The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

The "Sacred Tree Forest," including the Elven village, is composed of three areas.

One is the Visage Forest.

An area with high humidity, where many mushrooms can be harvested.

One is the Juman Forest.

An area where animals are active, ideal for hunting.

One is the Mannivi Forest.

An area with constantly fertile soil, ideal for fields.

Each forest has a forest chief, and these three forest chiefs together serve as the clan leaders who unite the Elves.

However, in the Elven village, there is a being superior to the forest chiefs.

That is the High Elf.

High Elves are apparently Elves born as "Apostles of the Sacred Tree."

The sole apostle of each generation - the High Elf becomes the caretaker of the sacred tree and lives in the sacred temple at the center of the village. They have no lifespan as they live with the sacred tree, but when a new High Elf is born, they lose their power and then age like normal Elves.

While they are symbolic figures for the Elves, they don't seem to have substantial political power.

It's like the Emperor of Japan, I suppose.

The governance of the Elves is executed by five divisions.

Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Production Management, Protection, and Audit.

The ones who attacked us were young Elves from the Protection Division. With the division leader absent, it seems the vice-leader Karmarike made the decision to turn away visitors.

Mererosu's sister, who stopped them, was the leader of the Audit Division.

The Audit Division apparently manages what we'd call judicial authority. Audit can interfere with Protection, Protection with Internal Affairs, and Internal Affairs with Audit, showing they've adopted a system of checks and balances. Hmm, what a familiar concept.

By the way, Mererosu's sister, the Audit Division leader, is said to be equal in ability to Distania, the Protection Division leader, and these two are apparently the top two most capable individuals currently in the Elven village.

"So that's why when your sister spoke up, the Protection Division backed down."

"That's right. Well, even without that, everyone probably wouldn't want to make eye contact with her anyway..."

Mererosu sighed when speaking about her sister.

"But it's unnatural to suddenly attack even Mererosu-san, who's one of their own. Will they tell us the circumstances?"

"We came all this way to hear that, so I'll make sure they tell us no matter what."

Led by Mererosu, Saaya and I walked to the center of the Elven village.

By the way, in the Elven village, houses are built on top of trees. There are fields on the ground, and you can see they coexist with the forest without cutting down trees. It was exactly how I imagined an Elven dwelling. Another world is the best!

After passing through the field area and walking for a while, we saw a slightly larger structure built in a tree hollow than the houses we'd seen earlier. Looking up from the ground, it was about 30 meters high. That's tall.

"That's the central hall. I guess it's the center of politics for the Elven village? It's the workplace for the forest chiefs and also the headquarters for the Internal Affairs Division."

After a while of looking up, a ladder was dropped from above.

I guess we're supposed to climb up with this.

It seems quite challenging to climb this height with just a rope ladder. Moreover, even though it's called a rope ladder, it's made of plant vines, so I'm a bit worried about its durability.

As I was making an anxious face, Mererosu said casually:

"It's okay. My sister should have gone ahead and talked to the forest chiefs, so we won't be punished for trespassing. Besides, attacking visitors on their own should have been an unauthorized action by the Protection Division."

"Oh, that was a possibility too?"

I hadn't thought of that.

I think I'm being too relaxed because Mererosu is here. This world doesn't have any law-abiding advanced countries, right? I need to be a bit more cautious.

"Is Elenora up there?"

"Ah, seems like it."

The sheep doll is pointing straight up.

By the way, since we've entered the Elven village, my [Fictitious Vision] is dormant. If I accidentally peek at the Elven bathing area, the consequences would be scary.

We obediently climb up the ladder as prompted.

While I'm not particularly acrophobic, climbing such a long ladder without a safety harness was quite tense. I played some BGM in my head, so it started to get fun halfway through... but no matter how hungry I get, I won't eat a snake, you know?

Saaya, who finished climbing first, was looking down and pointing with both hands.

"Nice sense."

You're quite relaxed.

"Both of you, let's go," Mererosu said.

"Yes."

"Okay~"

We were guided by Mererosu into the room.

We were led to a room that looked like a conference room, with just a table and chairs. Four Elves were already seated and waiting there. One was Mererosu's sister. The others were an elderly male and female Elf, and a mature, handsome middle-aged Elf.

"Welcome back, Mererosu," the nice middle-aged Elf said in a deep voice that resonated in my stomach.

Mererosu immediately bowed.

"It's been a long time, Forest Chiefs."

"Hmm."

"Welcome back, Mererosu."

The elderly male Elf just nodded unfriendly, but the elderly female Elf had a warm expression.

Mererosu raised her head and continued speaking.

"First, I apologize for leaving the village without notice a year ago. I also apologize for returning without contacting anyone."

"Hmm."

"I'm glad to see you're doing well."

"...More importantly, Mererosu. Explain these outsiders. Do you know the current situation of our village?"

The middle-aged Elf glared at us.

His eye pressure is intense. It's on the same level as my father.

"They are my adventurer companions. They're trustworthy friends I sometimes form temporary parties with."

"Oh... Human children capable of teaming up with you?"

