Chapter 16, The Letter

Translator: Kazumi

Editor: Silavin

 

The bar in the town of Ashir buzzed with activity as military personnel filled its confines.

 

The soldiers, stationed there to patrol the treacherous Sewri Forest road, treasured these few days of respite before their next forest expedition. Though permitted to unwind, they remained under strict orders to maintain their composure.

 

The animated chatter in the establishment briefly hushed when a new patron entered—a beautiful woman whose presence immediately caught the soldiers’ attention.

 

Their initial surprise gave way to confusion; they recognized her as one of the two beauties they had encountered deep in Sewri Forest days earlier. The soldiers had been eagerly sharing tales of Kouhi and Mitsuki, their stories inevitably devolving into good-natured grumbling about Kousuke’s fortune in traveling with such companions.

 

Kouhi’s eyes swept the room methodically as she entered, prompting eager soldiers to call out to her.

 

“Who are you looking for, Kouhi-san?”

 

“Is your partner here today?”

 

She addressed the boisterous soldiers with a slight tilt of her head. “I heard that the captain was here.”

 

All eyes turned to a corner of the bar where the captain rose with an amused expression. “You guys. What are you going to do by just revealing your superior’s location?”

 

Despite his words, his immediate response betrayed his lack of genuine reproach, earning knowing laughter from his subordinates.

 

After surveying his men briefly, the captain focused on Kouhi with a stern expression—not one of criticism, but of concern. Her presence here, when she should have been deeper in the forest, suggested something significant had occurred.

 

His instincts proved correct as Kouhi produced a letter from her pocket. “Here, read this first. I’ll tell you the details later.”

 

“Is it okay to read this here?” The captain asked, accepting the document.

 

“No problem, but I think it would be better if you don’t show it to the others.”

 

The watching soldiers, demonstrating their training, maintained their jovial atmosphere to avoid drawing attention to the exchange.

 

Kouhi noted their disciplined response with internal approval, though her expression remained neutral.

 

As the captain read the letter, his face remained stoic, but Kouhi observed the subtle change in his eyes that betrayed the gravity of its contents. No one dared to peek at the document—such behavior was strictly forbidden without explicit permission—though the higher-ranking officers discreetly monitored their superior’s reaction.

 

“Where is that item?” The captain finally asked, looking up from the letter.

 

Kouhi produced the King’s Medal that Kousuke had entrusted to her.

 

The captain examined it without touching it; though unfamiliar with the specifics of foreign artifacts, he recognized the royal crest of the Tausen Kingdom. Its mere presence validated portions of the letter’s contents.

 

“…I understand. So, what are you going to do now?”

 

“What are we going to do? I think we’ll continue our journey as before.” Kouhi replied after brief consideration. While Kousuke showed concern for the Elves in Sewri Forest, he seemed reluctant to further involve himself in the kidnapping situation. Kouhi intended only to deliver the letter as requested.

 

“That won’t do. If this is confirmed as true, you should be able to receive rewards and other things.”

 

Kouhi shook her head. “I don’t think we will accept anything in return. If we accept such things, others will think we belong to the Tausen Kingdom.”

 

“You don’t belong to Tausen?”

 

“We are simply using this medal to showcase the trust the King has placed on us. That’s all. We don’t belong to the Tausen Kingdom.”

 

“I see. Is that so?” The captain nodded in understanding. “Anyway, please tell him that I understand the contents of the letter. Of course, we will thoroughly investigate it.”

 

“Of course. I will let him know. Well then.” Having completed her task, Kouhi departed, leaving the captain to contemplate his next steps under the watchful eyes of his subordinates.

 

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The day following Kousuke and Romana’s discussion, an intriguing rumor circulated through the Elven village. Word spread of plans to establish a teleportation gate connecting their village to the Tower in the Central Continent.

 

Initially skeptical, the traditionally isolated Elves’ interest piqued when additional information emerged about rising birth rates in the Tower’s Elf village.

 

As Romana had predicted, the prospect of increased fertility rates generated positive responses among the villagers. Their desperate situation made them eager to embrace this unexpected opportunity.

 

While Kousuke focused on making progress in the Sewri Forest village, he maintained broader strategic considerations. His ongoing discussions with Colette had highlighted the inevitable complications of continued marriages within a single village.

 

Despite consulting with the village chief, they had struggled to find an adequate solution until this current situation presented an opportunity.

 

By now, Colette, whom Kousuke had sent back to the Tower, would be discussing the teleportation gate proposal. The potential for inter-village Elven interactions would minimize disruption in the Tower settlement, making these negotiations valuable for both communities.

 

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