Ch.105The Eastern End

Titanium. Chemical symbol Ti, atomic number 22.

A metal easily encountered in everyday life on Earth, from various tools to airplane parts, implant materials, and even plastic model coatings.

Along with diamond, this material that had established itself as a symbol of indestructibility was the very material of the single-action revolver.

Now that this fact had been revealed, our next destination was set for the Korkas Mountains, the source of titanium.

The Korkas Mountains, located north of the Fifth Western City, Atelier.

The moment when my revolver and Phyllis’s rifle would be reborn was not far off.

“For that reason, we’re heading straight to the Fifth Western City, let’s go~!”

“Why do you seem more excited than anyone else?”

Mina, who had been up since 6 AM, had ordered breakfast at the hotel front desk, packed her luggage, and groomed Ancestor’s harness—she was clearly impatient to depart for the next city as soon as possible.

Jessica, who had stayed up late interpreting the Grand Sage’s spell, still seemed sleepy as she shyly covered her mouth while yawning. But in truth, Mina was the last among us to go to bed last night, and I was the one responsible for that.

“Hehe~ Now Will, it’s time to fulfill your promise~”

The promise I made to Mina during our quest to “tell her about Earth’s advanced civilization.”

Mina had demanded I fulfill that promise as reference for her gun modifications, and I lost track of time as I became engrossed in talking about various firearms and scientific developments from the 19th century that I had seen and heard about on Earth.

Even when I cut the conversation short and returned to my room around 11:30 PM, Mina was still sitting at the table with her notebook out, saying she needed to organize her ideas, so she probably stayed awake for another hour or two after that.

“Come to think of it, we stayed quite a long time in this city.”

“Yeah. More than a week.”

“Though we spent three days in the dungeon, it didn’t really feel like we left the city, did it?”

“True. It was like we just flew away and came back while staying in the mansion.”

“Now that I think about it, Anastasia said that gate wasn’t transfer magic, but we never got to hear what it actually was in the end.”

“Don’t be impatient. When the time comes and fate allows, the day will come when I’ll tell you.”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s not like knowing would make any difference anyway… EHHH?!”

As we were walking along the main street toward Riverside’s western gate, the familiar snow-white girl was suddenly walking barefoot beside us.

“Anastasia? When did you—?!”

“I was watching the sunrise from atop the eastern gate and was on my way back when I spotted you all, so I followed. Are you leaving this city now?”

“Ah, yes, we’re about to move on to the next city.”

“Will Anastasia stay here?”

“That’s my plan. For the sake of the succubus tribe’s safety, I need to keep an eye on that book of adventure that man MacLane possesses.”

The “White Tower” where Anastasia lived was a sanctuary built by Grand Sage Deidric Asmad to protect the succubus tribe from black mana.

Normally, the White Tower, the dungeon beneath it, and the surrounding open space would have been magically sealed off from outside access as long as the black mana covering the area remained.

Concerned about the “Book of Adventure” that allowed us to approach such a place, Anastasia decided to infiltrate the pioneer city to identify the nature of the book and monitor its movements for the safety of her tribe.

The reason we willingly brought this girl (estimated age: several hundred years) who was practically a walking hypnosis app into Riverside was because we understood her desperate circumstances.

“I’ll remind you again, don’t draw attention or cause any commotion, okay? You’ll end up in a more troublesome situation than even Seti of the cat tribe.”

“I know. Hiding among humans is our specialty, so don’t worry too much.”

“Hearing you say that makes me even more anxious… Anyway, if anything happens, contact us through the Adventurers’ Guild. If it’s truly urgent, we’ll hurry back.”

“I’ll remember that. Take care of yourselves as well.”

With the rare experience of being seen off by a succubus as we left a pioneer city, we crossed the large bridge on the west side of Riverside.

Here and there on the bridge, which was wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side in each direction, people sat with fishing rods cast into the river.

“Are they fishing here?”

“Those people aren’t trying to catch fish; they’re checking if any monsters living in the water are approaching the city.”

“Ah… so that’s what the river patrol request posted at the Adventurers’ Guild was about.”

I had been too focused on rank-limited quests to pay attention, but there was a notice at the Riverside Adventurers’ Guild constantly recruiting river patrol personnel.

I had thought it might involve patrolling along the river, but it seems the job was to monitor for approaching aquatic monsters by dangling bait that might attract them.

As we crossed the bridge watching the seemingly leisurely river guards, Jessica pulled out a small firecracker from her pouch and set it off with a pop as soon as we stepped onto the land across the river.

“Whoa!”

“Congratulations. With this, all four of you have graduated from being Eastern novices. From here on, this is classified as the Central region, the true land of adventure.”

“You startled me.”

“Is that some kind of adventurer tradition?”

“It’s more of a pioneer custom than an adventurer one. When someone who arrived at Mother Town on an immigrant ship crosses the Riverside bridge, whether they’re an adventurer or merchant, it means they’ve gained enough experience to hold their own.”

“Ah, so it’s like a celebration for leaving the beginner’s area.”

“Hehe, strictly speaking, none of us came on an immigrant ship. And Seti was originally from the Central region.”

“I’m still happy. Thank you, Jessica.”

Seti blushed slightly as she thanked Jessica for the unexpected celebration ceremony.

Come to think of it, Seti had run away from her village, traveled all the way to the Mother Town area, obtained her license in Oxville, and made her way through the western cities one by one before crossing this bridge in Riverside.

Having that moment formally celebrated by Jessica, a senior adventurer, must be incredibly moving for Seti.

Of course, I’m also feeling a bit excited, as if I’ve accomplished a challenge.

