I'll Smash Everything with Passive Skills-Chapter 102: Side Story - Enixray (2)

─ Kwiik!

Kuuung!

A massive ogre fell, toppling several trees.

It was a swift and precise attack, and the elf girl, the guide, looked at Veris, the perpetrator, with a stunned expression.

"Th, th, that's amazing."

She had lived her entire life in the Great Forest. Therefore, she knew well how terrifying the ogres of the Great Forest could be.

However.

"It's nothing special."

Veris muttered, having taken down the ogre with a light gesture, coating his hand with mana to deliver a precise strike.

"..."

The guide shut her mouth tightly.

'Did I receive the wrong guest?'

These were guests introduced to her by the elder elf, a local authority at the entrance of the Great Forest.

One human and one elf. It was a combination that seemed ordinary, but their displayed prowess was far beyond common sense.

"Should we go further?"

"...Hmm."

Even after witnessing Veris's strength, Arwen asked the guide without a hint of surprise. The guide, who had been pondering for a moment, replied.

"Perhaps, if we keep this pace, we'll arrive by tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?"

Veris tilted his head. Tomorrow? That meant they would have to camp in this damned forest.

"D, do you not like that?"

"Of course. I have no intention of spending a single moment in the forest."

"...Still, realistically...."

In an instant, despair clouded the guide's face.

She had heard stories. Among those who lived as guides in the Great Forest, many had suffered greatly after encountering powerful beings by sheer bad luck.

She was afraid that this time it might be her turn.

'So strong, too strong.'

Her body trembled. On the outside, they were just a ridiculously handsome human and an incredibly beautiful elf.

Yet the power they possessed was astonishing. She had never seen anyone kill a Great Forest ogre with a single hand.

"Then, let's do this."

"Pardon?"

"I'll carry both you and Arwen. You just need to tell me the direction."

"...What do you mean?"

The guide tilted her head. It seemed ridiculous compared to the wild imagination she had just been indulging in.

"I mean it literally. Moving along the paths of the Great Forest takes too long."

"W, well, that's true."

"It's quite inconvenient. Especially for Veris to be touching the body of an outsider woman."

"Ha."

The guide was now at a loss for words.

What? Carrying me?

Even more absurd was the response from Arwen, the elf standing next to Veris.

It was a sweet scene dripping with honey. But for the guide, who had never experienced a romantic relationship with a man in her life, it felt quite awkward.

"Let's go! Let's move!"

The guide shouted with a boisterousness that didn't match her appearance. She decided that moving was the best course of action rather than staying in that situation.

"Right. Think of it comfortably. It might be a bit dizzying."

Thud!

"Eek?"

In a sudden move, Veris lifted the guide by the nape of her neck and slung her over his shoulder.

However, what was truly absurd was what was happening with Veris's other arm.

The guide, the lovely elf girl, was clinging to Veris's arm as if she were a burden.

"Really, what a sight... Aaaah!"

Whoosh!

The guide felt her vision spinning from the sudden turn of events.

It had started without warning. A light leap. No, it might be more accurate to call it a leap.

"I, I can't open my eyes!"

The guide shouted as the wind whipped around her like crazy. The rapidly changing scenery made it impossible for her to even open her eyes.

"Really?" Whoosh!

"Huh?"

A brief response came, and then the scene changed.

Now, the guide, dangling from Veris's shoulder, was floating in the air. No, it was almost laughable to say she was floating. Her fragile body was beginning to plummet to the ground.

"Kiiaaaah!"

"What a pitiful scream."

It was a calm voice. The guide desperately turned her head to look at Arwen, who was clinging to Veris's other arm.

And then.

'What the hell?'

The guide felt a curse slip out involuntarily.

Unlike herself, who couldn't even open her eyes due to the fierce wind, that woman had a completely serene expression.

The wind couldn't reach her. It was as if a protective spell had formed, a curtain of white light appearing in front of Arwen.

"Over there!"

"Over there?"

The guide realized. To end this terrifying ordeal, they needed to reach their destination.

She immediately raised her arm desperately and pointed. The place she indicated was a city that had burned down just a few decades ago.

*

"Uweeeek!"

The guide was retching up what she had eaten in the morning.

Veris and Arwen, who had thrown her a sympathetic glance, immediately resumed their steps.

Veris, cloaked in mana, had covered a distance that would normally take days in just a few minutes, but they were halted by the remnants of a small city.

"Ah...."

At the entrance [N O V E L I G H T] of the city, Arwen trembled slightly at the desolate remnants of the past.

