Chapter 15

The Siren of the mountain

 

 

I think what I said to the director will suffice for now. Before he had time to think negatively about my words, I quickly changed the subject to something that would occupy all his attention; the invasion of Iren.

At the moment he must be working on what I asked for, in addition to his own measures. Someone like him surely has ideas of what to do, although he doesn't have much time... We don't have much time.

I am going around this again to distract myself, because regardless of the bonuses of my equipment, my basic stats are those of a baby and climbing a mountain isn't easy, it's exhausting. If wasn't because only I can successfully negotiate with the Half, I would just send the captain.

Speaking of the Half, I have the resounding feeling that they are watching us and I don't think an ordinary person could spy on us on this place. We must be close.

AAAAHHHH. What is that strange sound? Sounds like the wind sighs words and they become very sharp. If I hear this noise much longer, it will give me a headache. As if physical exhaustion wasn't enough.

"Lord Argent... Maybe we should go back".

"AH? We got this far already, and you know how important this is, we must continue".

"T-That's right, of course. I don't even know why I thought about that".

There is that sound again ...

...

After like an hour more, we reached a place in the mountain big enough to rest by posing our weight on the ground.

According to the captain, this is a good place to regain strength. Fortunately I loaded food and water in my item bag - which doesn't gain weight or take up more space - so we almost don't really bring luggage that delays us. No kidding, as if I could climb the mountain if not for that, my guard is in the same situation. They couldn't climb carrying their equipment if they also had to bring mountaineering luggage and rations.

While I deliver their food portion to my subordinates, I suddenly hear that annoying noise again. I would complain about it, if it wasn't because something else occupied my attention.

Suddenly, a figure with feathers and scales posed its feet in the same rest that we are. A female figure, with wings on her back. Its feet are claws like those of a hawk, with the scaly part just a few centimeters above the ankles. White, light blue and green feathers cover the important parts of her body and a red hair covers her shoulders devoid of plumage.

My monocle was activated and the identity of the mysterious girl is revealed to me.

 

NAME:	Ren'psi	RACE:	SIREN			7
SPECIES:	ROYAL SIREN	RANK:		LEVEL:		7
VP:	74/75	RESISTANCE:	54	DEFENSE:		31
MP:	36/48	KNOWLEDGE:	54	INTELLECT:		95
ENERGY:	36/40	STRENGTH:	32	MIND:		53
AGILITY:	63	TALENT:	21	SPIRIT:		32
ITEMS▼	EQUIPMENT▼	SKILLS▼	TITLES▼	MONEY:	0

 

...

Ohh. A << Royal Siren >>. This is unexpected.

In TLO, the Royal Siren is a rare species of Half. To think that there would be one living in the mountain.

What? Did you think the sirens were half fish and lived in the sea? That is partially true. The original sirens were found in the sea, just not in the open sea, but in rocky areas where ships were attracted to run aground and sink, the sirens were in fact more like seagulls, flew and perched on the rocks and they let their bird song be heard, their <Siren's song>.

In TLO they used the oldest version of sirens to create this breed. By the way, the sirens of popular culture (actual mermaids) that are half fish, also exist in TLO, although they are actually based on the nymphs of the sea.

If you wonder why her stats are so high, well ... That's normal for the Half, due to their bodies, usually the regular equipment doesn't help them. To begin with humans don't trade with the Half, so they depend of its high base stats, obtained from its racial characteristics, to compensate for it. Nor can they have a change of profession, since that is a human characteristic. However they can evolve, like a metamorphosis kind of evolve.

The question is: Why did it come to us?

Ah, that noise again ... now that I have it in front of me, I can tell, she is the one who produces that sound.

Without showing fear, she approaches one of the captain's soldiers, Khaden, who hands her his portion of food in silence. Without hesitation she takes it and then approaches Andreu, who also gives his portion.

Mm. Odd ... Could it be? They are under the hypnosis of the <Siren's Song>.

"Could it be that you are hungry?"

