"F... Fwahahaha—! How do you like that?! I've made that loathsome Orario howl with regret!"
A group picked its way through a wind-swept, frigid mountain range. The party consisted of about thirty individuals, all clad in knight's armor. Among them stood a man wearing ornate, blood-red full-plate armor draped with a majestic cloak. This was the god Ares, the God of War and sovereign of the Rakia Kingdom, whose booming laughter echoed across the peaks.
The desolate mountain path was devoid of greenery, dominated entirely by shades of gray. Although no snow fell, the temperature remained so low that the chill bit through metal armor into the very bone. Despite these harsh conditions, Ares appeared jubilant. His eyes sparkled like a child with a new toy as he surveyed his surroundings.
"Unhand me, Ares! Let me go this instant!"
"Quiet, you tiny, helpless Goddess!"
Ares carried Hestia over his shoulder like a sack of rice. She thrashed and struggled to break free, but Ares ignored her entirely, maintaining his long, confident strides.
"Who are you calling tiny, you brute?!"
Ares dismissed Hestia's screams as the group continued their flight from Orario through the rugged mountain passes. Whenever monsters appeared, the knights—possessing abilities comparable to high-level adventurers—dispatched them with ease.
"Do you really think you'll get away with this?!"
"Hahaha! And what exactly can a pint-sized Goddess like you do? Besides, we are currently in the Beol Mountains. Even if those Orario adventurers were following us, they would never catch up!"
"Damn you...!"
Hestia gnashed her teeth in fury, but she couldn't finish her sentence. Ares's elbow caught her in the stomach, forcing a muffled groan of pain from her lips and stealing her voice. Ares remained absolutely certain they were safe from pursuit; these remote mountains provided them with a decisive tactical advantage.
Meanwhile, Riveria, Lefiya, Filvis Shallia, and Ryuu were heading toward the "Garden of Stars," a legendary, secluded spot where a sacred ritual took place once every thirty years. Although the distance was vast even for swift horses, they were Elves who lived in harmony with nature. They ran across the sprawling plains at speeds beyond human imagination, ensuring their horses rested appropriately.
Monsters attacked periodically along the way. However, with Riveria and Ryuu—both elite first-class adventurers—alongside Filvis and Lefiya, two of Orario's strongest second-class adventurers, the threats were negligible. These surface monsters lacked the potency of the magic stones found in the Dungeon and were eliminated without effort.
"Lady Riveria... I haven't had the chance to ask... I mean, I couldn't ask before, but why are you attending this specific ritual?"
"Oh, I was curious about that too!"
Ryuu asked Riveria suddenly as they rode. Lefiya turned toward Riveria with keen interest. In truth, Lefiya was the most puzzled because she knew Riveria so well. The Spirit Home was supposed to gather high-ranking Elven tribes from all over; as a High Elf, Riveria would naturally be welcomed with extreme reverence and treated as royalty. Since Riveria detested that kind of discrimination and preferential treatment, Lefiya concluded there must be a powerful reason for her journey.
"I heard that during the banquet following the ritual, a fruit called the 'Legendary Panacea Fruit' ripens as a symbol of friendship with the Spirits."
"The Legendary Panacea Fruit... I remember. That's the secret medicine the villains targeted in the tales of the Sacred Tree."
The popular folk story "The Greedy Girl and the Great Tree," a bedtime favorite for Elven children, indeed spoke of the "Garden of Stars" and the "Panacea Fruit." It was the same legend Royman used for the riddles in the quest.
"The Great Tree... the Legendary Panacea Fruit... isn't that the red fruit said to grant true love?!"
"Yes, one version of the story says so."
Lefiya looked incredibly excited, leaning forward with shimmering eyes like a young girl captivated by a romance novel. Riveria smiled bitterly at Lefiya's innocent gaze and replied.
"As I recall, the story ended with the Spirits and our kin working together to revive the Great Tree that had burned down."
