Walking away, the main thing that went through my mind was that those children were cute and fun to tease. Despite having a body that would be of similar age, talking made me realize that I might be very mature mentally. I even have thoughts that I am only a few days old as I lack personal memories. Suddenly, an elderly man ran up to me short of breath. It seems he watched me the entire time healing the villagers but waited tactfully for me to finish before addressing the situation.
“Excuse me, I am the village chief Edward. You have my gratitude for saving this village, but may I ask who exactly are you?”
He seems to be forcing himself to be polite, or is he just not use to it?
“Histoire.”
“Then, Lady Histoire. Though it pains me to say this, we are truly grateful for your help but we have little to compensate you with.”
“Not interested…”
“…!”
The hell! Don’t look so surprised!
“We did not help to receive compensation but simply on a whim. Feel free to ignore our presence.”
“My thanks.”
“That aside, do you know why this happened?”
“No… the most likely possibility would be the loss of the ruler of the forest.”
“Loss as in death? If that were so, would there really be so much concentrated here? If anything, would they not scatter?”
“I apologize for not being of help.”
“What if this was an attack from the ruler of the forest?”
“This village has lived alongside the ruler of the forest and received its protection for over fifty years now, so…”
“You think it impossible? *Sigh*, forget it. So, what are your losses?”
“Almost half of the villagers were lost. It may have been more if not…”
“We said we are not interested in your thanks!”
The village chief went really quiet. Maybe that was a bit much? Well, it’s too late now.
“With all that’s happened, I am sure things will be rough so pay me no heed.”
“I have returned, princess.”
At this moment, Sebas had returned and bowed to me. Where was he all this time you ask? Scouting and investigating the village and surroundings. Luckily only I heard that princess part.
“What have you found?”
Ugh… having to use this overbearing attitude is annoying. Because those guys are against me acting meek, I am trying to adopt this attitude with them.
“Yes… I found these scattered around the village.”
Sebas opened a cloth hung over his back and showed me what was inside. Immediately a frown graced my cute face. They were ugly discolored rocks with multiple holes and releasing a strange odor. It was strangely not the odor or what these were used for that made me frown, but the ugliness of those rocks. I turned back to the village chief who is still here and asked…
“Do you know what these are?”
He shook his head side to side in ignorance. This is so troubling. Well, I believe there was something called ‘ignorance is bliss’ but clearly that is wrong. I guess I will explain when things have calmed down.
“If I may ask, I believe there was a dragon here as well but was that also due to Lady Histoire?”
He really is trying hard to be polite. I somehow expected this question when we landed and have already thought of an answer. Behold my amazing incite!
“Fear not, that was simply an illusion. Did it not come and go instantly?”
“Indeed! Thank the heavens it was not real!”
Eh… he is so relieved that he dropped that fake politeness. Maybe that was his biggest worry? If he finds out that said dragon stood behind me, what face would I see next? Ah… I might have a bad personality but let’s not self-reflect now.
“Ah… excuse me but I must aid the village.”
Huh? ... Now you need to aid them after you have learned what you want? Well, whatever. Parting ways with the village chief, I wandered around the village aimlessly. After the cleanup and identifying those that were lost came the mourning. Those sisters, Enri and Enfi have also lost both of their parents. Enri, the bigger of the two seemed to try and hold it in to comfort her little sister but as expected, she too broke down and wept. Seeing this scene gave me the urge to try and help them but with their parents eaten, there was little I could do. This village lost a lot of men that worked the fields leaving behind widows and orphan children. Like this, will they even survive? The thought of bringing them back with me crossed my mind, sadly I am hesitant due to the loss of so many others in my so called ‘sanctuary’.
After burying the remains, I talked and played with the village children trying to cheer them up. It may only be a temporary thing but I just wanted them to smile a bit. I showed them various stories with positive scenes using illusionary magic. While we were playing, the village became rowdy again. I thought they were being attacked again but apparently knights from the nearby kingdom were coming here. So Late!!! The village chief asked if I would meet them as I saved the village but I really didn’t want to. Shortly after, a cavalry of knights entered the village. The only ones to meet them were the village chief and myself with Sebas.
“I am the 3rd prince of the Este Ran kingdom, Claude Agastya Este Ran! I have come to aid and investigate due to the recent monster attacks!”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
The lead horse came to a halt before us and announced his name. Though he is honestly quite the handsome prince, I care little about it as he said something that caught my attention. He said recent monster attacks but I was told that this has never happened before. If what he says is true, other places have been attacked as well. It’s not like I am ignoring the prince thing. Just, I recently met people with king and queen titles right after I woke up, I am also called a princess. I should be surprised that a prince is way out here away from his country but I am the same. Rather, he has multiple knights guarding him while I just have Sebas. When the chief heard this, he immediately knelt down.
“I am this village’s chief, Edward. Though Your Highness has graciously come all this way to assist us, the danger has passed.”
“I see… it seems we arrived a bit late.”
Not just a bit!!
“By the way, this is?”
Wahh… the knights behind him are looking at me and Sebas with the stink eye. They are probably mad because we did not bow to the prince but sorry, I am more afraid of what will happen if I did bow than those looks. Essentially, a king does not bow and I am a king of kings. Yep, impossible, just the idea gives me the shivers! Rather, get off your horse! I am already short and do not wish to be looked down upon!
“This young lady is Histoire and her attendant Sebastian, she saved this village.”
“Is that so…”
He finally got off his horse and lightly bowed to me. Seems like a soldier’s bow.
“You have my sincere gratitude.”
When he raised his head, his eyes locked onto the stone golems standing like statues in the background for a second then came back to me. I have no idea what that look on his face means but I know I don’t like it.
“By the way, I see earth golems there... is it perhaps the young lady’s doing?”
