Seeker 121

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Chapter 121. Hospitality And Gratitude

Titis-san's home, the village leader, was a large-scale treehouse built on a massive, majestic tree. 

When we were guided there, we were treated as honored guests and received lavish hospitality. 

Several elven women worked together, putting great effort into preparing and serving us food. 

The colorful dishes served on numerous large platters were far more than the three of us could eat.

There were meat dishes with abundant berry sauces, and mushroom dishes adorned with nuts and herbs, all having a somewhat mysterious yet delicious taste. 

We indulged in these delicacies until we were full.

Once we had eaten our fill, it was time to receive gratitude for helping Riviera and her friends. 

The feast we had enjoyed was not the actual expression of thanks. 

It seemed to be customary hospitality offered to important guests. 

After a brief pause, Titis-san returned with her own [Item Box] and took out a piece of armor.

The armor resembled the hardened leather armor I was wearing, Cuir Bouilli. 

But it had a shade closer to a fresh green color and exquisite decorations, giving off an aura of high quality.

"If you are warriors, how about this as a gift? It's Elven Leather, something that only elven craftsmen can create."

"Shall I use [Item Appraisal]?"

"Of course."

"Thank you... Yuzuki, please."

"Sure thing! [Item Appraisa]!"

Yuzuki appraised the Elven Leather armor, revealing it had the following effects: Defense +18, Agility +1, Magic Power +1. 

It was a chest armor with impressive defensive capabilities compared to my current Cuir Bouilli, which had a defense of 9. 

It was genuinely powerful, although, it couldn't compare to Kazane-san's Black Clothes.

"You're giving us something this valuable?"

"Yes, please accept it without hesitation. Of course, since it's a gift, you can do whatever you want. If you don't intend to use it yourselves, you can sell it in a human city. It should fetch around a hundred gold coins."

"A hundred gold coins!!!"

"You saved the lives of our settlement's comrades. A proper gift is necessary to show our gratitude."

Equivalent to one million yen... 

Well, considering the selling price, maybe we should value it at twice that. 

It's on par with the plate armor sold in Oyaji-san's store. 

If we consider the value to be on the same level in this world, it's comparable to the highest-grade armor sold in stores. 

And what's more, unlike the Plate Armor (Defense 51, Agility -4), there is no Agility penalty for this Elven Leather. 

It grants an Agility bonus. 

Agility also affects attack accuracy, so this is very welcome.

Instead, the defense is significantly lower than plate armor.

But there's no helping that. 

In other words, it's still an excellent item. 

We gratefully decided to accept it. 

I will be the one to equip this Elven Leather. 

Since Kazane-san's chest armor is her Black Clothes and there are no complaints about it. 

I judged that I, as the frontline fighter, should prioritize this armor over Yuzuki, who is in the backline. 

So, we received their hospitality and a token of gratitude.

Now it's time to leave the elven settlement for real.

"Daichi, Hotaru, Kazane! Let's meet again someday!"

In the afternoon, as we left the village, Riviera and the two other elf girls waved their hands, seeing us off. 

Many other elves from the settlement came to see us off as well. 

We waved back at them and departed from the village.

We're starting our usual three-person journey.

Following the landmarks and directions we were taught in the village, we walked through the forest.

"Elf cuisine was delicious, huh?"

"Absolutely. I'm so full I could burst."

"We also got some great armor. It was worth coming here."

In such a happy mood, we went back from the elf village. 

But then, after a while, that familiar ping sound rang out. 

As usual, I opened the message box.

───────────────────────

Special Mission: Help the Elf village attacked by a horde of monsters has been triggered!

Experience Points earned upon mission completion... 5000 points.

───────────────────────

"Daichi-kun, what is this..."

After seeing the contents of the message box, Kazane-san's voice trembled with anxiety. 

Yuzuki tightly held my hand and looked at me, wanting to say something.

I looked at both of them and nodded.

"I'm not entirely sure of the situation, but let's go back. I'm worried about the people in the village."

We turned around and dashed back the way we came.