CH 167

Chapter 167

When Peaceful Times Cease To Exist : To The Swamp, Part 5 — Plan

Translated by KaiesV

Edited by KaiesV

Afterwards, Winthia hosted a welcome banquet for them. It was the first time in more than a decade that any human had come to Schutim. Except when Phalanx came with Aerial. Miranda knew that Nia’s condition made it impossible for her to attend the banquet, but she agreed, albeit reluctantly, because of Winthia’s insistence. This Winthia spirit, contrary to her mature appearance, was quite pushy.

Already in front of Alfiris and the others, a dish centered around nuts was laid out on the table. It may be quite a lot for a fairy, but because of the difference in size, they’re like a snack for Alfiris and her group.

「We are herbivores and can basically survive on very little food, so we can’t really serve a big feast…」

「No, this just thoughtfulness is enough. Besides, I don’t intend to take it easy.」

「That said, we still can’t move the beastkin girl. Her condition has stabilized thanks to Euthy’s continued efforts to use magic, but she should stay here at least tonight.」

Miranda thinks that Winthia’s words are valid. Miranda saw Nia’s condition earlier, and although she seemed to be breathing a little easier, she was in a lull at best, and it would certainly be better for her to take it easy at least tonight. But her arm wasn’t connected, and she wanted to show it to the doctor as soon as possible, considering her arm. But it would be too late to get out on the prairie now, not by a long shot. But Miranda had one thing in mind.

「I would like to ask you something more than that. Erm, Winthia-san?」

「You can call me whatever you want. I will also call you Miranda.」

Winthia’s tone is light. Perhaps it is that way because she’s a Wind Spirit. She’s gracious but brisk in tone and will say harsh things when necessary. She is especially harsh with Euthy. She is a Wind Spirit, so she is a very windy one. It’s easy to talk to her, which is a good thing for Miranda.

Miranda had no way of knowing that Winthia, too, was inwardly thrilled by the arrival of a human being she had not seen in a long time.

「Then, Winthia. Does『Witch of the Swamp』ring a bell?」

「You’re referring to『White Witch Fairtuse.』Of course I know her. I have been in contact with her.」

「I’m glad, she’s still alive…」

Miranda is relieved. In fact, Miranda had once ventured into this prairie swamp with a group of heroes when she was still a mercenary. At that time, the group was saved by the Swamp Witch. Thus, although she was a familiar face, Miranda didn’t have much accurate knowledge about the existence of Witches, and more than 100 years have already passed since then. The witch was quite old even then, but even though she had a considerably longer life expectancy than most humans, it was a pretty good bet that she was still alive.

Ideally, she would have liked to see Nia’s arm attached within Schutim, but apparently that wasn’t possible for Winthia. It’s said that a higher level Water or Divine Spirit that is good at healing might’ve been able to manage the situation, but there’s no point in asking for something that is not there, and she was essentially grateful just to have been able to provide first aid.

「But how well does Miranda know Fairtuse? She’s supposed to be living in hiding.」

「Yeah, I’ve got some contacts. If Nia doesn’t get better here, we may have to turn to that old lady now.」

「I see, Fairtuse would have some measures. In fact, when Aerial there was brought to this village, she was treated with her medicine.」

「Is that so?」

It must have been a first for Aerial, and they were quite surprised.

「No wonder you didn’t know. You were barely conscious at the time. Do you remember staying here until your condition stabilized after that?」

「Yes, I thought, how familiar. But then I was in what looked like a big hollow in a tree, and all I could see was this scene from there.」

Aerial looks around. Lush trees lined the street, their leaves thickly overgrown, but the wind was blowing the sun’s rays through the foliage without ceasing. Although the season is still in the heat of summer, the sunlight is kept at a moderate intensity as if blocked by something, and a gentle breeze is always blowing between the trees, stirring the melody of leaves rustling against each other. It’s hard to believe it’s late summer.

Not only Aerial, but everyone is comfortable in this warmth. Except for one person, Alfiris.

