Chapter 53: The Beginning Of The Journey 2

 

Finally, I came out of the labyrinth.

I went straight ahead without any obstructions and soon arrived at the entrance of the labyrinth.

The moment I stepped outside, my eyes were dazzled.

“Wow…!”

Warm sunlight enveloped my entire body.

For me, who had only spent time in the labyrinth, it had been a long time since I felt direct sunlight like this.

Miel above my head was slightly startled by the sudden bright light and hid deeper into my hair.

Then, as if she was gradually adjusting, she carefully extended her antennae outward.

Cecilia on my shoulder seemed to be enjoying the sunlight by spreading her wings wide.

Her flame wings shone even more brilliantly in the sunlight.

The vast expanse of the Sia Kalt Mountains spread out before my eyes.

The peaks covered in white snow continued endlessly, and a few clouds floated slowly across the deep blue sky.

“Amazing…”

The scenery that I saw with my human eyes was completely different from the view I had seen with the sensor radar when I was planted on the mountain range.

Lotte began to orbit around me a little wider.

It was as if we were admiring this wide landscape together.

Lotte’s body reflected the sunlight and turned, drawing an afterimage of light.

For a while, I just stood there admiring the landscape.

I felt my body getting warmer.

It wasn’t just the warmth of the sunlight.

It was the feeling of power rising from within my body.

‘Ah! This is… photosynthesis!’

A surprising realization came over me.

Photosynthesis even in human form!

“Hehe! That’s good?”

My gloomy heart lifted a little.

Photosynthesis even in human form was a better thing than I thought.

Glessia stretched her wings and flew over my head, circling several times.

Then, it seemed to be looking around from high in the sky.

It soon returned and landed next to me, as if it was sending me a signal that it was safe.

‘Now, I really have to start my journey.’

I had to go to the Desmere Trench.

But honestly, since I didn’t know much about this world, I needed a guide.

I looked around at the humans who were admiring the surrounding scenery once more.

‘Hmm, Ryandel looks really useful…’

He could make maps, and he seemed to have a lot of information as a wizard.

I had to take him with me no matter what.

‘I like Raby too…’

Raby’s eyes truly respected me, and she seemed brave and pure.

I wanted to take her with me too.

‘Hmm… There’s no need for so many, right?’

It would only make things complicated if there were too many people.

Two would be enough.

“Ryandel, Raby.”

I called their names.

“You two, come with me to the Desmere Trench!”

The humans exchanged glances.

They seemed to have expected something.

“Um… Can I come with you?”

Torven asked cautiously.

His beard showed an expectant expression.

“Huh, why?”

I tilted my head.

‘I don’t need someone who is useless and a man at all!’

“All I need is the kind and cute Raby and the incredibly useful Ryandel.”

Torven’s face sank at those words.

Carl and Terry opened their mouths but stopped and made gloomy expressions.

Miel and Cecilia flapped their wings lively as if agreeing with what I said.

Small blue and red particles scattered around.

“I…”

Ryandel opened his mouth with a troubled expression.

“Actually, I have to go back to the Golden Tower and continue my research on Frost Aether. That was the purpose of this expedition…”

“What?”

I opened my eyes wide.

“Aren’t I more interesting than such commonplace research? Besides, if you go with me, you can meet the Master and Niss, who you thought were legends!”

Ryandel’s pupils wavered.

Curiosity and conflict were visible in his eyes.

Are you worried about this?

Are you a wizard researcher?

Lotte suddenly sped up and circled around Ryandel.

Ryandel’s robes fluttered slightly in the wind created by its body.

It seemed to be urging him to ‘decide quickly!’

Ryandel stepped back in surprise, then soon began to observe Lotte with curious eyes.

Terry, who was right next to him, approached Ryandel and began to whisper.

Ryandel nodded and said to me,

“Can I think about it for a bit?”

“Okay.”

Then he and Terry walked a little further away and started talking quietly.

I could hear fragments of words in my ears.

“… This is a huge opportunity…!”

“…It could be too dangerous…”

“…The legendary beings directly…!”

“…Ugh, if I die…”

‘Huh, I’m going to take them by force anyway, so I hope they come nicely.’

And then die, what a worry.

While I was thinking that, Rebi took a step forward.

“I’ll go!”

Her voice was filled with determination.

“Ugh, good!”

