Ch.91Chapter 91 – Crocodile Hunt (2)

After accepting the request, we decided to part ways for a while.

Naturally, we were each going to inform those around us about our request schedule.

Even though we’d only be gone for a day or two, you never know what might happen, so it was something we had to do.

And now I was heading to the tavern that led to the magic tower with Sera and Beatrice.

“Ugh, seriously.”

Beatrice made no attempt to hide her irritation as she tapped her fingers on the innocent table.

Along with the tapping sound came her annoyed voice.

“Why won’t they give us entry permission when they know our situation?”

Ridiculously, we couldn’t enter the magic tower this time.

The reason was, of course, because of me.

Since Beatrice and I couldn’t move separately right now, the tavern master refused our entry on the grounds that if Beatrice went in, I would naturally follow.

Considering they had allowed us in for the meeting last time, it felt somewhat unfair.

Of course, we could still send messages inside, so after sending word to Asam, we were stuck waiting in the tavern.

“This is annoying, waiting when we don’t have much time.”

“Seems like we still have plenty of time before departure.”

“Still, what’s annoying is annoying.”

So Beatrice continued tapping the table, trying to calm her irritation.

She was unusually annoyed, and looking closely, she seemed a bit wounded in her pride.

Well, being denied entry when you belong to the magic tower would hurt anyone’s pride. Especially when it wasn’t even her fault.

As Beatrice’s fingers continued making tapping sounds on the table, I unconsciously found myself keeping rhythm with the sound to pass the time.

And about an hour later, Asam appeared from inside.

“Sorry. I’m a bit late.”

“What took you so long?”

“I had some things to prepare in advance today. But as luck would have it, they were reorganizing the storage, so everything was scattered about.”

Asam said, pointing behind her.

There stood someone wearing a hood, holding a leather pouch.

“It’s been a while.”

“You seem to be doing better than I expected.”

The hooded figure was Eina.

Her complexion looked much better than before.

‘Seems like she’s adapted well.’

Back then, she had been so frightened, constantly on guard and startled by her surroundings, but now she didn’t seem particularly scared even while with Asam.

“Hehehe, I feel like I’ve gained quite a useful assistant. She’s quite strong, you know.”

Asam didn’t hide her delight as she spoke.

It seems Eina had been acting as Asam’s assistant a few times.

Just as the pleased-looking Asam was about to say something more:

“Oh, are you wearing new clothes?”

“My, you noticed?”

As if she had been waiting for that comment, Asam happily spread out her robe to show it off.

‘…What’s the difference?’

To my eyes, it looked no different from her previous clothes, but how did Beatrice know it was new?

Women truly possessed remarkable abilities.

“You see, I got a wealthy sponsor. Thanks to that, my wallet is quite plump now.”

Asam spoke with an extremely happy face.

“I also received cosmetics as gifts, so I’ve been taking care of my skin too. I’m doing pretty well, don’t you think?”

“Well, well. But who’s the sponsor?”

“The head of the Lavencha merchant guild who came that time.”

Upon hearing that, Sera and I exchanged glances.

Sera leaned in close to my ear.

“Looks like we have a victim.”

Sera is also currently receiving support from Eve in exchange for doing various things.

And here she is, clearly calling Asam a “victim.”

It might not be extremely harsh treatment, but Eve might be giving her a lot of work.

“Let her enjoy it.”

There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

Still, I didn’t want to dampen Asam’s mood when she seemed to have momentarily forgotten that truth, so it was best to leave her be.

Besides, if it’s Eve, she would have made a fair contract.

I could trust her that much.

“That merchant guild is really thriving these days, and they say it’s raking in money, which feels good.”

“Is that so?”

“I heard they contracted with a genius alchemist and are producing and selling various products, including cosmetics. I’m not sure how, but it seems they can produce items even without the alchemist being present?”

At Asam’s words, I looked at Sera, and she nodded.

“I don’t know exactly how they maintain confidentiality, but she did tell me about that fact itself.”

“She gave you permission?”

“We made a separate contract regarding that…”

Seems like it was something she already knew.

Suddenly, I’m curious about Sera’s financial situation.

It must have improved considerably.

There was a time when she worried about saving on inn costs, but that feels like just yesterday.

“Kay, you’re not thinking ‘just the other day’ like some old man, are you?”

“No.”

I quickly denied it, but Sera wasn’t convinced.

After a moment, she spoke again.

“Somehow, I feel like I’m being treated like a child… It doesn’t feel good.”

Sera looked at me with a sulky expression.

“I’m already an adult… I’m at an age where I could get married without any issues…”

“…Should I pray for you to meet a good man?”

Sera’s expression turned cold.

Sensing I had stepped on a landmine, I tried to back away, but Sera’s hand grabbed my arm.

