Chapter 11

As the morning sun rose, the people of Harrington Village were about to chase after Jack’s gang.

But it turned out they didn’t need to.

Just as they were about to step out of the palisade, they saw Ariel, Roo, and Jack’s gang walking from afar.

While Ariel and Roo looked perfectly fine, Jack’s gang appeared quite exhausted. Their faces and clothes were bloodstained. It seemed they had a rough night, but that wasn’t important.

The moment the Village Chief saw Jack’s gang, his anger boiled over.

He had let them cause trouble in the village with a laugh, but now they’d gone and caused a major incident?

He wanted to beat them senseless right then and there, but first, he had to check on Ariel and Roo.

“Elf, Fairy, are you both alright? I heard what happened. Those scoundrels kidnapped you…”

“That’s right.”

Roo, sitting on Ariel’s shoulder, replied curtly.

“Though it didn’t work out.”

“I’m sorry. As the Village Chief, I failed to prevent this. I’m truly ashamed.”

“Apologies aren’t necessary. My sister has decided to forgive them with her heavenly grace. Right now, we just want to go back to the inn and rest. We haven’t had a proper rest since yesterday.”

“Understood. Let’s head to the inn right away.”

The Village Chief escorted Ariel and Roo to the inn. Meanwhile, the villagers dragged Jack’s gang off somewhere.

“Ariel! Roo!”

As they entered the inn, Kanna rushed over.

“Are you both okay?”

Kanna had been so worried about Ariel and Roo that she hadn’t slept a wink.

“I didn’t expect you to return so soon. What happened to Jack?”

“Ask the villagers about that. Right now, my sister needs to rest. Prepare some cream buns and milk. And warm bathwater, and fruit wine… no, forget the fruit wine.”

Roo was reflecting on her actions. Yesterday, she had gotten drunk on fruit wine, which led to Ariel being kidnapped.

Fortunately, it ended without major issues, but from now on, she decided to stay sharp and protect Ariel. To do that, she’d have to quit drinking.

“So, no fruit wine?”

But when Kanna asked, Roo’s resolve wavered. She made a pained expression.

“Y-yes… to protect my sister… I shouldn’t drink…”

Then Ariel spoke up.

“You can drink.”

“!”

Roo’s eyes widened.

“R-really, sister?! I can drink?!”

“Yes.”

“But, yesterday, because I failed to protect you… I don’t deserve to be by your side…”

“It’s fine. Drink.”

“Sister…”

Roo’s eyes welled up as she looked at Ariel. But soon, she beamed and turned to Kanna.

“Alright, Kanna. You heard her! Since sister has allowed it, bring lots of fruit wine! Quick, quick!”

*

Jack’s gang, dragged off by the villagers, ended up in prison.

This time, it wasn’t a goblin-made prison but one built by the villagers.

The Village Chief first questioned Jack for details. It was fortunate they returned on their own before being caught, but he still needed to know exactly what happened.

Jack honestly recounted the events. Unlike before, he wasn’t evasive or defiant. To the Village Chief, it seemed like Jack’s attitude had changed overnight.

The part where Jack’s gang drugged Ariel with a sleeping potion and tried to steal the village’s communal carriage to head to the city was expected.

But what happened afterward was astonishing.

Especially the part where Ariel wiped out a group of goblins with a single spell—it was hard to believe even after hearing it.

“I knew she was extraordinary after she saved Patricia, but… to that extent…”

She must be an incredibly powerful mage.

The Village Chief sighed in relief. They had narrowly avoided disaster. If Ariel had sought revenge, Harrington Village would have been wiped out in an instant.

“Idiots.”

The Village Chief glared at Jack’s gang. They had nearly caused the village’s destruction, and his anger flared up again.

Even though Ariel and Roo had forgiven them, the village couldn’t let it slide.

Because of them, the village would have to replace the communal carriage and horses, which was a significant loss.

“From now on, you’ll be slaves to this village. From the moment you wake up until you sleep, you’ll work. The term is three years. For three years, you’ll work until your bodies break. That’s your punishment. If you have any complaints, speak now.”

Jack’s gang remained silent. Their expressions were grim, but they didn’t seem to have any complaints. They seemed to accept their fate with a solemn air.

The Village Chief thought it was fortunate. If they had tried to make excuses or avoid responsibility, he would have beaten them half to death and exiled them from the village.

Exile from the village meant certain death.

“And you must live the rest of your lives reflecting on your sins before the Elf and the Fairy. They not only forgave your heinous crimes but also saved your worthless lives. They are your benefactors. Understood?”

