Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

There is no need to reach a settlement.

For this farewell, this is just right.

Regardless of race, the outcome of "parent-child conflicts" is always the same.

Raphael kept his myriad feelings to himself and gave a smile as his only farewell gift.

Riveria didn't say much either, silently turning her back to her father.

Raphael watched his daughter and her companions walk away into the distance.

Until they passed through this sacred grove and disappeared into the other side of the world.

"Your Majesty...is this really alright?"

Faced with the Elf King left standing alone, the guard knight asked in fear.

not good at all.

Although it was not good at all, it was the right decision.

"It's alright. Rather, have someone prepare a fast horse and send the letter out for me later."

"Excuse me, where would you like to send it?"

A hearty smile appeared on the Elf King's face.

"Sent to compatriots all over the world."

"This is the sky! This is the plains! Look, Aina, this is the outside world!"

"Yeah yeah!"

Rivera spread her arms wide, letting her skirt flutter joyfully in the wind.

Seeing her freed from the constraints of being a princess and her childlike joy, Aina smiled through her tears.

Faced with this scene, Finn shrugged, while Loki grinned and chuckled softly, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Honestly, even a willful princess is no different from a child at times like this."

"It doesn't matter. After all, she finally got what she wanted. Whether you're an elf or a dwarf, you still have a childlike heart, right?"

"...That's true."

Finn smiled at Loki's words.

The innocent elves seemed to dance across the plains, a scene so beautiful it was like a painting.

Loki watched this scene with a beaming smile, then, as if suddenly remembering something, he spoke:

"Oh, right, I forgot to ask something... How old are Rivera and Aina, respectively?"

"...? Princess Rivera and I are both over seventy years old..."

"Huh!? So it's an old woman!?"

"Don't call us old women!"

When Loki exclaimed in surprise at Aina's answer, Riveria, who had been in a great mood, suddenly looked over as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.

"Because... because elven royalty are very long-lived! Even though we're older than other races, we're still considered young women among elves...! Hey, you little dwarf over there, what are you laughing at!?"

Rivera, her ears turning red with shame and indignation, shouted like a shrew.

This made Finn burst into laughter.

Loki burst into laughter so hard he almost choked.

Aina blushed slightly with embarrassment, but she still smiled happily.

Only the princess's angry shouts echoed on the horizon as dawn broke.

With the group now consisting of four people, the journey began amidst cheerful chatter as they slowly made their way forward in the morning light.

The day after tomorrow.

King Raphael sent a "message"—

It was conveyed to all the elves in the world.

Princess Rivera has left her homeland and embarked on her journey. We earnestly request her blessings from her fellow countrymen.

This event caused a huge uproar among the elves.

At the same time, all the elves were excited and overjoyed.

They were all filled with anticipation for the glory and bright future of their clan, and they were happy to see the princess's journey go smoothly.

Naturally, no elf attacked the princess's [familia].

Someone said with absolute certainty—

The young princess traveled to broaden her horizons.

Some people expressed their delight—

The fairy princess was determined to bring light to the world.

Some people were deeply moved.

A princess of the clan, like the great saint Celtia, wanted to stand up and fight against the ancient monsters that haunted the lower realm.

However, Rivera is unaware of these things at the moment.

The rising sun above the horizon.

A vast plain shimmering with golden light.

A refreshing breeze is blowing in your face.

She felt all of this with her whole body, filled with anticipation and excitement, and smiled radiantly with a relaxed expression.

"Then, let's venture into the unknown world."

On this day, the Elf royal family embarked on their journey.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 14 Chapter 3 The Dwarfs' Flight ①

"We dwarves are children of the earth! We will dig and carve holes forever!"

Today, I continue to live alongside the soil.

The dwarves listened to their brothers' clumsy singing as they dug caves in the dark, sunless tunnels.

Where is the ore? Are there any gems? Has a vein been discovered? The group kept wielding their tools, smashing and clearing away rocks, sweating profusely and covered in dust as they searched for the treasure.

All of this is for the sake of the village.

All of this is to help our impoverished compatriots.

Even though the dwarves' financial woes had been thoroughly exposed by the greedy merchants, they had no choice but to sell off the only bounty the land had to offer cheaply.

This has been true until now, and it will remain true from now on.

"There's a monster—!"

The tense atmosphere was instantly and easily resolved under the powerful punches.

The remaining goblins living there fled in terror. The dwarf had hoped to show off his skills, but ultimately failed. Realizing his own feelings, he sighed and then carefully collected the loot (dropped items) from the monster's corpse, hoping to exchange them for as much money as possible.

