I helped a Servitaurus child injured by a trap.
Finally, I managed to get a small deer! But he wouldn’t say anything. It was fine that he didn’t try to escape, but he wouldn’t even tell me his name. I wondered if he didn’t understand me, or if he just didn’t want to talk.
“For the time being, can you tell me where your home is? I’ll take you back there.”
Then, he gently pointed in that direction. I figured he wasn’t lying, so I picked him up and headed in the direction he indicated. I was impressed he could navigate through the dense, foggy forest so easily. He might even be able to distinguish between similar-looking scenery.
After walking for a while, a small house appeared through the thick fog. It looked like an old dollhouse, carefully surrounded by a fence. As we approached the house, he suddenly thrashed around and slipped from my arms.
But now I understood. They were a different race from the Servitaurs who had come to the Giant Clan’s village for work. They were what you’d call a “small folk.” And just then, a woman carrying a basket came out from the backyard. She was probably his mother. Her face was so young, I couldn’t tell her actual age.
The child ran to his mother.
“Oh my, where were you? It’s dangerous because the fog has rolled in.”
Good, he could speak. Seeing as he said nothing to his mother, it seemed he was just a man of few words.
The mother noticed something was wrong with her son and her face stiffened as she cautiously surveyed their surroundings.
“Um, hello.”
“Hah! W-who?!”
I held up both my hands to show I meant no harm. She hid her son behind her and watched me, waiting to see my next move.
“We are travelers passing through this area. It seems your son was injured. There was a small trap set up, honestly, what terrible people exist.”
“A trap? A trap, there shouldn’t be any around here.”
I told them it was probably the work of some giant children’s pranks.
“Giant children? They wouldn’t do that. They rarely enter our territory.”
Damn, she suspects us. I suppose that’s natural. The races living in this forest respect each other. Compared to them, we, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, were very suspicious.
“There were several traps set using thorny vines.”
“Thorny…? That’s strange. Giants wouldn’t make such simple traps. They don’t target small animals like mice or rabbits.”
Then who did it? Huh? Us? She’s still suspicious. It’s true we chased her son around, but even so, he got caught in another trap. …This is bad. If they say anything here, it’ll be entirely our fault.
“Uh, well, we came to meet spirits. We’re looking for a spring deep in this forest.”
The mother’s gaze sharpened. No, it’s not like that! It’s not that we want our wishes granted or anything like that. What should I say?
“We have business with the Dark Elves who live further ahead. You’ve noticed they’re up to something, haven’t you?”
Cecilia said that. She probably realized there was no point in letting me talk any further.
“We heard the spirits are running wild. We came to do something about it. We also met the Giant Clan.”
“Why you? You smell like you’re from another land.”
“Yes, we come from a place different from this forest. You must choose either to let this forest slowly die, or to bet on us.”
I thought Cecilia’s way of putting it was a bit much, but it seemed to be surprisingly effective. The mother looked at each of us in turn, contemplating.
“If you brought him, you must have a plan.”
The child just nodded once.
“Hey, who are you guys?!”
Just then, a loud voice came from behind us. Turning around, I saw a man who appeared to be his father. His husband must have returned from an outing. He immediately went over to his wife and stood between us.
“Who are you?”
I explained everything that had happened so far. I didn’t know if he would believe me or not.
“I see. So *you* brought him here. Here, take this and go inside the house.”
The father handed the child a bag he was carrying on his back and then approached us.
“I’d really like to invite you in and talk, but you can’t even get through the gate.”
“No, please don’t trouble yourself.”
*Phew*, it looks like he’s willing to listen. I actually wanted to talk in the garden, but I couldn’t even pass through the archway decorated like an entrance. There was nothing for it but to lay out a sheet in front and sit down.
“Regarding the traps, it’s likely the work of the spirits.”
“You mean their pranks?”
“As you said, the spirits have been acting strange lately. This fog isn’t my wife’s doing either. Animals have become violent, and fish in the river have suddenly died. I hear the cause is the Dark Elves.”
If they know that, then it’s quick. They’ll guide us to the spring, we’ll greet the King of Spirits, borrow his power, and stop the Dark Elves’ ambition. The only thing bothering me is why, living so close to the answer, they haven’t found the path to heaven yet.
Was it really necessary to reach out to another world? And why are they acting now? I’ve been traveling for a long time, but there are still so many things I don’t understand.
