A Chronicle of Life in a Different World

The day after Reurus and the others arrived at the dwarf settlement.

The Reurus descended down the mountain with some dwarves and stepped into the woods at the foot.

Dwarves need to repair broken houses, roads, and furnaces. However, not everyone does the work, and a good dwarf uses his skill to fix it in a short time.

Other dwarves - dwarves who went down the mountain with Reurus and others - did not have broken houses, but aimed to investigate and repair the surroundings of the mountain.

Whether there was no place where the landslide occurred due to heavy rain that fell yesterday, whether the terrain has not changed due to the storm water flowing through the ground, or whether trees have collapsed due to the effect. About twenty dwarves are scattered around to investigate changes in the environment.

"Hey hey, why do you bother investigating?

As she did when she climbed, Sarah asked strangely after carefully descending the mountain path, which seemed to be a steep slope.

I have all my luggage, and I only carry each weapon.

However, even if it were a weapon, Reurus would carry a great sword, and Meer would carry a weapon as tall as her own.

"That's to keep our house from getting outside enemies. Ah, the outer enemy in this case is a human being, right?

It was Meer who answered Sarah's question. He accompanied the Reurus who went down the mountain because there was nothing they could do even in the settlement, and "looked up” at the faces of the Reurus, laughing somewhere in a good mood.

"Is there a trick?

When Reurus reacts to Meer's words, Meer's smile shines even more.

"Mmm! It's no big deal, but the woods around the house make it easy to get lost. Look around."

That's how Reurus looks around.

I've been thinking about it since I stepped in, but there's nothing particularly strange about a tree of similar thickness standing in line.

(... no, is that strange?

I remember walking around in heavy rain looking for a place to stay in the rain.

Though I had hoped that there would be a giant tree to lower the rain, I couldn't find it after all. I finally felt the magic of the Bear and found a cave while my vision was poor.

"Remove landmarks, cut down trees other than those of similar thickness, adjust the position of trees so we don't know the direction... we call them the Lost Forest."

"... like an artificial maze?"

Calvin was surprised how he got out of the woods. In the case of Reurus, I could feel the magic of the Bear, but it seems that poor vision was the other way around.

However, it is not impossible to break through no matter how much it is done by dwarves. In fact, Reurus and the others are passing through the Lost Forest.

(Ah... there's only that mountain through the forest. I don't think the dwarf lives in the mountain, and that steep slope makes me feel uncomfortable climbing...)

Reurus muttered in his heart that he was helped by his own intuition. Even though I was able to break through the Lost Forest, I didn't think there was a dwarf.

Even if humans invade, the dwarf is creating an entrance and exit over the mountain that humans cannot pass through. It will be easy to fight in a cage castle.

I couldn't get in or out, and even if I shot a magic shot from the outside, the passage would just collapse and it would be over. I don't know what's going on in the house, but I don't think there's a way around it.

When Reurus was convinced of everything, Meer looked up next to him. What was so funny was a smile like a smile on his face.

"Hmm? What's wrong?

Without knowing the reason for such a smile, Reurus leans his neck. Then Meer scratched her cheeks slightly red.

"Ehehe... I'm not used to looking up and talking like this, so I thought my neck was going to hurt."

I'm not saying you look happy about that. As far as Reurus can see, Meer is the tallest of all dwarfs, including his father, Calvin. It should have been a long time since I was a child to “look up" and talk.

"Sarah and the others aren't that different, but Reurus needs to look up. Looks like I'm getting smaller."

"Really... did Meer ever leave the settlement?

From Reurus' point of view, Meer is smaller than Eliza or Sarah. However, considering the environment in which Mea was located, I couldn't say anything bad, and continued to speak like a public story.

"Yeah... not just me, but the other kids, right? Adults sometimes come out, but we never come out of the Lost Forest."

It seems that some adults in the dwarf have gone outside of the Lost Forest. The dwarf was witnessed and the information was widespread, albeit rumored.

As she walks like this, Meer's gaze slowly falls back. Then he stopped at the height of Reurus' hand and his gaze swayed from side to side as he walked.

…… Something bothering you?

I'm not ashamed to be seen with my hands, but I don't know why I fix my gaze in such a place. When Reurus asked, Meer leaned embarrassed while dyeing her cherry blossoms.

"Um, well, look, I'm this tall, so I'm not used to having my hands at that height..."

Overall, from a short dwarf, I wonder if I look like one of the giants. Reurus thinks so, but he's convinced that Meer doesn't know anyone else.

"Well, Mr. Reurus? If you don't like it, what is it... ah, can I have your head stroked?

However, the following words also confused Reurus.

Meer is less tall than Eliza and Sarah, but her character is more calm than both of them. Sarah is too exceptional to rule out, but she's a little bit confused about whether it's better to stroke the head of a girl a year older than Eliza at her age.

"... if you don't like Meer, I don't mind."

Nevertheless, it was decided that it would be okay if it came from Meer herself, and Reus stroked Meer's head as requested.

…………

Meea meditates her eyes like she thinks of something and is caressed by Reurus in silence.

(Compared to Eliza and Sarah, she's a little small... I mean, all the dwarfs are small, but I guess we're talking about something else.)

Why did Meer tell me to stroke my head? While speculating on the reason, Reurus said nothing.

"... yeah, thank you."

