Chapter 17 — The Escort Begins!

Editors: PROCRASTINATOR & GREETER

 

[Ei’s POV]

 

Today I scared Luna again when she came to wake me up. It’s time to leave for the escort quest and it’s going to take a week… *sigh*

 

“Oh? It’s you two again. And with a new party member.” (Senia) (A/N: THE KUMA STRIKES AGAIN)

 

“Senia? Are you here for the escort request too?” (Ei)

 

“Yep. I’m surprised you remembered my name.” (Senia)

 

“So, who’s this new pirate looking person?” (Toya)

 

“The name’s Kurui, laddy.”

 

“Laddy?!” (Toya)

 

“What? You’re young.” (Kurui)

 

“The merchants are here. You two can argue later.” (Jade)

 

“Thank you. Hello adventurers, sorry for leaving on such short notice. I am Mitsuha of the Yamano Trade Company. We’re going to the royal capital of the Astraeus Kingdom, Hauritsu. The trip should take a week or so, assuming there are no interruptions. Any questions?” (Mitsuha) (P/N Capital reveal!)

 

There were no questions, so we headed out. I saw Luna waving to a bunch of people as we left. We’ll come back though, eventually. I made sure to pack lots of food. I guess everyone can enjoy that; it should be better than plain rations.

 

“So, how’d your dungeon diving go, Senia?” (Ei)

 

“Pretty well. We made it all the way to the final boss, but there was a chimera. We left after that.” (Senia)

 

“Hey! I could have taken the chimera down.” (Toya)

 

Toya puffs out his chest to look impressive…. I don’t think he could have. That chimera was a small challenge for us. And I’m pretty sure we aren’t your “average C rank adventurers”.

 

“““““No you couldn’t have!””””” (Jade + Senia Mel + Ei + Kurui + Luna)

 

“You’re all so mean!” (Toya)

 

“The chimera is an A rank monster… and it had stone armor on top of that. Do you really think that you could have beat that?” (Jade)

 

“...” (Toya)

 

Chimeras are really imposing if you think about it. How did one end up in a dungeon though…?

 

“Well, Jade, if that’s true, how did they beat it?” (Toya)

 

Toya points at the three of us. Rude.

 

“Eh? You beat a chimera with two people?! That’s awesome!” (Mel)

 

“Aren’t you rank C too?” (Jade)

 

“We’re going to Hauritsu to take the B rank-up test… so we’re probably stronger than the average C rank adventurer.” (Ei)

 

“I see. Well, it seems unlikely that you’d manage to take down a chimera by yourselves, but if you are B rank then I suppose it’s possible.” (Jade)

 

“Hate to interrupt your conversation, but it’s time for lunch!” (Senia)

 

“Lunch? What’s for lunch?” (Luna)

 

“The standard…”

 

Everyone seems a bit down… How bad are these standard rations?

 

We all received a meal and are sitting in a circle with Mitsuha and her merchant friends. Is this really a meal though? It’s some meat(?) that is chewier than gum and bread that is more adequately described as a rock. I’m going to damage my fangs at this rate! 

 

“I’ve had it with this food! I’m just going to supply everyone with some of my own!” (Ei)

 

Following my statement, I used some wind magic to shoot all of the food into the air, burn it up with some fire magic, and pull out some mushroom skewers and SOFT bread. They’re still warm.

 

““““““““““...”””””””””” (Everyone else)

 

“Well… that was unexpected…” (Jade)

 

“These mushrooms aren’t poisonous right?” (Luna)

 

“No they aren’t…. Why would I want to poison you?” (Ei)

 

“A bit forceful… You could have just suggested this to begin with, you know?” (Mitsuha)

 

“Ah… sorry about that.” (Ei)

 

“Ya could’ve left me with my food at least! I wanted to eat some rocks!” (Kurui)

 

“You’re just insane Kurui.” (Ei)

 

“Exactly! Although, impressive display you made there.” (Kurui)

 

“Are you sure you’re just B rank? I noticed you didn't do any chanting for that…” (Jade)

 

“Probably?” (Ei)

 

Huh, I guess I did forget to chant. I have no idea how hard that is…

 

“Once you’re around Ei for long enough, you get used to it! She breaks common sense at least once a day!” (Luna) (P/N That, and physics)

 

You didn’t have to point that out Luna.

 

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆

 

After our break, we kept moving. Wagons are unbearably slow… Note to self: Never take escort requests again. At least I can watch the scenery go by. 

 

Currently, we’re in the plains just beyond the forest near Falu. I think I killed a few goblins here a while back. If you go to the mountain range waaaaay north of here you should be able to find a mountain with a massive crater in it. Why does it have a crater? Hey! Why are you looking at me? (It was me…)

 

I’ve been keeping an eye on the map as we travel, and I think I found the path we’re following. It really is a long way… and to think I could have flown us there in just a few hours. Oh well. Hmmm… There are some wyverns in the area though. We’d best be careful.

 

“Jade! There are some wyverns nearby so be on the lookout!” 

 

“Got it! I’ll inform everyone else.”

 

Wyverns appearing could be really annoying. Let’s hope they don’t. They’re a C rank monster though… so Jade’s party should be able to handle it. As for us, I’m pretty sure we’ll be fine.

 

A few minutes later, Jade yells out, “Wyverns spotted! Get ready for a fight!”

 

“““SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”””

 

Last time I fought these guys, I went more or less all out. Let’s see how it is this time.

 

“Wyverns? Haha! Prepare to die, fools!” (Kurui)

 

Kurui pulls a longsword out of nowhere which suddenly splits into segments. A whip sword, huh? They slash at the first wyvern but the sword doesn’t reach… not?

 

The sword somehow expanded to go all the way to the first wyvern, wrapping around it. Kurui jumps into the air and slams it into the ground below them.