I smiled happily.

Glesia circled around Rebi and landed in front of her.

Rebi was surprised at first and stepped back, but when Glesia didn’t make any threatening moves, she approached cautiously.

Glesia slightly extended her antenna and touched Rebi’s hand.

“Wow…”

Rebi exclaimed in a small voice.

“You’re kinder than I thought.”

“Rebi… Are you giving up on the Academy?”

Rodrick asked with a worried look.

‘Academy?’

I tilted my head.

Wait, another world academy!?

An other world academy is a cliché that there are a lot of fun things to do!

Even I’m a super pretty munchkin who’s already prepared!

I must go there after my journey is over!

“The Third Prince… I will be able to see him again if I get the chance. But the journey with Lady Lycoris is a legendary opportunity that will never come again. And I think we will definitely grow a lot if we go together!”

Rebi answered with a slightly red face.

The humans looked surprised at her words.

I was secretly happy.

‘Rebi likes the Third Prince. More importantly, she expressed our journey so beautifully!’

A smile spread across my face.

Rebi really liked it.

After much thought, Ryandel returned.

His expression looked determined.

“I will go with you.”

“Good!”

“First, let’s all go to the village at the foot of the mountain. There are things to prepare, and it will be a long journey, so we need to make a plan.”

With that, we all started to head down to the village together.

As we went down the mountain path, the village gradually came into view.

Lotte was still circling around me, and Glesia seemed to be leading the way.

Miel occasionally flew forward to look around and returned.

Cecilia gave me warmth by gently shining her flames on my shoulder.

When the village came into view, Ryandel stopped.

“Well… I think it would be better to inform the village of the situation in advance. Is it okay for us humans to go to the village first?”

‘Ryandel is useful after all.’

“Okay, go.”

I nodded.

Ryandel led the rest of the humans to the village.

However, Rebi remained.

“I will wait here with Lady Lycoris.”

‘Oh!’

I think I chose two good party members!

I sat down on the rock and asked Rebi.

“What about the Academy and the Third Prince that I heard about earlier?”

Rebi suddenly covered her face with both hands as if embarrassed.

“Ah… That’s… When I first saw the Third Prince 3 years ago… I completely fell in love with him. I decided to enter the Heshet Empire Academy because I wanted to get close to him. I became an adventurer to save up tuition, and that’s why I came to the Sia Kalt request this time.”

‘To think that I would go this far because I fell in love at first sight…’

Is the Third Prince that handsome?

Still, when it comes to liking someone, we’re just like each other.

I’m the Master, and Rebi is the Third Prince.

Flap flap!

At the mention of love, Miel seemed excited and started flapping her wings passionately.

She sat on Rebi’s head and gently pulled at her hair, as if cheering her on.

“When I wake up my Master and have some free time, I’ll help that Third Prince too.”

‘I want to go to the Academy too.’

Rebi’s eyes sparkled.

“Really? Thank you!”

At that moment, Ryandel was seen coming back from afar.

His expression was bright.

“We’re ready. Let’s go to the village.”

I got up from my seat and walked to the village with Rebi.

There was a guard standing at the entrance of the village, and he froze as soon as he saw me and the four Aces.

As I approached, the guard greeted me loudly, unexpectedly.

“Licorice-sama! Welcome!”

‘Oh! What a surprise!’

I stepped back in surprise, but soon smiled and waved.

Then the guard asked cautiously.

“By any chance, three years ago, the Red Moon and the Flower Scent of Michel…”

“Huh? The Flower Scent of Michel?”

I tilted my head.

Now that I think about it, Brian had told me before.

When I received the Red Moon skill and the Flower trait of Michel from Michel, goblins and trolls attacked the village, but my flower scent lured them all away and saved the village.

The villagers called it ‘Michel’s Flower Scent’.

“That’s right! That’s me!”

The guard looked moved.

“Thanks to you, my daughter was able to live! Thank you so much!”

‘I just cleaned the master’s front yard…’

But I still felt proud.

I held a festival of slaughter for Michel and saved this village at the same time.

What a coincidence!

Levi made an expression of admiration.

Ryandel looked like he wanted to ask something more.

“I, really, Michel…”

After a while, it seemed like I finally realized how much of a devout follower I was of Michel.

“Come on, let’s go in!”

I said excitedly and entered the village.