[NARRATOR POV]
The day of departure from the Doldia village loomed ever closer. Whispers of conflict had spread through the settlement—tales of girls fighting one another. To anyone who knew Eris Boreas Greyrat, the outcome was never in question.
A complete and utter victory.
Even if her opponent had trained since childhood, it would be impossible to triumph against Eris. Those without proper training weren't even worthy of being called opponents. Against her, such confrontations weren't fights—they were merely exercises in humiliation.
One could hardly compare Eris to Claude. By any reasonable standard, Eris was what you'd call a genuine prodigy.
Her bearing as a swordswoman commanded respect. At merely fourteen years of age, she had already achieved middle advanced grade—a remarkable feat that spoke volumes of her talent. She practiced the Sword God style, the same as her mentor Ghislaine.
Learning fundamentals from Ghislaine Dedoldia herself, then receiving additional training from Ruijerd Superdia—these were privileges few could ever dream of. Eris had reached a level where she could keep pace with Ruijerd's rigorous regimen.
Rudeus had always known that Eris was that child, but she would soon turn fourteen. While fourteen was still young by most measures, it was no longer an age where one should indiscriminately pummel opponents.
Until now, Rudeus had never intervened in Eris' confrontations. Even during the skirmishes at the adventurer's guild, he had largely deferred to Ruijerd's judgment.
Perhaps there was a distinction to be made: adventurers and village girls occupied different worlds.
"Tha... that's wrong. Minitona is the one at fault," Terusena insisted, her tail twitching with agitation.
According to her account, Minitona had attempted to prevent Eris from leaving after the rainy season. Eris had appeared touched by the gesture but explained why continuing their journey was necessary.
For the typically self-centered Minitona, this was an unusual development—Eris taking time to explain herself rather than simply asserting her will. It inverted their usual dynamic.
The discussion had continued for some time. Initially, both maintained their composure, but tensions gradually escalated until the conversation devolved into outright dispute.
Minitona began making thoughtless remarks. Remarks that involved Ghyslaine and Rudeus.
Upon hearing these words, Eris' face had contorted with barely contained fury. Yet she had tried—truly tried—to respond with measured calm.
In the end, it was Minitona who struck first. She had sold the fight to Eris.
It was an act of bravery, almost worthy of respect—something Rudeus himself could never imagine replicating.
And yet, predictably, Eris had bought into the challenge. Without mercy, as was her way, she had delivered a thorough beating.
"Eris." Rudeus approached the red-haired girl cautiously.
"What!" she snapped, her emerald eyes still blazing.
Rudeus assessed the situation meticulously.
First, he observed Minitona. Despite her defeat, she remained remarkably animated, her chest heaving with heavy breaths. Even after Eris had beaten her down, her spirit remained unbroken.
Eris was capable of crushing the will of full-grown adults. She was not one to pull punches.
Which meant only one thing...
"It seems you properly held back," Rudeus observed.
"Obviously," Eris replied, averting her gaze.
The former Eris would have shown no restraint regardless of her opponent's age. Anyone who challenged her would face her unbridled wrath. Rudeus knew this better than most—he was, after all, an expert in being on the receiving end of Eris' fury.
"Normally, you'd have done far worse, right?" he pressed.
"She's my friend, after all," Eris mumbled.
Studying her face, Rudeus noted how her lips curled into a sour expression—the countenance of someone regretting their actions.
Hmm. It seems Eris does feel some remorse for striking her, Rudeus thought.
This was unprecedented behavior for the Eris he had known until now.
Perhaps she had matured somewhat during these past three months. In moments beyond Rudeus' observation, she was genuinely growing up.
If that was the case, there was only one piece of advice he could offer.
"It would be best if you reconciled with her before we leave tomorrow."
"No way," Eris replied immediately.
Still a child, huh.
Eris wasn't the only one struggling with the impending separation from the villagers.
"Guys, please... we can still contact each other through Arbalest..." Claude said while scratching his head, visibly uncomfortable as an adult man clung to his waist, sobbing openly.