「But I didn’t go outside once. And I was blindfolded on the way home, too.」

「It can’t be helped. This isn’t a place where humans are supposed to come. It was special at that time.」

「Is that so?」

「But in the end, everything turned out for the better. Phalanx got a good successor and we were able to welcome the Priestess Of The Wind.」

「Priestess?」

Aerial nods her head at the unfamiliar words.

「Yes, priestess is not a very appropriate term. I would say『spirit guardian candidate』to be more precise. You were brought to us for treatment at that time, and you became involved with the Spirits of the Wind. When you had no memory, the Spirits Of The Wind took care of you a lot, including myself. Isn’t it since then? You were able to use Wind Magic without any difficulty.」

「Come to think of it, yes.」

「As for chanting, you may have learned it from human books or other sources, but you should be able to use simple magic without chanting. This is impossible for ordinary people. Unless you’re a highly trained mage, or a person who has direct contact with spirits, such as a mage or a witch.」

What then of Alfiris, who can fire her magic wildly without chanting? That certain question seemed to pop into Miranda and Lisa’s heads at the same time, and they both tried to put it into words, but then stopped and looked at each other. Because Alfiris looked very grumpy.

Alfiris had been listening intently to the conversation, but then she stood up and tried to leave. Seeing this, Miranda hurriedly held her back.

「Alfie, where are you going!?」

「The food is bad, so I’ll just go get some random food around there. Besides, I don’t feel like eating with this amount of food. After all, meat is the way to strength. Is Euthy coming too?」

「No, I’m just fine…」

「Ah–okay. Okay, I’m going to go out for a bit. Don’t worry, I’ll be back in about an hour.」

「Ah, I’m afraid you can’t get out of here alone though.」

Winthia called out as if she had an idea, but Alfiris paid no attention.

「It’s okay. I saw how to open it earlier, so I can handle it on my own now. I won’t break it, so don’t worry, Miss Spirit.」

「I–Is that so?」

With that, Alfiris left the place. After she left, Winthia muttered.

「It’s not the kind of warding that can be opened by a human being… Who is she?」

「That, is what I’m getting confused about over here, too.」

Miranda sighs and looks gloomy. They all fall silent, but Winthia says something even more disturbing.

「It was true that the beastkin girl who was brought in is seriously injured. However, her life is not in danger now, and her arm may be restored to normal depending on the treatment. You have to give Euthy credit for that. Without her, she would’ve been on the verge of life and death by now.」

「Well, the wound was cut very sharply, so it was easy for me, too. Be thankful to me, you guys.」

Ehhem! And when Euthy was flustered, Winthia grabbed Euthy.

「I told you to not get carried away, I’ve told you many times since you were born.」

「Gyaaaaahh!? Forgive me, Winthia, forgive me!!!」

「I’m sure I’ve told you many times to put『-sama』on my name, too, don’t I?」

「Everyone else is fine with that, but why me—!?」

Euthy screamed in Winthia’s hand, but Winthia wasn’t conscious of Euthy.

「But it is that woman who is really seriously ill. I can feel something around her that isn’t good. I am very sorry that I cannot say exactly what it is.」

「That’s what I thought too.」

Euthy stops fussing and takes on a serious tone.

「That’s Alfiris, but at the same time, she’s not.」

「What do you mean?」

「Hmmm, I can’t say it well either, but… I guess we could say she’s a bit twisted. Well, she was a bit twisted, but it’s not like that. I’d say her existence is distorted. It’s hard to say, though, because of the complex interplay of so many different factors.」

「So you don’t know after all.」

「Don’t say that. The only thing I’m sure of is that she’s going to go nuts for sure as it is. She could have come to kill us, that is how evil she feels. Because until now, for some reason, I felt at home when I’m around Alfiris, but now Alfiris is honestly scary. I don’t want to be around her as much as possible.」

「…」

Euthy’s words spoke for all of them, so they all fell silent. Winthia also rubbed her hands together as if she was praying out of concern, but she was still even more forceful, as if she had forgotten about Euthy. Euthy’s bitterness is beginning to pass its limits and she is bubbling, but no one notices Euthy’s pinch because each was so submerged in her own thoughts.

