Chapter 3: Misha
"—Mars! Are you okay?"
Even with her eyes swollen from tears, the beautiful girl rushing toward me was unmistakably lovely.
"Yeah. Did you protect me, Clarice?"
"I don't know. I was just desperate. Are you hurt? Are you really okay?"
"I'm really okay. But pathetically enough, I'm trembling now..."
Proof of that was the fact that I had plopped my butt on the ground and couldn't stand up.
"That's not true. You were cool, just like back then."
"Hahaha. Thanks."
Clarice affirmed me even when I was showing such a pathetic side. There was no reason not to fall for her.
"By the way, where is the Elf child?"
"Oh, I had her evacuate into the carriage. She might still be scared, so let's go back quickly."
Clarice extended a pale, translucent hand. I took it, collected the Hell Snake's magic stone, and we returned to the carriage.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"Adventurers? Did the merchant send you to take me back? I absolutely won't go back!"
"It's true that we're adventurers, but we aren't going to hand you over to any merchant. Where did you come from? We're heading west, but if your destination is that way, would you like to travel with us for a while?"
When Clarice spoke in her usual cute voice laced with kindness, the Elf child's wariness melted slightly. She asked in a pleading voice:
"You won't take me to the merchant's place? Really?"
"Really. We wouldn't do something like that. So tell us, where do you want to go? We'll help as much as possible."
Following Clarice's lead, I spoke as gently as possible, and she opened up a little to me as well.
"T-Thank you. Really... for saving me..."
The Elf child continued through her tears.
"I don't know where to go... I came with my mother... We got separated in the city... The merchant said he knew where my mother was and told me to follow him..."
"Typical scum... When did you get separated from your mother? Do you know where?"
"Probably three days ago. I don't know the place, but she called it a Dungeon City."
"Understood. Then let's look into Dungeon Cities at the next town. I'm Mars. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Clarice. Nice to meet you."
"I am Misha. I will be in your care for a short while."
I immediately used Appraisal on Misha.
【Name】 Misha Febrant
【Title】 －
【Status】 Fairy Race (Elf) / Commoner
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 7
【Level】 3
【HP】 15/18
【MP】 2/52
【Strength】 6
【Agility】 8
【Magic】 9
【Dexterity】 8
【Endurance】 4
【Luck】 10
【Special Ability】 Spearmanship B (Lv 0/17)
【Special Ability】 Water Magic C (Lv 1/15)
【Special Ability】 Wind Magic C (Lv 1/15)
What?! She has amazing talent. In terms of raw talent, she's almost on par with Ike.
I always had the image of Elves being good with bows like Clarice, but this girl is good at Spearmanship?
Her stats were about what I expected, with low Strength and Endurance.
Still, to think she's only one year apart from us... She looks quite small.
I felt like I heard somewhere that Elves grow at the same rate as humans until about fifteen... Is it just individual difference?
"M-Mars-san? I feel a strange gaze..."
Hm? Did she catch me using Appraisal? But Clarice didn't seem to think so.
"Mars. Are you, perhaps...?"
She puffed out her cheeks cutely and looked at me with flat eyes. Could she be jealous?
"No, sorry. I didn't mean anything by it. It's just, I was surprised that we're only one year apart in age."
"Eh? Misha, you're seven?"
Clarice was surprised too, but the next words were even more shocking.
"Huh? Did I mention my age? It's true I'm seven now, but I'll be eight soon..."
"Ehh!? You turn eight this year? We're the same age!"
Clarice responded excitedly to Misha's words, and Misha was equally surprised.
"Ehh!? Mars-san and Clarice-san are the same age as me? But you said you were adventurers, right? Can't you only become adventurers at twelve? You're both so big, and Clarice-san is already developing in the chest..."
She said this while repeatedly comparing her own chest to Clarice's.
"Wha-!? Stop saying weird things!? We really are eight years old and E-Rank adventurers. Here, look at this."
When Clarice showed her copper adventurer card, Misha accepted it.
"—It's true... I've been to various towns and seen kids my age, but this is the first time I've seen anyone this big."
Saying that, Misha's gaze was still glued to that part of Clarice.
"Anyway, Misha, shall we get you cleaned up? Your clothes are dirty, too. How about borrowing some of Clarice's clothes?"
Now, not only Clarice but Misha too looked at me with flat, judging eyes.
"Mars, you aren't thinking anything weird, are you?"
"Mars-san...?"
"Of course not... P-Please believe me..."
I created a tub with Earth Magic, filled it with water, heated it with Fire Magic, handed it to Clarice, and then moved away from the carriage to keep watch towards the south.
A mist, or perhaps a thin veil, hung over the forest visible in the distance. So that's the Forest of Magic. Just as the name implies, it's eerie.
After about twenty or thirty minutes, I heard a voice calling me from the carriage.
Looking inside the wagon, I saw a beautiful girl sitting there wearing an oversized parka... or rather, robe.
Her large eyes were reddish-brown. Her nose wasn't as high as I expected, and her lips were thin. Long pointed ears, and glossy emerald-green hair tied in twin tails. Her appearance was fitting enough to make me think, Ah, Elves really are beautiful.
