Chapter 107: The Mirror That Reflects Me

The two of them forged their own path through the forest, where no proper trail existed.

As they walked, she noticed that the variety of trees here was surprisingly diverse.

“Are you interested in plants? Your eyes keep drifting downward. Nature’s ecology is quite something when you look at it again, isn’t it? But since the forest is so dense here, you’ll find plenty of tough weeds and mushrooms, but pretty plants or flowers will be rare. Though, if searching for them is your hobby, that’s fine too.”

“……?”

Ases spoke as if she had been watching Mines look around, even while walking ahead.

“To the right are trees belonging to the Betulaceae family. And further off to the left, there are plenty of Fagaceae. The paths over there are wider, so it’s easier to get around. And further ahead, to the southwest based on the direction we’re facing, there are Aceraceae trees. When autumn comes, the leaves turn red, and it’s quite a sight. Birch trees here can change their bark to white or grow lush leaves depending on the region, but they generally grow well. Since this area is temperate, they have a healthy brown color like ordinary trees, but….”

She spoke with a surprising amount of knowledge on the subject.

“Still, I don’t know if these are the same as the trees of those families I know. That’s why I call them ‘families.’ Even birch trees can take on different appearances depending on the region or environment.”

“You… know a lot.”

“I heard it. I remember most things I hear. A certain witch was researching medicinal herbs and wondered if trees could be used as medicine, so she did various studies. In the process, she often shared their ecology and characteristics with me.”

“I see.”

“As you know, for people like us, our bodies are our only assets. Carrying emergency medicine is a destiny of sorts. It would be different if we could always have a White Mage with us, but we can’t do that every time, right? So, it’s only natural to build connections in that field to get useful help later.”

The potion Ases had fed Kain when he had collapsed was, in a sense, the culmination of that knowledge.

The medicines Kain had carried himself were merely basic treatments for external wounds or minor internal injuries, making them utterly useless in that situation.

And.

Though no one had mentioned it explicitly.

It was Ases who had forced the potion into the mouth of the unconscious Kain—who was in no state to swallow—pushing the liquid in with her tongue to ensure not a single drop was wasted.

“The emergency medicine I cherished was put to good use, leading to this result. I’d say it wasn’t a losing trade.”

“…….”

Ases continued to chatter to herself, effortlessly navigating the pathless forest for several dozen minutes.

“Is it around here?”

Between the thickening trees, an unnervingly massive boulder sat as if it weren’t just stuck to the ground, but embedded into it.

There, an unexpectedly large entrance sloped downward into the earth.

Calling it a burrow felt inappropriate; it was more accurate to call it a stone cave.

Following Ases, who entered the darkness without hesitation, Mines steadied her heart and followed behind.

She wondered if they needed torches, but by the time her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could hear the faint sound of flowing water along with a reasonably large cavernous space.

Inside the stone cave, a mystical place unfolded, resembling another underground passage.

While not quite a maze, it was large enough for someone unfamiliar to get lost in.

Most notably, despite being a space without a single point of light, the outlines of the interior were somehow discernible.

This was because some of the vines clinging to the ground and walls emitted a faint light, similar to fireflies.

Perhaps because it was a sight she had never seen before, Mines stood there, half entranced.

“Is it fascinating?”

“What… is this?”

“I don’t know either.”

“…….”

As they ventured further inside, they encountered another cavern where sunlight actually streamed in. A massive tree stood there—or more accurately, its roots had grown upward like pillars, immediately capturing their attention.

“Here it is.”

“…….”

Following the direction of Ases’s finger, Mines looked.

Leaning against the pillar-like roots—no, clinging to them as if entrusting his entire body to the tree—was a figure.

He had been thin before, but now he was skeletal.

His characteristic black hair had mostly faded, bleached into white and ashen tones.

He looked… far from normal.

“Wh-why… why is he like that… no, how did he become like this?”

At the wretched sight, Mines’s lips trembled, and she struggled to speak.

“What did they call it? Something about having to strip away all existing muscle?”

“What? What does that mean?”

“They said he had to remove all the muscle he’d built up and form it anew. And then the bones, the frame, the blood… what was it? Cellular tissue? It’s a strange expression, but they said even those things had to be completely replaced.”

“…….”

Mines didn’t understand.

However, guessing from the context.

