After chatting with Lilia-san and the others for a bit, I decided to head to where I would meet up with Dr. Vier and Neun-san. If I headed there now, I would arrive 20 minutes before our meeting time, which should be just the right time to arrive.

  As I was leisurely enjoying the scenery, together with Bell and Lynn, I suddenly spotted something…… no, someone strange.

  Holding a large wooden staff in hand, they slowly doddered, looking as if they were about to fall. It’s hard to tell if they’re male or female because of the dark green robe they’re clad in.

  Anyway, they were behaving in a way that didn’t seem right, so feeling worried, I approached them and called out.

  [……Ummm, is something the matter?]

  [……You’ve come at just the right time, young man. You have a virtuous heart. Splendid, I commend you. If it’s possible, I would appreciate it if you could help out this foolish me.]

  [Eh? Ah, yes. If it’s something I could do……]

  When they turned towards me after I called out to them, I saw the person’s face. She was a girl with orange hair, though I couldn’t tell because it was hidden under her robe, and green eyes.

  She is very short, only about 130cm tall, but in this world, I couldn’t tell a person’s age based on their appearance. The fact that she calls me “young man” also indicates that she must be quite old.

  [Well, living beings are born unequal with each other. Some species don’t need to orally assimilate other beings, while others will collapse after a mere “10 days of fasting”. Well, I’m talking about what happened to me.]

  [H- Huhh……]

  [Ahh, please don’t misunderstand. It’s not like I’m a weird worshipper of a religion, nor am I a pervert who likes hurting oneself. No, all scholars and researchers are perverts of some sort, so I guess that makes me a pervert too? Well, whether or not I’m a pervert is an interesting topic, but it’s not relevant today.]

  [……E- Errr, what do you mean?]

  [……I’ve been so absorbed in my research that I haven’t eaten anything for a while now. I tried to find a stall to eat something, but this place was too big and I got lost. I’d appreciate it if you could show mercy on this poor me and give me some food.]

  What a convoluted way to talk. Ahh, unnn. Why is it that there’s always something strange with the people I know?

  Anyway, to sum it all up, it seems like she’s saying “she’s hungry, so feed her something”, so I take some food out of my magic box and handed it to her.

  Thereupon, the woman took off her hood and began eating with great gusto. The face that appeared from beneath the hood was definitely that of a beautiful girl. Her deep orange hair is short, but her bangs are long and droop down her eyes, giving her a slightly gloomy look.

  She has their distinctive long ears, so I guess she’s probably an elf.

  The woman finished eating the food I gave her in no time, and after drinking the tea I gave her, she smiled.

  [Well~~ You really help me out here. I give you my thanks, “Miyama Kaito-kun”. You are indeed, a very nice young man.]

  [Eh? H- How did you know my name……]

  [The food you gave me tasted great, and this tea is also delicious. Fumu, I wonder if the quality of a food’s taste is affected by one’s personality? I can’t say for sure because I don’t have many examples, but don’t you think that people with good taste often have good characters?]

  [N- No, rather than that……]

  [Ahh, yes, yes, you’re asking why I knew your name? Well, it would be more strange that I wouldn’t know about you, don’t you think? You’re quite famous after all. Well, in my case though, I heard about you from “my people” and “my friends”, so what I heard might be a little different from the rumors circulating around you within the general public.]

  [H- Huhh……]

  She sure talks a lot…… it’s as if she’s a machine gun. I can’t keep up with what she’s saying at all.

  [……Errr, who were you talking about?]

  [Unnn, unnn, I knew you would wonder about that. Don’t worry, I’ll courteously explain to you. First of all, the people that I call “my people” are the “Elves of Rigforeshia”. Despite my appearance, I’m actually the Elven Elder. Well, I prefer secluding myself, so we’ve never met. I’ve only heard rumors about you.]

  [H- Huh…… I see.]

  [Even so, don’t you think it’s ridiculous to appoint a social recluse like me as the Elder? I’m better suited to hiding myself in a dark room and doing my research…… Well, I guess it’s something I can speak well since this happened because of my research.]

  [……………………]

  Amazing, what an amazing person…… Her conversation skill is through the roof! For every word I say, she’s saying three times more. I can’t keep up with the conversation at all.

  [And then, there’s my friends. “Hikari” had…… Oh, right, didn’t she say she’s calling herself Neun now? Anyway, Neun and “Laguna” told me about you.]

  [Wha!?]

  [Listen, the reason I’m here today is because of Laguna. She arranged my invitation, forcing me to come. Good gracious, what a troubling woman she is. As for me, I just wanted to hasten the development of “magic that makes monsters’ fur grow longer” that I’m currently working on…… but they had to rub the fact they’re my old friends on my face. I couldn’t ignore them, so I came out, beneath the annoying sun, like this.]

  [P- Please stop for a moment!]

  [Even so, the sun just has to shine its light too much huh? I feel like melting…… Unnn? What is it?]

  It feels like she would talk on and on if I let her, so I interrupted her and decided to ask about the most shocking thing that I had just heard.

  Also, that weird magic is the reason why you have to fast for 10 days!?

  [You are…… acquainted with Neun-san and Laguna-san?]

  [Unnn? Ah, right, how rude of me. I forgot that I still haven’t introduced myself. Please don’t think I’m intentionally being rude. I’m still trying to be polite, and I’m certainly thankful for your help. Ah, this won’t do. I’m getting off subject again.]

  [……………….]

  [My name is “Fors”…… I also have the unworthy nickname “Sage of the Forest”, but let’s put that aside for now. As you may have guessed, I was part of the journey of the First Hero…… Well, I’m just a third-rate magician you can find anywhere.]

  Hearing the words she said with a slack grin on her face, my mind went completely blank.

  Dear Mom, Dad————- What the heck is going on with my encounter rate towards strange people? I’m even starting to wonder if I’m actually cursed. Anyway, the person I happened to meet————– was once Neun-san’s comrade.

  **********