Bastard Homunculus: Reborn in the Corpse Pit-Chapter 132: The Elven Nation of Sylph(Part 2)

"Alright, we’ve arrived without incident, let’s make sure to keep it that way. Just because we got here safely is no reason to let our guards down," Remarked Jules objectively.

The carriages had been teleported to the Rose Settlement, shortly after which the group disembarked, in a clearing surrounded by tall trees.

A couple of Elves had escorted them to the spot after they teleported to the settlement, and they were then told to wait as the Elves left to inform their leaders that their visitors had arrived, with one Elf left behind to watch them.

"It’s so nice and pleasant out here, the air is so fresh," Sighed Lyra contently, as she took a deep breath.

"Yeah, I know we weren’t stuck in the carriages for that long, but still, it was pretty stuffy in there, so this is nice," Nodded Aster in agreement, as a gentle breeze blew across.

"What did I just say?" Responded Jules in exasperation, before glancing ahead as footsteps echoed out, to see the Elves who’d left coming back.

"We have informed the Elders of your arrival, dear guests from Persona. They would like to meet with your leader, who is permitted to bring no more than two guards along," One of the Elves informed them, before adding, "However, if you’re worn out from the journey, you may rest first."

"No, that’s okay, our journey was pretty short, so I’m not particularly tired. I’ll meet with them now," Replied Lyra with a smile.

"In that case, I’ll accompany you, along with Captain Aster," Remarked Jules, before glancing at Aster.

"Yeah, sure," He nodded with a thumbs up.

"Very well, then. Our comrade here will show the rest of you to the guest quarters we’ve set up," Responded the Elf, as he nodded at the one who’d stayed behind to watch them.

"Remember what I said, don’t cause any trouble. Go through the guidebooks I placed in each of the carriages, in case you need any clarifications, they’re quite thorough," Jules instructed the others.

"Actually, we already went through them on the way here," Chimed in Celia.

"Huh? So, what you’re saying is...you two were neglecting your duties with keeping an eye out?" Frowned Jules as she narrowed her eyes at Raven and Celia.

"Crap!" Raven thought to himself, frantically trying to think of an excuse as Celia averted her gaze nervously, before responding, "N-No, of course not. Since I’ve got strong senses and can detect Mana, I was focused on keeping an eye out while Celia read out the info in the guidebook."

"Hm...alright, I’ll accept that, for now. But we’re going to talk about this when we get back," Replied Jules as she narrowed her eyes at the pair, before turning around and walking away with Lyra and Aster.

"Tough luck there, you two," Smiled Tilda sympathetically, as she walked over and patted their shoulders.

"Sorry, guess I should’ve kept my mouth shut," Sighed Celia apologetically.

"It’s fine, it was just an accidental slip, nothing we can do about it now. Hopefully, she’ll forget by the time we get back to Persona," Remarked Raven optimistically.

"Hate to break it to you, but the chances of that happening are slim to none," Tilda informed them.

"Ahem...if you please, follow me, I shall take you to the guest quarters," Spoke up the Elf who’d stayed behind, before turning around and walking away.

"How old are you, by the way? I know that you guys have super long lives compared to us, so I’m kinda curious," Said Colt as they followed after the Elf.

"Oh, I am but a mere one hundred and twenty-seven years old," Answered the Elf, before adding as he glanced back at them, "Based on what I know of your race, all of you must be no more than two or three decades old, is that correct?"

"Pretty much, yeah. These two here are the youngest in our group, he’s nineteen and she’s twenty-one," Replied Colt, as he gestured to Raven and Celia.

The Elf glanced at them, his gaze lingering on Raven for a moment as he stared at his scales, before turning back forward and continuing to lead the way.

"I really expected to get stared at a whole lot more than I have. I mean, I have gotten a few brief looks, but nothing more than that," Raven thought to himself, before the ground stepped out into a wide, grassy clearing, with a row of twenty wooden huts set up at the back, at the foot of a cliff.

The grass and the leaves in the surrounding trees rustled as a breeze blew across the area, as the Elf led them through the clearing towards the huts.

"The one in the middle has been set up for your leader, the rest of you are free to pick whichever one you like. I must ask that you stay put within this area, do not roam anywhere past this clearing. Also, are there any Teleporters among you?" Inquired the Elf, as he turned and glanced around at them.

"Yes, I’m a Teleporter," Spoke up Hart.

"I am, as well," Chimed in Arren.