“…Does that mean he’s rebuilding his body?”

“You’re quick to catch on. Exactly.”

But.

“What if he dies before then? No matter how I look at him, he doesn’t seem normal.”

“What about it?”

“Pardon?”

“A man can risk his life to become stronger. I never told him to do it, and if he wants to, why should I stop him?”

“That’s….”

It was a fair point.

But to say it was entirely correct…

“Becoming stronger ultimately means pushing one’s own will and conviction upon the world. You could also say it’s about carrying them through to the end.”

“…What does that have to do with anything?”

“A lot. Others will constantly try to use us and strive to make us their servants. To avoid being swayed by that? You just have to become a being they cannot easily touch. They will threaten and coax us with food, and intimidate and coax us with gold. Without power, there is no solution other than eventually yielding or obeying. But if you have power? The initiative always remains with us. And don’t misunderstand—by ‘power,’ I mean both martial force and knowledge.”

Well, that’s how I am. I don’t care what others think.

Having finished her speech, she headed toward where Kain was.

Mines hurriedly followed a few steps behind.

The sound of water grew clearer, and she realized a small stream was flowing continuously like a tiny river on one side of the cavern.

Starting from the wall, it flowed down to the floor, forming a small waterway.

Though faint, the fact that the stream didn’t leak or overflow was due to such exquisite precision.

“Looks like he’s still far from waking up.”

“…Does he stay here continuously?”

“Yeah. He’s been here ever since he arrived. He hasn’t left this spot for a single moment.”

“…He’s not dead, is he?”

“If he were, I would have buried or burned him long ago.”

Sometimes.

Even though he was right in front of her, she would occasionally lose sight of him—or rather, his presence.

It was something that would rarely happen to Ases herself, but after experiencing it several times, she had simply come to accept it.

In its own way, it was a fascinating experience.

“Ah, come to think of it, you knew where this place was when you came, right?”

“…I believe it’s called the Valley of the Lake Dragon.”

Strictly speaking, there was no valley, but there was a topographical subtlety that led people to call it a quasi-valley.

She thought ‘canyon’ might be more appropriate, but because of the massive lake sitting prominently there, she couldn’t deny the name.

Surrounded by mountains on all sides with no apparent exit, the lake now seemed isolated.

However, it is said that in the very distant past, this place truly was a valley.

And the one called the master of this place, along with the various minority races who serve that master in this region, do not doubt that fact for a second.

“Right. Then do you know why it’s called the Valley of the Lake Dragon?”

“Was it because it was one of the few representative dwellings of the Dragon Race on the continent?”

It is said that during the era when the Dragon Race flourished, they expanded their territory across almost the entire continent, other continents, and even islands.

The ‘Dragon Race’ of that time referred to most phantasmal species or Divine Beasts.

“That’s also why no country can invade or eye this area.”

The lands that the Dragon Race openly claimed as their dwellings and nests do not exceed five major locations across the entire continent.

Among them, those called the Lake Dragons were generally peaceful, provided they weren’t provoked.

They were so quiet even during the Demon King’s Army invasion that they had clearly drawn resentment from neighboring countries by now.

Nevertheless, the reason this place remained quiet was that everyone knew that a hasty provocation could result in their country being razed in an instant.

To begin with, Dragons are far more cruel and selfish beings than the ones depicted in stories and fairy tales.

There is a reason why Heroes and legends in old tales spent their time killing and slicing through dragons.

Yet, people still aspire to be like them because their overwhelming might and power are objects of envy.

…Of course, there were dragons friendly to mortals.

The Golden Dragon, revered as divine by the Empire, was a prime example.

The Golden Dragon Knights, to which Lueld—one of the Nine Heroes and the Great Hero—belonged, were an elite knight order established to honor and praise that existence.

“Then, is there a specific reason why he came here instead of somewhere else?”

“Yes. First, it’s not easy to track, and even if the location is found, it’s a place one cannot enter recklessly. Second….”

Ases, gazing intently at Kain, spoke.

“There aren’t many places in the whole world where one can hole up for a while in silence without any interference.”

Especially for that guy, who was a fugitive and branded as the culprit behind all sorts of bizarre rumors, he likely had no other choice.

Or rather, because Ases felt that was the case, she had persuaded and guided him here.

