01x04 - Saved by the King

[bunniefuu]

Saved by the King.

No doubt about it. There are people nearby.

There they are.

Help! Anyone!

Shut her up.

Hey, boss.

Elf girls sell for a lot, don't they?

Yeah, she'll earn us quite a bit.

Let's get moving.

Then we can finally say

goodbye to these eerie woods.

They intend to sell her as a sl*ve.

Leave the women and kid alive.

Don't hurt 'em. They'll be worth less.

Hey, quit squirming.

You failed.

I'll not teach someone

with that look on their face.

I understand, Sylvia.

I won't let my negative emotions rule me.

Why don't you show me the way

to the nearest human settlement?

Seems like a waste to sell her off

without having some fun first.

Then again, there's no guarantee she

goes that long without being hurt.

For now, I'll prepare and

wait. It won't be long.

I wonder why those forest hounds

are so obedient to the humans.

Magic, eh?

Sorry, but I can take advantage of that.

Hey!

Shut them up already. It's gonna attract

every beast in the woods.

Stupid mutts!

Damned nuisance. We'll be

selling you off, too, soon

A kid?

One down.

I'm going to take this.

He's taking too long to get back.

Hey, are you taking a piss out there? What's up?

That's two. Combat in this body is exhausting.

Hey, what are you doing?

Where did you go? Get back here already.

A third down.

What happened?!

B-Be careful! The brat's a mage!

A kid mage?

Well, ain't that rare?

In that case, I had better make sure not to

k*ll the golden egg that just fell into my lap.

Don't you think?

What is he doing?

You're coming with me. And you might

even fetch us more cash than the girl!

So try not to die, kiddo!

That wasn't bad at all.

Maybe this

Damn it!

You've got some slick tricks up your sleeve.

Go on! It's your weapon, come and take it!

Good reaction time, too.

Let me see your face, golden ticket.

Give up. You don't stand a chance.

We'll see

That's hot!

Good. I was able to condense fire.

Damn it all. I'm done trying to

take you alive, you little sh*t.

I'll just sell your carcass to

some of those demented collectors.

Just you wait!

N-Now hang on

Please, I'm begging you.

I'm pretty sure that girl

asked you the same thing.

What was that, just now?

What's wrong?

Come along now, it's safe.

You can go home.

What is that? Are you hurt?

No, it's

I see. A normal child is surprised

by this sort of thing.

Come to think of it, this is the first time

I've been around a child my own age.

Sorry, hang on a sec.

Is that

There are some things that kids shouldn't see.

You're a kid, too.

That's true, I guess.

Hey.

What?

What happened to those bad

people who kidnapped me?

They, uh, had an unfortunate accident.

An accident?

Don't worry. You're safe now.

I see.

Is this yours?

Yes, thank you.

Well, it was nice meeting you.

I'm scared! Don't leave me behind!

I need to get back to my family,

and the scum— er, bad guys

won't be coming after you again.

You would abandon a delicate little

girl in these woods, you brute?!

Shouldn't an elf be safe in the woods?

My parents told me that the tree

golems will eat a child in no time.

Do you know which direction you came from?

That way.

The opposite direction

Then, do you know how far they

brought you from when they caught you?

No. I was chasing some bugs and then I got lost.

This is unreasonable.

But I suppose that's what

children are typically like.

I guess I can't just leave her.

Okay, then.

I don't know how to control them.

Better to spare them a painful death.

Hey, we should set them free, too.

Uh, but

If we just leave them, they'll die!

But they might attack us.

It's okay. They were just being

used by those bad people.

Besides, the people of the

forest cherish all life!

Okay, let's get you home next.

Oh, I never asked your name.

Tessia. Tessia Eralith.

What about you?

Arthur Leywin.

You're probably hungry. But even if you're not,

you should still eat something.

We might have a long walk ahead of us.

You must be hungry.

But even if you're not,

you should eat something.

If you want to be able to move

again sooner, rather than later.

I'm starting to sound like her.

This smells funny.

It's just some jerky

boiled with some salt.

It'd probably taste better if I had some herbs.

I've always considered food little more

than a means of getting nutrition.

I want something sweet.

In terms of childlike behavior, Tessia

should prove a good model to learn from.