 

“Die, you knockoff dragon!” (Kurui)

 

They slam down onto the wyvern after sawing it to bits while retracting their whip sword. Then, they come crashing down with a sweeping attack.

 

“One down; hurry up slow pokes!” (Kurui)

 

“Eh? Already?!” (Toya)

 

Toya is struggling to keep up with the rest of his party who are doing pretty well against the wyvern. He just tripped on a root. Amazing.

 

“Kurui, who’re you calling a slowpoke?! I can take one down faster than you can! [Ice Spike]” (Luna)

 

Luna (while glowing) shoots a massive ice spike at another wyvern, impaling it and sending it off into the distance.

 

“Oops…” (Luna)

 

“I’ll handle it.” (Ei)

 

I’m sure everyone will be fine. I chase after the ice spike, breaking the sound barrier in order to catch up. It seems I got faster again. I create massive pillars of earth and slam the wyvern and ice spike into the ground. The spike shatters and the wyvern gets mushed. Oh well.

 

I put the slightly pancaked wyvern into my inventory and ran back.

 

Upon my arrival, I saw two wyvern corpses lying on the ground. One is shredded to bits, the other one has a hole in its head and some slashes over its body. I’m guessing that the latter is Jade’s wyvern.

 

“Ei, you’re back. Where were you?” (Jade)

 

“I had to chase a wyvern that Luna launched.” (Ei)

 

“Sorry…” (Luna)

“Wyvern attacks on the first day… How are we going to store the corpses…” (Mitsuha)

 

“I can store them in my inventory.” (Ei)

 

“Eh? You can store that much?” (Mitsuha)

 

“As I said, you get used to the lack of common sense.” (Luna)

I put the other two corpses into my inventory. I wonder who gets property of the wyverns? I guess we’ll find out when we get there. Although, what are wyverns doing in the middle of a plains biome? Hopefully they were just migrating or something, like birds.

 

We continued onward until the sun… is it the sun? What’s the star’s name?

 

“Hey, Luna. What’s the big glowy thing in the sky called?” 

 

“... It’s a star called Mjölnir.”

 

“... Isn’t that the wrong god?”

 

“What?”

 

Anyways, we watched the mjölnirset and set up camp for the night. Hm… that’s too annoying to say. Let’s stick with sunset.

 

“So, who wants first watch?” (Jade)

 

“Me and Luna can do it.” (Ei)

 

“HEY! Why are you volunteering me?!” (Luna)

 

“Because you’re my friend?” (Ei)

“Hahaha… we’ll leave it to you then. Thanks!” (Senia)

 

“I didn’t agree to this!!” (Luna)

 

“C’mon Luna, it’ll be fine. Besides, we have things to talk about.” (Ei)

 

“Fair point…” (Luna)

 

As the fire burns away, the cold sets in… Or that’s what I would say if my armor wasn’t so good! Just ignore the few holes here and there… I patched them up somewhat well. I’m no master seamstress. Vadina also decided to join us. We moved a bit away from the others who were sleeping, it’d be best they don’t hear anything.

 

“Okay, Luna, I’ve got some questions for you. Vadina too. First off, how strong are you Vadina?” (Ei)

 

“Stronger than thine average dragon by far. It hath been a long time past when I checked mine abilities. I wouldst need to ask Grand Sage Kusanali, but we art not in Polymatheia.” (Vadina)

 

“...And where is that? And who is that?” (Ei)

 

I have a feeling I know what this Kusanali person is like though… 

 

“It is the country south of this location.” (Vadina)

 

“I see…” (Ei)

 

“My turn to ask questions! What does being a vampire allow you to do?” (Luna)

 

I deactivate my human transformation and my wings come out again.

 

“Well, I have these.” (Ei)

 

Then, I form my claws and show them off as well.

 

“That’s cool!” (Luna)

 

“It is interesting, indeed.” (Ei)

 

“I also have fangs, but I think you knew that already.” (Ei)

 

“Yea… Also, how much blood do you drink?! And how come I never see you drink it?!” (Luna)

 

“Vampires don’t need very much blood… I think most just get drunk on it.” (Ei)

 

“Huh…” (Luna)

 

“Canst thou not manipulate blood as well?” (Vadina)

 

“Yep! Luna, watch this!” (Ei)

 

I used hemomancy to create a maze of red string around us. Along those strings, I created some star shaped objects. Throwing them into the sky and dispelling the strings, I control the stars and they begin flying around. 

 

I kept doing this for a while, and eventually Luna fell asleep. Vadina gave me a quick nod, then returned inside of Luna. I wrapped one of my wings around her and began watching the stars.

 

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆

 

Meanwhile, over 1,000 miles away…

 

[???’s POV]

 

I walk up the stone steps of our home. It is cold out. My shoes brush upon the red carpet as I approach Father. The wind blows from a window. 

 

“Father, I have a request of you.” (???)

 

“What would that be, my daughter?” (Father)

 

“Father, I wish to become an adventurer.” (???)

 

“You know the rules. Have you done what was required of you?” (Father)

 

“I have, Father.” (???)

 

“Very well, then. You may register tomorrow. It grows late, return to your room.” (Father)

 

“Yes, Father.” (???) (P/N I wonder…)

 

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆

 

[Ei’s POV]

 

I ended up watching the stars all night. I think this is the first time I watched them since coming to this world. I really like stars, and normally they’re barely visible due to light pollution. I could see everything clearly then, though. Galaxy arms and everything.

 

Even after I swapped watches, I kept watching the stars. I should have done this more. It was pretty fun eavesdropping on everyone’s conversations. Now, I know your deepest, darkest, secrets. Hehehehehe… I didn’t actually learn anything, but that’s not the point. 

 

“Let’s hit the road, everyone!” (Mitsuha)