It was an awkward sight—a grown man weeping as he clutched a child.
"No, just when Master finally got better and stopped calling us slaves, why do you need to leave?" the man wailed.
The blacksmith apprentices were inconsolable. They couldn't bear to let Claude go, desperate to learn more from their young but extraordinarily talented mentor.
"Look at yourselves. Don't you feel embarrassed clinging to a kid your child's age?" Claude asked, exasperation evident in his voice.
"You're our children's age? Then marry my daughter! It wouldn't be so bad to have Master as my son-in-law!"
"No way, your child is only seven. Mine is better!"
"Heck, didn't she just get married last year?! Get off him. I'm going to marry my child to him!"
"No, it's me!"
As the apprentices began fighting amongst themselves, their grip on Claude loosened.
Seizing the opportunity, Claude bolted away as fast as his legs would carry him.
The apprentices, absorbed in their squabble, failed to notice his escape.
"What a popular boy you are," Rudeus teased when they later met back at the house.
Claude could only scratch his head in embarrassment, a flash of genuine discomfort crossing his features.
On their final day, the party was so preoccupied with preparation that Rudeus never got the chance to meet with the Lord Holy Beast again.
He had expected the criminal to release the Holy Beast once more, but for reasons unknown, the creature never materialized.
Instead, the night brought two unexpected visitors.
"Ah!!"
A small scream, followed by the loud thud of something colliding with furniture, pierced the darkness.
Even Rudeus, who had been slipping into deeper slumber, was jolted awake by the commotion. His recent complacency had made him soft, but instinct took over as he reached for the staff beside his bed.
The presence was too clumsy to be a thief. Ruijerd must have detected it long ago.
"Terusena, move more quietly, nya."
Rudeus relaxed his grip on the staff. That explained Ruijerd's silence.
"Sorry, Tona, but it's so dark."
"If you focus your eyes properly, you can see nya... Ah!"
Another crash echoed through the stillness.
"Tona, are you alright?"
"Ouch nya."
Though they seemed to believe they were whispering, their voices carried so clearly that Rudeus could hear every word.
He wondered about their purpose. Money? Fame?
Perhaps they're after my body?
As if.
Most likely they're looking for Eris.
"Ah, was it here, nya?"
"Sniff sniff? It smells different."
"Don't worry about it, nya. They're sleeping anyway, nya."
They paused outside Rudeus' door before slowly pushing it open and entering. As they tentatively surveyed the room, their eyes met his—sitting upright on his bed, fully awake.
"Nya!"
"What's wrong, Tona... Ah."
Minitona and Terusena stood frozen in place.
Both wore thin fur one-pieces with openings at the back where their tails emerged—the characteristic sleepwear of the beast race.
Truly adorable.
"What brings you here so late? Eris' room is next door," Rudeus said, keeping his voice low.
"So-sorry, nya."
They turned to leave, reaching for the door, but suddenly halted.
"Come to think of it, we never properly thanked you, nya."
"Ah, Too-Tona?"
Tona spoke as if suddenly remembering their purpose, and they stepped back into the room with Terusena trailing behind.
"Thank you for saving us, nya. I heard I might have died if you hadn't used healing magic on me, nya."
Indeed, her injuries had been severe—wounds that would have broken Rudeus' spirit long ago. Her resilience in that situation had been remarkable.
"It was a simple matter to resolve," he replied modestly.
"Thanks to you, no scars remain, nya."
As she spoke, Tona grasped the hem of her one-piece and lifted it slightly, revealing her slender legs.
However, the darkness obscured any details. One could see shapes but nothing more.
Lord Kishirika, why did you not grant me a demon eye that allows sight in darkness? he lamented silently, mentally addressing Kishirika Kishirishu, the Demon Lord who had bestowed his magic eye of foresight.
"Tona, that's inappropriate!" Terusena gasped.
"It's fine since he's already seen me once anyway."
"But old man Gyes warned us—human males are in heat all year round. They'll attack if you get too close."
