Chapter 48.2: Seawater Tribe's Treasure (1)

It was a muffled voice, as if reminiscing about days gone by.

I quietly listened to the chieftain.

“When I was a child, the elders of the tribe used to say that when it is time to return to nature, I will miss my home, and all the Seawater people do. I miss my home’s sea.”

···So you were going back to your home?

To meet his last moment in the place where he was born.

“So, I’m really thankful to you. Otherwise, I might have been lying here without ever reaching my home.”

The chief patted Anne’s head next to him with a detached smile.

“···”

She had an annoyed face, but she did not avoid the touch with sad eyes.

A chieftain whose life was ending. Reasons to return home.

Then I could understand. Why was she crying so sadly then?

For the members of the tribe, especially for being his granddaughter, she would surely want to fulfill the chieftain’s last wish.

After dinner, it was time to go back.

The chieftain, Anne, and other members of the tribe saw me off.

“Ron, I wish you happiness for whatever path you wish to take.”

I also told the chieftain.

“I hope that you too can arrive at your home safely.”

It wasn’t a pretentious statement; it was what I truly hoped.

The chieftain smiled and nodded his head.

“Hey, you can come back tomorrow and have breakfast as well.”

Anne scratched her nose and said so.

Of course, I didn’t have to answer because I didn’t want to come.

I left the cave and returned to the carriage, not looking back. It was quiet.

Maybe it was because I heard stories about the chief’s home.

Feeling a strange feeling, I turned around and walked through the forest.

***

After tidying up the dining table, Anne was looking up at the night sky in front of the cave.

A member of a tribe her age who passed by and entered the cave asked her.

“What are you doing, Anne?”

Anne waved her hand in annoyance.

Then he laughed mischievously.

“Are you thinking of that person?”

“···What?”

“No, that’s right. You haven’t been able to take your eyes off him since earlier. Wow, is it really like that? I didn’t know you had that kind of taste.”

Her fist smashed into the man’s side.

He staggered back and complained.

“It’s a joke. What are you hitting me for…?”

“Shut up and go to sleep.”

All the members of the tribe entered, and Anne, who was left alone, glanced at the other side of the forest. Then she was filled with regret.

“···The face was indeed a bit to my liking.”

Would he come again tomorrow morning?

She shook her head and tried to enter the cave.

“···?”

Then she heard something slowly approached through the bushes.

Anne’s face lit up with a blush. Maybe it was Ron.

“Hey, why did you come back?”

Anne’s expression, which was about to call him with a slightly excited voice, hardened in an instant. And then it turned pale.

It was a middle-aged human male in a robe who came out through the bushes.

The man calmly spoke to her.

“Is the chieftain inside?”

“···”

Anne couldn’t answer anything.

She could only feel her hands trembling and stare at the man with fearful eyes.

A monster-like human who attacked a tribe passing through the realm of Santea and seriously injured her grandfather.

Why did he appear here again?

“You···!”

It was the moment she was about to squeeze her voice into the cave and shout, footsteps sounded.

The chieftain was already walking out of the cave.

“Hey, Grandpa.”

The chieftain, who found the man, was silent with a hardened face and asked.

“How the hell did you come all the way here?”

The man ignored the question and said.

“Chieftain, hand over the Magic Crystal. At least I will send them all away without pain.”

“···”

“The water isn’t close this time. You can’t run away as you did before.”

Aww!

As the man waved his hand, a gigantic magical energy shot out at a formidable speed and struck the chieftain.

He raised his arms in place to block the attack and staggered back a step.

In the commotion, the tribe members in the cave rushed out.

“What is this!”

“···That human!”

When they found the man, they were terrified.

The chieftain took a deep breath and then shouted.

“Everyone, run away! Gather the members of the tribe that are still inside, and run into the lake without looking back!”