"So we ended up in the Superd village?"
Valeria faintly nodded. "Yes, this is our village. It's the village of the remains of the Superd race."
Mordred was silent. This must be the girl that Hitogami told him about… He said to trust her and bring her to the Teleportation Labyrinth.
He couldn't trust Hitogami, but what about that girl? She seemed trustworthy and shouldn't have any dealings with the Man-God.
Additionally, a Superd's radar might indeed be useful when exploring the labyrinth to detect hidden traps. Although Mordred had Instinct and Mana Sense, these were not abilities without flaws.
"How old are you?" Valeria asked him.
"I'm nine."
"Nine? That's very young even for a human child."
"How old are… you?" Mordred casually asked back.
"One hundred twenty two."
"Aah. Over one hundred years?..." Mordred looked at her.
"Yes. Our Superd Race is long lived. For a Superd, I'm young."
"I see. So you live alone?"
"Yes."
"Did your husband die?"
"I never married."
Hmm?
What was that? A potential waifu to complete the RGB harem?!
And she's legal too! And not a flat loli!
But although he thought this jokingly, he saw Valeria for a person that she was. After all, this was not a game and people were not 'characters'; this was his reality now.
Whatever happens, happens.
Mordred smiled sympathetically, then asked, "Weren't you lonely?... To be alone for such a long time?"
Hearing this, Valeria snorted. "Father wants me to marry, but the men in the village are no good. They are weak, or they're old and already married. I would rather be alone."
"Ooh…"
Well, he wasn't weak, that much was for sure.
After that, there was a slight lull in the conversation.
It was at this time that Rudeus woke up.
First, he noticed Mordred and looked relieved.
Then he saw Valeria.
"Aaaah!..." Rudeus crawled back a few times, a sudden expression of fright. As he reached the wall, he stopped, staring back at Valeria.
"Rudeus. You're up."
"Your Highness… This is… A Superd, right?" Seeing that Mordred was calm, Rudeus hesitated as he looked at the Superd woman.
"Yes, Valeria is a Superd. But she's a nice Superd." Mordred observed Rudeus – did he meet Hitogami or not? Judging by this reaction, perhaps not.
"Ah… So, she's a nice Superd…" Rudeus seemed to be trying to come to terms with this oxymoron.
Valeria was silent as if this was the reaction she was expecting.
"Valeria found us in the forest and saved us from monsters. If not for her, we might have already been dead."
"Saved us from monsters? I didn't see any…" Rudeus muttered. The reason he fainted earlier was because he already tethered at the line of consciousness and in shock after he somehow managed to break their fall, and in that situation a Superd suddenly appeared in front of him with a spear and with thick killing intent that he could feel in his bones, sealing the deal.
Valeria said, "Monsters that live in this forest are invisible. Humans can't see them, only us Superds can."
"Ah, invisible monsters? And only you can see them?" Rudeus looked at her. Although he looked like one, he wasn't a 7 year old child to believe such a lie.
Mordred faintly smiled and explained, "The gem on the forehead of Superds acts as a magic sensor. I don't think it's a lie."
"Oh… Is that how it is?" Rudeus looked at Mordred, enlightened.
Mordred nodded.
"Ah, I see… Then, since you're our savior, I shouldn't be rude." Rudeus stood up and bowed. "My name is Rudeus Greyrat. It's nice to meet you. Thank you for saving us."
"Valeria Superdia. I heard that humans are terrified of us Superds and it's difficult to talk to them, but it seems you two are different."
"Oh, well… Since Prince Mordred trusts you, I felt I could too."
"Prince?" Valeria looked at Mordred curiously.
"I'm a prince of the Kingdragon Kingdom. Well, one of many at least," Mordred explained casually.
"I see. So you are Human Royalty."
"Mm."
But although Valeria learned this, it didn't seem to change her attitude much. It was a village at the end of the world, alright.
"So, where are we? And what happened?" Rudeus asked.
"The light that came from Roa was similar to the light of Summoning Magic. It seems that something happened in Roa. As a result, we were teleported and ended up in a Superd village."
"Ah, we were teleported to a Superd village? That means… It's the Demon Continent?"
"No... I mean, probably not. There are no forests like this on the Demon Continent." Mordred said as he looked outside the window.
Through a small square hole in the wall, one could see lush trees that shouldn't be found on the Demon Continent. He knew that they should be in the north of the Central Continent, but he could naturally not reveal it.
"Perhaps it's better if you don't know where we are. First I have to bring you to my father." Valeria already stood up. "Since you're up, let's not delay it. Come with me."
"... No, before that, there's something I need to do," said Mordred.
"Something?"
Mordred didn't reply and instead took out a scroll from his bag. It was an Intermediate rank Summoning Magic Scroll that he always kept on himself to summon Albion if needed. The sooner he used it, the better.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to summon a friend."