Hey, why are you in the

Forest of Elshire, Arthur?

I got separated from my family, I guess?

Really?! You're lost, too, then.

What are things like in the land of the elves?

In Elenoir? It's fun!

My parents are really busy, so I spend a

lot of time with my grandpa and caretakers.

The trip continued for

longer than I anticipated,

with no sign of the location of Elenoir.

What are those bugs?

Aren't they neat? We have

a lot of them in Elenoir.

We use them to mark paths all the time.

Do you want one?

Nope.

It's like an earring!

So this is how children play, huh?

Once my mana awakens, I'm going

to train at my master's place.

I'm really looking forward to it!

So you get assigned a master, huh?

There's no organized education?

Organized education?

Nevermind. Just talking to myself.

It's one of the forest hounds from before.

I should have k*lled it after all.

Go into the tent for a moment.

But you're still

I'm going to keep watch from out here.

I see.

A lot happened today.

What was it that Sylvia wanted me to have?

Are you sure you don't need to sleep?

You're still awake.

Well, the truth is Grandpa said I'm

not supposed to sleep with any men,

but I'll keep it a secret!

It's fine. I'm not tired at all.

Okay

Now, sleep well.

H-Hey! I realized something!

Just go to bed already.

If you're out here, won't beasts be more likely

to notice you and see that you're a kid?

You're scared of ghosts, aren't you?

I'm just considering our safety!

Which is why I think you should

keep watch from inside the tent!

Our safety, huh?

I-It really isn't because I'm scared.

But stay where you are.

Don't go outside without telling me.

And if I need to go potty,

make sure to come with me.

Right, right. I get it.

Now go to sleep.

Hey, you're from the human

kingdom, right Arthur?

I heard that human men are all

perverts, and have many wives.

Who told you that?!

My grandpa.

Well, I'm pretty sure there are elf perverts, too.

And do you even know what a pervert is?

Not really.

The only people with multiple

wives are certain aristocrats.

I see. Okay, then.

Really?

She's asleep. Rather anticlimactic.

Is this what having a

little sister is like?

Tessia has grown so

comfortable around me.

It seems as if she has forgotten

all about the slavers.

To be honest, I've been feeling annoyed,

since I'm worried about my family,

and want to reunite with them soon.

And there was something unexpected

Arthur?!

An unbearable pain that I could

feel emanating from my mana core.

Hey, are you okay?!

Yeah, it's fine

I'm going to look for herbs that might help!

Wait It's dangerous!

The pain didn't get any better, and the

duration between attacks got shorter.

Should I tell Tessia about it?

No, it'd just worry her.

Of all the timing!

Arthur! This is supposed to

help when your tummy hurts.

Tessia, get back!

What?

I think he's repaying us!

For what?

For being good!

It's so tender!

This is good.

I suppose growing children really do need meat.

Oh, there weren't any medicinal herbs,

but I found some mushrooms.

They're very nutritious. The women

in Elenoir eat them all the time!

Sorry. I guess they might be

too strong for men.

I was careless.

My eyelids feel heavy.

And there was always a story

book to go with bedtime.

They'd be stories of the human

kingdom and the dwarf nation.

It made me want to visit some day,

but there are bad people in both, apparently.

That's why the people in Elenoir

don't trust people from other countries.

Humans in particular.

Hey, are you listening, Arthur?

Looks like I'm the more grown up one, after all.

I'm sorry, Arthur.

It's okay. We're nearly there, right?

Children are so weak.

Hey, I've been wondering this whole time

We've gotten pretty close, right?

So is it okay if I call you "Art," like we're friends?

That's fine.

That's all you have to say?

A low-born country bumpkin like myself

is unworthy of such a great honor,

Your Highness Tessia.

What was that?! It's like the kind

of joke an old man would make.

That's rich coming from the crybaby who

won't go to the bathroom without me.

Silence! Just when I was thinking

of treating you like a friend

Sure sounds like she's feeling fine.

A friend, eh?

I think I saw something!

Yeah, I think I did, too.

Moss, leaves, and a whole

lot of trees, specifically.

Tessia, is this

It is! We're here!

What the—

Come with me, Art!

The use of a teleportation

gate alerted me right away.

Who is he talking to?

T-Tessia!