It was beautiful. True to the name of the elves, a race of nature, the city had blended into the natural surroundings.

The problem was that there was not a single trace of life to be felt in that city.

"This is... where I grew up."

Her voice trembled heavily. Arwen slowly moved forward. Unlike usual, her steps felt heavy.

"Right."

Veris walked quietly behind her. The lush greenery felt overwhelming. However, the white bones scattered around the small city told her why her memories were painful.

"I tried my best not to remember. I have you, Veris, and recalling painful memories only brings me suffering."

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"...I see."

"But now... being here, something... my chest feels tight."

As Arwen spoke, she walked slowly.

On the outskirts of the city, beneath the walls that had not been touched by human, animal, or monster feet, a very small hill rose.

...A grave. And it was unnecessary to ask who lay beneath it.

"Ugh, huff."

Finally, transparent droplets began to flow from Arwen's large eyes.

In truth, it was quite surprising.

The merchants who had shamelessly dealt in slavery in the Vitelbach territory. Freed from their clutches, Arwen had maintained a cold demeanor all this time.

The only time her heart softened was when she was with Veris, and even then, she had thoroughly hidden her feelings when others were around.

Yet.

That Arwen was crying like a child. Even the guide, who had finally managed to stand, was watching her with a worried expression.

"It's all over now."

"Ugh, huff! Hwaaaah!" Crash!

An explosion of emotions.

Veris, who had slowly approached Arwen, embraced her. As if shaking off the terrible memories of that day, Arwen stood there for a long time, pouring out her sorrowful cries.

"I'm sorry. I should have cared for you more."

Shaking her head.

In Veris's embrace, Arwen shook her head.

Arwen raised her trembling arm. Her quivering fingers pointed to three bright yellow flowers blooming.

The unnamed flowers bloomed harmoniously over the three graves. One for each grave. They simply exuded a refreshing fragrance quietly.

Nyangleaf.

It would be quite some time before she learned the name of the grass that bore those yellow flowers.

*

"Puhah!"

There are cities even in the Great Forest.

After parting ways with the guide, Veris and Arwen, who entered a city mostly inhabited by beastmen and elves, immediately secured a room at an inn.

However, something interesting happened. Arwen was drinking strong liquor repeatedly, like a heavy drinker.

"Drink slowly."

Arwen gulped down the alcohol like a wild horse. It was only natural for Veris to express concern.

Swish.

Arwen wiped her pink lips and looked at Veris.

Her eyes were glazed, and her cheeks were flushed. It was only natural for those around them to glance over, as Arwen was not her usual pale self.

"Veris."

"What?"

"You know...."

"Yeah."

"Why... are you so kind?"

Ah, she was drunk.

There was no need to confirm it; the very fact that Arwen was saying such things meant she was quite tipsy.

The usual Arwen wouldn't say such embarrassing things.

"And also, why, why! Why are you so handsome? I liked you first, but... other girls keep appearing."

"...."

An unexpected confession. Veris simply smiled pleasantly and waited for her to continue.

"It's really a big deal."

"A big deal? What kind of big deal?"

"Puhuh!"

Arwen let out a deep sigh. The sharp scent of the strong liquor mixed with Arwen's sweet fragrance wafted through her warm breath.

"Always... day and night. I only thought of you...."

Snicker.

For some reason, Veris felt good.

Usually, dealing with someone who was drunk would be bothersome, but strangely, he felt quite good right now.

Well, if he had to say, it was because he was hearing such embarrassing words.

He had recently realized something. When someone loves and cares for another.

There's no need to explicitly say "I love you" for both to understand that feeling.

Some might shy away from saying those words out of embarrassment.

But Veris realized that simply being honest about one's feelings could create quite a significant ripple.

"Veris."

"Yeah."

Gulp.

When Arwen called Veris's name sweetly.

The attention of those in the tavern turned towards them. Some were openly staring at the conversation between Veris and Arwen.

"I like you, I love you. I'm really sincere."

"I like you too, and I love you."

Tightly.

As Arwen's delicate white fingers wiggled closer, Veris took her hand and smiled brightly.

For some reason, his face felt unusually hot.

Since starting this life, had there ever been a moment so embarrassing and shy?

Looking back, there hadn't been. But one thing was certain: he felt very good right now.

Whether she knew it or not, Arwen, who was clinging to Veris, looked up and said.

"Let's have a child. I want one daughter and one son; that's my wish."

Crash!

"Puhwup!"

"What, what did you just say?"

"Wow, how exciting!"

The patrons of the tavern burst into admiration.

Of course... it was something that would leave Veris astonished as well.