Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World
Chapter 187

Chapter 187. Les Jeppels

After that, I discussed my concerns with the queen.

Since Jisero's concealment would also cover the lake, the number of monsters near the lake would decrease. No matter how much the beastmen cooperated, their primary hunting targets were animals and edible monsters—not to sustain the Garneless.

When I shared these worries with the queen, she resolved them easily.

Before Jisero was destroyed, the Garneless had lived in that environment.

The reason they could do so was, once again, the Vigin. The lake was home not only to Vigin larvae but also many other creatures. The Garneless would snack on them and had never relied heavily on hunted prey.

There was also a misunderstanding on the beastmen's part.

The Garneless didn't weaken immediately after leaving the water's edge. Workers and soldiers could go about ten days without water, and while the queen and her guards were vulnerable to dryness, they could use [Pure Water], so it wasn't an issue. The reason the Garneless didn't venture deep into the forest was simply to avoid straying too far from the queen and their nests.

Still, since the concealment hadn't been activated in ten years, the queen said she would send a unit to observe the situation.

After finishing important discussions and reports, we exchanged some casual conversation.

I was curious about their ecology, and it would be good to know.

What I learned was that the Garneless had no males—only the queen was hermaphroditic.

Further questions revealed that once every few decades, a new queen would depart with part of the colony. The current queen had traveled a long distance to settle here, increasing her numbers without the beastmen of Jisero noticing.

Eventually, a new queen would be born.

I didn't know if I'd still be living in the labyrinth or even alive by then, but I'd already found a suitable location.

The future was uncertain—but after prefacing with that, I mentioned a lake to the northeast and offered to guide the new queen there when she was born, even helping with building a nest if needed. The queen was delighted.

Would the day come when I'd see Garneless around that lake?

As I imagined the colony swimming gracefully, I bid my farewells.

The queen looked reluctant to let me go but tightly clutched the pot. No matter how hard she hugged it, the contents wouldn't refill. After convincing her I'd prepare more when the dispatched Garneless were ready to be welcomed, I managed to reclaim the pot.

Escorted by the guards and mutants back to the surface, the beastmen immediately rushed over, followed belatedly by Helg.

"They've agreed to help with the earth dragon."

While sealing the entrance, I summarized the discussion.

With the earth dragon no longer a concern, the beastmen sighed in relief.

When Helg learned they wouldn't have to worry about prey decreasing due to the concealment, he patted his chest in relief.

He wasn't worried about the Garneless—it was the possibility they might attack beastmen if food ran short.

It might be best to stay cautious until relations stabilized.

Since the queen liked Miranda's cooking, having the dispatched Garneless deliver it to Jisero could work. Strengthening ties would require changing not just Jisero's attitude but the Garneless's as well.

I asked them to notify the labyrinth if any disputes arose with the Garneless, then Quid and I left Jisero.

With one objective safely completed, we headed northeast through the dense forest.

Phil had guided us this far, but Quid had traveled between Jisero and Les Jeppels many times. Without stopping, we raced through the forest at full speed.

The first night passed uneventfully. We rested against a large tree and set off again before dawn.

Two full days after leaving Jisero, just past noon, Quid came to a halt.

"We'll wait here for our escort."

It was an unremarkable part of the forest, vaguely resembling where we'd waited before.

As I sat on a nearby root, Quid whistled toward the trees. A bird's chirp echoed through the forest, answered by another from somewhere. Were they communicating via whistles?

"How long will we wait?"

"Since we didn't set a schedule, it might take a while. But they should arrive before sunset. In the meantime, let me explain a few things about us."

Quid straightened his posture.

"Our collective decisions are made by four representatives. The proposal to invite you came from Jisero's representative, Yudi, supported by one other, while two opposed. After a heated debate, they agreed—on the condition that you'd be killed immediately if deemed dangerous."

"Won't that divide the beastmen?"

"It's possible. Yudi deeply respects you, Alter, so if the opposition acted without reason, she'd likely defend you."

Quid smiled faintly and nodded at me.

He must have heard the assassination plot from Yudi. I doubted he was lying now. The friendly representatives were likely from Jisero and one other village—probably Les Jeppels, given the context. Quid, being from Jisero, was trustworthy.

Of course, if even the four-representative system was a lie, there was no helping it. But outright deception would be hard to maintain. So far, nothing seemed off.

Quid continued, explaining that our destination was Les Jeppels, known as the Land of Springs.

They cultivated a root vegetable called Kutra using abundant water resources, supporting the beastmen's food supply. However, losing Jisero—the Land of Harvest—had increased their burden. Finding suitable new land was difficult, making Jisero's recapture a long-held wish.

If that was the case, the other supportive representative was probably from Les Jeppels.

The remaining two, unaffected directly, likely opposed—a simplistic assumption, but it made sense. When I asked about the other villages, Quid said he couldn't disclose their names, which was practically an answer.

As we discussed Les Jeppels and beastmen life, I sensed movement in the distance. Soon, Quid noticed too and stood.

"Our escort has arrived."

Indeed, but something felt off.

Three figures approached—one unmistakably a child.

As Quid and I watched the forest, the expected group appeared: two adults and a boy under ten.

