Chương 64

Village Ellen The shoes felt cumbersome and confining as Ellen trudged up the mountain, picking her way through the trail that Hunter had left for her. She knew the constricting sensation would fade as the day wore on… it had last time, and this time it wasn't as bad as it had been before. That was a relief that she'd not voiced to the others, even if they'd trusted her enough to let her spend the night at Onroc Anroll instead of going back to the village.

She pulled the cloak tighter about her body as the wind whipped down the mountain, chilling her despite the warming sun. Winter was fading into spring at last, but though the snow was starting to melt, the wind had other ideas about her comfort. Her full belly from last night's feast gave her some reprieve from the minor annoyances, though her cheeks warmed at remembering it. Maybe someday, she'd get used to that. Ellen found Hunter just where she'd suspected the Landkeeper would be.

She was standing on the ridge overlooking the road to the village below, next to Merchant, talking quietly. At least, they were trying to speak quietly. Ellen's ears picked up their conversation easily, with her Enhanced Senses.

"… was fun. I wouldn't worry about it," Hunter was saying.

"I'm not really worried, especially with the Settlement Interface telling me a lot more now. I'm just glad it's working out." Merchant replied.

"We're going to have a lot to worry about and need to work fast, so Village is going to be important." Well, at least they aren't saying anything bad about me, Ellen thought to herself. She called out ahead to let them know she was on the way, then huffed as she hiked up further. She'd thought being a werewolf would help her human stamina, with how the regeneration worked. Apparently that was not the case, and she was still able to get winded on this climb. How disappointing.

"Good morning, sleepyhead!" Hunter teased as Ellen finally joined the two.

"Wear yourself out in the hunt last night?"

"Overate," Ellen grumbled, then smiled back warmly.

"Thanks for running with me for a while. It's fun to do it, but more fun knowing I'm not alone out there. I know most of the werewolf problems come from the curse, but maybe some of it is because they have to keep that secret."

"Maybe," Hunter agreed.

"We were just talking about you. You'll probably have more incidents like the one a few weeks ago… people trying to figure out things about the village and the dungeon. Keep us informed?" The request was reasonable, but Ellen made a face anyway.

"Part of me does think about just going home, but I do like it here… yeah, that's fine. I'll do what I can, but don't expect them all to be as easy as that priest." She wrinkled her nose.

"I wonder if they realize that their incense lingers for weeks?" Merchant and Hunter both laughed, and Merchant poked Ellen in the shoulder.

"Only to you! That nose of yours did us a huge favor. We were worried at first, but Scout had your back the entire time. She's right, you're still Ellen." Ellen frowned, tossed her head, and let out a little "hmph" noise.

"I should hope so! I'd hate to be someone else!" All three shared a light laugh at that, then Hunter sighed heavily, rubbing her sides.

"The Adventuring Party still hasn't found what they are looking for in the Dungeon," she grumbled.

"I'm worried one of them will die any day now, though they've got to be getting close to Level 13."

"Scholar is already at thirteen," Merchant pointed out.

"You can look on the Settlement Interface. I think you should have access to the population list, at least. Village here got hers, too. Not sure what she picked, though." Ellen nodded, tugging her cloak tight again as the wind howled around them.

"The Savage Fighting Skill Enhancer, and I upgraded Townsaver's Sanctuary, even if the other options were tempting. I know what you were saying before… things could get dangerous and we need to be prepared." She paused, then sighed and added, "Also, I got another werewolf Perk. I took Enhanced Senses 2, so I can hear better in human form now, not just rely on scent. It's supposed to give me better night vision, too, but I haven't had a chance to try that out." Merchant nodded, then let out a quiet breath.

"You're the closest to the original Ellen, you know. I'm not sure what that counts for now, but it's true. I hope we don't keep drifting as much as the Adventuring Party has… but I'm glad you're still you. We're going to need to remember that when things get rough." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

"You think things will really get that bad?" Hunter asked, staring out toward the village.

"I can sort of see the villagers on the map now, but it's not nearly as clear as in Onroc. I guess our Trust isn't quite high enough to have a clear view yet."

"I'm not worried about the village now," Merchant sighed.

"My promises to them, and Village Ellen's help, have gotten them on board with helping. I know some of them are still wary about the multiplying thing, but I think once the inrush of adventurers happens, they'll be happy we're helping to manage it." Ellen nodded at the other two.

"Then what are you worried about? More trouble from the Theocracy?" This was outside of her own experience. Merchant had a better view of these matters because she'd looked into it more. Ellen's previous experience just didn't see what the issue was. The Theocracy and Thallis had been at peace for several generations, and both had been devastated by the Gemstone War, so she wasn't sure they'd have the military power to spare.

"Maybe," Merchant replied.