“I surrender.”

“I’ll just squeeze for 10 seconds.”

As my arm began to be compressed and I let out a painful groan, Beatrice watched me with a look that said “serves you right.”

After a moment, Sera finally released my arm.

“Tch. You don’t understand a woman’s heart.”

Sera said curtly and turned her face away from me.

Of course, I couldn’t respond.

“Ugh… ugh.”

I was in too much pain to answer.

No matter how I think about it, it wasn’t just 10 seconds.

She definitely held on much longer.

As I clutched my arm and tried to endure the pain, Beatrice, who had been looking at me pitifully, soon remembered our original purpose and began talking with Asam.

Only after the two had been talking for a while did the pain in my arm finally subside.

“…so, I came to ask if you could send us there.”

“That’s not difficult. Since there’s a mage here, we can do the warp.”

After saying that, Asam spoke again.

“But is that request real?”

“Hm? It’s a guild request, so it’s real.”

“Hmm, I’m a bit uneasy.”

For someone saying she was uneasy, her face was expressionless.

Beatrice spoke up.

“What’s strange about it?”

“Well, I’ve heard that the number of monsters has been decreasing for the past few days.”

“Could it be a precursor to a mass migration? But do they have a reason to migrate?”

Mass migration.

It’s been a while since I heard that term.

Haven had explained that it occurs when food becomes scarce, or they’re driven out by a suddenly stronger monster, or when a disaster happens.

“That’s why a report came in. That mage had just requested to dispatch investigation personnel.”

Upon hearing that, Beatrice looked at me.

“What should we do, boss?”

“Why am I the boss?”

“I just felt like calling you that.”

But why is she asking me what to do in this flow?

However, Asam seemed to have caught onto that thought.

“Since you’re going anyway, want to take on a magic tower request too? We can process it as dispatching Beatrice.”

“Ah right, she’s a mage.”

I had forgotten because she usually fights with her fists.

I’ve definitely seen her mix magic into her fights, though.

Sera also seemed to think it wasn’t a bad idea.

“If what she says is true, there’s a high chance the guild request will be a bust. It might be good to take it as insurance, don’t you think?”

“I’m hesitant to decide alone since Haven might object.”

“Hey, if you just say we’ll split the reward, he’ll be okay with it.”

That’s not wrong.

As I was thinking that, Eina suddenly stepped forward.

“Excuse me.”

“What?”

“Could I possibly go too?”

Eina looked at Asam and me once each, then spoke again.

“I’m currently indebted to the magic tower. I’d like to contribute, even if just to earn my keep.”

I pondered for a moment.

She’s also an experimental subject like me.

Compared to me, who can use red lightning, her maximum output might be lower, but in a straight fight, she could definitely hold her own against me.

Honestly, and I mean no offense to Haven’s party members Ian, Ratchet, and Ravi, but there’s a good chance Eina is stronger than all three of them.

There was just one problem.

“The master of the Green Tower will absolutely refuse to let you go.”

“That’s…”

She seemed to have realized that too, as her words trailed off.

It seemed like it wouldn’t work out this time.

But unexpectedly, someone gave permission.

“Why don’t you just go?”

“Is that okay, Asam?”

“I’ll just get scolded by the master once. You’ll need to prepare for society sooner or later anyway.”

At the words of the self-proclaimed up-and-coming witch, Asam, Eina’s expression brightened.

After telling them the time and place of the meeting, the two gave a light greeting and began to leave.

“You can come with me to the meeting place. We still have some time. Your armor is in the room, right?”

“That red armor is too conspicuous, though.”

The two were talking quite amicably, unlike before.

With Asam’s final words about needing to borrow a set of armor, the two disappeared inside.

+

When I told Haven’s party and Christina that we had added a magic tower request, they were surprised.

Soon, Christina spoke with a determined expression.

“I’ll do my best!”

“You’re enthusiastic?”

“I couldn’t participate in the last magic tower request, so I need to work hard this time.”

Christina tapped her staff on the ground once as she spoke.

Seeing that, Sera smiled.

“I’ve packed most of the necessary medicines, so Chris might not even need to step in.”

“I’ve learned to do various things like blessings and light, so please look forward to it.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll look forward to it.”

Sera and Christina began chatting and laughing together.

‘That’s nice to see.’

I thought as I watched the two happily conversing.

They’ve become quite close, so it’s pleasant to see them laughing and talking like this.

Then Haven, having recovered from the shock, approached me.

“Is it okay for us to join in on that?”

“It’s fine. I can just say I gathered the personnel.”

Beatrice stepped forward confidently and spoke.

“But there’s also additional personnel coming from the magic tower. They might not be able to fight properly, but can we count them as numbers?”

At Beatrice’s words, Haven briefly discussed with his party members.

