I didn't really have any intention of running into them. The group holding flags was practically screaming, 'Important person here!' just by looking at them.

So I was just going to let them pass by...

【Come closer, stranger.】

The fatal mistake was that there was someone with wayyy too good eyesight on their side. Even though I tried to steer far clear of their expected path, they went as far as to send someone to call me over.

【It really is a stranger!】

The person riding the leopard's eyes sparkled at me.

Since I too had marveled at the fact that they had three pairs of arms, it was hard to say anything, but it was still an excessive gaze. It was as if... they were looking at a monkey, or maybe not even a monkey. Like they were looking at an interesting tool.

【Ah, was I too rude?】

But even so, I couldn't just act recklessly. Although the number of heads belonging to the group reached thirty, only three among them were riding leopards.

Their attire was so extravagant that they were undoubtedly high-ranking figures. I just glared hard until the other party caught on.

"Sorry, I apologize. In Bigabol, one cannot see outsiders who visit individually unless they are official envoys."

Fortunately, the other party withdrew their gaze before it was too late. The fact that we could communicate was a bonus.

It was slightly awkward, like a foreigner speaking Korean, but there was no difficulty in understanding.

"Um, is my speech alright? I practiced hard."

However, what did it matter if we could communicate? I had no background knowledge of this area, let alone information about the other party. I couldn't just open my mouth carelessly.

Therefore, I briefly averted my gaze from the opponent, who was armed with relaxed confidence.

I saw the child riding a leopard and the ones who had followed me having a conversation.

【What happened?】

【Well, it's a long story...】

The person I'd been speaking with until now was dressed extravagantly but their style was somewhat different from the village people's, whereas that child seemed to be from the same background as the village people. Though extravagant, the style was similar.

Despite being the smallest in the group, seeing them riding a leopard suggested they held a position of some authority.

But there was absolutely nothing I could do with this information. I didn't know what to do.

【Ah... Perhaps my pronunciation was too clumsy for them to understand my words?】

【That shouldn't be the case. Do I not acknowledge your eloquence, Chief Atart? However, please consider the position of a stranger who has suddenly come face-to-face with the chiefs of a tribe.】

Meanwhile, the final person riding a leopard spoke. Her low voice resonated well and was calm, inspiring trust for some reason despite it being a language I didn't understand.

"This person is the Chief of the Bigabol tribe. Since they are someone who desires interaction with the outside, they have immense interest in outsiders. If it's alright, would you mind joining us?"

Furthermore, she also knew how to speak our language. Her skills were even better than the man who had spoken to me first.

"I have no interes—"

But that was that, and this was this. It was true that I needed a topic to divert attention, but I didn't want to butt into their conversation.

To repeat myself, I knew nothing.

"It just so happens that the Chief has been looking forward to conversing with you. We haven't had the time to talk, have we?"

[Please, save the face of our tribe and the Chief.]

"...!"

I said... I don't know anything...!

[I do not know how you came to stay with our tribe, but we will certainly reward you.]

I stared at the words echoing in my head, the woman gazing intently at me, and finally, the child who... I assumed was the chief.

The probability was quite high since the woman had glanced at the child when she said 'the Chief has been looking forward to conversing'.

I wondered why a kid was holding the position of chief, but that could just be due to tribal customs, so it wasn't something I needed to know right away.

"..."

Since I was asked to save the face of a tribe's chief—and a child at that—it was truly hard to refuse. But if I accepted? Putting my concept aside, I had no confidence in handling things well while sandwiched between two chiefs.

I was surrounded on all sides.

【Um, Priestess. It's true that I looked forward to a conversation, but I don't want to force a benefactor whose injuries haven't even fully healed yet. Not to mention, didn't they suffer from Chibineong's poison while saving the hunters?】

【... Chibineong? You're saying they suffered from Chibineong's poison?】

【Yes, Chief Atart. Therefore, I propose that we postpone the conversation with them a little. I know you have a lot of interest in strangers, but...】

【If that's the case, we should naturally postpone it! More importantly, is it alright for them to be out here after suffering from Chibineong's poison? Are there no issues with their body?】

But what were they chattering about so much regarding me?

"... Due to your robustness, I momentarily forgot that you were in a state of being poisoned. Please forgive my rudeness."

I purposely stayed quiet because they chattered among themselves for a long while. Soon, the woman turned her head toward me. It seemed she hadn't known in the first place, but since it gave me an excuse to decline, there was no reason to refuse.

"How about we go together separately? Your complexion does not look good."

I couldn't avoid being dragged back into the village in my bewilderment, though.

"Why did you come with them...?"

Although I was dragged back into the village, I gained time to assess the situation under the pretext of recuperating.

And when the chief's group moved to the largest building, the Archmage, who had been hiding somewhere, came running in a flurry and dragged me off somewhere.