When Aerial finally looked up, several minutes had passed.

「By the way, Winthia. What you said to me earlier about successors and spirit guardian candidates… Ah.」

「What’s wrong?」

「Euthy’s foaming at the mouth.」

「Oh, it really is.」

Euthy was bubbling and fainting in Winthia’s hand. It was probably because Winthia held her hand too tightly.

「Are you alright, Euthy?」

「Yeah, you can do it this way. Eyy!」

With that, Winthia tossed Euthy toward the fountain. A splash was heard, and Euthy was floating on the surface of the water.

「Uhh, I think she’s suffocating…」

「It’s all right. She was born in that fountain. Even if she were dead, she will come back to life if she soaks in that fountain.」

「I wonder if that’s true…」

Miranda stared at Euthy, but she didn’t move at all, floating on the surface of the water.

＊＊＊

「Still, this is an unexpected connection.」

「Absolutely.」

「The White Witch, huh.」

Miranda, Lisa, and Euthy stayed with Nia to nurse her. They planned to leave as soon as Nia woke up, and had already made preparations. Aerial is away because she wants to talk to Winthia, and Kaede has disappeared. I guess they intend to escort Miranda from the shadows. Alfiris had come back to the house, but she wasn’t comfortable in this place. She told them she was going to take a nap and went back to the entrance area. She said she felt more at home in the dark.

Euthy would fill a container made of large leaves with water from the spring and soak Nia’s arm in it. This way, she said, it would be possible to keep the arm intact for several days without it rotting. The amputated surface of Nia’s arm is apparently treated every half day to the point where it is safe to look at it. That alone showed Miranda that Euthy was a fairly competent healer, but the person herself was unusually modest.

「I am only able to do this because of the water from the fountain where I was born. I don’t have that kind of power, so please don’t expect too much from me. I was born only about 70 years ago. As fairies go, I am among the youngest in our community.」

「Hmm. Are there any other Water Spirits in this village?」

「There are none. Before I was born, there were not only water, but also fire and earth. Winthia told me that this village might have reached the end of its life span.」

「Life span?」

Miranda asks back.

「Yes. Even though fairies are as close to nature as possible, if they stay in one place for too long, the circulation of the elements around the world will be interrupted. Especially since the prairie is originally a land favorable to Wind Spirits, it seems that the wind element in this settlement has become too strong with Winthia, the Wind Spirit, staying here. As proof, I am the only non-wind spirit newly born in the village.」

「I see. Well, then Euthy’s got a lot on her shoulders.」

「That’s right～」

As Euthy sighs, Lisa hurls words at her mercilessly.

「No wonder you got separated from us, you bad fairy.」

「The cliché when I go out is,『I’m coming home late,』When did this happen?」

「I’m sure you’re not the only one who has been kidnapped while out and about, so don’t get your knickers in a twist. How long do you think Nia’s arm will last?」

Lisa is seriously worried as she looks at Nia’s arm. Euthy, too, turns around and becomes serious.

「Two days at the most, three day will be pushing it. After four days, she’s screwed.」

「That’s short… we’ll have to do whatever we can to find Grandma Fairtuse before then.」

But Winthia said something that bothered her. She said she hadn’t seen Fairtuse in the last ten years or so. Maybe there is something going on in the swamp.

And the swamp is vast. If Miranda had her way, it might work, but it would be a gamble.

「Can we find her?」

「This is where Lisa comes in. Let me take my pride and find her.」

「Shouldn’t it be Jicchan who calls?」

「Baachan told me not to say such things.」

「You, I’m not your grandmother, you know!?」

「The details are just fine!」

Euthy and Lisa were wrestling with each other. Miranda sighed as she watched. There are other concerns. Swamp fiends, swamp barbarians. And the White Witch herself was a difficult person. There was no end to their worries about whether things would go well.