"Eh?!"

The expression of confusion on her face tells me she didn't expected to hear me speak. Rather, listen to a human speak her language, less under the influence of her singing.

"If you are looking for food, you can eat with us".

"... Eh? What was it ... Lord Argent!"

"AH!"

It seems that, either by my words, or because the siren stopped producing its song due to the confusion, the captain returned to himself. His scream scares the siren girl, who flies away leaving the food behind.

Apparently it doesn't go very far, my monocle still records its stats, so it remains within its reach. That means we are closer to the nest than I thought.

"Change of plans, we will move on immediately".

Without asking anything about what happened, the captain warns his men that the food will have to wait and we resume the vertical journey.

When we finally arrive at what looks like the last break before the top, we find a somewhat surprising reception.

About a dozen Half-flyers, which my monocle identifies as <Harps> observe us. Behind them, an <Elder Harp> and the siren from before approach us, while others open their way.

The elder is like the other Harps. With arms in the form of wings and claws instead of hands, which differentiates them from the siren, which has normal arms and hands, and carries the wings on the back. In addition to feathers, the elder has long white hair and beard. His feathers are red and white, and despite their age, they still maintain their luster.

"I heard one of you speak <Haldan>".

"It's that one! The one that doesn't wear armor".

"Oh ... More than not wearing armor, I would say he wears very valuable clothes".

"My name is Argent Makoto. Are you the leader of the Half of this mountain?"

"Hum. So it's true, a human who speaks Haldan ... Follow me".

Guided by the Elder Harp, Gara'kat, we arrive at what appears to be a camp in front of a cave. Then, he invites us to sit, separated from him and the siren girl by a campfire. I hadn't thought about it, maybe because of the resistances of my equipment, but it's probably cold at this altitude.

The fire isn't very high, possibly because of the little oxygen, but in the subtle expressions of my guards, I can see that they like its heat. Well, I think it's better to have some cold than heat when carrying armor, so I don't feel bad for them.

"My name is Gara'kat, as you said before, I am the leader of this tribe. Why are you here?"

"I came to negotiate with you".

"Negotiate?"

"What nonsense are those? We don't negotiate with humans!"

Oh That means they negotiate with non-humans. That siren will be a good source of information if she keep opening her mouth. Although she has a good intellect, her knowledge isn't on par. While its tribe leader has both stats high. He is the leader for a reason, although he should had to get the girl out of the discussion after she identified me.

"But you do negotiate with someone. Why not with me? Do you think I can't offer you anything of value?"

"What do humans know about what is valuable to us !?" Intervened Ren.

"Ren!"

With just raising his voice, Gara'kat imposes silence, although she has already released information again.

"Just say your price, I assure you I can pay it".

"Humans don't appreciate those different from them. Most of the Half are treated as monsters by humans. It seems suspicious that a human comes here looking to negotiate".

"However, you are at peace with the people of Galia, the mountain city. That leads me to think that it's possible to negotiate with you".

"... They don't mess with us nor us with them. It's not like we're on good terms".

"How did that happen? As I understand it, Galia has been around for centuries. At some point in that time, you came to this mountain, but you were not expelled by the humans of that time, nor did you expel them. I think that's enough to think you are reasonable people".

For a small moment, the old man's wrinkled face revealed surprise. To be precise, at the time I referred to them as "people".

With a thoughtful look, the elder Gara'kat begins to caress his long white beard with his left hand without looking away from me, then at times he observes the men who accompany me.

"They are my personal guard, they are only with me for my protection".

"You say that, but they're armed! How do we know they aren't waiting for us to lower our guard to attack us?!"

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"It's enough Ren!"

"But, grandpa!"

"Those men didn't come to attack us".

"How can you say that with such confidence ?!"

"That's because he's a smart man". I said.

So she is the granddaughter of the elder Gara'kat. It has logic.

Ren, the siren and her grandfather observe me, she with a cautious look and the old man with expectation, expectation that I will not disappoint.