Jack’s gang silently nodded.

The Village Chief let out a deep sigh. That settled the matter of Jack’s gang’s punishment.

The labor they’d be forced to do would be grueling but greatly beneficial to the village.

However, he still didn’t know how to properly apologize to Ariel and Roo. Asking about compensation would likely result in them saying they wanted nothing.

But doing nothing wasn’t an option either. They had received a great favor. If money wasn’t acceptable, he wanted to show his gratitude in some other way.

‘I’ll have to talk to Kanna…’

It was Kanna who had brought Ariel and Roo to the village. She was the only one who had interacted with them.

The Village Chief headed back to the inn.

*

Ding.

When the Village Chief arrived at the inn, it was bustling with activity.

Villagers had gathered in the dining area, and Roo was flying around tipsily, boasting about Ariel’s battles.

She exaggeratedly recounted how Ariel had defeated trolls, saved Patricia, taken down various monsters, and even defeated a wyvern that tried to capture Roo, and now the Goblin King and his goblin horde.

Fairies are natural storytellers.

Though Ariel’s battles usually ended in seconds, Roo’s storytelling and flair made them seem grander and more spectacular than they were.

The villagers listened in awe, gasping and exclaiming.

“So, how old is Ariel? She looks younger than Kanna.”

A young man asked with sparkling eyes, and Roo frowned.

“Honestly, asking a woman’s age is rude. Don’t you know that?”

“Ah, right. Sorry, sorry.”

Truthfully, Roo didn’t know Ariel’s exact age either. Though she called her “sister,” Roo secretly thought Ariel was younger than herself.

Meanwhile, Ariel was nowhere to be seen. The Village Chief looked around, and Kanna emerged from the kitchen.

“Village Chief, what are you looking for?”

“Ah, Kanna. Where’s the Elf?”

“Ariel went to take a bath.”

“Hmm, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“With me?”

“Yes.”

“Sure.”

The Village Chief took Kanna outside. The inn was too noisy with Roo and the villagers chatting loudly.

Once outside, the Village Chief explained his dilemma. He wanted to reward Ariel and Roo but didn’t know what they’d like.

“Hmm… at least Ariel and Roo don’t seem interested in money.”

“I thought so too. I asked yesterday and got scolded by the Fairy. Talking about money would insult their pure hearts. But I can’t just do nothing. We owe them a great debt. So, I want to give them something within reason… Kanna, what do you think they’d like?”

“Hmm…”

Kanna tilted her head in thought, then clapped her hands.

“Ah, that’s it! Roo loves fruit wine, and Ariel loves cream buns. If you give them that, they’ll be super happy.”

“Fruit wine and cream buns…?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, the Village Chief felt a lightbulb go off in his head.

Now that he thought about it, when he asked Ariel what she wanted in the plaza, she had said cream buns. No, she definitely had.

After that, Ariel went to the inn and ate cream buns. So, she really had meant it.

The Village Chief rubbed his face with both hands. Ariel had already told him what she wanted, but he hadn’t listened properly.

“Haha, really…”

The Village Chief laughed helplessly and patted Kanna’s head. It was good he realized it now. If he’d been any later, he might have regretted it deeply after Ariel and Roo left the village.

“Give them plenty of cream buns and fruit wine. As much as they want. Don’t take any money. I’ll cover it after they leave.”

“Got it.”

“Good. You go back in now. You’re the closest to them, so take good care of them.”

“Okay.”

After watching Kanna return to the inn, the Village Chief chuckled and headed home.

He felt much lighter now that he knew what Ariel and Roo wanted.

*

When Kanna returned to the inn, she nervously paced in front of the bathhouse.

Ariel, who had just eaten a hearty meal of cream buns and milk, had gone in to bathe and hadn’t come out yet.

By now, the bathwater should have turned cold. Even if she was cleaning herself thoroughly, it was taking too long.

Was something wrong?

Kanna was starting to worry.

She thought about telling Roo, but Roo was already drunk and asleep on the table.

“What’s the point of protecting her like this?” Kanna muttered as she knocked on the bathhouse door.

Knock knock.

“Ariel…?”

There was no response. She had no choice.

This wasn’t out of curiosity but genuine concern, so she had to open the door and check.

Creak.

Kanna carefully opened the door and stepped inside. She saw Ariel sitting in the bath.

Ariel had her head down and eyes closed. Kanna gasped and approached.

“Ari… el?”

Just as she was about to shake Ariel’s shoulder, she heard soft breathing.

“……”

Ariel was asleep.