Book 3: Chapter 22 (1/2)
“It’s strange to be on a continent where adventurers aren’t a thing,” Tafel said with a sigh as she pulled towels and other miscellaneous items out of a portal. The group had been given two rooms: one for Mr. Skelly and Vur, and the other for Tafel, Alice, and Alora. But Tafel had switched with Mr. Skelly, and Alora tagged along because she thought Alice smelled funny. It didn’t matter though because everyone gathered in Vur’s room anyway to discuss their next course of action. “I wonder how their society is set up.”
“It’s simple, really,” Mr. Skelly said, still wearing his full plate armor. “The empress is on top. Below her, there’s her vassals—the nobles. Below the nobles, there are knights, and below the knights, there are the commoners. That’s how things were run back in the north way before that dragon filled with worms arrived. Adventurers rose up from amongst the commoners because the knights were a bit overbearing. I’m guessing the noble who escaped to this land was a purist and quashed all adventurers.”
Tafel’s brow furrowed, and Alice smirked, nudging the demon’s side. “Are you considering overthrowing the empress now?” Alice asked, her voice smug. “Look at her oppressing the common people and preventing them from moving up the social ladder.”
“Well, that’s not really the empress’s fault, you know?” Tafel asked. “She inherited a faulty system, and she might not have the power to implement a change.”
Alice sighed. “I’m not sure why you’re so adamant on defending her,” she said before shaking her head. “You—”
“You’re pretty adamant on starting a war,” Tafel said, cutting Alice off. “Don’t forget about our agreement.”
Alice clicked her tongue. “I won’t. I look forward to the day that I become the leader of this party,” she said. “Then it could finally display its true potential.”
“Oh?” Tafel raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying I don’t know how to lead a party? I don’t want to hear that from someone who was isolated from her previous one.”
“You’re really going there, huh?” Alice asked, her face darkening. “Is that how you want to do this? Shall I nitpick your faults as well, Ms. Dependent on Vur?”
The cup that Tafel had taken out of the portal shattered as grip tightened. “I am not!”
Vur’s gaze went back and forth between the two women. Alora poked his side and whispered, “Something creepy is happening.”
Tafel and Alice both whirled around to glare at the polymorphed dragon. “How are we creepy!?”
Alora blinked. “Eh? I wasn’t talking about you two though?” She pointed at the only window inside the room that was opposite the door. A curtain was covering it. “You don’t feel that?”