Chapter 20

“L-Lorna! Are you okay?!” When Lorna got back to Aiphoné, she found Reinharte at the gate. He called out to her in surprise. Several other adventurers were gathered nearby, and they all watched in shock as Lorna descended from the sky. “Oh, Reinharte. What’s the matter?” “Uh? What do you mean, ‘What’s the matter?’ You disappeared into the woods for an entire day. I even gathered some people to go look for you…” “Oh…” The two of them had only just met, so Lorna hadn’t expected Reinharte to be so worried. But then again, the woods were full of monsters, and she had shown no sign of coming home. It was only natural for him to be concerned, to say nothing of the natural disasters that had only just ravaged the area. “Um… S-sorry about that…” “No, no, don’t apologize. I’m just…um, glad you’re all right. I haven’t had a chance to pay you back for all you’ve done for me, after all,” Reinharte said with a chuckle. “What happened in there? There are so many monsters, I assume you didn’t try to sleep outside, right…?” “Oh no, of course not. I got invited to the Hidden Village of the Elves. And they let me spend the night there.” “““…?!””” Lorna’s words shocked everyone within earshot. Because she got all her information from the internet, she hadn’t thought any of this was that big of a deal, but… “Th-the Hidden Village of the Elves?! The one from the legends?” “You mean you made it through the mists of confusion?!” “Th-there’s no way she’s serious…right?” “She did just descend from the sky…” The adventurers gathered by the gate all murmured among themselves at this shocking revelation. The Hidden Village of the Elves was famous among the adventurers in Aiphoné. Many hoping to strike it rich had tried to cross through the mists of confusion and find their way to the village. But every one of them without exception wound up aimlessly wandering the same area in circles. Twenty years prior, the Guugelheits had sent their private army into the woods. But their entire force was wiped out before they could even reach the barrier. Lorna hadn’t heard about any of this, however, so she didn’t understand why everyone was so excited. “Oh, right! Here, I brought you back some souvenirs. I have enough for everyone, so you can all try some.” Lorna materialized a paper package full of Elf crackers from her Item Box and handed out the contents. According to the internet, it was the elven village’s delicacy, so she thought it was worth sharing. Everyone’s gathered here for my sake… I’d hate to have them go home empty-handed. That was the only thing on her mind as she casually handed out the crackers. The adventurers were once again left completely shell-shocked by this turn of events. “What the—?! Where did that box just come from?!” “Are you telling me that…these are the fabled elven sweets? I thought they only existed in stories.” “There’s no way I can eat this… We should sell them. They must be as rare as a royal heirloom…” “Hold on, hold on. You’re not telling me you actually believe this girl’s been to the Hidden Village of the Elves, are you?” “Maybe we should get a scholar to take a look at these crackers and see what they think…” The adventurers were completely absorbed in their lively discussion. For her part, Lorna was just happy that everyone seemed to be enjoying the crackers even more than she’d expected. This was her first time choosing souvenirs and handing them out, and she’d been a bit nervous about how well they would go over. Looks like I made the right choice picking a snack that doesn’t spoil quickly. I’m glad I read that TOP 10 TIPS FOR BUYING SOUVENIRS THEY’LL LOVE page on the internet. Lorna, despite missing the mark somewhat, was completely satisfied with her conclusion. Reinharte, meanwhile, looked confused. “Hold on… Something seems different about you, Lorna.” “Huh?” “Uh, how should I say this? Something about you seems lighter, somehow. You look less stressed out.” “You think so? Hmm. I guess I am, now that you mention it. You might say I have a better idea of what I want to do with my life now,” she said. Then something struck her. “Oh, that reminds me, Reinharte. Didn’t you mention something about a strange illness that’s been affecting the town yesterday?” “Hmm? Oh yes. I do recall saying that. Why do you ask?” Lorna suspected that Zariché’s poisonous pollen had floated all the way to Aiphoné. But now that the source had been dealt with, everyone’s symptoms were likely to improve. “I don’t think you have to worry about it anymore. Everyone should start feeling better in no time.” “Uh… What?” Having said that, Lorna wandered into town, leaving Reinharte perplexed. After a few minutes of silence, something occurred to him. “…Wait! Did Lorna mean the whole reason she went to the Hidden Village of the Elves was to put a stop to the illness…? Hold on… This goes even further back. Now that I think of it, the natural disasters in the Ipple Woods came to an abrupt end just after Lorna arrived in Aiphoné… Has this been her plan the entire time…? To save the town…?” The puzzle pieces all seemed to fall into place in Reinharte’s mind. “And despite all that, she doesn’t brag about any of her accomplishments. Wow, Lorna… You really are