Bu ni Mi wo Sasagete Hyaku to Yonen. Elf de Yarinaosu Musha Shugyou Chapter 20

Mountain Village Natousha

「──It’s finally within our sight.」

While seeing a huge mountain range in our sight, a little village could be seen nestled between the mountains, I muttered.

Truly a mountain village. Just as it’s called, it’s located in quite a steep place.

「A little, tired….」

Cheryl who had been in high spirits, by repeatedly walking up and down the slope, seemed to remember what fatigue was.

Towards the girl who was quieter than usual, I slightly smiled wryly.

In the latter half of the journey, even the amount of Cheryl’s jumping had decreased. As one can say, she seems a little tired.

「What, have a little more patience. But if it’s difficult, shall I give you a piggy back?」

「N~n, good….I want to walk by myself.」

Nevertheless, after coming here with great effort──how to say this. That Cheryl said she could walk on her own.

Since leaving Arufareia, it’s been four days. Midway, there was a small inn town──we had come halfway to Natousha. (TLN: 　アルファレイアを出て、四日と少し。途中に小さな宿街を挟み──私達は、ナトゥーシャの直ぐ傍までやってきていた。)

As expected when leaving Arufareia, there is little opportunity to walk on a good road, so it has taken longer than originally expected.

Nevertheless, when taking into account the age of Cheryl, four days is considered pretty short. With a few breaks here and there, it’s a nice miscalculation.

However, it looks like Cheryl is starting to get tired from the fatigue.

There should be a place for people who want to rest.

「Yos.h.i.+, here I go──」

Going where. As I tried to call out to Cheryl, I choked on my words.

In my field of vision, there was another shadow besides Cheryl’s shadow.

….Because there wasn’t any aggressive will, I didn’t notice the person approaching.

Using a little magical power, I saw a person’s figure.

Climbing the slope, the thin shadow──the face couldn’t be seen due to a mask being worn but, judging from the long hair and delicate body, it should be a woman.

On the back, there was a basket filled with gra.s.s──probably some type of medicinal herb──piled up, and there was no opening in that stand.

──Hou, perhaps the strong person that Chester was talking about is this person.

The Bird Mask, probably suitably──capable・・・.

The Bird Mask was approaching naturally, making my heart slightly beat.

「You don’t need to be so cautious, I am a person from that village.」

Toward this unexpected event, the corners of my mouth unintentionally lifted, this Bird Mask had a voice like a bell. (TLN: Pleasant to hear voice)

It seems like my slight fighting spirit was detected. Even if this is the fist expert that Chester was talking about, whether or not it was──there was no doubt from that skilled stance.

「You are?」

「I, am of that village「Seeing and Devouring the Sky」.
My occupation is reading the wind and weather.」(TLN: 私は、あの村の「空見くうけん」さ。天気や風を読むことを生業としている)

Looking at that sky, huh. Reading the direction of the wind and weather as they say・this work requires a lot of strength and patience. (TLN: 空見、か。言うとおりに天気や風の向き・強さを読む仕事だと聞いたが、まだ居たのか。)

This is a lost technique, however, in this manner it’s in front of me. (TLN: 失伝しつつある技術という話だが、こうして目の前にするとは。)

「From the looks of it, you guys are travellers?
Hear out my good intentions, it will rain in this place soon.
I can guide you to the village if you want, how about it?」

The Bird Mask, pointing at the sky, said so.

「….Rain? Even though the sun is out?」(TLN: I switched this line with the one above so that it would make more sense)

Said Cheryl while looking at the sky. The sun was s.h.i.+ning brilliantly──surely, this wasn’t the color foreshadowing rain.

Cheryl tilted her head, took a step forward and came out.

The guidance to the village was already not a necessity due to the short distance, but it’s still something offered in good faith, so we gladly accepted it.

Leaving the guiding to a complete stranger, which I don’t usually do but──I am interested in this Bird Mask.

So far hostility and malicious intent──that is to say, the darkness that is hidden away, wasn’t felt from first impression. (TLN: ここまで敵意や害意など──闇の部分が見えない者と言うのは、初めて見る。)

Even if being weak and strong is separates people, personal interests is what things all boil down to.

