Chapter 248: My Favorite Shop

Weekly chapters (1/2)

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While I was staring at the sleeping Roxy floating in a transparent glass-like tube.

Even touching her container was forbidden. If I tried to get even a little closer, I would be stopped by the soldiers guarding her. If I tried to move from here, my relationship with the high elf would end, so I had no choice but to give up.

Just as I was getting annoyed that I could only see Roxy from a distance, the black sword hanging from my waist vibrated.

『Point my hilt toward Roxy』

It was a whisper that only I could hear. I looked at Cecilia next to me, and as expected, she hadn’t noticed Greed’s voice.

As I was told, I quietly pointed the tip of the hilt of the black sword towards Roxy, so that the high elves, including Roy, wouldn’t notice.

『Good. Leave it like that for a while.』

I closed my eyes for a while and acted like a priest who comes and goes.

I wasn’t praying. Greed was trying to do something. I was just trying not to arouse suspicion from the high elves.

『That’s enough.』

I let go of the sheath and slowly opened my eyes.

Seeing me like that, Roy asked me.

[What’s wrong?]

[I was just reminiscing about her.]

[She was an important person to you, wasn’t she?]

[She still is.]

[No, she is important to us now too.]

It seemed that when it came to Roxy, Roy’s high elf-like nature was at the forefront.

While Roy and I were talking, Cecilia was quietly gazing at Roxy.

[For now, there doesn’t seem to be any physical problems. The sacred object that protected our town deteriorated over the years.]

[You mean Roxy would turn into a mummy like that one?]

[I’m not sure, but I think it’s probably the same thing. Roy, can you explain?]

[I wonder? If there’s anything I can tell you, please let me know.]

Roy turned to Cecilia and smiled.

[What happened to the sacred object that was protecting this place before Roxy?]

[I’m sorry, but I can’t answer that question.]

[Is that the state secret?]

[You can take it that way.]

I don’t know what the past sacred object was like here. Still, if they needed Roxy instead, it may have had a similar fate to the sacred object in the town where Cecilia was, even though the circumstances were different.

It’s the sacred object that maintains the Great Wall that protects the vast land where the high elves and beastmen live. It’s not surprising that something like that would be subjected to a certain amount of stress.

Roxy inherited the power of Snow’s Holy Beast during the battle there and awakened as a Valkyrie. She should have ascended to a different existence from ordinary humans.

That must be why she’s been able to maintain the Great Wall. But as Cecilia said, there’s a possibility that her body will deteriorate over time.

The thought of her being in danger made me nervous.

Cecilia spoke to me in a gentle voice, trying to reassure me as I was feeling anxious.

[Don’t worry, Roxy’s body is fine. There’s nothing to be afraid of, Fate.]

[… Thanks for the reassurance, Cecilia.]

She came close to me to calm me down.

Roy looked at his watch and announced the end of the meeting.

[It’s time. The Prophet has allowed this much. The others also want to meet her.]

Unlike the other high elves, I’m not allowed to stay here alone.

I want to stay by her side until she wakes up, but that won’t happen if she remains a sacred object.

I have to find a way to save her…

I placed my hand on the hilt of the black sword. Greed might be able to get some hints. It would be best to just leave.

[I’ll come again, Roxy.]

There was no reply, as expected. But for a moment, I thought she smiled.

As I left the room, Cecilia spoke to me.

[Fate, let’s go somewhere calm.]

[…..thanks.]

She was concerned about me. From the outside, I must have been so upset that she couldn’t help but say something like that.

[Roy-san, do you have a good place to suggest?]

[I think I do.]

After thinking for a while, Roy said, revealing his special place.

[There’s a quiet place in my favorite restaurant.]

[Please lead the way then!]

Cecilia was very interested. I would also like to see this place that Roy frequents as well.

A regular bar sounds nostalgic. In the Royal Capital of Seyfat, a bar called Encounter was my regular hangout. I wonder if the old man who owns it is doing well. I still can’t accept the reality that ten years have passed since the battle in His land.

