Upon reaching Nona’s group, the elf leader gestured for them to follow, intending to find a room for their discussion. As they walked, he introduced himself.
“I am the leader of these elves,” he began. “You may call me Ped. There’s no need to be nervous here; I mean you no harm.”
In response, the four of them, including Nona, introduced themselves. Soon, they arrived at a small room on one side of the treehouse and settled onto a sofa designated for guests.
Unhurriedly, Ped brewed them a cup of tea before finally getting down to business. “Are you the heroes who have come in search of that sword?”
“Yes, Mr. Ped, do you have any information regarding the Hero’s Sword?”
It was Olivia who spoke, not Nona, the captain of their group. Nona’s gaze remained fixed on the leaf-shaped badge pinned to Ped’s chest, her eyes reflecting a complex mix of surprise and hesitation.
Ped did not rush to answer Olivia. Instead, he poured himself a cup of tea, and as he listened to the water filling the cup, he smiled and counter-questioned, “I do know some things, but why should I tell you?”
Hia tilted her head, not understanding his implication. So, Ped continued to explain.
“I know you are heroes, and I’ve seen the Blood Church hunting you,” he stated. “However, not all heroes are worthy of obtaining the Hero’s Sword.”
“If useless heroes were to acquire it, the ultimate outcome would only be for it to fall into the hands of an evil god,” he continued. “That would unleash true despair upon the world.”
In his view, the wielder of the Hero’s Sword should be an invincible champion. If it were to be held by an incompetent individual, the sword would simply be lost in vain.
Furthermore, if the sword fell into an evil god’s hands, he dared not imagine the horror that would ensue. They would surely destroy the blade, forever removing the possibility for mortals to slay gods.
Hia understood his meaning, and without hesitation, she asked, “Then how do you want us to prove ourselves?”
“I haven’t thought of it yet.”
“What?”
“I said I haven’t thought it through,” Ped reiterated. “You can stay here for a few days; everything else can wait until I’ve decided.” He shrugged, giving a remarkably irresponsible answer.
Hia initially thought she had misheard him. Only after seeing his indifferent expression did she retort indignantly, “Hey, time is precious!”
“No matter how precious, it’s not as precious as the Hero’s Sword,” Ped countered. “Do you truly believe you are the only ones searching for it recently? The Bishop of this city, the evil god’s blood servants, and their apostles are all seeking it.”
“Don’t misunderstand me; I’m not looking down on you, but you are still too young. Let alone confronting the ‘Saintess,’ even against this city’s Bishop, your chances of victory are pitifully low.”
This was Ped’s most genuine thought. Having lived in Palde City for so long, he knew far better than these heroes just how terrifying the Blood Church was. Simply the Bishop of this city was beyond their capabilities.
As for the ‘Saintess,’ after hearing numerous rumors about her, he believed that even with the Hero’s Sword, they would likely be unable to defeat her.
“You *are* looking down on us!”
Hia continued to mumble under her breath, but Ped had no desire to continue the conversation. After finishing the last sip of his tea, he rose, preparing to leave.
“In any case, live here for a few days first. Someone will show you to your rooms. We can discuss the rest once I’ve made up my mind.”
With that, he turned to open the door and step out, when Nona, who had been silent until then, suddenly called out to him.
“Wait! Mr. Ped!”
“Is there something else?”
Turning to Nona, Ped had, of course, noticed the young woman who had barely spoken since their arrival. Her gaze had been persistently fixed on the leaf badge on his chest, which he found somewhat impolite.
He hadn’t commented on it, however.
Now, it seemed she might have something to ask him.
Under Ped’s bewildered gaze, Nona took out the golden leaf-shaped badge her mother had left her and held it out to him.
“Mr. Ped, do you recognize this?”
Frowning, Ped carefully took the badge from the young woman’s palm. He then rubbed his eyes, scrutinizing it several times before confirming that the badge in his hand was indeed the one he had imagined.
“This… where did you get this?”
Lost in thought, his tone grew less friendly. Even his gaze towards Nona became wary and vigilant, as if he would lash out if she uttered an unsatisfactory answer.
Upon sensing Ped’s change in demeanor, Nona knew this badge was far from ordinary.
“This was left by my mother.”
“Your mother? Who?”
“Isis.”
“…I haven’t heard that name.”
Only after learning it was her mother’s keepsake did Ped’s expression soften considerably. He returned the golden leaf badge to Nona and re-evaluated the hero party.
“What exactly is it?” Nona asked.
Ped offered no reply. Instead, Olivia, who was seeing the badge for the first time, explained.
“It is a badge awarded by the Church of Life to its most outstanding believers,” Olivia clarified. “The golden badges, however, are personally bestowed by the Mother Goddess herself. Every believer who received a golden leaf badge was a renowned figure in their era.”
“It is a symbol of status. Your mother possessing it means she was either an esteemed predecessor living incognito, or a descendant of one of those predecessors.”
‘My mother… connected to the Church of Life?’
Olivia’s explanation made Nona realize this connection. She then gripped the golden badge in her hand, her excitement rising.
This was the very first time she had received any information about her mother’s identity.
‘An outstanding believer, perhaps, personally awarded a badge by the Elven Mother Goddess…’
She had always known her mother couldn’t be an ordinary woman. With this clue, she might finally discover who had taken her.
At the very least, she was a step closer to the truth.
‘The Church of Life…’
‘A church her mother believed in must be filled with sweetness and goodness.’
Knowing her mother’s connection to the Church of Life, Nona felt a surge of goodwill towards it, and even a touch of reverence for the Elven Mother Goddess she had never met.
At that moment, Ped suddenly spoke, interrupting her thoughts.
“In the forest west of Palde City, there are clues left by the one who obtained the Hero’s Sword back then,” he announced. “Come with me in three days; we might uncover the sword’s true whereabouts.”
Having said that, he opened the door and prepared to step out. Hia, surprised and delighted by this turn, asked with curiosity, “Hey, I thought you hadn’t decided yet? Are you not testing us anymore?”
His departing steps paused slightly. Ped glanced back at Nona and said, “I trust the Mother Goddess. The descendants of those she has bestowed badges upon will not be lacking.”
“Your faith truly is fanatical,” Hia muttered.
This rationale prompted Hia to complain, albeit softly. As a noble lady, she had never worshipped any deity, and thus could not comprehend their fervent beliefs.
Nevertheless, she knew of Yggdrasil, the Elven Mother Goddess. If the descendants of a believer acknowledged by such a deity, perhaps they truly could create miracles.