“Well then, from now on we’re heading to the Fifth…”

“The cat tribe village where Seti’s parents live.”

“Ah, right, that’s right.”

Our first destination after leaving Riverside is Seti’s home village, located somewhere north of here.

Looking for a native village whose exact location we don’t know might sound reckless, but we had two pieces of information that could help us guess its location.

First, Sheriff Jeffrey’s statement that “the cat tribe doesn’t kill pioneer captives but hands them over courteously.”

If the cat tribe village were very far from Riverside, pioneers who approached, were captured, detained, and then returned wouldn’t be able to survive. Humans can only survive in black mana for about 5-6 days at most, and they can’t purify the black mana in their bodies while in beastkin territories.

Second, Seti’s memory that “there was a wide river flowing north-south not far from the village.”

This leads to the conclusion that the cat tribe village must be within a 4-5 day round trip from Riverside and not too far from the river.

According to the map, this river gradually curves southwest after passing through Riverside, so if it flows “north-south,” it’s likely to be upstream to the north.

Based on these two pieces of information, we should be able to get close to the cat tribe village, and then rely on Seti’s memory to find it.

“But will they really let us in? I mean, Phyllis and I might be okay, but they don’t get along with pioneers, right?”

“It won’t be a problem. The guide feather is a symbol of a blessed warrior. If I say you’re my companions, they’ll definitely let you in.”

Seti answered while touching the feather ornament tucked beside her ear.

That feather, obtained after defeating the leader of the Strike Falcon, was a sacred object to the cat tribe who valued warrior honor.

Unless they’re planning to throw a festival for the glorious return of a warrior, I don’t think they would commit the atrocity of turning away her companions right in front of her.

“Even if we can enter the village, whether Will can gain the approval of Seti’s father is another matter entirely.”

“That’s true…”

I can’t help but break into a cold sweat at Phyllis’s sharp observation.

We’re visiting the cat tribe village not only for Seti’s triumphant return but also to complete a life-changing quest that I can’t avoid as her lover.

Namely, to reveal our relationship to Seti’s parents, especially her father, and say, “Please give me your daughter.”

In my case, there’s the terrifying additional option of “I already have someone else who will be my first wife.”

If I were Seti’s father, I’m not sure I could resist giving the impudent man before me six headshots upon hearing those words.

“I suppose it’s some consolation that beastkin don’t use guns.”

“Listen, Will, if you want things to go smoothly, maybe we should keep me a secret for now and…”

“No, that’s not an option.”

I flatly rejected Jessica’s suggestion.

Setting aside issues of hierarchy, I already have two lovers.

Even though Jessica accepts harem relationships and Seti treats Jessica as the primary wife, no woman would be unhurt if her beloved treated her carelessly or was ashamed to acknowledge her in front of others.

If I’m to take Jessica and Seti, and possibly other women in the future, as my lovers, I believe it’s my minimum qualification and duty to openly acknowledge that fact.

“I’ve decided to take both Jessica and Seti as my lovers. I don’t want to deny my relationship with either of them just to avoid criticism or anger from others.”

“Hmm~ While I’m happy to hear that, shouldn’t you reconsider? A daughter who ran away to become an adventurer returns with a lover who’s not only from the enemy pioneer race but also has another woman… They’ll never accept it.”

“What if they don’t accept it?”

“Eh?”

“Both Jessica and Seti are adults. If they’ve chosen their own partners, do even parents have the right to stand in their way? I’m not going there to ask for permission. I’m going to inform them that I’m dating their daughter with the intention of marriage.”

I know my attitude is rude and brazen.

I understand that romance between adults, especially romance with marriage in mind, isn’t just a matter for the individuals involved but a major affair between families.

But parents are parents, and I am me.

Unless my parents are going to live my life for me, if forced to make an unavoidable choice, I will unhesitatingly choose my own life, and that’s how I’ve lived so far.

And although it might seem somewhat forceful, I intend to apply this theory to my women as well.

“If Jessica or Seti tell me they can’t bear a difficult love that goes against their parents’ wishes, I’ll do my best to persuade their parents, and if that fails, I’ll respect their decision. But if not, I’ll live with them even if I have to kidnap them, regardless of whether their parents object or try to confine them.”

“Whew~ Whew~ That’s hot~”

“Mina, we’re having a serious conversation here.”

Mina whistles and cheers at my declaration that I would even resort to marriage by abduction, while Phyllis tries to stop her.

Do they realize that Jessica has opened up the possibility that they themselves might become targets?

Anyway, right now I need to make my position clear on the immediate issue rather than on two people I’m not even dating yet.

I placed one hand on each of Jessica’s and Seti’s shoulders, looked them straight in the face, and spoke.

“Let me be absolutely clear. When I meet Seti’s parents, and Jessica’s parents too, I’m going to tell them that I’m dating not only their daughter but other women as well, and that I’ll make them all happy. This is my minimum resolve and sincerity as a man who has been fortunate enough to win two wonderful women like you. It’s non-negotiable.”

“Will… oh, really!”

With a sigh, Jessica sprinkled a few tears, pulled my neck close, and gave me a passionate kiss.

Judging by the sweet peach fragrance that suddenly filled the air, Seti, who was bowing her head with a bright red face, didn’t dislike my no-compromise declaration either.

“Alright, I understand. Let’s face this head-on. I’ll do my best to help.”

“Me too… as long as I can be with Will, I don’t care what happens to anything else.”

Jessica and Seti readily accepted my determination to confront the issue directly.

My resolve is firm. Now I fear nothing.

I took the most vigorous step yet toward the cat tribe village where Seti’s parents awaited.