I Parry Everything: Volume 4 [Parts 1 to 11] by Nabeshiki

Author:Nabeshiki
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 87: The Philosopher’s Goblet, Part 2

One day, without word or warning, a woman showed up at the birthplace of her former companion.

“It’s been a while, Roy. You look well.”

Roy didn’t know how to react; the woman who had just spoken was his fellow adventurer Astirra. He had thought he would never see her again. By all accounts, she should have been dead.

Even more surprising was her appearance—more than a decade had passed since their last farewell, yet she looked exactly the same.

“Astirra? You’re...alive?” Roy asked. “Is that really you?”

“Whatever do you mean? Of course it’s me. Have you forgotten your old friend’s face? How hurtful.”

Roy was unable to believe it right away. The fact that she was a half-elf—a race that boasted long life spans—went some way toward explaining the strangeness, but he still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. Yes, this woman appeared to be the Astirra he had known, but the air about her was entirely different.

Still, there were very few individuals who knew the location of Roy’s birthplace.

Since olden times, the Lepifolk had made their home deep within a harsh mountain range, far from human settlements and so well hidden that one would not be able to reach it without precise knowledge of how to get there. They kept the existence of their home a closely guarded secret, fearing discovery, and only allowed outsiders to approach under the most exceptional circumstances.

It was likewise rare for a member of the Lepifolk to leave their home. They had no reason to; their lives were fulfilling enough in the mountains, where they had access to everything they could ever need.

From birth, the Lepifolk possessed the unique ability to understand and share their own thoughts with other living creatures. Using this power, they borrowed the strength of animals to till their fields and find game in the forests, so not even the largest families ever feared going hungry. Though their lives were modest, that was plenty enough for them.

Away from the mountains, however, such powers became a hindrance. If a Lepifolk were ever to leave their home, they would always be met with trouble, for they could read even the emotions of other people.

There was a mutual understanding among the Lepifolk, and most conflicts were settled before they could even truly begin. Outside, however, there was no such harmony. Those who didn’t possess the race’s talents were unable to read emotions, so any encounters they might have with the Lepifolk would be entirely one-sided. The very notion would create outrage, which was why such powers had to be kept hidden; anything less would result in widespread persecution.

Worse still, the power to read emotions also drew the attention of those with wicked hearts. One needed only read the bitter annals of the Lepifolk’s history to see that.

It was for these reasons that the Lepifolk stayed in the mountains, away from the other races. They upheld a strict code that forbade them from revealing their power to outsiders or even

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