"Juman Forest Chief, if I may say so, isn't it a bit shallow for an Elf to judge based on appearances?"

"Heh. You've learned to talk back, young lady."

"This too is thanks to your guidance, Forest Chief."

Mererosu and the Juman Forest Chief joked and laughed together.

"Let me ask a question as well. I believe my sister has already informed you, but the Protection Division attacked us on their own initiative. Isn't attacking forest vassals supposed to be prohibited? What exactly happened?"

"Hmm..."

The Juman Forest Chief glanced at us and showed signs of hesitation.

Is this that thing where they can't tell us because outsiders are present?

"Forest Chief. My friends here are victims who were attacked. No matter the circumstances, isn't it lacking in Elven etiquette to offer neither explanation nor apology?"

"You have a point. But even if you're the former Protection Division leader, we can't allow outsiders to step into Elven matters just because they're your friends."

"However--"

"Sheep-folk," I said, uttering just one word.

I don't dislike pushing for answers, but we haven't even introduced ourselves yet. For now, I interjected to assert that we also have a say... It's definitely not because I couldn't stand the terrifying glare of the older sister behind the Forest Chiefs. Nope.

Elenora is right above us - just above. They probably think we're unrelated to this village, so we're being left out, right? Then we should emphasize that we're related to the previous visitor. I don't know if it'll turn out good or bad, but either way, if they're Elenora's enemy, they're my enemy.

The Juman Forest Chief raised an eyebrow and grunted.

"You know her? Then what about that familiar?"

"They're our companions. Her name is Elenora. The slime is Punisuke, right?"

"Is that so... Silkuru. Call the Savior."

"Yes."

Mererosu's sister - Silkuru - responded and left the room. Everyone noticed when she clicked her tongue at me as she passed by, but everyone pretended not to hear. I felt like our bond deepened... except for me.

Wait, Savior?

What have you been up to while I was gone, Elenora??

After a short while, Silkuru returned with Elenora and Punisuke.

"Mm. Finally here."

"Master! We've met~!"

Elenora slowly walked over to us, while Punisuke jumped at me.

Mererosu let out a sigh of relief that we were able to reunite safely. The reason for Elenora's teleportation was unclear, but Mererosu, our guide, had been looking apologetic the whole time.

"Now then, Forest Chief. Could you please explain what happened?"

"Mm. First, there was an epidemic a few months ago--"

The Juman Forest Chief began explaining to us.

To summarize the content, it went something like this:

A few months ago, a strange disease suddenly began to spread in the Elven village.

First, symptoms similar to a cold appeared, then the cough became incessant and high fever set in. No matter what herbal medicine they drank, it wouldn't cure, and after a while, their limbs would start to go numb. Eventually, the tips of their limbs began to harden like stone, and their skin turned gray. The cause was unknown, and there seemed to be nothing they could do.

The Elves' Foreign Affairs Division immediately went to Bargia and bought up all the medicine and Cure Potions they could. When they returned, about half of the children and elderly were showing early symptoms, and those who first developed symptoms could no longer move their feet at all.

They tried every treatment they could think of, but there was no visible effect. However, drinking Cure Potions could slow down the worsening of symptoms, which led them to predict that the cause was a special status abnormality.

Not a disease, but a status abnormality. Moreover, an infectious petrification.

Apparently, such a situation was unprecedented even in the long history of Elves. The Foreign Affairs Division went to Bargia again to buy a large quantity of Cure Potions, but Cure Potions were in short supply in Bargia. It seemed that the ingredients for Cure Potions weren't circulating in the market. To make matters worse, Cure Potions, which usually aren't very expensive, were now ten times the price, so they couldn't secure enough.

Still desperate for Cure Potions for the village, the Foreign Affairs Division negotiated with a merchant staying in a nearby town and got all their Cure Potion stock. However, the price was very high, more than they could afford with the gold coins they brought from the Elven village.

Therefore, the Foreign Affairs Division made a contract with the merchant. It stated that "if there are children in the Elven village who wish to sell themselves, they will be bought."

Elves are forest vassals. They rarely leave the village to live elsewhere, and in the first place, they probably wouldn't want to sell themselves. If no one volunteered, it would be like getting the Cure Potions for free, so the Foreign Affairs Division was optimistic and secured this contract.

And a little while ago, the merchant came and called for volunteers.

And then--

"Some young Elves volunteered to go with the merchant."

Nine Elves raised their hands. All of them were said to be within 15 years of birth.

In the Elven village, a new child is born at a rate of one per year. Long-lived Elves have difficulty having children, so that's about average for a settlement of about 500 people.

In other words, all the children from the past 10 years volunteered.

"It was an incomprehensibly strange situation, but the merchant used the contract as a shield and took the children away. Of course, the villagers strongly objected... but many lives had been saved thanks to the Cure Potions we received. Therefore, we couldn't do anything rash."

The Forest Chief said this, but apparently, they were just one step away from a violent attack.

Contracts hold important meaning for Elves too. In the end, while many blamed the Foreign Affairs Division, they couldn't stop the children from being sold. The children, for some reason, were obedient to the merchant.