In heat all year.
Such crude characterization.
Though not entirely inaccurate.
"Besides, if he gets excited seeing my body, isn't that a favorable way to repay the favor? Nya?! It's chilly!"
"How long do you intend to keep your skirt raised?"
Rudeus wasn't looking at Tona's legs anymore. Wiping cold sweat from his brow, he gripped his staff tightly.
He could sense something like a sharp, murderous intent gradually seeping from the adjacent room.
"Co... cough I appreciate your gratitude. Eris is in the next room, so please, if you would..." he managed, his voice strained.
They might be children, but carelessly displaying scars was unwise. It would be troublesome if they attracted the attention of some dangerous old man with a penchant for playing doctor.
"I understand, but truly, thank you, nya."
"Thank you very much."
The two bowed respectfully before departing.
After a moment, Rudeus cautiously approached the wall and pressed his ear against it.
From the neighboring room, he could hear Eris' displeased voice demanding, "What do you want?"
He could easily envision her standard pose—hands on hips, brow furrowed.
Tona and Terusena's responses were harder to discern. No, it was simply that Eris' voice overwhelmed theirs.
As he listened with growing interest, Eris' tone gradually softened. Things would work out.
Relieved, Rudeus returned to his bed.
The girls continued talking through the night. What they discussed, he couldn't say.
Tona and Terusena still struggled with the human language. Eris had learned some Beast God tongue, but not enough for fluent conversation.
He wondered if they could truly communicate effectively.
His concerns proved unfounded the following day when Eris, tears streaming down her face, held Minitona's hand as they bid farewell.
They had reconciled after all.
Excellent, excellent.
Meanwhile, Claude remained confined to his bed, surrounded by a protective barrier five meters in diameter, shielding himself from the frenzied beast-men who had brought their daughters to his room.
"Master! Please let me in! I brought my daughter with me!"
"Step aside, old man! Your daughter is underage!"
"Yours is too old!"
The clamor of Eris' emotional goodbye was drowned out by the apprentices' desperate pleas.
[CLAUDE POV]
I don't understand what's wrong with these beast-men crafters. I've seen their spouses and children—they have families of their own! Even if they find their own flesh and blood unappealing, they're still their responsibility!
I want nothing more than to knock some sense into them, but I restrain myself. Today is the last day I'll see them, after all.
I've already explained the trading arrangements—the materials I'll send, the teacher who will come to continue their training, the ongoing partnership with my guild. Everything is settled.
Yet they refuse to believe me. They're convinced I'll never return unless they bind me to someone in the village.
Given my reputation, most villagers have wisely declined to be sacrificed to this cause. That leaves these desperate craftsmen with only two options: offering their children or their spouses.
These beast-men are absolute lunatics!
When I complained to Gyes and Gustave about the situation, they merely shrugged their shoulders, abandoning me to this predicament. Their indifference speaks volumes about how common such behavior must be.
What am I supposed to do with this?
I sigh deeply, fragments of memory surfacing unbidden—echoes from other timelines where similar farewells played out differently. Sometimes with tragedy, sometimes with unexpected bonds formed. The conflicting memories create a dissonance that makes my head throb.
But in this timeline, I simply need to escape with my dignity intact. The barrier holds for now. Tomorrow we leave, and this particular chapter of awkwardness can finally end.
Another memory fragment—a brief flash of one timeline where I did marry into a beast tribe. The outcome was...
I shake my head forcefully, pushing away the intrusive thought. That path isn't this path. Focus on the now.
The shouting continues outside my barrier, but I tune it out. Instead, I concentrate on our journey ahead. The Demon Continent has much to offer, and much to fear. My scattered knowledge will be crucial in the days to come, but it will also be incomplete. Frustratingly, maddeningly incomplete.
I failed to prevent the teleportation catastrophe. I won't fail again, not when lives depend on me navigating this fractured collection of memories.
For now, though, I need sleep. And a way to escape these marriage-minded artisans before dawn breaks.
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