Chapter 23

Chapter 23

23. Baelonian Lunagrif (5)

The difference between a knight and one who is not is the presence or absence of aura use.

More precisely whether one can visualize mana, or not.

Gerik also said so, and the village adults also said so. Jenkinson also did. No one denied.

Benrik firmly believed those words.

Until the pot-bellied knight who appeared from somewhere picked up Hodge in the left side and Benrik in the right side at once and kicked the ground.

─Paaaa!

‘On earth who spread such a false rumor?’

He thought while fully receiving the wind striking the face.

‘The presence or absence of aura manifestation?’

If it is simply that then absolutely, If an ordinary person then absolutely,

─Paaaa!

One cannot run at this speed, he thought while being hit by the fierce wind.

─Papapapa!

Along with the wind the short cape embroidered with a blue-green eagle hawk flapped, hit the face.

Would it be this feeling if lying prone on a running train. Whatever it was it could not be denied that it was the fastest speed Benrik had ridden since being born in this world.

“······.”

He swallowed the unseemly scream tightly and closed his eyes. While grabbing the old knight’s arm supporting the waist like a lifeline he clenched his teeth and endured the running.

Ah. How fierce the wind is, to the extent that tears even well up.

One does not know with what intention he accepted it,

“If you clench your jaw like that the teeth will be damaged.”

The old knight looked down at Benrik tucked in the side as if looking at something pitiful.

“······.”

Benrik could not answer.

About an hour or so passed like that,

“···Oh my, my thought was short. Because I hurried.”

The old knight sighed softly.

“I, I am fine.”

It was seeing the state of the child who was pale to the point of almost the soul leaving. Drenor pondered for a moment.

Anyway because of Hodge one cannot slow the speed. If it is that then rather,

“Endure a bit.”

At the same time as the words ended the wind became a degree stronger.

‘This, it could get even faster.’

Now nothing is even visible. The only consolation was that the shock lessened as the time floating lengthened.

The old knight Drenor was truly one who knows the weight of matters.

That was the last thought Benrik had before losing consciousness.

***

Benrik opened his eyes under an unfamiliar ceiling.

‘Here···.’

With a somewhat blank mind he raised his upper body.

He looked around.

It was a room that was not big but felt cozy. The furniture and walls were appearances that fully preserved the characteristics of trees, and from any aspect it did not look like the outpost’s tent.

─The trees of the Great Forest are all big. So we hollow out the inside and build houses.

Suddenly the words Baan said came to mind.

‘Surely, the Great Forest?’

Didn’t they say the entry of outsiders is strictly prohibited. So they decided to see at the border outpost.

Benrik’s guess was correct.

A busy sign is felt from the entrance side, then a tall fairy-kin man and one fairy girl with a swollen face entered.

“Oh···! Oooo···! Young guy, you finally woke up!”

The appearance is very unfamiliar but the voice and tone are of a person he knows well.

Surely,

“Baan?”

The face is too swollen so it is not easy to judge by the features.

Seeing the silver hair close to white and the pure white skin it seems correct, and green pupils are also faintly seen between the swollen eyelids.

‘Did she change to human form?’

Then it means this is really the Great Forest. Because she said she has to return home to return to the original appearance.

“You don’t recognize me! Great elder! It seems, an abnormality occurred in the young guy’s head!” “That is not it.” “What···! Then why don’t you recognize this body.”

Benrik who was listening to the two people’s conversation was inwardly surprised.

If the great elder isn’t it the person Baan said is a teacher-like figure. There is a memory of boasting that he lived over 200 years and is erudite.

But···.

Looking only at the appearance even if greatly conceding he was a middle-aged man who would just be in his forties. This is also greatly given. At a glance he also looked like just a grown youth.

“Aren’t you asking, then why don’t you recognize this body!”

He who had been avoiding the question for a while opened his mouth unable to withstand the urging.

“Because you cried continuously for two days the face state is not yet normal.” “···Huh!” “Two days? Was I sleeping for two days?” “No, three days. Even when that human guy called Drenor carried you and flew you slept without knowing the world. I thought you were dead.”

That means···.

“Doesn’t it mean I starved continuously for three days.”

Somehow the inside felt empty.

It was right after Benrik muttered without knowing.

“Did you hear, great elder.” “Yes, I will prepare a meal right away.” “Having experienced this young guy for several days, I knew the size of the stomach is extraordinary. Prepare whatever in an amount more than you expected.”

“I understand.”

No, even so it is not to that extent.

The great elder left the room with quick steps, and

“But you were a princess?” “That is so. This body is the only fairy who inherited the name of Lunagrif, Baelonian Lunagrif.”

He roughly guessed from the way of speaking and actions, but it seems she has a higher status than thought.

“···Is it okay for me to treat you like this?”

Is it okay to speak casually? If compared to humans isn’t it a case equivalent to royalty?

When he showed concern the girl waved her hand saying not to mind.

“I permit it. Aren’t you this body’s close friend.” “···Hmm those words mean originally it is not okay right?” “Even if this body permitted it is fine? This body knows that there are more important things than such empty formalities. More than that is there really no abnormality in the body?” “Huh? Yes.”

