to Eltharion-san?"
"No matter what. I won't run away anymore... Well, I think I did something despicable. I treated Ulrika like a mere object. For that, well, I'll apologize to Eltharion."
"Oh, you should apologize!"
"Shut up! But then I'll tell Eltharion. Does he really care about Ulrika's happiness? If he only cares about himself, then no matter what Ulrika says, I'll beat him up and go back to the village. I’ll take you home."
"I understand. ――Now is not the time to be fighting. Let's go."
Melvina said that and started walking ahead of the two.
(I wish sister-in-law Patricia was here at a time like this...)
She thought as she stepped into the path behind the Adventurer's Guild.
Patricia went out this morning with a shovel on her back, saying she would look in the forest.
It seems that she thought that Ulrika had been murdered by someone and was planning to search for her buried corpse. If she was turning up dirt all over the forest, relying on her sense of smell, she wouldn't have returned to the village yet.
Melvina sent a messenger bird, but she probably won't get a reply.
(So this is my first adventure)
So far, at the very least, her teacher had been close by.
Or Christo was there to protect her.
Both of them are not with her now.
(If I'm not firm enough, the Band of Great Hawk might kill us. I must be determined.)
Melvina heads down the gently sloping mountain path with determination in her heart.
From behind, the voices of Ulrika and Pontus continued to argue.
× × ×
As it turned out, Eltharion was in the forest square.
Or rather, when they went to the forest square, he appeared.
"Ulrika!"
A blond-haired young man appeared from the top of the oak tree, and with both hands that glowed blue, he embraced Ulrika's body as she stepped forward.
"Hey, you! Get away from her!"
"Ulrika! I was worried when I heard that you were kidnapped! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Eltharion grabs Ulrika's chin, checks her neck, and puts a hand on her shoulder.
Ulrika was a little embarrassed, but replied, [No, I'm fine].
"――! Hey, you! Get away from Ulrika!"
The forest square where Siegfried and Eltharion had fought before was no longer a forest, but just a large open space.
Pontus' voice echoed throughout the area, with a strangely low vibration that was typical of an empty space, but very sharp.
"...You are, if I remember correctly, Pontus. A villager from the pioneer village. As you can see, Ulrika and I are busy. I would like you to be a little quiet."
"You, this fucker..."
The short-tempered Pontus poured vermilion onto his face, but was overwhelmed by Eltharion's clear green eyes and slowly backed away.
"Eltharion, I want you to listen to what Pontus has to say. He needs to apologize to you."
"I won’t apologize!"
"I don't see what you're talking about."
Eltharion looked at Melvina, who was standing quietly behind the two of them, with a confused expression on his face. His eyes take on a sharp light. It seems that he is on alert. Melvina had intended to remain in the role of the silent tree, but she had no choice but to open her mouth.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Melvina Lou."
"Melvina? ...Ah, there was a report from the [Wood Woman]. A human woman who was in the castle with Christopher."
"Yes"
Eltharion's cold eyes slowly traced Melvina from top to bottom.
Melvina kept smiling softly, but inside she felt nervous as she felt his murderous intent.
He had enough reasons to hate her, so all she could do was smile.
"――――. I see. You're a [witch]."
"......? Yes, I use magic."
"This is the second time I've met his messenger tonight. I feel really sick."
"If you don't like my presence, I'll disappear right away. I just came to deliver the two safely. I have no intention of antagonizing you."
"Fuu. It would be nice if that was the case."
"Eltharion, Melvina helped us in a dangerous place surrounded by mercenaries."
"Surrounded by mercenaries? Ulrika, were you attacked?"
Eltharion looks down from Ulrika's body.
Ulrika nodded.
"Yes. Surrounded by the Band of Great Hawk and almost killed. But then Melvina saved us."
"Those bastards...! I see, the scum that sent the threatening letter were the army in the wilderness. I see, it makes sense that they want to eliminate Netzel and the village chief. Especially since the village chief was said to be reluctant to give them food."
"E-Eltharion?"
"I'm sorry. I was a little distraught. I'm fine. ――But I'm glad you're okay. They sent me a threatening letter saying they were going to kill you. They even sent me your hair."
"Ah, I cut my hair myself... I guess they sent you a threatening letter after all."
"Yeah, but I don't have to follow the culprits anymore. All I have to do now is eradicate the idiots who tried to take advantage of me."
"Hey, Eltharion!"
Pontus had backed down once due to pressure, but he seemed to have regained his courage and stepped forward in front of Eltharion with a nervous look on his face.
He then pulls Ulrika's arm and pulls her out of his chest.
"Whoa, let go, stupid Pontus!"
"Shut up!"
"...What are you trying to do?"
"A-as you can see!"
"――――"
"Hii.... I-I'm not scared of you!"
