The Shitty Elf and the Shitty Dwarf (11)

There, upstream along the river, was a spring—the river's source—gushing with abundant water.

Ah, that makes sense.

Indeed, if it was a water spirit dwelling in a spring, its power would be so great that it could even become an object of worship.

And if that spirit had gone berserk with rage, ordinary people could never approach it, and it could easily destroy an entire town.

A dense mist hung around the spring, keeping people out.

Mist that keeps people out usually just confuses and drives people away, but this mist was no such gentle thing.

If anyone so much as stepped into the mist while trying to approach the spring, it would deliberately force its way into their airways, turn into water, and drown them.

In other words, the water spirit dwelling in this spring was filled with such anger and hostility toward humans.

Thus, Airena, an elven spirit mage, was the only one who could enter the mist.

Clayas, the human warrior who had remained here as one of her companions, had apparently pitched a tent before the mist and was guarding her as she visited the spring each day.

Those must have been emotionally exhausting days.

He had sent his companion alone to the water spirit's dwelling and could do nothing but guard the place they would return to.

Although helplessness gnawed at him, he stayed on edge through the night to protect Airena as she rested, his cheeks sunken and eyes bloodshot from exhaustion.

But when those eyes caught sight of Maltena, who had brought me back, they softened with relief.

Maltena, too, rushed over when she saw Clayas, who was nearing his limit from exhaustion, and supported him with a hand on his shoulder.

Seeing how much the two trusted each other, I found myself smiling.

How should I put it? I was a little envious.

Of course, I have people I'm close to as well, but I don't share the kind of bond they do as comrades-in-arms who trust each other.

Ah, but in this whole matter, I trust my Shitty Dwarf master to deal with Galaret and its lord somehow.

So perhaps I could call him a comrade-in-arms, too.

Because, just like my companions at White Lake, my Shitty Dwarf master and I are fighting from different places toward a common goal, each fulfilling our respective roles.

Thinking of it that way, I found myself enjoying the thought a little.

"You two, good work. Once Airena returns, move somewhere a little better and get some rest. This is a harsh environment for humans."

Even outside the mist, the water spirit's anger still reached them to some extent.

No human mind or body could rest while under the shadow of an unavoidable threat so close by.

For that reason, I urged them to withdraw as quickly as possible.

Of course, that would only be after I traded places with Airena, so for now I'd better hurry to the spring.

I left the two behind and stepped into the mist.

The mist that drowned humans was harmless to me as well.

Rather, the mist ahead of me parted, opening a path as I advanced.

Apparently, the spirit had been waiting for me to arrive, too.

I couldn't help thinking that Airena had really grown into a first-rate spirit mage.

"Eisa-sama!"

When I stood before the spring, Airena turned around and cried out in relief and delight.

It took Maltena two weeks to get back to Vistcoat, and another two weeks from there to reach Galaret.

In other words, Airena had waited for me for nearly a month.

If this had been a date, I'd surely have been dumped for making her wait this long.

Well, it's not as though I had anyone who might dump me.

"Hey there. Sorry to keep you waiting. You worked really hard. I'm proud to know you."

I stepped forward to stand beside Airena and placed a hand on her shoulder.

It was time to trade places.

"I've been asking the water spirit to wait until Eisa-sama came, so... well..."

Airena said, looking apologetic and frustrated.

But that was for the best.

Otherwise, the water spirit might have attacked Galaret before I arrived, and, more importantly, it spared me any unnecessary trouble when taking over from her.

Above all, the fact that she had held the water spirit in check for an entire month was proof positive of her ability as a spirit mage.

I truly believed she should be proud of that.

"It's all right. Leave the rest to me. I'll work enough to cover at least the cost of the inn you've been paying for me. The two of them are waiting, so you'd better get back quickly."

I told Airena that and moved ahead of her.

Yes, and I would show her how dependable I was, then finally convince her that it was all right for me to move out of the inn and buy a house.

Before me stood a spring brimming with clear water and a beautiful water spirit in the form of a woman, unabashedly exposing her naked body formed from that water.

Yet around her, as if to show her anger, a huge water serpent floated in coils.

If that giant serpent went on a rampage, carried away by its emotions, it would mow down everything around it.

But I was certain the water spirit wasn't foolish enough to wreck and destroy her own dwelling, so that giant serpent posed no threat to me at all.

Being threatened with a weapon that couldn't even be swung was simply comical.

After making sure Airena had quietly backed away and left the area, I took a long, deep breath.