Because Roxy and I are still the same as we were back then, it’s as if time has stopped since then. In this foreign land, there are so many things I see for the first time that I can’t feel the passage of time.

I still couldn’t accept the reality that ten years have passed.

If I could return to the Royal Capital of Seyfat, would I be able to recover my lost memories along with it?

[Fate, let’s go.]

[Yeah.]

The pure white temple stood out against the cloudless blue sky.

The Holy Romalia Orthodox Church… The high elves’ faith was real. If I were to save Roxy, they would risk their lives to stop me.

Roxy is a merciful person. Could she have predicted that saving the high elf would end up like this?

Though reluctant, I left the temple.

[….I’ll be back.]

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We passed through the historic, glamorous streets of the high elves and came to a road surrounded by plantations. The vegetation was so lush that it seemed as if a beast might appear.

It didn’t seem like Roy’s favorite shop was up ahead.

Occasionally, the bushes in the distance made noises, forcing Cecilia to react.

[Fate! I sense something’s there.]

[Seems so. It’s… a beastman.]

[You’re right. Fate-san, you’re amazing.]

[Why are the beastmen following us?]

[They’re just scared of a stranger who’d come by. There’s a beastman farm nearby.]

Strangers? Up ahead was Roy’s favorite shop. If so, the two of us must be these ‘strangers’.

The word “farm” was also intriguing.

[Roy, what do you mean by farm?]

[It’s a breeding farm. The ones peeking at us through the bushes right now are the babies born there.]

[What are you doing…]

Cecilia cried out in distress when she heard it was a breeding farm. My face also twitched at Roy’s words.

[A long time ago, the beastmen rebelled against the high elves. We quickly subdued them, but we discovered that natural reproduction could produce dangerous factors. Since then, the high elves have been strictly controlling reproduction.]

[What about their free will!?]

[They don’t need tools like that. If you’re an elf, you know that, Cecilia. The true nature of beastmen… they’re monsters.]

Roy spoke calmly and eloquently, as if he had returned to being a researcher.

[The breeding farm also benefits the beastmen. Individuals with genetic risks are removed as unfit. Only the best genes are selected, so the current beastmen have overcome disease. Their temperament has also been corrected, and they are all obedient.]

[That’s because it’s for the convenience of the high elves!]

[That’s true, but thanks to optimized breeding, the reincarnation ceremony hasn’t been held for about 1,000 years. Beastmen are important tools to the high elves. We don’t abuse them to the point of breaking them.]

[Does that mean you give them the bare minimum?]

[Yes. High elves and beastmen coexist well.]

But, that is only from the high elves’ perspective.

What about the beastmen? Roy said that the high elves had corrected their temperament. What on earth is this being done to them? We couldn’t help but wonder about this farm he was talking about.

[We’ve arrived. This is our laboratory.]

In the dense forest, there was only a large metal entrance. We couldn’t find the building.

A laboratory? Where is it?

Roy pointed down to Cecilia and I, who were wondering.

[It’s underground. They do all kinds of dangerous research there. That’s why it’s on the outskirts.]

Who would have thought that a regular place like this would be a laboratory?!

[You must be thirsty. I’ll treat you to a delicious drink.]

As he said this, Roy shone his card key on the reader next to the entrance.

The shrill sound of metal rubbing echoed throughout the area. The beastmen who were following us were so startled by the sound that they disappeared.

A laboratory… Is it really okay to invite us into a place like this?

Roy had a lot of military secrets he couldn’t tell us. And yet, this place seemed to be full of secrets…

Without a second thought, Roy entered through the open door.

[Please, come this way. There’s nothing to be worried about. Have I told you that this is a research facility for beastmen?]

His words sent chills down my spine. Cecilia, who was standing next to me, looked even paler.

As Roy beckoned to me, he seemed to have rediscovered his true self as a researcher.

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