"Maybe not. I don't think the Theocracy will invade, at least not for a long time… they'd have to be really desperate. But we are on the frontier, and they did send a spy. I don't want to ignore that. I'm sure if we have military problems they're not going to show for a long time." Hunter sighed.

"More spies, maybe trying to insert their own people in the village… or into Onroc, once we become public knowledge."

"That's a headache I don't want to consider." Merchant frowned, then turned to gesture to the village.

"Right now the winter roads are just starting to clear. I'm going to need to go back to Merriweather and see where things stand. Our family name should keep the nobles away, but most everyone else won't know it's a Greylan who holds the land." Understanding dawned and Ellen made a face.

"Right, so people will be looking for opportunities. Opening up shops, scamming people… Uncle Anroll did warn us that the adventuring business could be pretty cutthroat. I'm glad I'm just done with it, when I think about that." Hunter opened her mouth, then closed it with a slight nod. Ellen already guessed what she'd been about to say.

"I know the Adventuring Party wants my help," Ellen sighed.

"But I just don't have it in me. Sure, I can heal, but I'm not going to be any better with a spear or knife than I was when we started out. Most of my abilities are in doing things for the village… not useful in a dungeon. I could be the prettiest girl to beat the floor boss, and that's about it." She smiled as the other two laughed, but the wind picked up and all three had to huddle to keep from shivering.

"Maybe Uncle Anroll will have some advice," Hunter suggested.

"Maybe," Merchant agreed.

"I have a feeling things are going to get complicated really quickly. Hopefully I can figure out how to use my new Ability by then." Ellen puffed out a breath.

"Are you still going to try to make the town for us? Do you think it will go faster now that winter is over?" Merchant shrugged.

"It'll have to. I'm not sure we can do everything though. I'm… not sure Cobbler is liking the idea of being a Cobbler after all, so we'd still need one of those. Maybe we just don't have an interest in making shoes. I'll talk to her and see if she wants to be a tailor instead, she's still early on compared to most of us."

"We could use a furrier as well," Hunter noted.

"And we seem to have um… stopped dying as much. I don't know if we're getting more careful or if there was something else causing it. I'm surprised the Adventuring Party hasn't had someone die yet. They're being more careful, too, but the dungeon really is out for blood." Ellen bit her lip as she remembered her own System message.

"It's been over a month since my split, and I still worry about that message about a mana surge and side effects. I just have this feeling that something is going to happen because of it, too."

"Maybe, but there's not much we can do about it until we know what it is," Merchant pointed out.

"I'll be headed to Merriweather as soon as the melt finishes. I know we need more supplies, after this winter, and we need to be prepared for the rush. I want to be back before our birthday." Ellen sighed.

"Maybe you should send mom a letter, at least?" Merchant smiled.

"Only if you write it. Let them know how you're doing, and I'll deliver it to the mail office when I get to Merriweather. With the loot the Party has been getting, we can afford to send a letter back home easy enough." With a nod, Ellen considered all that she had to say.

"It has been a busy half year… has it only been half a year? It feels so much longer."

"It really does," Hunter agreed.

"But you know what? I'm happy." She laughed as Ellen and Merchant looked at her curiously.

"I'm happy I'm here, with people who understand me, but I can go out and enjoy the forest." She grinned.

"We have a place of our own, away from everyone else, and we can try out whatever we want to do. I have good company for dinner, and even a sister or two that can keep up with me during hunts." Ellen blushed again as she remembered that… but she couldn't deny the satisfaction of having a full belly.

"Mmm," she mumbled.

"Just… I think I'll stick to cooked meat for most of my meals, thanks." Hunter's face softened, and Merchant shook her head and spoke up.

"Whether we're counting money or hunting, killing monsters or building a house…" She paused and looked meaningfully at Ellen.

"Or if we're on two legs or four, we're all Ellen. We just have to remember that."

"True," Hunter agreed.

"But we're going to have to figure this out, too. We… might need to let an Ellen or two leave Onroc if we're going to get any answers, you know." Merchant let out a heavy sigh.

"Maybe. But we'll figure that out when it comes to it." She looked down toward the village.

"I'm going to see what the Settlement Interface can do and then head back. You might want to get back to Lauren and Tobias, Ellen." Ellen knew she was talking to her, despite the lack of an epithet. She knew herself well enough to understand that Merchant was saying she belonged even though she lived far apart. It made her smile back.

"Yeah…" Hunter returned the smile and patted her on the shoulder.

"Come on, you. I'll show you home while I make a new, better path." Ellen nodded and took one last look at the barely-visible chimneys and hints of rooftops she could make out from here. Her home, the village that had adopted and accepted her. A village that would soon be flooded with curious, demanding, often rude adventurers and who knew what other sorts. And she'd be there to greet them. It was going to be an interesting year.