"I see. I should warn you, do not set any unauthorized Teleport Points, we have Detection Spells set up all throughout the nation for those, so we will know immediately if you do."

"Sure, I’ll keep that in mind, wasn’t planning on it anyway," Replied Hart with a thumbs up, as Arren nodded in response.

"Very well, then. I shall leave you be now, you may do as you please within this area," Remarked the Elf, before bowing his head cordially and walking away.

"I don’t know about you guys, but I’m totally fine with staying put. Even though we didn’t travel for long, riding in vehicles always makes me kinda fatigued, carriages more so that motor vehicles," Sighed Jacks as he stretched his arms up.

"These huts are pretty nice," Remarked Wein, as he opened the door of one of the huts and peered in curiously, adding, "They’re not very big, but they’re clean and tidy, and the beds they’ve set up look pretty comfy and spacious. Oh, and it looks like there’s an attached bathroom in each one, nice."

"Yeah, they do look pretty cozy. And they’re nice and airy inside too," Responded Celia, as she walked into another of the huts, Raven following after her as the others picked their huts.

Raven walked over to the bed and flopped onto it, letting out a sigh as he felt himself sinking into it slightly.

"Wow, this is really soft...I’ve never layed on a mattress like this before, it’s got a slight springiness to it, but I’m not picking up the scent of metal, so I don’t think it has regular springs inside it," He remarked thoughtfully as he sat up and stretched his arms.

"Wanna rest till Aster and the others get back?" Celia asked him.

"Hm...nah, I think I’ll step outside, it’s nice and breezy, after all," He decided after mulling it over, getting back onto his feet and headed for the entrance.

He then stepped out into the clearing and walked across the grass, before laying down and staring up at the sky, relaxing as the breeze washed over him pleasantly.

Celia walked over and sat down beside him, glancing back as Colt and a couple of the others stepped out too.

"You sure look relaxed, don’t you?" Smiled Hart as he approached them.

"Yeah...I just feel really excited and curious to be in another nation, I never even considered this as a possibility for me when I was a kid," He replied with a grin. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"Right, you and your sister were struggling to make ends meet before the church got their claws in you," Recalled Hart solemnly.

"Well, it’s not just a Commoner thing, trave to the other nations has been almost nonexistent for the last century or so, it’s my first time out of Persona too," Chimed in Tilda.

"I mean, Raven and I have technically been outside Persona before...that was to the Death Zone though, so not exactly a vacation. Not that this is a vacation either, of course, but still," Smiled Celia wryly.

"Speaking of which, I wonder what’ll happen to the Death Zone in the near future? I mean, all the undead creatures are gone now, and the Miasma has been steadily fading with each passing day, right? It probably won’t be long before the place is safe to cross again," Pointed out Colt thoughtfully.

"Who knows? I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later," Shrugged Tilda in response.

"I can’t get over how clean the air is here, I don’t have to suppress my sense of smell nearly as much as I usually have to. Hm?" Raven sat up as he heard some rustling from a row of bushes, before spotting a group of young Elf children, staring at them curiously.

"Huh, looks like we’ve got some visitors," Remarked Tilda, as the kids shrunk back slightly as they realized they’d been noticed.

"It’s probably their first time seeing humans, or any other races besides their own, so can’t blame them for wanting to get a closer look at us," Replied Colt with a shrug.

Hart made eye contact with the young Elves, giving them a friendly smile and waving them over, but they shrunk back and hid behind the bushes instead.

"They must have been warned to stay away from us, which is understandable. The Elves have no way of knowing what our intentions really are, after all," Reasoned Tilda, pushing a few strands of hair off her face as the breeze picked up.

"Yeah, they probably-...hm?" Trailed off Raven with a frown, before sitting up as his nose twitched, his ears perking up before he closed his eyes and focused on his Mana detection ability.

"Uh-oh, that doesn’t look good...what’s wrong, kid?" Frowned Hart warily.

"Something’s coming...it’s a Monster," Replied Raven as he sprang back onto his feet with a grimace and turned his gaze to the left, several birds flying out of the trees, right as a large, hilling creature burst out into the clearing with a fierce roar.

"Oh, shit!" Exclaimed Hart in alarm, as the others emerged from the huts, except for the carriage drivers and Lyra’s attendants, who peered out before quickly ducking back inside and shutting the doors.

"That’s an Earth Dragon...this isn’t good," Frowned Tilda warily, as the large Monster narrowed its eyes at them with an ominous, threatening growl...