Are you satisfied? Meer opens her closed eyes and smiles a little lonely.

"It was only when I was a little girl that I had my head stroked like this. It's getting bigger than Dad, so it's too much...."

That's what Reurus said, and he narrowed his eyes a little.

Have you ever been stroked in the head since you were reborn into the world today? My parents died when Reurus was three years old when he was killed by a monster, but I hardly remember doing such a "family” thing.

"Then ask that old lady. Whatever you're complaining about, at the end of the day, you think you're gonna do it right?

There's nothing I can do about my height, but Meer can always have her father stroke her head.

There seems to be something complex about her height, but her father will be more comfortable with her than she has been with for only a day.

I wanted someone who was taller than me to do that - you might think so, but that's all I could say to Reurus right now.

"By the way, Meer, are you a Spirit?

While investigating "The Lost Forest," Reurus asks what he was going to ask. The dwarves who went down the mountain together were all scattered and investigated, and the dwarves on the spot were easy to hear by Mea alone.

"Huh? Yeah, that's right. Not only me, but most dwarves believe in the Spirit of Fire... what's wrong with that?

"No, I was just wondering. I'm a spiritual guest."

That's the Reurus that shows "Guest Proof". Then Meer leaned her neck strangely.

"... what is that? I've never seen it before."

Apparently, they don't know "Guest ID". If you've never been out of the Lost Forest, there's nothing you can do about it.

"Something like an ID card from a great spiritual person...?

What else should I explain?

I wonder if any of the dwarfs have spirituals who run the church, and even as a Reus, I have trouble explaining the "Guest Proof".

And what's more troublesome is that we can confirm that the dwarf believes in the Spirit of Fire.

"Hey, what about Eliza? Let's get it over with. I'm glad to have a 'deal' with Reus. Reus will be stronger with my magic, and Eliza may be able to use my powers...? Come on, don't do anything good."

…………

The Spirit of Fire - Sarah is in a bad mood with Eliza. It also looked like a sister who was in a mood of a stubborn sister, but as a revulsion, I had trouble reacting.

(Sarah over there is the Spirit of Fire... you may not believe me.)

It is a surreal situation where the faithful god is passing by with a smile beside what he is listening to about the religion he believes in. Reurus worried about what was going on and decided to start by asking about the level of faith.

"Anyway, I'm a little interested in spiritualism. Is it okay to ask why the dwarf believes in the Spirit of Fire?

"I don't mind... but blacksmith has a fire on him. Then I don't think it's strange to believe in the Spirit who controls fire....."

Why do you care? Meer leans her neck. As far as I can see, Dwarf's faith in the Spirit of Fire does not seem to go beyond the ordinary domain.

"What? What? Could it be me too!?

"... keep your mouth shut"

Sarah reacts because she was talking about the Spirit of Fire. But immediately Eliza shut Sarah's mouth and sealed Sarah's reckless remarks.

I thought I was in a bad mood, but around to stop firmly, Eliza might not be in a bad mood, but "something else.”

While thanking Eliza for her actions, Reurus continued to ask questions.

"If you knew there was a Spirit of Fire nearby, would you like to go to prayer early in the morning? Do you want to turn off the signs and offer your prayers secretly so as not to disturb the life of the Spirit of Fire?

"Hmm, the content of the question sounds strangely specific... but I won't do that. Maybe I'll pray when I blacksmith?

It doesn't sound like Jilba is “faithful.” If this is the case, it doesn't seem problematic to gauge the opportunity and tell us who Sarah is.

It may be prejudicial to just try to deal with it for a day, but I can't imagine the dwarf giving prayers as much as he can. As long as I pray very carefully, it seems that I am using it as a toast head and drinking alcohol.

"Really... okay, thank you...?

With a word of gratitude to Meer, Reus was relieved - he felt the magic from under his feet.

"Huh? What?

"What's wrong with you?

It was a Reurus who unconsciously pulled out a great sword because he felt magic, but Eliza looked suspicious.

"No, I can feel the magic from under my feet... hey, Meer. Does the passage Dwarf's digging extend this far?

I don't know if the soil or rock on the ground is in the way, or the exact distance or strength. Still, there was no doubt that vague magic was moving under the soil.

"Our house is just in that mountain, and it's not even under the woods... maybe someone's digging in secretly."

You're building a secret base?

I think so, but the magic movement I felt was irregular. The same was true of the vague magic I had felt in the woods before, but I don't think it would be a dwarf if I only judged by the “way of moving”.

(What do you mean...!?

There must be some monsters lurking on the ground other than dwarves. That was the conclusion of the revus, but I felt the vague magic rapidly approaching.

"Mr. Reurus? What the heck!?

I don't have time to warn you. Reus lifted his left arm to Meer's torso and shouted inside.

Sarah!

Yes, yes!

While jumping out of the spot, he calls Sarah in "Thought Call." Sarah immediately responded to the words and jumped up and picked up Eliza, imitating Reurus.

And with the roar, the ground exploded - with so much momentum as it seemed.

The ground rolls up and earth and stones dance through the sky. The impact shakes the surrounding trees slightly, and the birds that were in the forest fly at once.

"Whoa... it wasn't one of them?"

The monster that popped up with the momentum to crush the ground - the giant worm that fell yesterday - showed up, and Reus whispered while pulling his cheeks.