The Traveling Hero Won’t Let the Innkeeper’s Son Escape

Walking down the foggy mountain path and as Ruth searched for Ed with Remius to near the entrance to the dungeon, the surroundings were already a lot darker.

(The village chief was right to issue a restraining order...)

Thanks to the lamps of Remias, which emit light many times stronger than normal, we did not have to stray down the road, but the foggy mountain paths were difficult to understand the topography, so much so that even the familiar Ruth would be in danger.

In this way, you should wait for the hunt until the fog clears.

(And maybe it helped to have Mr. Remias)

Remias thought he was just an uncle who was frigid, but the way he said things that pushed his slight back was appreciated when he got lost in judgment. If I were alone in this fog, this would not have happened very much. Even the worst Ruth could have been wrecked in the mountains.

I didn't see Ed on the road again, but fortunately I never saw any demons or animals. Even if we met and were attacked, this fog must have forced us to struggle with poor vision, so it was helpful.

"Ed!? Ed! Are you here!?

Ruth looked around near the dungeon entrance as she raised her voice. But I didn't see Ed, and he didn't reply. The fog-wrapped and quiet mountain felt terrible, even if I was used to seeing it.

And while that was happening, the darkness of the mountain gradually approached Ruth and the others. Thanks to the lamp there is no darkness, but the darkness at the end of the light was thickening and it was becoming difficult to see. Anxiety accelerated.

"Is Ed not even around here, or has he gone another way?

Until I got here, I was looking around just in case, but it didn't look like Ed was there, and I didn't hear back from Ruth's raised voice. That's why I even came straight to the dungeon, but there's no guarantee that I was headed straight in the first place. It was just a clue that Ed used to say 'that way'. It is also possible that Ruth's account is incorrect. I was wondering if I should go back.

"That can't be true............ hmm. Oh, can't you hear me from over there?

"Voice?"

When Ruth turned his ear in the direction Lemias pointed, there was a change in the sound as if turning up the volume of the TV, and the surrounding sound was heard well. And I realize the voices I've heard sound smaller.

"… why……"

Ruth ran out aggressively when she heard a grieving young child. From behind, I said, "Did you hit it? 'Remias' voice echoes, but hurries ahead as he replies.

Down from the entrance to the dungeon to a slightly lower point, Ruth called on Ed again.

"Are you there, Ed!?

"…… ru, Ruth?

"Ed!"

Relying on a voice of surprise and confusion, Ruth discovered a water-haired boy sitting on the ground as he hurried further into darkness.

"……… Ruth, why are you here?

"That's my line! safe!? Are you hurt?

"is…… Yes, I'm fine"

Ruth ran over and confirmed his appearance, but although Ed was blushing his eyes, he didn't seem to be complaining about pain or anything in particular. The expression is also the usual stiff one. Apparently, he got here without seeing any demons or animals. Horrified by that, he knelt on the spot and gazed at Ed.

"Ed, why are you here when there's fog? And alone. You promised to come with me, didn't you?

"……… it is."

Ed dropped his gaze on Ruth's question. I was convinced that my imagination still fitted the picture.

"Maybe... Did something happen about your friend?

"... eh"

I saw that Ed's mouth was full of strength.

"Suddenly he said 'goodbye'... and then he said small 'I don't want to disappear'... then I couldn't hear him..."

"Don't you want to disappear?

"Yes. It looked like a very spicy voice.... So I, I'm sure something happened to him, but I ran so fast that I got here and completely interrupted his signs..."

Ed showed Ruth what was behind him.

(What... this?

Behind Ed was like a chimney growing from the ground. The material appeared to be stone, but the accuracy of the circle suggests that it is an artifact rather than a natural object. To the extent that the diameter is slightly larger than the face of Ruth, there is a hole in the center because it is cylindrical, and I tried to peek at it, but I can't see the bottom. The height is less than Ruth's hips when he gets to his knees. Honestly, I've never seen anything like this.

"Does Ed know what this is?

"No, unfortunately I don't. But I think his signs continued from here. Not anymore..."

Ruth sees a substance like that cylinder again, but he didn't think people would get into this. Isn't the hole where you can't see the bottom when you shine the light on the lamp going on pretty deep? From a position relationship, it could be connected to the inside of the dungeon.

"He's the kind of guy who lives in this? Can it be dwarves or something like that?

