The carriage pulled by Tsubaki was moving slower than usual on the highway.
Yggurle Kingdom is situated to the northwest of Valkyra Kingdom, but they do not share national borders. Savage lands stretch out between the two countries. Thanks to that and the highway being unmaintained, it had been difficult for Tsubaki to pull the carriage.
Even so, it still differed from the speed of a carriage pulled by a common Demon Horse. At any rate, the suspension of this carriage sets it apart from the carriages of this world. The quality of the ride is exceptional as well.
「If we continue to travel at this speed, how long would it take?」
「Let’s see, I believe we are likely to arrive at the national border of Yggurle Kingdom in 2 days.」
Sophia and I, sitting on the coachman’s seat, were chatting idly as the carriage ran. Kaede was in her usual spot on Tsubaki’s back.
Although Yggurle Kingdom has diplomatic relations with other countries apart from the Divine Empire of Sydnia and Triaria Kingdom, commerce isn’t that frequent. Whether this is because elves are an unsociable race or not, trading companies are also limited, so the highway in the savage lands could barely be recognized as a road.
「Even so, this can’t be called a highway. …… this path is not much better than an animal trail.」
「………… my apologies. Elves are a secular race so trade is minimal, as such, the maintenance of the highway can’t be done.」
Elves being a seclusive race is well known in Mildgard. According to Sophia, although they would not treat the other races as livestock like the human supremacy doctrines would, the elves consider themselves to be the most excellent of races. In itself, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to be proud of your own race, but many elves appear to have a tendency of looking down on beings aside from themselves. Some of them, like Sophia, are unprejudiced towards the other race, and others are sociable, but the elves that leave Yggurle Kingdom and move about in the outside world are the minority.
「Then we might not be very welcome.」
「My father is of Chevalier peerage, so we are not that different from commoners. I have a younger brother who is the heir, but I hope he didn’t have hardships in the 50 years I was unable to return.」
Sophia appears to have a younger brother called Darphy. 50 years have passed, so he has surely become a splendid knight. According to Sophia, he hasn’t turned 60 years old.
The race known as elves grow no different from the other races until they are around 20, but they age at an exceedingly slow rate from there until they are around 500 years old. Since Sophia’s younger brother is 60 years old, as an elf, it could be said that he had simply moved on from being a boy to a young man.
「For a 60 year old to be a youth, you can really feel the difference in races.」
「Humans and beastkin have similar lifespans, after all.」
「We have a similar lifespan to MasterHusband, but…… Sophia will be lonely when she’s the only one left.」
The air in the carriage turned a bit solemn when Marnie said so.
「Ahー I’m s-sorry, Sophia-san.」
「…… mm-mm, don’t worry. You all and Takumi-sama have high levels, so you have longer lives compared to normal people, and afterwards, I will protect everyone’s graves.」
「…………Sophia.」
The difference in Sophia’s race and ours is something we can’t overcome. Because of this large difference in lifespans, elves avoid vowing to other races.
That’s because there will always be one person left behind.
At first, Sophia was apparently going to followcommit suicide immediately after I die. But she knew I wouldn’t want that. The answer she got after worrying over this was to spend the rest of her life protecting our graves.
「I know that following my master to the grave would sadden Takumi-sama, but my feelings still waver even now.」
「…… I’ll live as long as I can.」
「Yes, please do.」
For Sophia’s sake too, I intend to level up as much as possible to live even just 1 year longer.
It was 4 days to cross Valkyra Kingdom’s borders. At about the distance of 2 days of Tsubaki running seriously, the faint silhouette of a forest came into view in front of us.
「How amazing…………」
「That forest is the national border of Yggurle Kingdom.」
The forest visible in the distance is much larger than the Forest of Death.
「Fuah~ A big treeee!」
Riding on Tsubaki’s back, Kaede raised her voice in excitement.
Yes, much farther in the forest towered a gigantic tree. YggdrasilWorld Tree was visible in the mist.
「But it’s strange. Yggdrasil is that big of a tree, and yet we didn’t notice it until at this distance.
「That is because of a barrier that covers the entirety of Yggurle Kingdom.」
「………… you can cover that range with a barrier?」
I was lost for words at Sophia’s explanation.
A barrier that can encapsulate a country was beyond my imagination. How can I form a barrier that would span such a vast range? I can’t even consider the mechanics of how to maintain it.
The carriage pulled by Tsubaki drew closer to the thick and lush forest of the elves.
***
Sphy’s Note: This chapter made me sad.