To think someone would try to make a child like this a slave... it's inexcusable. I absolutely won't hand her over to any merchant.
Once Misha finished changing, we left the area as if fleeing. It wouldn't be a laughing matter if the Hell Snake attacked again while we were dawdling.
I hurried the horse along. Inside the wagon, the two girls had already broken the ice.
Maybe it was because they were the same age. Or perhaps their circumstances were similar.
I wanted to join their conversation, but I had to sit on the driver's seat, and girl talk would probably be more lively without me anyway.
Besides, there was something bothering me... something I needed to be cautious about.
I completely trusted Count Beetle and believed him to be worthy of that trust. Yet, we were heading toward a town that Count Beetle had specifically set the route to avoid.
Honestly, I wanted to turn back to the town of Polo where we were before, but turning back now would mean the sun would completely set before we arrived, which carried its own dangers.
If I have to protect not just Clarice but Misha too, I need to be more vigilant than ever.
To that end, I used Appraisal on myself one more time. I needed to check my remaining MP, and if a strong enemy appeared, I'd have to judge whether to fight or run.
【Name】 Mars Bryant
【Title】 Wind King / Goblin Slayer
【Status】 Human / Bryant Viscount Family 2nd Son
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 8
【Level】 21
【HP】 130/130
【MP】 5254/7845
【Strength】 83
【Agility】 88
【Magic】 125 (+1)
【Dexterity】 111
【Endurance】 81
【Luck】 30
【Unique Ability】 Heavenly Gift (Lv MAX)
【Unique Ability】 Heavenly Eye (Lv 8) (7→8)
【Unique Ability】 Lightning Magic S (Lv 0/20)
【Special Ability】 Swordsmanship B (Lv 6/17)
【Special Ability】 Fire Magic F (Lv 5/8)
【Special Ability】 Water Magic G (Lv 3/5)
【Special Ability】 Earth Magic G (Lv 2/5)
【Special Ability】 Wind Magic A (Lv 13/19)
【Special Ability】 Holy Magic C (Lv 6/15)
【Equipment】 Mithril Silver Sword
【Equipment】 Sylph Dagger
【Equipment】 Bracelet of Disguise
Despite defeating an A-Threat Hell Snake, my level hadn't gone up.
The gains were my Magic going up by 1 and Heavenly Eye leveling up to 8.
I'd try to figure out what Heavenly Eye could do now later. At the same time, I resolved once again that I absolutely had to master Lightning Magic.
Up until now, I managed with just Wind Magic and Swordsmanship, but I struggled this much against an A-Threat monster. There's a chance it won't work against monsters stronger than that. I've been trying Lightning Magic almost every day, but the reality is I'm getting nowhere.
Next, I Appraised Clarice, who was happily talking with Misha in the wagon.
【Name】 Clarice Lampard
【Title】 －
【Status】 Human / Lampard Baron Family Eldest Daughter
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 8
【Level】 21 (+1)
【HP】 103/103
【MP】 245/562
【Strength】 43 (+4)
【Agility】 46 (+4)
【Magic】 63 (+6)
【Dexterity】 68 (+7)
【Endurance】 44 (+4)
【Luck】 20
【Unique Ability】 Barrier Magic G (Lv 1/5) (0→1)
【Special Ability】 Swordsmanship C (Lv 3/15)
【Special Ability】 Archery B (Lv 5/17) (4→5)
【Special Ability】 Water Magic C (Lv 2/15)
【Special Ability】 Holy Magic A (Lv 6/19)
【Equipment】 Defender
【Equipment】 Magic Arrow
【Equipment】 Saint Robe
【Equipment】 Mysterious Anklet
【Equipment】 Vow of Love Hairpin
Why did Clarice's level go up while mine didn't?
Well, putting that aside, Clarice finally learned Barrier Magic! That sound like breaking glass must have been Clarice's Barrier Magic deflecting the Hell Snake!
If she can activate that magic intentionally, it will be an ironclad defense.
I still have MP to spare. Clarice's MP is a bit concerning, but if we fight high-threat monsters, it shouldn't be a problem if I stand in front.
We encountered monsters sporadically before reaching the next town, but none with high Threat Levels.
Since they were just Kobolds and Goblins, I asked Clarice to handle them, and she slaughtered the monsters with her Defender.
When Clarice returned from combat, Misha was excited.
"Clarice, you're strong! Even though we're the same age. I want to become strong like you."
"I still have a long way to go. Mars is stronger than me."
"I know Mars is strong because I saw that fight earlier. Can I ask one thing? Is Mars your servant, Clarice?"
"No. Mars and I are... friends. For now."
Before I knew it, Misha had dropped the honorifics when addressing me, and the wagon was constantly filled with laughter.
I had an image of Elves being taciturn and hard to approach, so that was completely betrayed, but this is definitely better.
While keeping watch over our surroundings, I drove the carriage with their conversation as background music.
It was just before evening sunset when Ganal—the neighboring town unnaturally avoided by Count Beetle's route—came into view.
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