Kilde and Muno

After Eiji encouraged Alvy and accompanied her part of the way, she headed for Obaba's house after entering the settlement, cautiously looking around as she went. She was being especially careful because she absolutely did not want her souvenir taken from her this time.

"Hey, Alvy! What are you doing?"

"Ugh, it's Kilde..."

However, Alvy had been spotted by the boy she least wanted to see, Kilde, and his entourage. He was the boy who had stolen Alvy's souvenir earlier, as well as the worst troublemaker in the settlement. He was the chief's only son and was expected to become the next chief, so he used that position to behave as arrogantly as he pleased.

The chief and his wife should have disciplined him, but they doted on their son and never scolded him harshly. Whenever another adult admonished him, he would report the matter to the chief in whatever way was most favorable to himself, so even the adults of the settlement could not stand up to him—except for one.

That situation only emboldened the little delinquent further. Even now, he had brought his entourage along to block Alvy's path and surround her threateningly. It was no way to treat a girl younger than himself, but no one stopped them.

"What's with that 'ugh'? You're a rude little brat."

"I'm not being rude. Alvy doesn't like Kilde."

"Hey, hey, is that any way to talk to me? You'll regret it when I become chief, you know!"

"Big Brother Eiji said that being chief is the only thing that makes someone important, and Kilde isn't important at all. He said this is what they call 'a parent's halo.' People who rely on a parent's halo can never grow into decent adults."

"What did you say!?"

Kilde had been grinning smugly, but Alvy's words changed his expression. He had never before had anyone question his suitability to become chief to his face. In a sense, it was the one statement most capable of throwing him into confusion.

He could not argue back, because it was true that he swaggered around under his parents' protection. Unable to deny it, he stood there opening and closing his mouth, unable even to move for a while.

"Alvy's going to Obaba-sama's house. Please don't get in the way."

"...The old hag's place?"

Kilde finally regained his composure when Alvy mentioned Obaba's name. Obaba was the only adult who could scold him. As a result, he had a deep-seated aversion to her, and merely hearing her name made him reflexively bristle.

"What are you going there for? Tell me."

"I don't want to. It has nothing to do with Kilde."

"Oh, yes, it does! It's called enemy reconnaissance!"

"Who did you say was the enemy?"

Kilde had been pressuring Alvy to tell him, but then he heard the voice he least wanted to hear from behind him and hurriedly turned around. There stood Obaba, his arch-enemy.

"Tch, that old hag! Aren't you supposed to be asleep at this hour?"

"It is my naptime, but Sunami seems to have been injured, so I got up to treat them. And then..."

Obaba glared at Kilde and his entourage with eyes far too sharp for an old woman. None of the gentleness she showed Alvy and Seira remained, and the boys shrank back like frogs beneath a snake's stare.

"Ganging up on a little girl like this... Aren't you ashamed to call yourselves men?"

"Shut up! What I do is my business!"

"Sigh... There's no point in saying anything to you. Alvy, come here. Let's leave these idiots behind and go with Obaba."

"Yes!"

Obaba's expression softened again as she crooked her fingers, beckoning Alvy over. Ignoring the cowed boys, Alvy ran to Obaba, took her hand, and walked away with her. Kilde could do nothing but glare resentfully at their backs.

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For about an hour of in-game time after Alvy left, we chatted and had mock battles. Just as we were about to log out, a group from Alvy's clan, the Nadeus clan, arrived.

As before, Setun-dono was leading them. However, there was one obvious difference from their previous visit: most of the group consisted of unarmed women. Thanks to that, the atmosphere was not nearly as tense as before.

"It has been a while, Setun-dono."

"Yes, it has, Izamu-dono."

"So, what brings you here this time?"

"W-Well, you see..."

"Step aside, Setun."

An old woman pushed past the faltering Setun-dono and stepped forward. She carried a staff made from monster bones and gnarled wood, and wore a hooded cloak decorated with distinctive patterns. This had to be the Obaba-sama Alvy had mentioned.

"I'm just a humble apothecary named Muno. Everyone calls me Obaba."

"I have heard of you, Muno-dono. Alvy seemed very fond of you."

"Hee-hee-hee! Is that so? Is that so? That makes me happy."

Apparently, Obaba's real name was Muno. I had merely told her what Alvy had been like, but Muno laughed cheerfully. The other women smiled as well, and some even had tears in their eyes. Hmm... Perhaps Alvy really did have some sort of painful past.

"Now, as for why we came today... Is there any of the meat you gave Alvy left?"

"Yes, there is. We happened to hunt a large animal."

"Could you part with some? Of course, we don't expect it for free."