"I don't know. From a rational way of speaking, I think he is a person of thought or a similar race, but I don't know what he looks like."

Ed's friend told me all sorts of things about the world, but he said he barely talked about himself. However, because of his sympathy for Ed, he was also unable to go outside and was imprisoned somewhere.

"... Has he, truly, disappeared?

So Ed dropped his shoulder as he looked at the hole. Ruth doesn't know what to say to encourage her. I honestly deplore the fact that even if I have previous life experience, it doesn't help me at all at times like this. Maybe I won't find an answer to these things forever.

However, I think it's more important for Ed, the lonely one, to show you that he has someone on his side than an extra word. Ruth gently stroked Ed's head.

"………………"

Looking up at Ruth for a moment, Ed turns his head slightly clouding his expression and clogging his words. Ruth leans his head against his chest and strokes his hair intact.

I felt Ed's little voice moisturize, but I continued to stroke his head pretending not to notice.

"…… Thank you for lending me your breasts"

After a while, Ed let go of his head from Ruth's chest. He just doesn't want to see his face and keeps his head down. However, I am relieved that my voice is back to its usual condition.

Seriously though, Ed also thought it might be awkward and Ruth dared to decide to tear it up.

"I'm sorry. I wish I had a soft chest like a woman's, but I'm not the one."

"I don't know if you think everyone wants a woman's breast."

"Oh... sorry"

Ruth laughed bitterly at the same spicy comment, but at the same time relieved that Ed seemed to be back on track. The expression is also back to the usual cool stuff.

"Besides, I think Ruth has just the right breasts."

"Uh, sure, maybe a little bit of a woman would light it up. Actually, I don't think I can either."

"It is not......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Ed said so, but immediately stood up and grabbed Ruth's hand as he stood on his knees.

"Ruth. Thank you for picking me up. I apologize for the inconvenience."

Ruth felt smiling as Ed raised his head so hard in his little body that he apologized. I was worried, and I was somewhat frustrated that you couldn't talk to me, but it doesn't matter.

"Fine. But you need to talk to me first, okay?

"Yes. Now I'll talk to Ruth first. So listen to me."

"Copy that. Shall we go home, then?

"Yes."

Ed pulls his hand lightly, so he rises up in the flow. And then I looked around where the fog was - and I remembered something important.

"That... Mr. Remias?

After hearing Ed's voice, I now realize that I haven't seen Remias. I thought I was looking at it a little further away, but when I looked back, I didn't see it. On the contrary, I don't see that light strong lamp at all either.

"Uh... Remias? Who is it?

"You came looking for Ed with me, he's an innkeeper. I was with you until just now...... Remias!

Ruth spoke out to call around holding Ed's hand. But from the foggy and quiet forest, instead of responding, I didn't even hear the animal cry or the wind passing through the leaf gap.

"Eh, I'm out of line......? Oh, Mr. Remias! Where are you!?

"Are you sure you were with me until earlier? When I turned around, I didn't see anyone other than Ruth..."

"Yes!? …… then from before?

I heard Ed's voice. He should have been there when Ruth ran out first, so apparently he left with Remius shortly after that.

(Shit. Because I just worry about Ed and he ran without worrying about Mr. Remias, who is not used to mountain roads......!

Ruth gently ran this far from the entrance to the dungeon, but there was no chance that Lemias, who said he was not confident in his arms, would not be able to make such a move.

"Ed, let's go back to the entrance to the dungeon for a moment. It's a little open over there."

"Yes."

"Remias!

Ruth calls on Remias as he pulls Ed's hand. Remius noticed a little Ed's voice earlier than Ruth's, so if he was close, he'd be hearing it. But my voice should be ringing in the mountains, but I haven't gotten back to you at all.

In other words, Lemias has now gone too far to hear his voice, or is unable to respond.

(Yay……………!

Walking back to the entrance to the dungeon, keeping Ed calm as he managed to contain his impatience.

But when I stopped - I noticed that the surrounding landscape was strange.

"Ah... Was that around the road dungeon like this?

The dungeon is surrounded by mountains, basically slopes. But Ruth should have walked straight towards the entrance to the dungeon, but if he noticed, all he could see was flat ground around him. The condition is more like a forest made of flat ground than a mountain. Moreover, the trees and plants that grow around them had also been transformed into something that I had never seen before.