"If you have something to say to me, just say it. I have something important to do after this."
Pontus was at a loss for words, but quickly recovered and folded his arms.
"Leave Ulrika behind."
"Is that an order you are giving me?"
"That's right. Ulrika is a member of our village. She's the only herbalist in the village. No, there's an old woman, but she's starting to get senile and it's no good anymore. It would be a problem if Ulrika wasn't around."
"I see, I understand about the plight of the village."
"Also, if she follows you, Ulrika will be unhappy. A rootless wanderer is no guarantee of a place of employment anywhere!"
Pontus continued.
"While you are here, you can feed Ulrika, but what are you going to do when you die? You've been hit by the holy sword and you're dying, right?"
"That's not your problem, Pontus. It's between me and her."
"I! I love Ulrika! I even had a child with her once! Ulrika is mine! I won't give her to you!"
"Hoh."
"Ulrika won't be satisfied with a lanky, rough-headed bastard! I know Ulrika better than anyone and I've been with her longer than anyone! I can satisfy Ulrika. I can make her happy, I can feed her, I can make her happy! I won't take her out on a wandering journey and leave her to die like you!"
"That's what he said, Ulrika."
"I'm talking to you!"
Pontus grabbed Eltharion by the collar.
Eltharion's eyes narrowed.
Pontus continued.
"I have done you wrong. For that, I apologize."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"It was my idea to have Ulrika leave the village. ――If you, Eltharion, kill Netzel because you think Ulrika has been kidnapped, the mercenaries will kill you due to your weakness. Then Ulrika won't have to leave the village with you! All's well that ends well! ......So I sold the information about Ulrika and you to the Great Hawk in a sneaky way."
"I see. That's why you were in charge of delivering the letter. You pretended to know nothing about the situation and refused it when I even offered you nuts as a thank you."
"That's right. My bad! ...No, it's my fault, I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize. I understand the malignancy of humans."
"I did something cowardly, but now I'm going to tell you straight and square! Ulrika is mine! You don't deserve her! If you can't make Ulrika happy, don't take her with you… I beg you."
Pontus bows his head.
He looked very pathetic at the end.
An indescribable silence flows in the square.
"Is that all you have to say?"
Eltharion confirms with a cold voice.
Melvina had been watching over the three of them from a little distance―― but her complexion had changed in an instant.
"Eh? Ah, ah. Um. Like I said, if you can't make Ulrika happy――"
Pontus' voice cuts off at that point.
It was obvious.
Before he could say the end of his words, his little head had turned into a piece of meat and been blown away.
"Eh――――?"
Ulrika's cheeks are covered with a red piece of meat.
She looked down as she felt something enter the shirt she had just changed into.
"Pontus-san!"
"E-eh?"
Pontus' body, which had been in front of Ulrika as if protecting her, slowly fell backward.
Involving Ulrika too.
Ulrika fell to her knees in a daze, staring blankly at the eyeball that had belonged to Pontus, rolling out of her shirt and onto her skirt.
"You filthy monkey."
Eltharion swung his blood-stained left hand.
Blue particles absorbed Pontus's flesh and blood.
"Pontus, Pon, tus…?"
"Kuh, I didn't make it in time."
Melvina gritted her teeth and looked beyond the trees in the suddenly noisy forest.
Eltharion also turned his emotionless eyes outside the forest―― towards the village.
Before long, countless people appeared in the mostly vacant forest square.
[Band of the Great Hawk of Salvation].
In the center of them, which surrounded Eltharion and Melvina, were the figures of a strange man with a curved spine―― Siegfried, and a giant tiger beastman―― Tiger.
"I see, so that's how it is."
Eltharion's golden hair stood out.
Melvina sensed an unprecedented level of anger from Eltharion.
"Are you saying I am being set up again."
Eyes that mutated from green to gold looked around at the Band of Great Hawk.
He struck Pontus, who was left with only his torso, hard with a tree-root whip.
His shirt is torn and blood splatters into the night.
"How many times do you have to mock me? Why do you lie? Why do you try to deceive me? All I want is peace in the forest. But you attack us in every way you can. ――It's outrageous. You are a great evil. You are the scourge of this world."
Siegfried and Tiger come forward with their white teeth exposed.
"Oya, even though we made peace, Eltharion-dono killed an innocent villager?"
"You're the fool...! I guess you are the one who deceived us. This headless monkey got trampled on his good intentions. As a male, he has devised a dirty trick to get his hands on a female. He tried to get rid of me! ...Why are you guys like this? Why don't you just tell the truth a little? Have a conversation. Is your intelligence just for decoration?"
"Hyaaa! It's prey! Kill it! Gahahahaha!"
"Monkey..."
Eltharion bared his fangs.
"I'm not going to let any of you escape. I'm going to put you all at the bottom of the earth!"
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