"Yes! And then the girl who repented and her childhood friend ate the red fruit that grew from the tree, and they eventually married."
Because of that story, the Panacea Fruit was famous among Elves as a miracle fruit for love and bonding.
"Since the Spirit Home actually exists, is the fruit's effect real too?"
"At least, that is what they say. It is a sacred fruit valued as a rare medicine, but the legends surrounding it are certainly real."
●○●○●
The wind howled between sharp rock walls where fissures and cracks split the earth. The path was too rugged for any carriage to pass. These were the Beol Mountains.
Located north of Orario, this mountain range was a desolate wasteland almost entirely devoid of life. Gray and white peaks stretched endlessly. While a few stunted trees dotted the landscape, it was uninhabitable for humans. Because it remained untouched by civilization and teemed with monsters, few dared to visit. Stories existed of merchants who tried to take a shortcut to Orario through these peaks and were never seen again.
In the midst of this biting cold and fierce wind, three adventurers ran at incredible speeds. White and golden hair fluttered in the gale as monsters of ancient lineages attacked one after another. However, the white-haired hero in the lead swept them all aside without slowing down. Monsters like Harpies and Bugbears were nuisance types, but these surface-bred creatures with low-quality magic stones were no match for the original monsters of the Dungeon. They posed no obstacle to the hero.
The three carved their path through the mountain range faster than thoroughbred horses.
"Hah... hah...!"
In the middle of this frantic race, the boy with the messy white hair—Bell Cranel—was gasping for breath. Even with Level 3 abilities, he struggled with everything he had just to keep from falling behind. His physical stamina had reached its absolute limit. His breath hitched, his vision blurred, yet he followed desperately. His heart hammered so hard it felt like someone was squeezing it inside his chest.
"Damn it...!"
He dragged his feet, which felt as heavy as lead, and pressed on. Sweat stung his eyes, but he gritted his teeth and refused to stop. He couldn't afford to fall behind here. He knew he was a burden, and that realization drove him to fight with every ounce of his strength to stay close. He refused to lose sight of the two backs running ahead of him, moving his legs to close the gap even by mere centimeters.
Compared to Bell at Level 3, the two leading him were Level 6 and Level 8. The gap in basic physical abilities was astronomical—a chasm so wide it theoretically prevented him from even standing on the same field as them. Neither his speed nor his endurance could match theirs. The stark reality of the difference between him and elite, first-class adventurers had manifested right before his eyes.
(But...!)
That didn't mean he would quit. If he stopped here, he would never reach the ambition he longed for. To save the Goddess he loved and respected, he kept his legs moving as if fueling his body with the fire of his own life. He ran with his entire soul—desperately, stubbornly.
The "Sword Princess" and the "Sword Saint" were Bell's unwavering goals.
They are so far away.
The strength gap he witnessed was much further than the physical distance between them. Seeing their silhouettes atop those high peaks made his own inadequacy sting until he nearly loathed himself. Yet, at the same time, a strange heat ignited in his heart. It might have been a tainted feeling, or perhaps just foolishness, but it was the only truth he possessed right now.
He wanted to surpass the back he had always admired. He wanted to stand beside them. And he hoped that one day... he would move past them.
Carrying these burning feelings, Bell continued to chase their shadows with everything he had. He realized that the two were holding back their full strength out of consideration for his wretched state. That care—monitoring his condition and adjusting their pace—made him feel grateful, but also bitter. It ignited a foolish stubbornness, a simple pride, and he used it as fuel to force his body forward.
"Is Al's brother really only Level 3?"
"I don't know..."
Ais watched Bell keep up with an acceleration that didn't seem to belong to a second-tier adventurer, her eyes widening in surprise. Al tilted his head in confusion. They continued killing some monsters and ignoring others, taking the shortest possible routes. When they finally reached their destination, the sun had already begun to set.
●○●○●
Lefiya lowered her voice and approached Filvis and Ryuu, making sure Riveria—who had moved ahead—couldn't hear her.