amazing.” Slowly but surely, Reinharte had begun to see Lorna as a great and benevolent angel, come to save the people. Lorna, of course, was completely oblivious to this. And speaking of Lorna… Oh, right. I should go see Elmina and give her a souvenir. …she was currently strolling through town, cheerfully thinking about her own benefactor. Elmina had gone through so much trouble to re-re-reprint her adventurers card, and Lorna had been looking for a way to thank her. As such, she had resolved to give Elmina an extra-special souvenir. Having made up her mind, Lorna wasted no time in finding Elmina. “Uh, let’s see. I think her house is… Oh yep, here it is on the internet. All right. Enchanted Wings!” Lorna sprouted wings of light and flew off in the direction of Elmina’s home. Elmina Manaflame, the Witch of Conflagration. Nary a soul in Aiphoné did not know that name. She was an elite sorceress, the user of a rare A-Rank skill, and the young guild master of the Aiphoné Adventurers Guild. Having aligned herself with the powerful Guugelheit family, she had lived her whole life as an elite among elites. And right now, that elite sorceress was… “…Okay. I’m done packing. Time to get the hell out of here.” …getting ready to skip town as fast as humanly possible. She planned to flee Aiphoné at first light. Sigh… I can’t believe an elite like me is about to be homeless. Good-bye, elite lifestyle… If I stay here any longer, Lorna Hermit is sure to murder me. And I’ve already declared myself an enemy to the Guugelheits… She’d been left with only one choice: to run away and never return. So while Lorna Hermit was out of town, Elmina had sold her house (despite still owing money on her mortgage) and all her belongings. She had also left a letter announcing her resignation as the town’s guild master. But all of it would be worth it, as long as she could get away from Lorna Hermit. “All right…” Elmina used her Mana Scan skill to take a good look around. “Lorna Hermit, Lorna Hermit… There she is—all the way over there.” Fwoooooooooooooooosh!!! Off in the distance, Elmina could see a massive aura rising into the sky. There was no mistaking that aura. Lorna emitted so much mana that Elmina could always get a precise read on her location. Elmina would use that to her advantage and escape unseen. Hee-hee… As if I’d let myself be intimidated by the likes of Lorna Hermit. I’ve secured multiple escape routes and devised countless scenarios to evade her. I’ve thought of everything. I am an elite, after all. And an elite like me does everything impeccably—even when it comes to skipping town. Elmina went over her plan with a smug sense of self-satisfaction. But just as she was about to depart… …What? Why does her aura look like it’s heading this way…? Fsssssshooo!!! Lorna Hermit’s terrifying aura turned and made its way straight for Elmina, traveling at tremendous speed. W-wait… Th-this can’t… It was clear as day—the aura was cutting a straight path toward Elmina’s home. It was almost as if the girl knew she was trying to beat a hasty retreat. A moment later… “Ohhh, Elmiiiinaaaa! ” …Lorna came ripping through the air like a meteor, a huge smile evident. Seeing this, Elmina couldn’t help herself. I…can’t take this anymore… She fell to her knees in complete despair. Elmina welcomed Lorna into her house (which had already sold), as best she could. Since she had already gotten rid of all her household furniture, Elmina offered the winged girl her own steamer trunk as a seat. Elmina, meanwhile, sat on the ground. “U-um, is something going on? It looks like you’re about to leave.” “…N-no. N-n-n-not at all…” Elmina was already covered in cold sweat. What is this…? What is she going to do with me? And why does she know where I live? My heart can’t handle this… The ex–guild master had no idea what to make of the situation, but she guessed that Lorna had come to warn her that she had no hope of escape. It made perfect sense—the girl had allowed her to do as she wished, but the instant Elmina tried to escape, she’d appeared as if from nowhere. “Do you really think you can run?” It was clear as day—Lorna was mocking her. She’s right… Elmina already knew the terrible truth in her heart: There was no running away from Lorna Hermit. Lorna, meanwhile, could see how upset Elmina was, and she was worried sick. Oh no… Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to look up her address on the internet and show up unannounced like this. Elmina’s a kind person, so she’s probably just humoring me. But by the looks of it, she was probably on her way out the door. Lorna took a look around Elmina’s empty home. I’m surprised she lives such a simple life. I assumed that, as the guild master, she probably made a decent amount of money. Come to think of it, I bet she donates most of her salary to help out new adventurers. Just like when she covered the cost of printing me a new card over and over. As Lorna sat there, head full of wild delusions, the elite sorceress finally spoke up. “A-and to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit…? Are you here to tell me to end it all myself…?” “Huh? End what now?” Elmina’s voice trembled as she tried to ascertain what horrible fate lay in store