"You all can fly, so if we were to attack you at least we would bring bows or spears. Instead my men and I only bring swords, short-range weapons. In other words, they are to defend us if we are attacked, but if we would like to attack, you just need to take flight and we won't be able to hurt you. The leader of the tribe could easily realize it, so he acts that way".

Ren opens her eyes wide after listening to me and at times her gaze travels between her grandfather and my person.

"As I suspected, you are no ordinary human".

"Are you willing to negotiate with me?"

"That depends on whether you can understand this".

...

So? Why the suspense? He should simply say what he want me to understand.

"Understand what?"

For the first time, the elder Gara'kat openly shows an expression of amazement at the same level as Ren's.

"Unheard of. You can really speak Harpian..."

I see. Apparently the words he said before were in another language. With the automatic translation of << Borderless Trade >> I hadn't noticed ... After all it's not a perfect skill.

"That you can speak Haldan is one thing. All Half speak Haldan. It's not impossible to learn the language for a human. But to speak Harpian... It can only be taught by a sky tribe and they would never teach it to a human unless the tribe leader approve it".

Interesting. So Haldan is something like a common language for the Half. Similar to what Latin was in medieval Europe. While Harpian is the particular language of the Flying Half? Or maybe only of the Harp.

"Who are you really?"

"As I said before. I'm Argent Makoto, an Aristoi".

"I see. An Aristoi ... A member of the great lineage. Then you know our history".

"Not as much as I would like. If it's not a bother, I'm interested in knowing more about you. I can pay for that information too".

"It's not necessary. If you're who you say, I'll tell you everything. Besides, it's not like you can pay me for it, humans don't have something that interests us".

"Although your granddaughter seemed very interested in our food".

"W-W-What do you say! That's not ..."

"Enough ... Well, she is ..."

"A siren".

"So you noticed after all. Well, that's how it is and as such she has a greater desire for human food and customs than the rest. But as a tribe leader, I can't negotiate for food for my granddaughter".

"I didn't expect you to do it. Just as you are willing to tell me your story for nothing, I will give you the food she wants".

"D-Don't think you can buy us with food or human things! We are only interested in 5-color metal!"

Although she tried to hide it, Ren showed great expectation for my words. Well, I'm not sure what they eat here, I don't think it's raw meat since they obviously have a habit of making bonfires, but it shouldn't be as appetizing as human cooking.

The important thing is that she just gave me the piece of information I needed the most.

"Naturally. I came with the intention of paying using 5-color metal".

"It's that true?"

Putting my right hand in my pocket, I let my greatest power work. The power to buy the world!

"Is this of value?"

"A coin of five colors metal..."

In my hands, a coin three times larger than the gold coins I had used before glowed with a reflection of various colors.

"I have more. Are you interested in negotiating now?"

"Of course. Mr. Argent right? You has already proved that you are an ally of the sky tribes. Although our tribe has been relegated to the edge of the continent, we still have some valuable pieces to exchange".

"Sounds good. But right now there is something else I want to negotiate".

"Does it have to do with the army marching towards the mountain?"

"That's right. I assumed that you would be aware".

"It is a large army, easy to see from the sky".

"Tell me what you know about them".

"I don't know much about human armies. But they possessed horns and march in this direction. If they continue like this, they will be at the foot of the mountain in 2 days".

2 days...

"I will be direct with you. I want to request your cooperation to protect the mountain city".

"... I'm sorry, but my tribe cannot face an army like that, even if we are only reinforcements of the mountain humans, against such a great force, we would be annihilated".

An unpleasant grimace forms for a moment on the old man's face.

"I know you can fly away, so maybe it's not very beneficial to help us. But I don't intend to make you fight".

"So what do you want us to do? That army of strangers is very big, you can't run away on foot, but it's not like we can help you all evacuate by air, we're very few".

"My plan isn't to evacuate the citizens".

Although it is my emergency plan to escape if everything else fails.

"Listen to me, what I want you to do is..."

 

 

 

 

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