Chapter 133: friend

Late in the night.

The place they arrived at after relocating was the inn where Shu and Su were staying.

Since it was so late, the inn’s first-floor dining hall was empty except for us. The staff seemed to be asleep, so we couldn’t order any food.

“So where have you been all this time?”

That was the first question Shu asked after we sat down. Su, sitting beside him, was also looking at me with sparkling eyes, clearly eager to hear my story.

With them looking this expectant, I couldn’t possibly hold back. I cleared my throat and began telling them about the adventures I’d experienced.

“My first proper mission as an adventurer was guarding a merchant caravan. It was a pretty decent experience.”

“Were there any bad people?”

I shook my head at Su’s question. Maybe I’d been lucky, but most of the companions I met during my time as an adventurer had been decent people.

“Next, I joined a monster subjugation party and climbed a snow-covered mountain with dozens of other adventurers. A lord’s soldiers and a knight led us up…”

I sifted through my memories and picked out the major events. There wasn’t nearly enough time today to share every little detail. Even a condensed version of my adventures could fill two volumes of a book.

Smiling faintly, I continued.

“That’s where I encountered an ogre. At first, I didn’t realize it was an ogre. It just felt like a giant mountain had suddenly risen in front of me.”

“Ogre…”

“Wasn’t it dangerous?”

“Of course it was. I was still a rookie back then, just starting out.”

“You’re still small like a chick.”

Ignoring Su’s comment, I went on.

“The ogre was insanely strong. When its massive fist struck the ground, it felt like an earthquake shook the entire mountain. Of course, I beat it in the end.”

“You beat it alone?”

“Mm. Not quite. I told you, didn’t I? There were dozens of adventurers, and a knight leading the lord’s soldiers.”

“So the knight took it down?”

“The final blow was mine.”

“Got it.”

“After that, I took a ship to the Karma Empire…”

“Why did you go to the Karma Empire?”

“Oh, back then, there was no one in the Abel Kingdom who could handle ogre leather. That’s why I went.”

The custom-made ogre leather I obtained in the Karma Empire ended up saving my life several times. If I hadn’t had that armor, I might not be here today.

After refining the ogre leather, I headed to the Highlands to find a horse. When I shared the story of encountering the Thunderbird and how Nightmare had come to me like fate, Shu and Su looked at me incredulously.

“You actually saw a Thunderbird? I thought that was just a myth.”

“It was real. A giant bird wreathed in thunder and storm clouds—what else could it be?”

“Are you sure you weren’t mistaken?”

“I’m only telling you the truth.”

“Why couldn’t we ever see a Thunderbird…”

Shu muttered in a small voice. His brows furrowed as if recalling an old memory, a sullen look on his face.

“You two went there too?”

“Yeah. While tracking your whereabouts, we ended up at the Highlands. Of course, by the time we got there, you were already gone.”

“How far did you follow me…?”

“All the way to Monster Island.”

I had half-expected it when Selion came up in the story, but it seemed the two of them really had made it to Monster Island. Still, no matter how fond of me they were, following me that far was a bit much. I gave an awkward smile and continued.

“Well, anyway, that’s where I met Nightmare. After that…”

Time passed quickly. As the pale dawn light illuminated the chilly morning streets, adventurers began trickling into the dining hall. It wasn’t until then that I finished telling the two of them everything.

“So? Did that satisfy your curiosity?”

“So basically… you became a mage, absorbed a dragon’s mana, spoke with the dragon’s consciousness, met dwarves and elves from old tales…?”

It was Shu who answered. He looked like he still couldn’t fully believe it. I didn’t blame him. To ordinary people, my adventures would sound like fantasy.

But they had really happened. Those vivid memories remained crystal clear in my mind, so even if Shu couldn’t believe them, it didn’t bother me.

“It’s all true. I met them all.”

“Wow…”

“Honestly, it’s hard to believe, but since it’s you saying it, I’ll believe it…”

Now that I’d shared my story, it was Shu and Su’s turn. Resting my chin on the table, I looked at them.

“What about you two?”

“Hmm…”

They exchanged glances, then slowly began to speak.

“We’ve had a pretty normal time…”

“At first, we just collected herbs. Occasionally took on goblin subjugation quests too…”

It sounded like Shu and Su had lived a tough adventurer life. After leaving their village to follow me, they had no choice but to become adventurers just to eat. I hadn’t known they’d gone through all that.