It was very good timing. To clear my mind, I also wanted to know how the situation was unfolding.

"I merely paid the price for the help I received."

Following the Archmage into an empty building, I replied bluntly. Putting everything else aside, this was a remark made in advance to lay the groundwork and prevent breaking character regarding my accompanying them.

"Phew..."

Meanwhile, the Archmage grabbed her forehead at my unkind words. No matter how smart she was, there was a limit to the information she could grasp from such words, so it was natural.

【Um, is there a problem?】

The only fortunate thing was that I wasn't the only one there.

The hunters who were with me supplemented the explanation.

"So that's what happened..."

The Archmage handed me porridge with a face that looked five years older. The porridge, boiled while we were talking, had ingredients chopped very finely, as if considering my physical condition.

Whether it was to help with digestion or whatever, I liked that there wasn't a single chunk of meat in it.

"Listen while you eat."

Even though she handed me only a bowl with the contents, as if it was a culture that didn't use spoons.

"I mentioned this before we came here, but there are quite a few ancient tribes in the Chiria Great Forest that have preserved their own languages."

Ah, that story. That was the part she explained to me as soon as it became certain the snake had fled into the Great Forest.

That there were many closed-off tribes in the Great Forest who refrained from interacting with the outside. I didn't know the details because she just told me to keep it in mind since we wouldn't run into them.

I was just half in doubt about whether this tribe was the tribe she mentioned back then or not.

"Most of them are hostile to outsiders. They usually try to kill anyone who encroaches on their territory, saying they won't forgive them."

Was that it? Then did I help them for nothing? No, considering they saved me, it didn't seem like everyone was like that?

"Of course, the tribe we are currently indebted to, Serhang, is a bit different. Thanks to being located on the border of the Great Forest, they've naturally interacted with the outside from time to time. As such, they have less aversion to outsiders."

So what was she trying to say? I listened attentively to the Archmage's words until the main point came out.

The porridge was somewhat hot, but I endured it through sheer grit and willpower. Blowing on it because it was hot would ruin my cool image.

"What I want to request is regarding the Bigabol tribe's envoy group that just arrived. Up until a few years ago, the Bigabol tribe was not favorable towards outsiders."

I see... But didn't I also see the face of the Bigabol Chief?

"Fortunately, I heard the current generation's Chief takes the stance of moving away from isolationism and opening up interactions with the outside. The reason they didn't cause a commotion even upon seeing you is probably because of that."

Only now did I understand the Bigabol Chief's peculiar goodwill. The Chief and the person beside her mentioned it, but they really did want to know about the outside world.

"The problem is that right now is the 'Katina' period."

As I sipped it little by little, the porridge almost reached the bottom. I wasn't full, but I didn't feel empty either. I put the bowl down.

"Katina is an event to select a new Great Chief to fill the vacancy when the one in the Great Chief position is deposed for causing a problem or dies at the end of their lifespan. Anyone who holds the position of chief of a tribe has the right to challenge for it."

"So."

"Serhang's influence is on the weaker side. Thus, the Chief of Serhang wouldn't go out of their way to participate in the Katina. On the other hand, Bigabol is a tribe with power vying for the top rank. Moreover, isn't the current Chief of Bigabol reform-minded? She will challenge for the Great Chief position even if just to change old customs. This alliance must be for that purpose."

At that point, I slowly started to get a sense of things.

Since this meeting was such an important occasion, for me to suddenly be sandwiched between them...

"It would have been better if there was no reason to get involved between them in the first place, but the other side has already discovered our existence. Leaving without a word from here would be considered a breach of courtesy... so we will have to sit down with them at least once. Of course, I will also accompany you to that gathering. However... you know, right? I'll help you somehow, so please... um, well. I'm begging you."

I had to handle things properly. In other words, I shouldn't throw a temper tantrum.

Although we weren't properly invited guests to Serhang, we ended up in such a position in our bewilderment, and in such a situation, if we treated Bigabol carelessly, it would put Serhang in a difficult spot as well.

"Would you be alright with that, though?"

I lamented internally while looking at her face, which made a request but lacked any trust.

I saved one person and somehow got involved in politics. This is driving me crazy, really. Can't I just get poisoned again and lie down??

"If... If it really won't work out, it would be fine for you to lie down due to a relapse of the poison's aftereffects. You'd have to pretend the aftereffects are severe, so our return time would be delayed considerably, but..."

Ah, right. 'The aftereffects of the poison are severe, so I must return to the city' sounds kind of weird. It's not like the road is cleared and easy to travel on; we have to pierce through a forest full of all sorts of bugs and beasts.

Daaamn it. Participating in a conversation where my concept would never just sit quietly, or feigning illness to stay comfortable but delaying our return.

How could I choose between these. Even without this, I came without telling the rest of the party, so it was a situation where I had to return early.

