Re: Death - Reincarnated Dead Into Another World

Ciel: "By the way, why were you and your group here, Fina? From the looks of things… Mining?"

Fina: "Correct! I'm acting as a bodyguard, you see. Well, it's my first time going, though."

Saying that, she let out a dry laugh after.

We're still walking along the wide open space.

This time, my Detect skill has picked up a different plane on the map. We've been walking for almost an hour non-stop and it looks like we're reaching the edge of this stupidly wide place.

Like, finally, man…

I'm not that tired since it's just how my physical body works. But it's different for Fleur and Fina. I sense fatigue from Fleur and I can see that Fina is already nearing her limit. I guess this is where I should suggest to take a break.

Ciel: "Well, I want to talk about something. Let's take a break."

Fina: "Really? Phew… Let's. Honestly, I'm getting tired myself."

Fleur: "Yes. I feel the same, as well."

Even though Fleur says that, she's still able to maintain her elegant appearance, with her back still straight. As expected of a princess.

We sat down on the some sheets we brought from the dungeon that was stored in my Storage just now. Of course, I made it seem that I was only bringing it out from inside a bag I hurriedly handcrafted earlier. I just used Silk Thread Production skill, though.

Then I gathered all my wisps together to make one single fireplace at the center.

I can change their colors, you know? Like, see.

Now it's the same color as a fire's. Mufufu. I'm so cool.

Fina: "That's really convenient… How are you doing it? Magic?"

I'm sure she's not talking about the magic, like a 'magic trick' kind of magic here, but the Magic this world use as spells and stuff. Of course, I'm supposed to be a human right now, so there's no way I would tell her that I can't use magic.

I'll just go along her impression and say that it is.

Ciel: "Yeah. The 'how's' are a corporate secret, though."

Fina: "Muuu! Cheapstake!"

Fina puffed her cheeks and pursed her lips in protest. She's waving her staff back and forth to express more of her dismay.

She really reminds me of 'her.'

… No. That's just me wishing selfishly. That's just my naivety working. There's no way that a wonderful story like that would happen in real life. She may be someone from my world, but it doesn't necessarily mean that she's Chloe.

That kind of fiction-like happening…

Fleur: "Fufu. You two truly appear to get along very well."

Wait, wasn't she just jealous earlier? She seems okay with this. Maybe it's just me being overly self-conscious. Right now, there's not a sense of her being jealous over the Link.

Hmm… Girls are mysterious beings, indeed.

Fina: "Well, if you say that, then I want to get along with Fleur, too! *hug*"

Fleur: "Wah??"

Without prior notice, Fina jumped at Fleur for a huge embrace. She wrapped her arms around Fleur's neck and rubbed her cheeks against Fleur's.

Is she the clingy type? I also saw her hugging that loli when I was checking up on them.

And that, of course, is also one of Chloe's traits.

Ahaha. Now that I've noticed it. I've been matching her to Chloe ever since I hear her weird gruntings. Since when did I become this positive, I wonder?

Fina: "I'm sorry! It's a bit too much for someone you just met, right?? But, but… I just wanted to this since earlier…! You're just so cute…! Fluffy…!"

She's resembles 'her' more and more…

I feel nostalgic, somehow.

Fleur: "M-Master…! Wh-What should I doo…~~??"

Well, whatever the case. It's nice that Fleur got to know someone other than me and Purin. It's better for her to experience different kind of people for her growth as a person.

Therefore, I'll enjoy this paradise unfolding before me. Or rather, this moment of Fleur's growth as an individual. Yeah.

Two girls… huh…

Hmm…

Not bad.

Fina: "*rub* *rub* *rub* Aahhh! She smells so good too…!"

Ciel: "I know right."

Fleur: "D-Do not just stare at us warmly! Please help me, Master!"

But I refuse!

This is a sight for sore eyes, after all. I won't let up the chance to record this magnificent spectacle in my brain's hard drive!

Or so I'd like to say, but it seems like we won't be having much time.

Ciel: "Well, enough fooling around. I want to ask you something, Fina."

Fina: "Muuu… It's a shame, but I'll let Fleur go. For now. Hyaha~"

Fleur: "M-Master… M-Ms. Fina is kind of scary…"

Fleur staggeringly approached me so I catch her to rub her head to comfort her.

Ciel: "This may sound rude, but… It's just a wonder for us as to why Humans and Aelves are together. I mean, with the war and all, it really raises questions."

Fina: "Ahh… Now that you mention it, the four races are on war, aren't they?"

With her legs crossed and her hands on her ankles, she just laughed nonchalantly at her own remark.

Just as I thought. From the way she said it, she really is not that concerned about the war at all.

Ciel: "You didn't know?"

Fina: "I knew. I just kind of forget sometimes."

I tilted my head in inquiry.

Fina: "You see… The village that I was raised at… It's a village created by Aelves and Humans who wanted to get along with each other."

A village created by Aelves and Humans who wanted to get along together. So it's not like it's something the whole race of Aelves and Humans have done?

Does that mean, they're an isolated case or something?

Ciel: "You mean…"

Fina: "Our village isn't concerned about the ongoing war between the races. Aelves and Humans there just live peacefully with each other, without worrying about races and stuff. Though we encounter a few problems from here and there because of it. Hyahaha…"

Ciel: "I see, I see."

To think that there would be a place like that.

Purin mentioned that the war has spread out to almost all of the towns, villages, and cities across the continents. But I guess there are still those who remains neutral about it.

Purin said that the person we are going to meet is someone who is not concerned about the war and accepts other races like it's the norm. But I'm not really sure if the place we're going to also thinks like that person.

