I raise elves in Florian

The brave Simmel.

Thirty years after his death.

Imperial territory.

Overgaber Range.

The village serves as a transit point to the Empire.

early morning.

"Oh oh oh!!"

The rooster began its work by crowing.

An old man with a white beard got up as usual, got dressed, and went to the mailbox in front of the door, but the mailbox was empty.

As always, waiting for emails to arrive in the early morning has long been a habit for men.

"Radar, you're up so early today too. It's such a nice day."

An old woman came up behind the white-bearded old man named Radar and looked at the blue sky, saying...

(This old woman is probably Radal's wife, but I don't know her name. If anyone remembers, please tag me and I'll add it.)

"Yes, the weather is as nice as ever."

Radar also looked up at the sky and said.

. . . . . .

the other side.

in the forest.

"My feet are so tired, I can't walk anymore..."

Philen said wearily, "I haven't rested much along the way. I've been busy traveling and the road is difficult to travel."

"Hang in there a little longer."

Frilian, perched on Shi Yichen's back, looked at Philon with an encouraging expression and said...

As for why Shi Yichen carried Frilian on his back, it was because Frilian was worried about getting her clothes dirty from the muddy roads, so she asked Shi Yichen to carry her.

Shi Yichen would certainly not refuse Frilian's request.

Why are we moving forward through a muddy forest?

Philon looked at Frillie on Shi Yichen's back with envy.

"I have no choice. If I want to go to the capital, this is the only way."

Frillie shrugged and said, "It's already pretty good that the road is still walkable since no one has repaired it."

"A road? Where is the road?"

Philon looked at the muddy path; she couldn't tell it was a path at all.

"I'm with you all, so stop complaining."

Frilian reached out and patted Philon on the shoulder, speaking with an encouraging look.

"It would be even better if Lady Frilian could get off Lady Tokiyoshi."

Philon stared speechlessly at Florian on Shi Yichen's back.

Do you want me to carry you?

Shutark, who was leading the way, put down his axe and looked at Philen.

"Hurry up! Hurry up!"

Frilian shoved Philon behind Shutark and gave Philon a encouraging look.

"this……."

Philon raised her hand, then withdrew it, looking somewhat bewildered.

At this moment, someone reached out and pushed Philon against his waist, shoving him onto Shutark's back.

"Woo~"

Shutark hadn't expected Philon to actually let him carry him. He had only been joking, but now that he was on Philon's back, he couldn't possibly let go.

Is this really the only way?

Shi Yichen looked at the muddy road, and it seemed that no one had walked on it for a while.

"Of course, I went with Simmel and the others last time."

Frillie nodded confidently. Last time they came, there were many people using this road, and the road conditions were much better than they are now. She just didn't know why it had become like this.

"is it?"

Shi Yichen looked at Frillie with a mixture of belief and doubt, feeling that something was wrong with this path.

(Shi Yichen didn't travel with Frilian and the others later on, so we don't know.)

They walked for an unknown amount of time until finally a village appeared before them.

"We've finally arrived at the village."

Philen breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at the village that appeared before him. By this time, Philen had already gotten off Shutark's back.

The journey had not been easy, and they inevitably got covered in mud, but with the help of Shi Yichen's magic, they were quickly cleaned up.

"Let's find a hotel first. This is a transit point on the way to the capital. We need to get some rest here."

Frilian took Shi Yichen's hand and walked into the village.

"Should we continue down the same path as before?"

Phyllen couldn't help but ask, as she didn't want to continue walking on the muddy road and get her clothes dirty.

"No, the road ahead will be better, at least it won't be as muddy."

Frillie thought about the road conditions ahead, shook her head, and said to Philon, "After all, this is a transit point on the way to the capital, and the road ahead will be a little better."

(But that happened decades ago.)

"It's quite rare to see adventurers passing through here."

Just as Shi Yichen and his group reached the village entrance, a young man appeared in front of them and asked with a curious expression.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Yichen sensed something was amiss. Judging from the young man's words, it had been a long time since anyone had visited this village.

Frilian, who was next to Shi Yichen, also sensed something was wrong and began to feel guilty.

"That's right. Ever since the main road was opened up nearby, very few people have taken the mountain paths here. We used to see adventurers all the time in the village. I really miss those lively days."

The young man explained to Shi Yichen and his group with a smile that since the main road was opened, fewer and fewer people came to the village, and eventually no one came at all.

"Lord Frilian?"

Philon turned to look at Frilian, who looked guilty.

"Emmm... I'm not too clear on the recent situation."

Frillie turned her head away guiltily, avoiding Philon's gaze. After all, she was the one who led the way, making them walk for so long along the mountain path.

"By the way, the main road should have been completed thirty years ago."

The young man said from the side that although the main road was completed, some people did not know about it, so they still took the mountain path. After everyone knew about it, gradually no one took the mountain path anymore.

"Grandma..."

Hugh Tarek said in a low voice.

Shh, they'll hear you.

Philen quickly said to Hugh Tarek.

"I heard you."

Frilian turned and glared at Hugh Tarker.

"I heard that too."

Shi Yichen smiled and said to Xiutark that although she and Frilian were hundreds of years apart, they had lived together for a thousand years. Wasn't that indirectly referring to her?

"I was wrong."

Hugh Tarek quickly lowered his head and admitted his mistake. He had been beaten up by Shi Yichen after he had talked about Granny Frillian last time.

The young man led Shi Yichen and his group to the village chief's house. At the village chief's door, a man with his daughter was thanking the village chief for curing his daughter's illness.

"interesting."

Shi Yichen looked at the village chief named Radar. Although he looked like an old man, his physical strength was even stronger than that of the current Xiutark. This was not the strength that a normal village chief should have.

"Village Chief! These adventurers would like to find an inn in the village to stay for the night."

The young man spoke to the village chief, Radar.

"Yes, welcome. It's been a long time since any adventurers have come here..."

Village Chief Radar also turned to look at Shi Yichen and his group, but his gaze lingered on Frilian.