Perhaps because he slept well, there was not even one muscle pain and he was fine.

Except that the stomach seemed about to stick to the back skin.

“Come to think of it what about Hodge? Do you know how it turned out?” “If you mean the young man who tied his hair there is nothing to worry about. He is receiving treatment from the best healer in the village and resting.” “Fortunate. There won’t be aftereffects left right?” “I heard that the warriors standing guard are having a hard time because he wanders around the forest for hours.”

It is like Hodge.

Though it did not reach the artery, the muscles and ligaments seemed deeply damaged, he thought he might limp but it seems it was a needless worry.

“Ah, the green powder stopped the blood and prevented the wound from being contaminated so the treatment was easy the healer was surprised. Is it your skill?”

“Ah, I used hemostatic powder, because I brought some.”

It is mixed with lime powder and medicinal herbs, moss etc.

“Oho, as expected you know a lot for a young guy.”

Isn’t it an emergency treatment method used widely here too? All the village people know it?

“Hmm, I don’t know well. But I heard the healer also lived as long as the great elder and wandered the human world. If such a person does not know, it would not be that known.”

···Hmm?

It was then that the great elder returned.

Holding a basket containing colorful fruits.

Baan who saw him shouted greatly.

“Great elder! Didn’t I say! That this young guy’s stomach size is extraordinary! With that it won’t even reach the liver!” “······.”

From then it started.

“No you don’t have to do that much.” “Eh, stay still!”

The great elder and the fairy-kin girl busily came and went around the table. Every time they went out and came in they keep bringing armfuls of something.

···Thankfully.

“Strawberries that only grow near the Ice Tiger, they are very precious, I will give you!” “This flower has the effect of relieving muscle fatigue they said, eat this too!” “Yes, didn’t precious golden fruits come in a while ago, great elder! Golden fruits! Bring the golden fruits!”

On top of the already highly stacked fruits something kept increasing.

He had no choice but to chew and swallow hard matching the stacking speed. He did not want to drop Baan’s sincerity.

Even while eating mindlessly the taste was certainly good.

‘Wow, this is like eating clouds.’

Fluffy and melting gently in the mouth it is really amazing. Is it heaven?

“This is enough Baan, thank you.” “Come to think of it I heard a story sometime that human guys have to fill with meat as much as they bleed. Meat, meat, great elder can’t you make meat somehow!”

At Baan’s words the handsome man standing like a wooden stone next to her closed his eyes tightly and shook his head.

“One must not kill for intake, princess.”

It is very thankful that they prepared.

Benrik awkwardly scratched his cheek.

“I didn’t bleed. The one who bled is Hodge.” “Anyway eat a lot in the liver. Even emptying the grain warehouse is fine, you have the qualification for that!” “That is difficult, princess” “What···! How are you so cold-hearted! Didn’t you say this young guy walked into a death place to save me, isn’t it praiseworthy!” “That, if the princess had not run away···” “Stop, stop I don’t want to hear! There is a guest in front! Stop the scolding now!”

Baan said while opening axe eyes.

Though called axe eyes, he thought whether there would be effect since they were swollen, the great elder who was making a troubled expression let out a sigh and left the place.

‘It was uncomfortable but it turned out well.’

From the first time seeing the gaze that seemed to examine something was inwardly uncomfortable.

Anyway with this it seemed they safely passed various crises.

Baan also safely returned home, and Hodge also seems to have recovered well.

Come to think of it,

“What about Sir Drenor?” “Hmm? Ah you mean that pot-bellied knight guy. That guy went out saying business occurred.” “Ah is that so?”

But this guy···.

“How do you call anyone this guy that guy like that.”

Now being fifteen and acting rudely.

“I said but empty formalities are not important─” “No, that and being rude are different stories. Didn’t your great elder also say he is over 200 years old?” “Hmm. That is so, it would be so. I did not examine carefully. I will fix it.” “Kind.”

Silence flowed for a while.

“···Ahem, young no···. Benrik.” “Yes?”

Baan who was hesitating opened her mouth.

“···I know that if I handed this body over to that guy the matter could have become easier. You wouldn’t have had to stake the lives of you and your colleague. You and I are a relationship not entangled in any cause and effect, but you did not do so.” “What are you saying.” “···I, I wanted to say thank you.”

Benrik blankly looked at Baan then answered by tapping the good-textured silver hair.

Meanwhile the great elder who was listening to all that conversation from outside the door was sincerely surprised.

‘T-that, the stubborn princess listens so obediently like a gentle sheep···?’

It was not that he had never tried to fix the girl’s words and actions. But the habits familiar in the mouth from young were not easily corrected.

Because there was almost no one who could scold besides the great elder, and she did not find that great elder that difficult.

“Huh···.”

A small greed settled in the eyes of the old fairy-kin sighing.

***

It was that evening that Drenor returned.

“Huk, huhuk···. Sir Vinter, sir please listen to my words a bit sir, I earnestly request like this···.”

He was tucking the second young master of the Belmore family in the side.

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Author’s note Thank you for the precious support Murder Smile-nim, zions-nim! I will work hard!