「Please. I don’t think that the sky would change so drastically, but if you say so, then it probably is so.」

「Un, a sky watcher’s view of the sky is definite.
….Before departure, let me introduce myself.
My name is Sonya・Aruven」(TLN: I like the “・” better than an = sign…)

「My name is Slava・Marshall.
Together with this child, we are on a trip to polish ourselves.
──Cheryl, say your greetings.」

「Un….I, Cheryl・Prime. Nice to meet you, onee-san.」(TLN: I a.s.sume she’s trying to say ‘watas.h.i.+’ and not friggin ‘cotton’…)

「Aa, nice to meet you. What a kawaii ojou-san.
Fufu….then, shall we go?」

With names said and from the reaction to Cheryl’s words, Sonya seems to be a reliable woman.

While watching the basket that was slightly swaying while walking, we walked at the rear of Sonya.

It is a shortcut, according to what Sonya says and we proceeded to separate the plants in the front and walked through.

Just saying, I wondered how many times this road had been trod on. There was a place where the gra.s.s was collapsed, and had become a small animal trail.

Before long, we walked through a tree branch curtain, and our field of view became brighter.

The sunlight made our eyes squint but──looking up at the sky, despite it being a cloudless sunny day until a while ago, there were already a number of clouds floating.

「Welcome to Natousha.
Although there is nothing but a lot of nature. It’s a good place over here.」

In that way, we arrived at Natousha.

What I saw at first──a beautiful scenery that could be called picturesque.

Seeing it from a distance, I thought it was beautiful but──when seeing it at a closer view, the beauty could be considered complete.

The windmill at the face of the mountain turned slowly, it seemed to be telling of the gentle flowing of elves. (TLN: Because they have long lives)

Although I don’t know where we looked at the village from a while ago, the river that flows through the village into the rear from the mountain has very clear water. (TLN: 先ほど村を見下ろした位置からはわからなかったが、山からは村を通って海まで川が繋がり、その川の水の澄んだこと。)

The sea reflected the sun and the reflection was simply dazzling, it made the scenery even more gorgeous.

There were many stone bridges built over the river connecting to the village, and with this lively view, the scenery was colored gently.

This village isn’t too large. But even so, it felt like that was part of the beauty.

「….Beautiful.」

「Aa, how beautiful──」

Accordingly I want to live a long life, but this was the first time that I saw such a beautiful scenery.

My previous life ended without seeing this scene, so it makes me feel like it was a downright shame.

「It seems like you guys like it, I’m very happy about this.」

From under the mask, the joyful voice of Sonya resounds.

If her expression was not hidden under the mask, she probably had a smiling expression. (TLN: 表情は面に隠れて見えないが、恐らくは、笑っているのだろう。)

We admired the landscape in this way for a while──at last, we decided to set foot in Natousha.

「So, here is my house. Although it’s not a large place, it relaxes me.」

「Pardon the intrusion.」

「Excuse me for intruding….」

In accordance with Sonya’s voice, Cheryl and I pa.s.sed through the wooden door.

While feeling reserve along with Cheryl, we somewhat shrank a little. (TLN: シェリルと共に遠慮を感じながら、私たちは何故だか縮こまっていた。)

「Currently, the inn is filled up.
The inn over there has a very nice view──it’s regrettable for you guys.
Aa, sit down there. Let me prepare some drinks.」

Pointing at chairs, Sonya told us to sit down.

For oneself to become trouble for a few days, there’s a sense of guilt like moving in with the landlord. (TLN: 数日の間厄介になる身である以上、家主を動かすに罪悪感のようなものを覚える。)

But, since this is Sonya’s house, it would only be a nuisance if I moved. Now, there’s no choice but to sit down quietly. (TLN: だが、此処がソーニャの家である以上、私が動いたところで迷惑になるだけであろう。今は、おとなしく座るしかないか。)

──Being guided by Sonya, we visited the inn of this village but, the inn unfortunately had no vacancies.

Originally the village isn’t too big and the inn was the same, nothing really seems to be too large.

Then what should we do now──a voice called out to the me who had been pondering; it was Sonya.

There was the thought of sleeping outside since it couldn’t be helped but, Sonya invited us into her house because it was going to rain.

Although there was a reluctance from the heart, when I think of Cheryl who was tired from walking, anyhow, I couldn’t decline a place where I could behave like a child for a little. (TLN: 流石に遠慮の心もあったものの、歩き通しで疲れているシェリルを思うと、どうにも断れなかったのはすこし甘えてしまったところもある。)

──Anyway, towards Sonya who lent us a place to live in good faith, there is a deep feeling of being indebt to her.

The first impression when seeing her didn’t contain any malice, and even though that she was a person like the wind but──really, it’s just a woman with a clear heart. (TLN: 最初に彼女を見た印象はまるで悪意を感じない、風の様な人物だと思ったが──本当に、澄んだ心を持っている女性だ。)

「Sorry for making you wait, tto」

Sonya came over with three cups on a tray and arranged the cups onto the table.