“I don’t think today’s the day. How about aiming for the next opportunity?”

“When will he wake up?”

“I don’t know.”

Ases shook her head.

“He does open his eyes occasionally, so ask whatever you want then.”

“…….”

That was far too vague.

“If you want to stay here, stay. Or find your own place. If you’re truly desperate, you can stay at my cabin if you do some labor for me.”

“Would that be alright?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

As they turned back and exited the stone cave, Ases mentioned her requirements.

“Hunt once a week. Enough so that the two of us can eat without issue. I’ll handle the butchering. Anyway, with your abilities, hunting shouldn’t be hard, right? As for the rest, maybe securing firewood? You can’t just chop down any tree; mostly just fallen trees or some branches. Or just handle the trees I designate.”

“I… I understand. That won’t be difficult.”

It wasn’t a hard task.

Just as she said.

“I’ve started getting bored of hunting lately. I’m tired of setting traps too.”

Listening to Ases grumble, Mines spent a moment asking and listening about the surroundings and things to be cautious of.

By the time the cabin came into view, she spotted a few people there.

One was a large Beastman.

Looking at his face, he reminded her of a deer.

The other three appeared to be human.

One was a middle-aged man with long hair and a moderately grown beard.

The other two were a boy and a girl.

“Did you go there again?”

The Deer Beastman approached with heavy, thumping footsteps befitting his massive size.

“I have nothing else to do, so I might as well be diligent about this.”

“…There are other things to be diligent about.”

His fur was a harmonious blend of brown and deep white spots.

Though he wore clothes, they were essentially short-sleeved tops and bottoms for a human.

All the clothes were a deep green hue.

Even the small bag hanging from his waist was the same.

He wore no shoes, but his feet, which looked like horse hooves yet appeared incredibly heavy, looked as sturdy as steel boots.

They radiated a powerful presence, possessing a healthy black sheen.

“Isn’t that child your nephew? Isn’t your attitude a bit too cold?”

“And what about the fact that I took him in when he came here practically dead? Was that because I’m lacking in compassion?”

“That’s obviously because you saw my face, right?”

“Hmph, you shameless brat.”

The Beastman clicked his tongue.

“By the way, I see you’ve shed? Where did you throw your horns this time?”

“My head was itching. And since there’s nothing I can give that nephew of yours, I might as well give him those.”

“You grumble on the outside, but you’re actually kind. The horns of one of the Nine Heroes… I wonder what face he’ll make when he finds out.”

“…….”

Mines, who had been listening quietly, tilted her head.

Nine Heroes?

As the Deer Beastman’s gaze shifted toward Mines, Ases responded with a wink.

“Ah, she doesn’t know, does she?”

“That’s exactly why I told you to ask before coming. I have something to dump on her too.”

“You have a good intuition. But what are you dumping?”

“…It’ll be more enjoyable than doing nothing. Besides, she’s a young lady leaking such a vicious aura; it would be abnormal not to notice.”

At the Deer Beastman’s words as he stared intently at her, Mines tried to compose herself.

She wasn’t such a fool that she couldn’t guess what he was seeing or why he was concluding such a thing.

“I am….”

“You don’t have to say anything to me. It’s just one eccentric sticking to another, so the eccentric will handle it. Isn’t that right, Aseratte?”

“I wonder? What should I do?”

At Ases’s playful, cheerful smile, the Deer Beastman responded with a snort.

“Um, excuse me… did you say the Nine Heroes earlier?”

Ases giggled aloud.

“Didn’t I introduce you? Well, I didn’t have time, so it’s natural. Not that I intended to.”

“You really are….”

The Deer Beastman closed his eyes and clicked his tongue, then leaned his massive frame toward Mines.

“Right. I am the only Beastman who traveled here and there with that great Emperor of the Empire, Lueld, and that insane crowd. I am Gazef. So, young lady, just… Gazef. Yeah, call me Uncle Gazef. You’re a young human female, so that’s appropriate, right?”

“Yes… I’ll call you that if you wish. I have no objections.”

“Good. I won’t pry into your personal circumstances. Anyway, you don’t seem to have business with us, but rather with her or Kain, so as long as you don’t cause a commotion, we won’t provoke you. So let’s just act as if we aren’t there, and when we do meet, let’s just smile and get along peacefully. Got it?”