No matter how hard I try, I always have very little money in my pocket.

"That's amazing! No wonder he's Brother Grace! With him here, our village is definitely safe!"

Facing his younger brother who sincerely admired him, the dwarf gave a perfunctory and brief reply.

Then, with his back to his jubilant brothers, he silently continued to swing his pickaxe.

Clang—clang—……

These low, resonant sounds seemed to be pounding against one's own heart.

When did I start to feel bored with this kind of life?

When did I start to find my favorite wine tasteless?

What exactly do I want to do?

"A heated...battle..."

The dwarf had a vague feeling that this must be the answer.

"Is this the town of the alien race? Look, Aina!"

Rivera made an excited sound as she looked at the bustling street.

"Yes, although it's chaotic and noisy, it also seems very lively... You definitely won't see a scene like this in the village..."

The maid forgot to remind her master to be mindful of his appearance and was lost in admiring the street scene.

Finn smiled at their reactions, while Loki laughed heartily.

"This town is called 'Karuna'. It's an inn town with many travelers and merchants coming and going every day, and it can be considered a transportation hub."

The town of Inns truly lived up to its name, with rows and rows of inns of all sizes stretching as far as the eye could see.

As Finn explained, among the endless stream of passersby, the demi-humans dressed as travelers were the most common.

This town, located in the central part of the continent, is a crossroads leading to all directions, so countless travelers pass through here to go to neighboring countries or cities.

"Alright! Let's start with a welcome party for Rivi, the lovely lady!"

Riveria and her group have been traveling for three days since they departed from "Alfredo."

Loki, returning to the inn town from the mysterious forest, raised his hand excitedly and loudly proposed that the elven royalty he had longed for join his kin.

"There are humans, dwarves... are those Amazons!? And over there are the legendary orcs! Are those dogs!? Or wolves!?"

"Lady Riveria, please calm down! Even though this isn't a village, you must still be mindful of your royal status... Ah, I've never seen food like this before, and it smells incredible..."

"They're not listening to you, Loki."

“…………”

Riveria and Aina completely ignored Loki, who had his fist raised to the sky, and were completely immersed in the bustling street scene.

The two kept looking around, their eyes shining as they observed the passing carriages and passersby, or curiously examining the food or handicrafts sold by the roadside.

The little people's servants glanced at the main god, who stood there blankly, and then secretly observed Riveria's expression.

"Apart from the caravans permitted by the royal family, I have never seen any other races... This is cultural exchange... no, it's more like a sense of exoticism! I believe the former saintess (Celtia) must have felt the same way I did when she left Wang Sen!"

So she can make that kind of expression too.

Finn couldn't help but think this as he watched Riveria's fair cheeks flush slightly with joy.

At this moment, her gaze was drawn to everything around her; rather than being overjoyed, she resembled an innocent child full of curiosity. She (Finn) had moved with her family from their remote hometown to a big city when she was young, and perhaps she had experienced the same reaction back then.

(That being said, compared to me, who comes from an ordinary village... she, with her noble birth, is really too conspicuous.)

Rivera and her companions, captivated by the street scene, also became the center of attention.

Pedestrians would frequently turn their heads as they passed by, often resulting in collisions with other pedestrians. In one instance, the horseman even forgot to control the reins, nearly causing a major accident.

Although Riveria had changed her clothes and was dressed like an ordinary person in her travel attire, her beauty was so outstanding that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she stood out from the crowd of women in the city; even goddesses might not be her match. As for her attendant, Aina, she was also one of the most beautiful women among the elves.

Even though the two were having a good time, their every move was different from ordinary people, and they became the focus of everyone's attention, whether for better or worse.

The blood of royalty transcends the barriers between different races, and continues to exert its power even in such places.

"Ugh! These people dare to stalk my beautiful Rivi! Hey! You nobody over there, you stinky bastard! What are you trying to do, trying to flirt with my family member!? I'll beat you to a pulp!?"

Loki unleashed a torrent of abuse at those who tried to approach Riveria and Aina, drawing even more attention from onlookers.

This is bad. Finn muttered to himself.

This reaction was triggered even among different races.

If he were to encounter other members of his own kind (elves)—that's what he was just thinking.

"...Um, excuse me!"

After making up their minds, several people with long ears walked out from the crowd.

"Excuse me, excuse my intrusion, but judging from your emerald hair and eyes... could you perhaps be of noble birth?"

"Um, I..."