Placing it on the ground, Mordred poured his Magic Power into it while picturing Albion in his mind.
The Magic Circle lit up.
A while later, a sleeping white dragon appeared in front of it.
'Good! One off the list!'
Mordred felt relieved.
Rudeus was used to it, so he only looked on with interest and awe.
On the other hand, Valeria was startled. "It's a dragon?"
The white dragon slowly opened its eyes and looked at Mordred. While letting out a reptilian growl, it lazily transmitted, [What's going on, Boss? Why did you summon me? Where are we?]
Mordred was about to reply.
But at that moment Albion seemed to have noticed Valeria. He rapidly took a few steps back while letting out a hiss.
The ground below him wettened.
[B-boss! Save me!!!]
Mordred remained expressionless in front of Albion's plight. "You peed yourself again, seriously? Where is your dignity as a dragon?"
It took a while for Mordred to calm down Albion.
After that, he asked him, "So you don't know what happened?"
[What happened?] The dragon seemed puzzled.
Mordred stared at his familiar. It appeared that while so much had happened for him already and while he worried about him, his pet dragon was simply asleep all along!
'Luckily, he wasn't teleported into a danger zone. And he's safe. That's the most important,' Mordred thought.
[What do you mean, Boss? Teleported?]
"Something happened in Roa and we were teleported somewhere, to a village of the Superd Race."
After roughly explaining things to Albion and introducing him to Valeria, Mordred followed the Superd race girl to the door of the tree house, Albion and Rudeus following in the back.
Valeria opened the door.
A small wooden platform became visible. Behind it, there was nothing; no stairs or anything, just the ground which was about 30 meters below.
Valeria said, "Come here, I'll carry you."
Mordred took a step back and dodged as Valeria seemed to want to pick him up. It looked like you had to jump off the treehouse if you wanted to reach the ground. "There's no need. I can jump down by myself."
"The ground is far away. You will hurt yourself."
"I'll be fine," Mordred said and then slipped by Valeria and jumped down first.
He then began his freefall to the ground.
Behind him he heard a shout: "No! There are Invisible Wolves here!"
Without looking back, he could guess that Valeria had jumped after him.
Rudeus watched this, then looked down at Albion who just stood there. "Won't you go help Prince Mordred?"
Albion looked up at that guy. 'Me? Help him? Are you stupid?'
In the meantime, Mordred kept his attention on the ground as he continued his fall, squinting his eyes.
After a few seconds he was about to reach the ground. He used Gravity Magic, slowed down and smoothly came to a stop shortly above the ground, smoothly landing on the earth with his two feet.
Bam!
At the same tune, someone had crashed to the ground next to him.
It was Valeria – her feet buried into the earth until their ankles, a white trident-like spear in her hand.
The Superd girl looked at Mordred with surprise. "How did you land so easily?"
"I used a bit of Magic."
After speaking, Mordred turned his head because he heard the sound of leaves rustling.
"Invisible Wolves! Do not move!" Valeria rushed out with her spear.
A quick spear thrust.
Then she energetically pulled back her trident, as if pulling it out of something transparent.
Mordred observed this and focused on using Mana Sense to perceive his surroundings. Instantly, he noticed the shape of the monster Valeria pierced.
He pulled out Ascalon from behind his lower back and rushed out.
He rushed out like the wind, approached Valeria's side and cut down his first target with a lightning-quick sword strike.
Longsword of Silence.
Although he only used Battle Aura, his speed already surpassed Ghislaine.
It felt confusing to have to attack invisible enemies, but in the end it wasn't difficult for him to even cut it at the neck. The wolf wasn't that powerful.
"What?" Valeria was shocked as she noticed Mordred fighting at a speed that was not inferior to her own. His attacks might have been even faster!
"Are there only two enemies?" Mordred asked.
"... Only two. The last one ran away," answered Valeria. "Invisible Wolves usually don't hunt in large packs. But how could you see them?"
"I used Magic Power to sense my surroundings," Mordred replied without hiding anything.
"Humans can do that?" Valeria looked surprised.
"Yes and no. Water God Style users at Saint rank and above can use Battle Aura to sense threats and attacks coming at them without having to rely on sight. Most other swordsmen can't. But what I did is slightly different."
"How is it different?"
"Instead of using Battle Aura, I used my Magic Power to perceive my surroundings. It's a slightly superior method."
"Is that the case? You are really a human genius. And your speed is also very good."
"Yep, I'm a genius."
Valeria kept looking at Mordred, but saw that despite the words he used, he was quite laid back about it. Despite being so young, he was calm and steady; it was not childish overconfidence, it was the bearing of an expert.
She smiled and said, "I understand now. You are not a child. You're a warrior."
Mordred faintly smiled and didn't say anything.