Soon, they nodded, indicating they had no objections.

Then, a voice came from behind.

“Everyone’s already gathered.”

Asam and Eina appeared.

Eina wasn’t wearing the red armor from before, but a regular plate armor with a helmet that revealed her face.

However, perhaps because her hair was too long, she had let it flow out from under the helmet.

Seeing her, Haven approached with a smile.

“So you’re the one coming from the magic tower?”

“Ah, yes. My name is Eina.”

Haven’s party members each greeted Eina, while Asam watched from a step back.

After the introductions were over, she spoke.

“Are you all ready? Then let’s begin.”

Asam said, showing a scroll.

It was the warp scroll I had seen before.

“Is it okay to use that so casually?”

“It’s an item that will lose its effect soon anyway. It’s not selling well, so I just took it.”

Not selling well, huh? It seems scrolls are items that can be bought and sold.

Given that it loses its effect, it must have something like an expiration date.

“Use this to come back. Try to get a lot of loot while you’re at it.”

“You can count on it.”

Beatrice shook hands with Asam once.

Meanwhile, I handed a weapon to Eina.

“Is this a greatsword?”

“Is that made from the fangs of the centipede you killed last time?”

Haven recognized it immediately.

Eina already had a sword at her waist, but it looked a bit inadequate, so I had brought more weapons.

“Is it really okay for me to use this?”

“It’s fine. I’m just lending you a spare weapon.”

I thought it would be better for someone who could use it well to borrow my spare armament.

This sword is quite heavy, so not many can use it, but Eina’s physical specs are almost identical to mine, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

She swung it around a few times and then glanced at me.

“Um, wouldn’t you prefer to use it yourself?”

“I already have a halberd and a sword.”

And if necessary, I could also use the bow on my back.

At this point, my armament is more than sufficient.

Just as Eina was about to say something more, seemingly apologetic:

-Clap

Beatrice clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.

“Let’s go then. Time is precious.”

Haven looked at me and scratched his cheek slightly.

Is he wondering who the leader is?

“Asam, please.”

“Sure.”

Asam tore the scroll.

Space distorted, and a warp gate appeared.

“Let’s go.”

With those final words, Beatrice began to move forward.

Leaving behind Asam, who waved as if to say “have a safe trip,” we stepped into the warp gate.

+

It was a city.

The peaceful and leisurely city was about to conclude another tranquil day.

If not for that cry, it surely would have been so.

A sudden cry from the sky.

And shortly after, a massive figure landing, crushing buildings in its wake.

The city’s people looked at the sight, hoping with a glimmer of hope that it might be an illusion.

And then, they witnessed calamity.

A massive tail destroying buildings.

Claws tearing through flesh.

Just by moving its body, the calamity was causing destruction.

A guard who barely survived from this calamity looks up at it.

His survival was purely due to luck.

But that was only until a moment ago.

Now, his body was trapped under the debris of a building destroyed by the calamity.

It seemed his luck had run out, having survived until now only to not die immediately.

“Ah…”

Someone sighs as they look up at the calamity.

Seeing the calamity’s form, anyone would first think of the word:

Dragon.

Suddenly, the dragon looks at the guard.

The dragon’s voice reaches his ears.

[Where is it?]

“Ah…”

[Where is it!]

The guard wanted to ask, “What?” but that was the end.

Soon, the dragon sets the surroundings ablaze.

It didn’t take long for an entire city to disappear.

But that was just something done in a fit of anger.

[Where on earth is it?]

Several years ago, “she” who had been dispatched to the world lost her life.

Because of that, he was sent out to the world in her place, bearing the clan’s mission.

But for him, the mission was secondary.

He flew aimlessly in the direction where he felt that reaction.

The destination wasn’t precise.

The reaction was too weak and only felt momentarily, making it hard to pinpoint the location.

Because of that, he could only remember the direction when the energy was briefly felt and move aimlessly.

In the meantime, he had destroyed several cities and villages.

Looking at the burning city, he briefly gazed at the flames.

Even mere monsters would flee upon sensing his presence nearby, but these insignificant beings lived peacefully and died pathetically without putting up any resistance worth mentioning.

Of course, there would be survivors who hastily fled the city.

Eventually, word of him would spread.

[Let them come if they dare.]

He began to lose interest in the survivors.

These insignificant beings, no matter how many gathered, wouldn’t be a match for him.

Because of that, he didn’t want to acknowledge that one of his kind had fallen to these beings.

The dragon closes his eyes for a moment, listening to the sound of flames in silence.

Then he opens his eyes again.

[…The reaction has appeared in that direction.]

He soon turned his head.

Spreading his wings, he soars into the sky.

Believing he might meet her again, whom he thought was dead.

He takes flight.