"Excuse me... could I ask you something?"
"What is it? Why the sudden formality?"
"What's wrong?"
Seeing the clear seriousness on their faces, Lefiya leaned in and whispered. They sensed she was about to say something vital and leaned closer.
"This might just be a guess... but do you think Lady Riveria has someone on her mind... in her heart?"
"――?! What are you saying all of a sudden?!"
The Elven girls, who revered the High Elf more than anything, lunged toward Lefiya, questioning her sanity. But Lefiya, her cheeks flushing red, doubled down with even more conviction. This was a possibility she considered because she was the only one among the three with an exceptionally close relationship with Riveria.
"Lady Riveria hates being treated like a High Elf! For her to go personally to a ritual involving high-ranking tribes from everywhere... there must be a powerful reason. Perhaps—no, surely—Lady Riveria has already chosen the person who dwells in her heart!"
"T-That's impossible! That could never happen! Lady Riveria would never do such a thing!!"
For Elves who demanded a sort of purity and sanctity from a High Elf, Lefiya's words were like a bolt from the blue—utterly unacceptable. Filvis denied the claim immediately, but Lefiya refused to back down.
"Doesn't Lady Riveria have the right to love? There's nothing strange about it! If that's the case, I want to support her with all my might!"
Lefiya spoke passionately, her face crimson. She respected Riveria from the bottom of her soul. Since joining the Familia, she had looked up to Riveria as both a High Elf and a role model. Regardless of that respect, Lefiya was still a girl who dreamed of romance. How could she not be excited about the first love of the person she admired?
"Don't you think you're overthinking this?"
Facing two older Elves who saw the connection between the ritual and a love story as childish fantasy, Lefiya—now in an "emotional frenzy"—would not be stopped. She mentioned that Riveria had previously, and quite out of character, personally delivered a letter to a Guild employee out of sight rather than giving it to Familia members. Lefiya insisted that a letter sent so secretly could only be a "love letter" addressed to someone.
If anyone else had said this, it would be dismissed as nonsense. But because the speaker was Lefiya, Riveria's successor who received her teachings daily, her words carried a weight they couldn't ignore.
"――?! Do you have any idea who this person might be?"
"No, I don't have the slightest clue..."
"This is madness! A man worthy of Lady Riveria?! He couldn't possibly exist!!!"
Setting aside the fact that Riveria was a High Elf, she possessed beauty ranked among the best in all of Orario. Her title as the city's strongest mage, the "Nine Hell," wasn't just a name. Her peerless talent and beauty that made even the gods pale in comparison were undisputed, but more important was the greatness of her soul that made everyone love her. A man worthy of Riveria? It was beyond imagination.
"...That's an unfair judgment. The world is vast. Perhaps if we look, we can find someone who suits Lady Riveria."
The desire for the High Elf they worshipped to remain pure and holy, like the saint Celdia of the past, was a feeling that dwelt deep within every Elf, even if unspoken. To Elves, the existence of a lover for Riveria was unseemly. Yet, they couldn't simply ignore Lefiya's deduction.
"A man worthy of Lady Riveria... he would need to be sharp-witted, handsome, and possess an extraordinary personality. He would need refinement, chivalry, and a noble soul. He should be skilled in household chores, cooking, and life skills, more knowledgeable than the gods, value special occasions, and give his partner his undivided attention—being ready to sacrifice his life for her if necessary. A kind-hearted man... yes, if such a man existed, then perhaps Lady Riveria too..."
Ryuu began counting the conditions on her fingers like a high-class lady imagining a Prince Charming at a tea party. Her expression then shifted as if she were looking at something very far away.
"...What is this perfect superhuman being? That sounds like a prince from fairytales. Such a man only exists in delusions and fantasies!"
Even among the kindest gods, such a perfect entity didn't exist. In fact, his existence would be suspicious; he would inspire fear before admiration.