By then, the monsters that they killed began to slowly reveal their appearance - fairly large four-legged canines with whitish fur.
"I will go bring your friend."
Valeria exercised her strength and kicked off the ground, flying high up to reach the tree house. Shortly after she came back with Rudeus, carrying him on her back.
And Mordred saw Rudeus holding onto her breasts from behind with a perverted grin.
'I'll freaking kill you...' For some reason, Mordred felt a surge of killing intent on the inside.
"Your hands," Valeria said, frowning.
"So-sorry… My hands slipped when we jumped off…" Rudeus muttered.
Valeria silently threw Rudeus off her back.
"Aah!" Rudeus landed on the ground on his butt.
Mordred faintly looked at that Rudeus, saying, "You said that, but your grin said otherwise."
"Wha-what?…" Rudeus felt troubled. It really was an accident! The fact that his hands lingered about as he was reluctant of let go was another matter, but it was an accident...
"Forget it," said Valeria. "But if you do that again purposefully, I'll cut off your hands."
Rudeus heard it and gulped. "G-got it!"
Mordred heard it and his eyes shone. 'She's just like Eris! How sweet!'
In the meantime Albion slowly flapped downwards.
He ignored the commotion and looked at the wolf's corpse. [Can I eat it?]
"... You can get some later. For now let's reach the village."
…
Mordred lent Rudeus his Magic Staff and the group followed Valeria.
Valeria carried one of the Invisible Wolf corpses over her left shoulder, holding her spear in the other hand, while Mordred carried the other one.
The Superd village was surrounded by two meter high walls made of wood. Humble log houses lined the inside.
Near the log houses there would be a rather small field that grew different types of vegetables. At one of the houses, an Invisible Wolf was being prepared to be grilled for food.
The people of the village were Superds without exception, with porcelain white skin, a red gem on their forehead and emerald green hair.
Mordred saw that it was not only Valeria who was beautiful. Everyone here was beautiful.
It was not just pretty boys or cute girls though; their features varied and were balanced. But even then, the Superd race looked to be blessed with good looks.
After seeing them and the young dragon accompanying them, the villagers sent them shocked and curious glances. A few briefly greeted Valeria, but no one stopped them.
At the same time, Superd children with white tails were running around playing. Upon spotting the white dragon, they all stopped and stared at it with amazed faces without exception.
"Woah!"
"Is that a dragon?"
"How cool!"
In the center of the village was a well, and near it a large pot that was probably used to prepare food for the whole tribe.
Valeria dropped the Invisible Wolf's body she carried near the pot. "Just leave it here."
"Okay." Mordred also dropped down his package.
As the group was about to continue, a little very cute green-haired boy even younger than Rudeus ran up to Valeria with an excited expression.
"Big Sis Val!"
Valeria lightly smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. "Valk. You're growing up quickly."
The boy pulled away his head with an embarrassed expression, then looked at the white dragon, Mordred and Rudeus with curiosity and awe. "Who is that?"
"They are human children that ended up in the forest by chance. I'm bringing them to the village elders."
"Oh… And the dragon?"
The boy looked thrilled, but Albion not so much. He hid behind Mordred, trying to avoid eye contact and seeming terrified.
Mordred inwardly thought, 'I guess he's affected by the Superd curse, unlike me and Rudeus.'
Mordred stepped forward and stretched out his hand with a small smile. "Hello. My name is Mordred."
The boy received his hand with an uncertain expression; good, they know the custom of shaking hands.
"... Valkae Superdia."
Rudeus stayed silent in the back.
"I don't have time for you now, Valk. Let's go." Valeria waved her hand, signalling Mordred and Rudeus to continue on their way.
Mordred soon asked her, "Was that your brother?"
"Yes, he's my little brother."
"I see. How old is he?"
"Six."
She said that Valkae was six and he did look six.
Valeria said, "He's my only younger sibling. Superds rarely bear children. The average for a Superd woman is one child every hundred years."
"… Low fertility rate. That's why after three hundred years your village still has such small numbers," said Mordred while looking around.
"Indeed."
Soon the group reached the oldest house in the village, which was also the largest one.
"Wait here," Valeria said and then entered the house alone.
Mordred turned his head and casually glanced around the village.
Rudeus said, "For a race of devils, the village seems surprisingly normal…"
"It is. Perhaps the Superds are a misunderstood race."
"You really think so? But all those rumors about them…" Rudeus muttered.
[No way, Boss! They're all scary!]
Mordred shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows."
A while later, Valeria came back. "Come in."
She opened the door to the building, revealing some kind of hall inside that looked like a conference hall.
Mordred and Rudeus came in. Albion quickly followed suit.
Inside they met with four Superds. They seemed like old men from their bearing, but were all beautiful and young; it was impossible to tell their age.