After that, centered around the children's parents, voices questioning the responsibility for handling this incident spread widely. The backlash against the Foreign Affairs Division was particularly strong, and there were even brawls between the Foreign Affairs Division, who insisted they had fulfilled their duty, and the parents.

Rare chaos had occurred in the Elven village, where change is scarce.

"Then five days ago, the situation suddenly changed again. For some reason, monsters began to attack the Elven village."

The magical forest bewilders all beings with magic. Monsters are no exception.

Therefore, it's nearly impossible for anyone except those with the blessing of forest vassals, like Elves and tree spirits, to pass through the forest by normal means.

Sometimes monsters that got lost would occasionally find their way here, but even then it was only a few per year. Moreover, with only mushrooms to eat along the way, they would be in a weakened state. It was like a fortress of the forest.

Amidst this, monsters began to attack the Elven village one after another. The Protection Division was desperately fighting back, but due to the sheer number and momentum, casualties were starting to occur.

Suddenly, the sacred tree shone and a sheep-folk appeared.

Needless to say, it was our party's battle maniac.

As soon as Elenora teleported and caught sight of the monsters, she unleashed a series of incredibly powerful magic spells, annihilating the monster army in no time.

The Elves enshrined Elenora as a savior. When the Forest Chief asked Elenora, "Why did you help us without knowing the situation?", she replied:

"Stomach hungry. Morning sleepy. Monsters kill."

The Elves were apparently impressed by Elenora's enlightened-seeming words at that time. They plan to inscribe this brutal maxim on a monument when they make a statue of the savior. Are they idiots?

Anyway, Elenora saved the village.

Although the threat of monsters has temporarily passed, nothing has been resolved. A joint investigation by the Foreign Affairs Division and the Audit Division revealed that the monsters had come from the direction of Bargia.

They also found the cause of the infectious petrification abnormality.

"This is it," the Forest Chief said, taking out a small grain that looked like an umeboshi seed from his pocket.

Mererosu furrowed her brow.

"A plant seed... Could it be that the cause was spores with a petrification effect?"

"You understood well. There was an unfamiliar tree outside the forest. When its seeds burst, they scattered spores, which when inhaled, gradually petrified the person. It was a terrifying plant. Of course, we've already burned it... But the spores adhere to the lungs and spread with each breath. Although it's treated as a status abnormality, it spread like an epidemic."

"I see... So that's why it was a persistent petrification effect. Potions were only useful in preventing it from getting worse."

"Yes. We've thoroughly purified the entire Sacred Tree Forest over the past few days, so there won't be any new status abnormalities, but we've also used up all our Cure Potions. We're in a situation where we can't cure those already affected."

"So, is that the reason we were attacked?"

"...There are some who claim this is a ploy by Bargia."

The Forest Chief held his head troubledly.

"Our Elven village is protected by magical trees. Therefore, we're not influenced by other nations and are economically stable by supplying precious herbs and flowers from the Sacred Tree Forest to other countries. However, for some time now, our neighboring country Bargia has been proposing to develop the magical forest for trade... It's an absurd idea for Elves to clear the forest, what a foolish proposal."

"So they tried to force the issue?"

"Yes. Many think so, and now a faction called the 'Militant Faction' has formed, led by the Protection Division and young villagers, with the goal of armed retaliation against Bargia and retrieving the children who were taken away. Of course, rescuing the children is our collective will, but... we Forest Chiefs have judged that resolving this through force would be foolish and made it the decision of all Elves."

"I see, so that's what happened."

"However, the 'Militant Faction' is large in number, and we 'Negotiation Faction' cannot claim to represent the majority of the people. Companions of the Savior... those who attacked you were the representatives of the 'Militant Faction'. We should have punished them, but more than half of the citizens support them. Therefore, even knowing it was against the rules, we couldn't stop them. We are truly incompetent. As representatives of the nation, we apologize."

Saying this, the three Forest Chiefs bowed their heads in unison.

I see. If humans from the direction of Bargia came at such a timing, of course they'd be cautious. Moreover, we were with Mererosu who had run away from home. We looked completely suspicious.

Well, in reality, Mererosu handled it alone so there was no damage, so it's not even a matter of forgiving.

"We accept your apology. And Elenora, how was the past four days?"

"Mm. Food was delicious."

"That's good. You seem a bit rounder-- Ow, that hurts!"

Did she just hit me in the face with her staff? Why can Elenora inflict damage beyond her status?

Elenora seems to have been treated well as a savior, so I have no reason to blame the Elves.

"I'm sorry, Ruruk-kun. For bringing you into this situation."

"It's not your fault, Mererosu-san."

"Guests, as a small compensation, we will prepare the best hospitality we can during your stay. Mererosu, please guide them to the room upstairs. I want to assign you the task of mediating for them."

"Understood, Forest Chief."

"I'm sorry, but please try to avoid going out as much as possible. Given the current situation..."

The Juman Forest Chief said with a grimace. I nodded.

Right after that, we were guided to the room where Elenora was staying.

Even though we're finally in the Elven village, it seems we won't be able to do any sightseeing.