“Yes…”
“If possible, I would like to receive information detailing what happened here.”
“Then, perhaps an information exchange? There is something we are curious about as well.”
“Gladly…”
After saying thus, he signaled some men to survey and investigate the area. I still received some suspicious looks from a few men but it seems hearing that I saved the village helped. Maybe I look suspicious wearing a hooded cloak? I’ll stop caring about their gazes for now.
“Then, let us find a place to begin…”
At his words, I sat down in the chair that appeared behind me and removed my hood. Well, it was not just the one chair as a table and chair for the prince appeared as well. I didn’t notice right away but his posture was of one trying to usher me somewhere with a shocked expression. Looking closer, everyone had shocked faces. If anything the prince showed the least shock.
“This is?”
“A chair and table...”
He seemed to compose himself and asked, but is it not something obvious?
“No, no… what I mean is where did they come from? They were not here just now!”
“We summoned them?”
“Don’t ask me!”
I only put it like that because that might be the best way to describe it! From their surprise I could tell actually explaining it would be difficult. Why you ask? Obviously because I barely understand it myself. The best way I can explain it is warping space and overlapping this place with items back home. That’s why even marble covered the ground beneath our feet. Since I am connected to that place, something like this came natural to me.
“For now, take a seat.”
With a slight sigh, he sat before me. Two men came up to either side of him who he introduced to me. One is as young as the prince named Bernard but did not seem to fit as a knight, maybe a magi? Then the bulky old man named Galad that has been giving me a suspicious look from before in full plate armor intensifies his stares. I as well, reintroduced Sebas then we started the real discussion.
“First I would like to know what happened and how Lady Histoire got involved here.”
“They were attacked by wild beasts, many died and the beasts retreated into the forest after they had their fill. As for us, we were merely passing by when we saw it.”
“… I was told that you saved the village. I am aware that a magic caster as powerful as yourself wishes to keep your techniques secret but I ask that you provide as much details as you can.”
“Umm… even if they said that we saved the village, it is not like we fought the attackers.”
“… But?”
“All we did was heal the injured and cast an illusion spell to make them retreat. You can confirm this with the villagers if you still doubt us.”
“No, it’s not that… just…”
Why are they looking at Sebas and the golems? They must have assumed they made them retreat. Sebas does have a well-toned body visible even through his suite and anyone can see that a stone golem somewhat strong.
“Just… if what you say is true, they may attack again.”
“That is very true. Especially with these in the village.”
As I said so, Sebas accurately read the flow of things and placed the weird stones from before on the table. These guys seem to know what these are based on their intense reactions but the village chief standing to the side still does not know.
“You know what these are correct?”
“Unfortunately yes. These are called lures that attract beasts and throw them into a frenzy.”
“These were scattered around the village.”
Hearing this, the surprise on the village chief’s face was quite amusing but I’ll keep that to myself. I don’t want to be seen as a wicked woman.
“What we wanted to ask is whether this has happened in other villages?”
“Yes, other villages have been completely lost. That’s why once again I would like to thank you.”
With a pained expression he bowed again to me. Is he not a prince? I thought royalty should not bow their heads but he seems to do it without a care. Bernard took the stones away and burned them with magic. He really was a magi!
“There is something that confuses us though. Are these villages even worth destroying like this? Also, for the prince of the country himself to show up to slay mere beasts is quite strange. That’s why we would like to ask, are these lures meant for you and not those beasts?”
“… It is as you say...”
“Hmm… that means another attack will definitely come, this time from humans.”
Ah… the village chief is panicking again. Well, anyone in his position would.
“You are quite calm about this. You must have a lot of confidence.”
“It’s not like they are after us. Besides, we have Sebas with us and can leave anytime.”
“I see… Is there anything else you would like to know?”
“Hmm… then, we would like to know the value of these.”
Placing 3 different coins on the table, I asked for their value. One gold, one mithril and one orihalcum. When I did, the prince’s attendants made an uproar. Maybe money is different here and does not use these metals? The village chief was also surprised and ran to retrieve some scale at the prince’s request from his home. From this, I somewhat understand its value. The normal currency rate is 10, meaning; 10 copper equates to 1 silver, 10 silver equates to 1 gold and so on. The value of my coins however, are more than there standard currency because it is a pure gold coin and not mixed with silver or other metals. Apparently, orihalcum is a type of coin from lost civilizations and worth a lot but is usually only in the possession of royalty. Of course I lied and said it was found in some ruins but no one seemed to believe me.
During all this, one of the prince’s men came and reported that the village has been surrounded. He gave them orders to prepare to move out but saying it as such makes it seem like he is abandoning the village. Well in truth, that is exactly what he’s doing but his reason is to avoid fighting in the village.
“By the way Lady Histoire, is it possible to hire you or perhaps your subordinate?”
“We are afraid that is impossible.”
“I see, then perhaps those golems…”
“Then the village would be defenseless.”
It seems like his subordinates want to get angry at my attitude but what I said is right and the prince accepted it. Taking the golems would indeed leave the village defenseless and inviting us is probably just to see if we would accept. It would be bad to involve others and he accepted that.
“We will be off then. You should take shelter with the villagers as well.”
“Good luck.”
“With a lovely lady cheering me on, how could I possibly lose?”
Leaving such a line he left with his knights. He was certainly a handsome blonde prince but did he think that he could steel my heart with such a line? I think Sera has a much higher chance of that just by breathing in my general direction but I digress. Well, though he said to take shelter, I have yet to move. Rather, now a mirror lays on the table in front of me and in that mirror displayed the prince and his knight cavalry. The villagers and the chief have all huddled in the largest house with the golems there standing guard. The reason I stayed outside was simply to see the strength of humans in this world.
…