Ciel: "Then, from what you said, you're…"

I took a short glance at her ears and skin. It seems like she noticed my gaze and so she touched her ears with a smile.

Fina: "That's right. I'm a half-Aelf and half-Human. A Hybrid."

Fleur: "Ohh…"

Hearing that Fina is also somewhat like her, Fleur's ears perked up and took another look at Fina. It seems like she made a bit of a connection with her and now she's looking at Fina with sparkling eyes.

Ciel: "Ohhh…! That's cool. Half Aelve, huh…?"

So Hybrid is actually a thing? Thinking I just made that up, I never thought that it's actually used by the residents of this world.

Fina: "Eh? Aren't you… repulsed? Wait, thinking about it… Even as Humans, you still went ahead and talked to me. You even saved us."

Ciel: "Why would I?"

Is there some sort of discrimination against Halves, I wonder?

She's wearing a surprised expression, but is then followed by a wry smile. Her gaze fell down to the ground, as if to ponder about something.

Fina: "Well… Halves are seen as a blasphemy against the Goddesses, who created each races. So we're not really treated like a normal being. The mere sight of one would gain disgusted gazes from the other races."

I see. That makes sense.

Fina: "That's why, it's a surprise why you're still fine talking to me even though I told you that I'm a Hybrid. Let alone saying that it's cool and stuff. Even Fleur looked at me with sparkling eyes. … Ahaha… I was prepared to receive disgusted gazes, to be honest."

Fina placed her gaze onto Fleur, who's rubbing her eyes and is trying to stifle her yawn. I rub her head and gestured for her to rest on my l.a.p.

Ciel: "Hmmm… But you're you, right? Half or whatever, it's still Fina in the end. I won't be bothered by that."

Fina: "… Hyaha~! You're really saying something nice there, aren't you? I see, I see. It seems like that gut feeling was right. You two are nice people!"

She must have experienced something in her life that lead her to think that halves are lowly beings. I'm curious, but it's not something that can be easily asked. It's too private.

Ciel: "Hah. Just to let you know. Nice is my middle name."

Fina: "Myu? Really?"

Fleur: "… Really?"

Ciel: "I-It was a joke, you two…"

Fleur is one thing, but for Fina to not get that as well. Maybe I'm really just mistaken about her being someone from my world, after all?

Ciel: "Anyways, so you're all here to mine?"

Fina: "That's right. We're here for a material called Glow Stones and Merata Ore. They're both something that we need for making our tools and other stuffs. I'm not really sure about the specifics, too. Teehee."

Ciel: "Glow Stones? Aren't those the ones that are stuck on walls and ceilings? So those are only procurable here?"

Right now, we don't see any of those her below the ground, so I unconsciously looked up and created the image in my mind.

I've been storing those without a care in the world, since they looked like they can be used for something. I didn't know that they hold such value that miners would even risk to venture this kind of place just to procure them.

I wonder what use they have.

Fina: "Correct. We had to travel by horse for a week to reach this place and mine. I heard it's really an important metal."

Ciel: "Oohh. Quite the hassle, eh?"

Fina: "You can say that again… Myuu…"

That said, it's not that far, I see?

Fina and I talked about their agenda here in this mountain range for a while longer, while Fleur rests with her head on my l.a.p and is sleeping. Of course I had prepared a cloth for her to lie on.

She must be pretty tired. Let's let her be for a while.

Going back to our topic. From what I've heard from Fina is that they usually mine in this place regularly.

Primarily, that was supposed to be the objective this time as well. Form a group of miners and have them be accompanied with a bodyguard for emergency purposes. That should be the role of that loli, or so it would seem. But this time, due to some circ.u.mstances, Fina took that role.

Ciel: "But then why is that little girl here as well?"

Fina: "Leila had something to investigate."

Leila, hm. Remembered.

Hm. I guess it's something about the now missing Shadow of the Evil God. They mentioned it when I was checking on them through the Magical Perception skill.

Fina: "Ah. I should ask you too, for information. Uhm. I assume, you're already familiar with the sealed remnants of the Evil God here, right? Since you went and travelled this far."

From their perspective, it will look like we entered the mountain range from the forest, where the said sealed Evil God is known to roam around. Since there are only two passage way that leads to either the exit or entrance, that seems about right.

We've travelled far enough to almost reach the exit that leads to the Aelven Continent and Faunalian Continent, which is actually the entrance that Fina's group used to enter. The mining spot should be around there, but…

Fina mentioned that the loli planned to pursue even more further to investigate the area where the Evil God is known to roam around along with the mining of the Merata Ore.

That's why, I guess it's right for her to think that we may have encountered the Evil God somehow.

The problem is, I just can't go ahead and tell her that we actually did encounter the Evil God. Much less, that I actually consumed its soul already…

Hmmm…

Ciel: "We've used a detour to avoid the spot where the Evil God roams around, so… I can't really say."

I said so while hiding anything that may lead to suspicions.

Fina: "Is that so… Muu… Leila said that the Evil God disappeared. Maybe it's true, after all."

Just as I thought, they already know that far.

How do they know about its disappearance, I wonder? Are they using some kind of surveillance team to scout the area or something? Or like, using Magical Perception to map the area?

Either way, it would seem like it's better for us to leave this place as soon as possible.

The longer we stay here, the higher the risk that the other races may spot Fleur. And as if that was not the worst part at all, they may identify Fleur as the new Demon Lord and attack us.

I can't let that happen.

…

..

.

Chapter End