for her. Lorna, oblivious, suddenly remembered why she had come. “Oh, right! Since I visited the Hidden Village of the Elves, I brought you back a little something.” “Th-the Hidden Village…of the Elves…?” As usual, Lorna had casually name-dropped something only known in myths and legends. And that wasn’t all. “So without further ado… Ta-daa! Here’s your souvenir.” Lorna pulled an item out of thin air as if it was the most natural thing in the world before handing it to Elmina. The sorceress absentmindedly accepted the item. Then, taking a closer look, she realized it was a magnificent crown adorned with roses. A…crown? But whose crown? I…have a bad feeling about this… Elmina’s hands began to tremble as she gripped the crown. “Wh-what i-i-is it…?” “The crown? Heh-heh! I got this in the Hidden Village of the Elves! Pretty great, right?” “What… How…?” “Oh, some enemy I beat up dropped it.” “Someone you beat dropped this…?” “Yup!” replied Lorna with a big smile. The truth was that it had dropped when she defeated the Queen’s Heart Rose. Equipment (Head): Queen’s Heart Crown Rank: B Type: Helmet Price: 8,700,000 shil Effect: DEF +87, SPD +87, LUCK +87 Poison, Sleep, Charm resistance +87 percent Draw Aggro (Large) Equip Skill: Queen’s Majesty (B) Effect: High chance of inflicting Charm on all lower-level enemies in range. Details: Equipment dropped by defeating the Queen’s Heart Rose. Despite being a crown, this helmet’s stats and ability make it most suitable for a tank. It excels at rendering nearby enemies powerless, making it an incredibly useful piece of equipment for hunting or taming monsters. It’s definitely worth grinding the boss until the crown drops. I still don’t get how a fully formed crown can just drop out of a monster like that… But it sounds like it’s pretty rare, so I’m sure Elmina’s going to love it. It was a bit too gaudy for Lorna, who took one look at it and thought, There’s no way I’m walking around wearing this thing… before sending it away to her Item Box. But a crown would be perfect for someone with a dignified air like Elmina. Lorna watched for Elmina’s reaction, a glint of expectation in her eye. If the enemy she beat dropped this crown, does that mean…? Elmina’s body began to tremble in fear. Has she committed regicide and usurped someone’s throne…? Elmina suddenly recalled the recent disaster that had befallen the Ipple Woods. There was no doubt in her mind that Lorna was the culprit, but something else had caught Elmina’s attention—she couldn’t help but notice that a lot of the damage had taken place near the barrier created by the fog of confusion. The elves were a cautious bunch. Surely, something so brazen happening near their village would be treated as an act of direct hostility. And since there was no official way to enter the village without reaching a mutual understanding with the elves, Elmina could think of only one reason why Lorna would cause a ruckus so close to their border. Was she trying to destroy the Hidden Village of the Elves…? Barrier and all…? Everything clicked into place. Surely, the “enemy” Lorna had mentioned was the elven people themselves. Not even the Guugelheit family, all of whom were distinguished warriors, had been able to enter the village with their army. There was no way Lorna had gone into the village to defeat a mere monster or a thief—such weaklings would never had made it inside. And even if they did, the elven soldiers would quickly dispatch them. And that meant there was only one possible conclusion… “There were just so many enemies in the village when I was there. It was a real handful,” Lorna explained. “Defeating all of them was so much work. I’d defeat one enemy, and another one would take its place… It took a lot to finally wipe them all out!” Th-those poor elves… “But thankfully, all the enemies I took out dropped a bunch of items. So in the end, I guess you could say I made a killing, heh-heh.” H-how is she so calm…? She just slaughtered and pillaged an entire village… “Plus, when I was done, the elves all offered me a bunch of jewels and food! These Elf crackers I brought back as a souvenir? They just gave them to me!” Th-they must have offered them to get her to stop murdering their people… “Oh, and the bed inside the elf castle? It was sooo comfy! I can’t remember the last time I slept that well.” She’s so…terrifying… That was what happened when you opposed Lorna Hermit. And she’d recounted her deeds in such excruciating detail. The reason? That was obvious, at least to Elmina… “Guess what, Elmina? You’re next.” That was the only sensible conclusion Elmina could draw as she looked at the girl’s grinning face. “Um, Elmina? Why are you crying?” “P-please…d-d-don’t k-kill…” “Huh? Don’t kill who? My enemies?” Lorna was perplexed. At first she didn’t understand why Elmina was weeping. Oh… I think I get it now. She probably pities all the monsters I had to defeat. She’s like a saint. What a kind soul… This made a lot of sense to Lorna. In the end, for whatever reason, Elmina refused to accept the Queen’s Heart Crown. Instead, Lorna opted to share some Elf crackers with her, taking care of the last of her souvenirs. Unbeknownst to Elmina, Lorna had warmed up to her even more.