A sweet fragrance drifted up along with the steam from the cup, and my empty stomach moved from the attractive fragrance.

「Is cocoa all right? If you don’t like sweet things, there’s no need to overdo it.」

「No, I’m not very picky. Thank you for the goodwill.」

「Ahaha, I’m doing it because I like it, so don’t hesitate.」

Saying so, Sonya put her hands on her Bird Mask.

The Bird Mask covers up her entire face. Since it is so, it’s necessary to take it off when eating or drinking but──

Unexpectedly, it was taken off frankly. Ignoring the cocoa, unintentionally our eyes moved to her.  (TLN: 案外、あっさりと外すのだな。ココアもそっちのけで、ついつい目が行ってしまう。)(TLN2: Did you know, 行ってしまう, the second part of the second sentence, is the inflection of 行く, which can mean ‘to o.r.g.a.s.m’?)

A thin finger held the mask, slowly removing it.

Releasing the insides of the mask gently, Sonya’s face──watching it intentionally, it was beautiful.

It was a peerless beauty. Her face still had a little bit of immaturity, nevertheless no other description besides delicate could do it justice, it was lovely.

Those round gentle-looking eyes that looked as if they harbored an emerald moon, and that smooth skin, so smooth that it shames even fine-quality fabrics.

As for the facial features, it gave off an impression that was gentle for an elf. She looked around 17 or 18 in terms of human age. But, her expression had the composure of a G.o.ddess. (TLN: 目鼻立ちも、エルフにしては柔らかめの印象だ。年の頃は人間で言えば十七か八と言ったところ。だが、その表情には女神のような落ち着きがあった。)

「Fuu….tto, eh? Strange」(TLN: I really wanted to put ‘are?’ instead of ‘eh?’ but it would probably get confused for people who don’t know what it sounds like)

My fascination lasted a moment even though my age, but we pulled ourselves together because Sonya’s voice uttered a question. (TLN: 年甲斐もなく一瞬だけ目を奪われた私だが、ソーニャが疑問の声を発したことで、ふと我に返った。)

Those emerald eyes captivated me firmly. That being the case, that question should have been directed at me.

「What, is there anything on my face?」

「Iya, your ear──I thought you were a human, but it seems like you’re an elf.
Because I didn’t expect to make a mistake, it surprised me a little.」

With these words, I involuntarily choked.

Sonya and I, had already been together for several hours, it was only a relations.h.i.+p of knowing each other’s names. (TLN: 私とソーニャは、出会ってまだ数時間と経っていない、名前を知っているだけの間柄だ。)

And so, indeed the real nature wasn’t seen through──this sudden surprise, made our hearts dance unintentionally. (TLN: だというに、まさか正体を看破されていたとは──突然の不意打ちに、思わず心臓が踊った。)

「….Onee-san, amazing.」

「Un? What do you mean?」

Even for Cheryl, she seemed to be surprised at this.

My true ident.i.ty is a dead human being aged 100 and a little. But even with the appearance of a boyish elf now, my mind from my previous life doesn’t change within me. (TLN: 私の正体は、百と少しで亡くなった人間である。今こそエルフの少年の姿をしているが、その心は前世の私とそう変わりは無い。)

However, my body is obviously special. Even if my body dies, my mind doesn’t die along with it.

Despite this, I have this「Me」in the place of my mind──something originally considered impossible, a result that seems to be a miracle beyond common sense.

Even if this is a dream, it can’t be told because there are no clues. (TLN: 夢想だにしない事実へ、何の手がかりも無しにたどり着くとは。)

Thinking up to here, a different question appeared in my head.

Apart from myself, this ear doesn’t need to be hidden. Because there isn’t a need for a hood nor a hat, the ear is always seen even if it isn’t intended to be seen. (TLN: 私は別に、この耳を隠していたわけではない。フードや帽子の類はしていないので、見ようと思えば何時だってこの尖った耳は見えた筈だ。)

This being so, why do I do as such?

「──Two・Three, it’s going to be a story but」(TLN: 「──二・三、お話があるのですが」)

「Aa, I don’t mind it. As for me, you little guy──iya, I have interest in you Slava-kun.」

The small sound of Sonya drinking cocoa could be heard while her eye narrowed.

──This, is an unexpected meeting.

I as well, put the cocoa that had ma.s.sive amounts of sugar into my mouth to fill my stomach and stared at Sonya.