"... I won't speak at length."

Although it wasn't my nature to play along with others' circumstances, wouldn't I consider the time wasted beyond that to be even more precious?

I made a decision after fierce interpretation and agony.

The Archmage nodded her head.

"Thank you."

It felt strange to have the person suffering the most express gratitude to me.

【Ah, Priestess!】

Just then, a presence was felt outside the building we were in. Although there were people who occasionally threw glances this way to spectate us, this was the first person to approach so directly.

"It seems the Priestess of the Serhang tribe is coming."

I don't know. Who's that?

Guessing it might be someone a bit higher up in the position of Priestess, I waited for the presence to come inside.

Soon, someone broke through the escorts surrounding the building and opened the door.

It was the woman who had boasted fluent skills in our language earlier.

I had wondered why she was riding a leopard side-by-side with the chiefs when her clothing style was exactly the same as the Serhang tribe's for her to be considered the leader of another tribe.

"My greeting is far too late. I am the 6th Branch of the Soaring Swamp, Vivia."

She looked down at me with eight eyes that were a mysterious mix of purple, turquoise, and yellow.

Because it was a floor-sitting culture, I was sitting on the floor and she, who had just entered, was standing, so it was an unavoidable perspective.

"To express it in your language, you may also call me a Priestess, so please call me that comfortably."

The Priestess did not maintain that posture for long.

She flopped down in the spot I had purposely avoided because it was drafty. Her languid eyes quietly looked down at the campfire located in the middle of the room.

"Before we talk, I offer my gratitude for saving our tribe's hunters. If not for the help of you two, we would have lost many young and capable hunters."

And presently, the Priestess bowed her waist. It was an incredibly polite expression of gratitude.

Although it wasn't intended, the mild animosity I felt toward her for nearly dragging me into the conversation among high-ranking figures completely vanished.

"I didn't help at all. It was all her doing, so do not thank me."

"Is that so."

I straightened my posture as I watched the person who had followed her clear away the pot and serve tea.

I wasn't slouching in the first place since I was setting a mood, but the Priestess was so stiff that more strength naturally went into my waist as well.

"Chibineong... The Swallowing Green River has been a major headache for our Serhang. It swallowed numerous hunters and warriors not just in the present, but in the past as well. For you to kill such a being, everyone in the tribe will be grateful to you, warrior."

After expressing her gratitude once more, the Priestess held something out.

"It is meager, but it is a token of appreciation for that. Originally, it is customary for the Chief to hand this over, but because he is receiving the envoys, it is unavoidable that I offer this in his stead."

Just as she had pushed the credit onto me, the Archmage didn't reveal any intention of whether to accept or decline the gift. It seemed like an attitude of leaving it entirely up to me, and in this case, the answer was set in stone.

"I don't need it."

I didn't know what was wrapped in the leaves, but I wouldn't accept it. It wasn't like I helped them to receive a reward.

"Benefactor, please accept it."

"I said I don't need it."

The tug-of-war did not drag on. As I declared it firmly twice, the Priestess withdrew the gift without the Archmage even needing to intervene.

"If that is your will, I understand."

The tea had finished boiling.

The Priestess served the tea into teacups.

"It is medicinal tea. Even though you drove out the poison, there is no knowing what aftereffects might remain. It will be quite effective in rejuvenating your body."

This was a bit awkward to refuse. To just call it 'merely' tea, there actually existed teas more expensive than their weight in gold, but anyway, wasn't a cup of tea not an easy thing to turn down?

"I shall gratefully accept the Priestess's goodwill."

Listening to the Archmage's reply, I carefully sipped the tea, mindful of the heat.

"...!"

It was delicious. Really delicious, even though I only knew a bit of the etiquette from a friend who practiced tea ceremonies and didn't really know the taste of tea well myself.

"The fragrance is truly wonderful."

"It is made by drying leaves that only grow in the Great Forest, but I am glad it suits your taste."

Did they say good tea relaxes the body? Feeling my needlessly on-edge nerves soften, I sipped the tea.

Completely tuning out the conversation between the two of them and focusing entirely on the tea, the tea gradually decreased and soon reached the bottom.

"As someone who has received help, I wonder if it is alright to impose on you any further, but..."

The quick-witted Priestess poured a second serving of tea into my teacup. At the same time, she finally opened her mouth, which had been silent.

Thanks to the tea, my complicated thoughts had flown away and my mood had somewhat improved, so I was fairly willing to listen to whatever she asked.

CRACKLE, SNAP.

BANG!

【We have guests, who would commit such rudeness...】

【Priestess, that is not the issue. Zatab's warriors have been spotted nearby!】

At least, that was true for me; it wasn't the case for the rest of the world. Despite it being an unknown language, the sound of an urgent quest rolling in rang out fiercely.