Even if he was talented, [Appraisal] showed nothing unusual—just an ordinary boy. Strangely, as if worried about getting lost, the three were tied together by ropes around their waists.

I assumed he was a representative's son, but he only bowed clumsily without introducing himself.

As I returned the greeting in confusion, Quid handed me a rope.

"Tie this around your waist. Otherwise, you'll get separated."

"Is this the concealment's effect?"

"Yes. Even you'll be surprised, Alter."

With a mischievous grin, Quid tied his own rope, and we followed the guides toward Les Jeppels.

Oddly, the boy led the way. He wasn't toddling, but he struggled with even small steps, wary of the rope.

Puzzled, I looked away from his back and scanned our surroundings.

[Trephas Masnit] could hide a village from most.

I'd considered the possibility but dismissed it as extremely unlikely.

In Selene, the unseen mansion had been activated by Alphard Cartilard and his allies—mages unmatched in human history. Even Selene's mages couldn't detect it, let alone replicate it.

Plus, Jisero's concealment fading was strange. It should have persisted by absorbing ambient mana, even after the village was abandoned. And the boy couldn't use [Mana Sight], so he couldn't bypass [Trephas Masnit].

Lost in thought, I suddenly felt the rope tug.

Had they stopped? But no one was ahead.

"Alter, this way."

Turning at the voice, I saw Quid and the others watching me from the taut rope's end.

Had I strayed? When?

Apologizing, I rejoined them. Strangely, Quid and the guides looked impressed.

"Remarkable. You resisted already?"

"Resisted… that just now?"

"The effect of the Aversion Lantern. It subtly steers intruders away by playing on their unease. Most don't notice until they're much closer."

The Aversion Lantern—the concealment artifact.

Skeptical, I kept walking, but the rope tugged repeatedly. Even Phil suddenly bolted from my shoulder, forcing me to call him back. He blinked in surprise, having acted unconsciously.

From then on, I tucked Phil into my clothes and focused on the rope to stay in line.

My vision and senses remained unchanged.

If I concentrated, I felt a faint reluctance to proceed, but it was negligible. With no real danger, [Danger Sense] didn't trigger. The mana interference was likely too weak—even Elphimia's [Mana Sight] wouldn't detect it.

It was surprisingly subtle but undoubtedly a powerful artifact. If [Trephas Masnit] was brute force, this exploited every skill's blind spot. In effect, it resembled Mei's blank zone—though surely unrelated to the labyrinth. Perhaps it mimicked powerful monsters' presence.

Impressed, I turned my gaze to the boy.

"Why isn't he affected?"

"The Aversion Lantern targets a creature's survival instincts, so it's less effective on those unfamiliar with danger."

"Hence a young child."

Quid added that beings with partial intelligence or lacking emotions could also bypass it—goblins for the former, undead, golems, and Garneless for the latter.

This likely explained why they'd confirmed the Garneless's emotional scarcity during Jisero's recapture. Though the queen and mutants were more expressive, they'd probably be affected. Maybe they'd built their nest deep underground to avoid the lantern.

Its range was vast, perfectly complementing the Deepforest. Most who entered were adventurers—skilled ones at that. The more dangerous the area, the more effective the artifact.

Honestly, it seemed too convenient—likely custom-made to hide the village.

As I mused, the boy's back reminded me of Yunek.

Sarhas had spared him because he was less susceptible to the lantern. Despite his youth, Yunek had been a talented scout. If someone had exploited that, sending him to search for the village…

I couldn't verify it now, but he'd have had the best chance of finding it.

And when Sarhas cast him into the grasslands, he must have believed Yunek could reach the village if he miraculously made it this far.

Before I knew it, silence had fallen.

Glancing around, everyone was fixated on the ropes. Even Quid and the guides, familiar with the route, had to focus intensely to avoid straying.

I stopped thinking and did the same.

With the lantern deterring animals, the forest felt lifeless.

Only wind and insects broke the silence as we marched wordlessly.

How long did this last? When [Presence Sense] finally reacted, I looked up.

Soon, the others noticed too, and a chain of whistles echoed.

"We're almost there."

As Quid spoke, another presence emerged, growing rapidly into an uncountable mass.

That had to be Les Jeppels.

A population of 100-200—modest for a village, but impressive given its location. If other villages were similar, at least 300 beastmen lived in the forest, excluding Jisero's rebuilding efforts.

After exchanging nods with sentries, the trees abruptly gave way to a log wall.

As our guides untied the ropes, the boy darted through a slightly open gate.

Watching him go, I studied the wall. It enclosed a vast area—likely including farmland.

Noticing my gaze, Quid explained,

"Like other villages, the wall serves more than defense. Without it, people would vanish."

"Makes sense."

Nodding, I touched my chest.

The unease still smoldered. For all its power, the lantern seemed inconvenient.

"You get used to it. Just don't drink too much or wander half-asleep."

As we passed through the gate, the sight stole my breath.

Les Jeppels was breathtakingly beautiful.

Stilted houses lined gentle slopes, their windowsills overflowing with colorful flowers. Countless waterways glittered under the sun, their soothing murmur filling the air.