"...And most importantly, he must be stronger than Lady Riveria. Otherwise, the Elves of the world would never accept it."
Riveria was the city's strongest mage, which effectively meant she was the strongest mage in the world. Her level was 6, the highest active level currently. To find someone surpassing that, one would have to look to the defunct Zeus and Hera Familias. Currently, there were only the "Knight of Knights" from the Education District and the two strongest individuals in Orario.
Even among Level 6 males, there were only three in the Loki Familia and three in the Freya Familia. Even looking outside the city, one wouldn't find such a man easily—unless he was a battle-maniac from Telskyura. Men stronger than Riveria were exceptionally rare. If a man met Ryuu's conditions as well, he would simply be a "monster." This was exactly what Filvis and Lefiya thought as well.
"...In any case, if there is someone Lady Riveria's heart leans toward, we should congratulate her even if he isn't strong."
"That... is true. Even if it is a road fraught with peril, if we truly love Lady Riveria, we must support her."
Filvis regained her composure and agreed with Lefiya, as if her earlier outburst hadn't happened.
"But who could this man be that Lady Riveria cares for...?"
"―― Ah!"
"Hmm? Did you remember something, Lefiya?"
All eyes turned toward Lefiya, who had let out a sound as if she had realized something—or rather, discovered a bitter truth.
"...Could it... could it be Master Al?"
"...Huh?"
"...What did you say――?!"
Ryuu stared at her with a look of complete incomprehension, while Filvis's face wore an expression of despair, as if the world had ended. Lefiya's words were a massive shock. Lefiya, however, began explaining her reasoning at length, oblivious to the terror striking her fellow Elves.
"It's impossible for it to be the Captain or Master Gareth, and the members of the Freya Familia are our enemies. The only remaining candidate is Master Al... I often see them talking together..."
Naturally, Bete Loga was out of the question, and the other two leaders showed no romantic inclination toward her. As for the Freya Familia leaders, the subject was non-negotiable. Being Elves, the "White Magic Staff" (Hogni) and "Black Magic Sword" (Hedine) showed respect to Riveria, but it was purely racial respect. It was impossible for male Freya Familia members to feel love for anyone other than the Goddess Freya.
On the other hand, what about Al?
Strength: Without exaggeration, he is among the strongest in the world.
Intelligence and Appearance: If you overlook his occasionally strange behavior, he is perfect.
Refinement: If you overlook his occasional bloodlust, he is like a noble prince.
Chivalry: If you overlook his disregard for logic, he is a true hero.
Domestic Skills: If you combined Ais, Tiona, and Tione and multiplied them by ten, they wouldn't reach his level of household mastery.
Occasions: He never misses a chance to gain favor, no matter what.
Oh my god, they suit each other perfectly! (This was the image that flashed through Filvis and Lefiya's minds).
"T-That's not allowed! Never, ever!! A High Elf marrying another race...!!"
"Yes, yes, that's absolutely right! Elven chastity is a sacred thing that must not be touched... especially for a High Elf!!"
"N-No, it hasn't been proven that it's Master Al yet..."
Lefiya tried to calm the two who had unexpectedly lost their tempers. But when Elves are ignited by the fire of jealousy, they listen to no one—much like Amazons in love. Ryuu and Filvis had entered a world of pure delusion; Lefiya's words no longer reached them.
"Besides, if that were the case—and that's a one-in-a-billion chance—there would be no need for secret letters in the first place!!!"
"Exactly!! That's right!!!"
The intensity of Filvis and Ryuu's aura reached a threatening level. Lefiya, the youngest of the Elves, felt tears welling in her eyes as she thought to herself: They've finally become close friends...
"We've reached the Garden of Stars... what is all this noise?"
" " " W-We're sorry! It's nothing at all!!!" " "
▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎
The Path of Calm is now complete, consisting of two chapters: Chapter 100 and Chapter 200.
You can read both chapters for free on my Patreon page. Enjoy! ❤️
▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎
[patreon.com/Raven737]