"Certainly. We would be happy to offer it at a low price."

The trading session began. Apparently, currency did not circulate among the Nadeus clan, so we would be bartering instead.

The items they showed us were mainly leather goods and woolen textiles made in their settlement. Normally, they would not be a fair trade for such rare meat. However, the fact that these were items made by them was significant. Here is what 【Appraisal】 revealed!

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Nadeus Clan Concealing Cloak　Quality: Excellent　Rarity: R (Rare Grade)

A cloak made using techniques passed down through the Nadeus clan.

When the hood is pulled completely over the wearer's head, the effect of a special dye makes the wearer difficult for others to recognize.

It is only colored leather, so it offers little protection as armor.

Equipment Effect: 【Stealth】 Lv5

Nadeus Clan Healing Carpet　Quality: Excellent　Rarity: R (Rare Grade)

A woolen carpet made using techniques passed down through the Nadeus clan.

It has been dyed with a special dye, and simply being on it will gradually heal wounds.

Its distinctive patterns are beautiful, giving it considerable value as a work of art.

Placement Effect: 【Auto-Recovery】 Lv4

――――――――――

There were various other items as well, but these were the two that caught my attention. The Concealing Cloak had an effect that hampered recognition, while the Healing Carpet had a healing effect. From this, I could tell that the Nadeus clan made skillful use of dyeing techniques in their daily lives.

I had always wondered how Alvy, who had no fighting ability, managed to come so close to Shiratsuki. The answer was the Concealing Cloak. Because she wore a cloak capable of erasing her presence, she had gained enough Stealth that Ruby was the only one among us who could sense her.

And although this was only speculation, I believed the Nadeus clan's settlement was hidden using a technique related to that of the Concealing Cloak. It was a large-scale yet highly advanced application of the technique, which explained why even Ruby had been unable to find it. That made sense.

Another thing the Concealing Cloak and Healing Carpet had in common was that both were dyed using techniques passed down through the clan. The fact that the same technology was used for the Concealing Cloak, which was useful outside the settlement, and the Healing Carpet, which was presumably used inside it, meant that the technique was employed in every aspect of their lives. A dyeing technique that could be applied in all sorts of ways to give items various effects just by coloring them... I would dearly like to learn it.

"I'm sorry about this. The meat that girl gave us was delicious when we grilled it, but the smell spread all around us. When I explained the situation to the women, they said they wanted some too."

"It actually helps us as well. It is difficult to preserve this food, and we had been wondering what to do with the surplus. Thanks to you, it looks as though we can avoid throwing it away."

"Did you perhaps intend for things to go this far?"

"That's what I would like to say, but no. I merely hoped someone would take an interest in us. That alone would have been cause for celebration."

The reason I had given Alvy meat twice was that I hoped it would be the first step toward showing the Nadeus clan that we were capable of benefiting them. It was a way to make effective use of high-end meat that would otherwise spoil and be thrown away, after all.

So I had never expected an immediate response today. The situation had not taken a bad turn, so I decided to consider the outcome a success.

"I hope we can deepen our relationship, even if only little by little."

"I understand your thinking. Even so, there are all sorts of Races. Are all wayfarers like you lot?"

"Hahaha. Not at all. If anything, there are more Humans and Elves—in other words, members of humanity."

"Humanity...?"

I had used the word casually, but the moment Muno heard it, her expression grew severe. Why was that? Their appearance might differ from that of the people of the Luxresia continent, but surely these women were Humans too.

"Did I say something that offended you?"

"No, that's not it. Tell me, Izamu. How do we, the Nadeus clan, look to you?"

"How? Let's see... I would say you are a people who have adapted to this dangerous land."

"That's not what I mean. I'm asking about our appearance."

"Our appearance? Other than your distinctive face paint, you look the same as the Humans living on other continents."

"...Is that so? You don't seem to be lying, so I suppose that's genuinely how you see us."

Muno let out a deep sigh. Her severe expression changed completely, becoming weary and somehow sorrowful. What could this exchange have meant?

"Um... Muno-dono?"

"Izamu, I hear you intend to adventure across this continent."

"Ah, yes. That's the plan."

"Then heed this warning. This continent is home only to monsters and Human Imitations, us included."

"Human Imitations? Then that means...!"

"Just as you imagine. We aren't Humans. We're a Race modified by Humans long ago—the Scars. We're defective failures abandoned by the goddess."

Muno spoke calmly. She had not raised her voice, nor had she spoken in a threatening manner. And yet, for some reason, I couldn't say anything and found myself about to swallow hard, despite having no saliva to swallow.