This was Les Jeppels—the Land of Springs.

Under curious stares, Quid led me toward a large reservoir at the waterways' convergence.

"That spring never runs dry."

He pointed out Kutra planted around it.

The eternal spring made Kutra cultivation ideal, though other crops fared poorly. Buildings had to be raised or risk flooding.

"Still, it's perfect for Kutra. The leaves are edible until the roots thicken, the stems and roots after harvest, and ground seeds substitute for flour."

"No waste, then."

"True… though Kutra bread tastes awful. Can't beat wheat."

Quid smiled wryly at wheat swaying on a nearby slope. Other crops and edible flowers grew sporadically. The beauty masked a desperate struggle to survive in this dangerous forest.

Reaching the central square, I was met by four beastmen. A gray-streaked man stepped forward with a gentle smile.

"Welcome, Alter. I am Oun, Les Jeppels's representative."

The others introduced themselves: Yudi (Jisero's representative, a feline woman in her thirties), Wakt (Wela's elder-like representative), and Nutsu (Akba's representative, a large stag with countless fine scars).

I smiled and introduced myself, quietly expanding [Presence Sense].

Warriors surrounded the square, mingling with villagers.

It could pass as security, but if they planned to overwhelm me, now was the time.

Not that this force posed much threat—except for one.

Three presences lurked beyond the warriors. One stood out—likely a mage or spellblade, possibly stronger than Sarhas depending on spells.

Their trump card?

"Come to think of it, Alter is human, right?"

"My apologies. I should have greeted you in my true form."

With a casual stroke of Phil's head, I deactivated [Beast Transfromation].

My black hair turned gold, my beastman features softening.

The representatives startled, and murmurs spread, but nothing further happened.

Not the reaction I'd expected. I'd thought reverting might dull their senses.

"Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Alter Les Reedwald, former imperial noble. I assume Sarhas explained my circumstances."

"That you resisted the labyrinth's control?"

"Yes. Surviving left me mutated—neither human nor beastman. I'm now a Mutator."

The term drew blank looks.

Emphasizing I wasn't a guardian, I explained my deal with the labyrinth. Oun and Yudi nodded, Nutsu frowned, and Wakt observed impassively.

As expected, opinions were split.

But their concern eluded me. I'd stated I was a Mutator—not a guardian, but still a monster. If they planned to attack, now was their chance.

Their inaction suggested either another trap or genuine intent to assess me. Either way, this would be tedious.

As I stayed silent, Oun glanced awkwardly at the others.

Yudi shrugged slightly, Nutsu eyed Wakt, and Wakt stroked his beard wordlessly.

The factions were clear, with Wakt as the strategist. Nutsu seemed to defer to him entirely. Their current stance remained ambiguous.

If this was all theater, it was impressive—but these weren't seasoned slave traders or enigmatic courtesans. Beastmen hiding in the forest couldn't match that level of scheming.

Eventually, Wakt nodded subtly, and Oun brightened.

"You must be weary from your journey. A feast awaits. This way."

As we followed them, onlookers trailed behind—including the watchers.

Keeping [Presence Sense] active for a quick escape, I noticed Phil tensely scanning our surroundings.

Oun suddenly clapped, smiling.

"The Aversion Lantern must have surprised you."

"That thing? Incredible artifact."

Returning the smile, I added,

"I've experienced similar magic before. When I heard something was hiding you, I wondered if it was the same."

"Oh? A spell of this caliber?"

"The effects differ, but the concealment rivals it."

I described [Trephas Masnit] and my experience in Selene. The representatives listened intently.

If another concealment method existed, they'd want it desperately. So would I.

"But mastering it is near impossible. [Trephas Masnit] is supreme-tier magic, and its caster was Alphard Cartilard—a mage etched into human history."

"A historical legend…"

Oun shook his head regretfully, but my attention snapped elsewhere.

Tension spiked—I braced to flee.

Nothing happened.

Lowering my guard slightly, we resumed walking.

What was that? [Trephas Masnit] hadn't reacted, but the moment I mentioned Alphard, the trio's presences wavered.

The representatives showed no change. Only those three had reacted.

Before I could ponder further, we reached a large building.

Stepping inside at Oun's urging, the trio moved—a hooded man peering from the shadows, grimacing before hiding again.

"Something wrong?"

"Just smelled something good. Kutra cuisine?"

"Yes. It's our staple, so it's in every dish."

As we entered, I mentioned Miranda's fried Kutra. The secret was countless slits and salted herbs—light conversation masking my racing thoughts.

[Basic Appraisal] couldn't identify me. Elphimia had complained endlessly about it.

But to think even elves were hiding here…

The Deepforest and an extraordinary artifact. As a human kingdom, the Alsis Empire might have displaced elves.

But how did Alphard fit in? If he'd crafted the Aversion Lantern, why? It didn't quite add up.

And why would he come here? Gathering materials, training, aiding the elves—possibilities abounded, but I lacked information.

"Please, right this way."

Led into a hall, I took my seat opposite the representatives, shelving my thoughts.

Elves and Alphard could wait.

First, the beastmen. Let's get this meeting over with.