Novel Full Chapter 294: Present state of the Sky Island
Chapter 294: Present state of the Sky Island
Walking into the cave halfway up the mountain, I could tell that it had taken many months and years to dig as the chisel marks remained.
「It’s quite spacious inside, isn’t it?」
The cave we were led to was so wide it was like we were walking into a concert hall.
「It’s been broadened quite a lot.」
「Yes, having to part with Valkan, it was necessary that we unite. We needed to defend ourselves as much as we could to survive.」
It must have changed considerably since the time Valkan-san lived here. I looked around.
The residents of this settlement seem to have gathered inside the spacious hall. Everyone stared anxiously at us. I could see there were a few children scattered here and there. The quality of their warriors felt considerably better in comparison to Vart-kun when I first met him in the solitary island. However, as far as I could see, everyone was malnourished.
「Thank you once again, Iruma-dono. I never thought the day would come that I could still meet Valkan alive.」
「Not at all, meeting Valkan-san was a coincidence, and they’ve assisted us too.」
「Nevertheless. It is thanks to you that our family is whole again.」
According to Valzak-san, their father, the previous head, and their mother were still alive, and would be delighted to be able to meet Valkan-san and their grandchild.
This was the situation in this race, Valkan-san had escaped with the women and children 200 years ago, but there were still elderly who had limitations and many others who remained in the Sky Island.
As for the Aligerous Tribe living in the Sky Island, in the 200 years that elapsed, the elderly had passed their lifespans, fewer children were being birthed, and the population was in decline. This was also an issue that Valkan-san’s group also carried.
「The dungeon monsters have flowed into the forest and hunting has been difficult. To the Aligerous Tribe who did not have any other means to attack besides the bow, the monsters in the forest are too much.」
Valzak-san also wanted to go to the control room of the dungeon core, but the reality was that they were already having trouble hunting in the forest so they couldn’t reach it.
「With our numbers diminishing, we’re feeling the limits in preserving our village.」
「Valzak-niisan, you too? ……the timing of our encounter with Iruma-dono is truly a windfall for us.」
「Certainly. Well, that aside, Valkan, what do you think about meeting father and mother?」
When Valzak-san said that, a couple slightly older than Valkan-san and Valzak-san appeared. I can’t tell the age of the Aligerous Tribe based on their appearance.
「Father, Mother, it’s been a long time. I am glad you are well.」
「Valkan!」
Valkan-san’s mother, Vart-kun’s grandmother, hugged Valkan-san tightly, delighted at their reunion.
「Valkan, even you’ve grown old.」
「Father, it’s been over 200 years. That much time would make even me, old.」
Valkan-san’s father, Vart-kun’s grandfather, looked just like Valkan-san and Valzak-san. Since I couldn’t see that much difference in their aging characteristics, they could pass as siblings.
Valkan-san’s father is Vahzard. His mother’s name is Betoris-san. The men in Valkan-san’s clan seem to add “Va” in their names.
「Valkan, you brought our grandson with you, right?」
「Yes, Mother. Vart is over there……」
Valkan-san’s gaze pointed towards Vart-kun and a similarly aged youth quarrelling. It was the youth that Vart had been quarreling with since a while ago.
「Valto! What are you doing!?」
「Vart! Are you not going to greet your grandfather and grandmother!?」
「Hm? Is that your son, Valkan?」
「Then is he your son, Niisan?」
「My my, they just met but they’re just like each other.」
「Fumu, they have exactly the same bad qualities.」
「「……I’m sorry.」」
With their father’s harsh words, Valkan-san and Valzak-san apologized to their parents.
Valzak-san’s son is Valto-kun. His age was coincidentally the same as Vart-kun’s. They were similar because they were cousins, huh. I feel sorry for Valkan-san and Valzak-san, but they were disappointingly similar.
At that time, Marnie proposed that everyone have a meal.
「Master (Husband), how about we offer food to everyone? 」
「You’ve got a point. Let’s eat the food in the Magic Bag and my Item Box and eat with everyone.」
I told Valkan-san my offer to supply food.
「That, is that truly alright?」
「Yes, we planned to so from the start.」
「Then we should also help.」
Betoris-san gave an order to the Aligerous women, and they began to prepare the food with Marnie and Maria.
Considering everyone’s malnutrition, I’d like for them to be nourished even if only a little bit.
***
Footnotes:
1. Save me from the suffering of naming these characters. (T~T) They’re all too similar lol. I didn’t wanna change Bart ( バート ) too much, so I chose Vart but maybe I should have chosen Vaht since Valto (バルト) is a bit too close to it. Oh well.