Even though they’d followed me, they couldn’t match my pace. By the time they reached a city at the end of their long journey, they’d have to earn money just to survive, which must have widened the distance between us even more.

“Oh, right. Do you know someone named Foldrin?”

“Foldrin…?”

I dug through my hazy memories. I’d definitely heard that name somewhere, but it didn’t quite come back to me. It was definitely a person’s name, but if my memory was this faint, he probably wasn’t someone important.

“You don’t know him?”

“I think I do… maybe…”

“He’s a holy knight from the Holy Kingdom of Obrein.”

“Ah…”

At Su’s explanation, I nodded absently. When I thought of the Holy Kingdom of Obrein, I recalled the face of a boy drinking strange potions in an alleyway.

“How did you meet him? Did you go to the Holy Kingdom?”

“No, we met him in the capital of the Karma Empire. He said he came all the way here looking for you.”

Shu answered. Tilting my head in confusion, I asked another question.

“He came all this way… to find me?”

“Yeah. We had the same goal, and we were around the same age, so we got along quickly. When we said we were your childhood friends, he was really kind to us. He even taught us a proper version of Elune’s Flash. Turns out the old gatekeeper who taught us swordsmanship used to be a holy knight from the Holy Kingdom.”

“He even taught you swordsmanship…?”

“Thanks to that, we passed the Silver rank exam and got to visit Monster Island. Of course, by the time we got there, you’d already left—again.”

“So you met Selion there?”

“Yeah. She talked a lot about you. Oh, right—Selion told us to pass on a message when we saw you…”

“What message?”

“Hmm…”

Shu frowned, tilting his head as if trying to remember. It seemed he couldn’t recall. Then Su, sitting next to him, spoke up.

“She said, ‘I’ve perfected it.’ You’d understand if we said that.”

“Ah…”

I nodded at Su’s words. Before leaving Monster Island, I’d taught Selion the technique called “Balgyung.” It looked like she’d mastered it completely.

Selion was an exceptional swordswoman. She would surely find new and diverse ways to use Balgyung.

“But… where’s Foldrin now? Didn’t he go to Monster Island with you?”

I looked around and asked. Shu and Su sighed and shook their heads.

“He was captured.”

“Captured…? By who?”

“It was the day we returned from Monster Island to the capital of the Karma Empire. As the three of us—me, Su, and Foldrin—were disembarking, a group of people in white priestly robes suddenly surrounded us.”

“People in robes? Priests from the Holy Kingdom?”

“Yeah.”

“And then?”

“It happened so fast we didn’t see clearly, but there was a flash of bright light, and the next thing we knew, Foldrin was tied up on the ground. They said desertion was a serious crime and just took him away. That was it.”

“Desertion…?”

I recalled the vague image of Foldrin and swallowed dryly. Did he really desert the Holy Kingdom just to see me?

I frowned, troubled.

“That’s the end of our story. Since we lost track of your movements, we’ve been working as adventurers here.”

At that, a strange silence fell between us. Watching their expressions, I carefully asked,

“Um… how are my parents doing?”

“They’re fine. But if you’re that curious, why not visit home?”

Shu replied. I gave an awkward smile at his words and asked another question.

“Why did you two leave home anyway?”

Shu and Su exchanged looks.

“It’s not like we’re any different from you…”

“Emily. I didn’t want to get married either.”

Unexpectedly, they’d run away from home just like me. Frowning, I asked,

“Did you at least leave a note? Your parents must be worried.”

“You’re one to talk…”

“At least I left a note. That’s better than disappearing without a word, right?”

Shu clammed up, seemingly at a loss for words. Su answered in his place.

“I left a note.”

Of course, Su was more mature than Shu. Folding my arms, I nodded. Watching the two of them closely, I cautiously asked,

“By the way… what was that conversation earlier? The one I overheard in the alley?”

“Oh, that.”

“You said something about ruins underwater?”

“Yeah, that was the request. But we were about to turn it down since they wouldn’t offer an advance payment.”

“You’re turning down a request?”

“Yeah. It was a designated request. Apparently, it was sent to all Silver-rank adventurers active in this area. Other adventurers know about it too.”

I stroked the corner of my mouth at Shu’s words.

Underwater ruins, huh? That sounded pretty interesting.