12 「Journey」 (2/2)

The group was bonding. They were getting along with Momon, though not really that much with Nabe. Lukrut hasn't appeared to have given up on her and it was apparent that Ninya had interests in him.

She kept looking back at him every now and then to check if he was still there. As if he would just disappear.

He wondered what she was thinking about. Was she thinking about earlier? What he smelled like? What his lips felt like on the top of her head? He was enjoying the thoughts he had.

He knew what it felt like to kiss her head. To smell her hair. To touch her hand. To pull her close. These things all were committed to memory. These things he couldn't do in a game and it made him happy.

That's when his eyes narrowed on Peter who was watching him as he was talking to the others.

Those eyes he wore were curiosity. And soon he was able to figure out what Peter was trying to figure out on his own in his head, when he took a glance towards Ninya.

'He definitely thinks I'm Gay.'

Ninya who was almost oblivious of his gaze, looked over at Peter with a smile. She was situated right next to Momon.

Though as the conversations continued, she turned her attention to the Dark Hero with the big red cape and the others around her.

The talking got a bit quieter, but he could hear everything besides the point. It was clear everything was getting emotional. Ninya started saying something about naming the party being a mistake in her Youth, something which made him snicker a bit.

”There is nothing to be ashamed of,” Dyne defended her despite her stomach doing flips.

Ninya just lowered her head and watched the flames dance before glancing over her shoulder towards Cipher. She was wondering why he had separated himself from the group all of a sudden.

Had it been because she didn't give him a straight up answer? While she had asked him why, she didn't actually say yes did she? She let her lips part a bit as she thought, before looking back towards Peter as he explained the meaning behind the Party's name.

”It comes from the swords of one of the Thirteen Heroes.” Was just about anything he had said, and Momon was definitely puzzled.

Cipher opened his eyes a bit more as he remained looking over them.

How cute could they be?

Part of him wanted everything to stay like this, but would reality allow it?

Cipher and Ainz Ooal Gown were likely to get politically involved. If the Nobles were afraid of someone more powerful than them currying favor, it was likely they'd fall out of it. Especially if the King couldn't control his Noble houses.

”Tch...” These thoughts were ruining the moment and he just wanted to cast them away.

”Who are they?” Nabe would speak up casually, almost monotone, as Momon avoided asking.

”So you don't know, Nabe..” Lukrut remarked with a soft tone.

”Among the Thirteen Heroes,” Ninya found herself smiling as she turned to tell the tale. ”The Swords of Darkness are the four swords that the one called Black Knight owned.”

The moment they said the name Black Knight, Momon turned his head to look at Cipher who's eyes were glowing in the dark. A mystical blue glow that seemed to seep out of his irises like smoke from a fire. Slowly he turned to look back towards Ninya.

”Hmmm...” Nabe was airily interested it seemed.

”Well, our ultimate goal is to find those swords.” Lukrut added onto the conversation much as he did before. It really seemed he was interested in the woman, even if she was more inclined to slit his throat for annoying her.

”Until we get our hands on them, this is our symbol.” Peter declared as he and along with the other original members of his group drew their black jeweled short swords.

Though out of all of them, Ninya neglected to unsheathe hers. She just held the leather scabbard in her hands, as it was a precious item.

”Real or fake, has nothing to do with it.” Lukrut said with a smile of triumph and great feeling on his face as he held his weapon above his head as he drew it from its home. ”These represent the creation of our team, either way.”

”Yes. Lukrut said something surprisingly good.”

”If only he did that on a regular basis,” Cipher chipped in as he padded on over to the group and sat down on his knees behind Ninya, looking over everyone.

”Hey! Isn't that pretty mean!? Why are you ganging up on me!?”

Everyone started to burst out laughing, hardly sympathetic to their friend's plight.

”We have to praise him every once and a while,” Peter said, which made it sound as if he was some sort of pet. Though at the same time it was just a friendly tease.

”You guys treat me way too badly!” Lukrut said with a big dumb smile on his face as he rested his hands on his thigs as he remained seated.

”Do all adventurers get along well with their team like this?” Asked the ever so quiet Nphirea, smiling and looking to Peter who's attention he immediately seized.

”Yes. We trust our lives to one another,” he answered this with such a smile across his lips, a smile which hardly seemed to fade away.

”And our team is full of boys.” Lukrut decided to be himself again and started spouting nonsese, ”I've heard that girls in a team can cause serious problems.”

While Dyne remained smiling beside Ninya, Ninya on the other hand sighed and closed her eyes with a smile on her face.

Peter who had been wanting to know what was going on between her and Cipher was quick to pick up on this and subtly raised a brow.

”And our team has a goal too. So we're pretty solidified.” Ninya suddenly added to keep everything form being awkward so it seemed.

”Things are completely different when everyone has a common goal.” Momon proudly announced.

”Were you in a team, Mister Momon?” Ninya asked as she turned her head to look towards the man in black and gold armor with that profound red cape.

”It wasn't as adventurers, but yes.” Momon said with a softer tone as he turned his gaze to the sky, Cipher and the others could only imagine him smiling nostalgically.

”Once when I was weak and alone, a white holy knight saved me... He lead me to people I could call comrades for the first time. They were wonderful allies...” The way he spoke, everyone felt an empathic lure. A frown on their lips as it was clear that team was no longer with him. ”They were the best friends. I will never forget the days I spent with them.”

To Cipher it was similar to that of a Eulogy for the dead.

”Mister Momon...” Ninya muttered sympathetically before putting on a smile across her lips, ”So–” She was almost immediately cut off by Cipher who planted a hand on her shoulder.

Glancing over at him, he shook his head. It was best not to assure him of anything. Cipher hadn't shared much information on his group, which acted as support after the death of his sister, because he didn't want to be assured either.

”They're all gone, just like mine.”

”You had a team too... Other than those people in the Fortress?” Ninya asked as she looked over at him, everyone having their attention on Cipher and Momon.

”They were my support when my sister died, they let me find solace. They'd even stay with me until I fell asleep, like a child would their parent. It was pretty embarrassing, but they were my best friends. Nothing can replace them, but new memories can be made.” Cipher said with a small smile across lips, he hadn't removed his hand from her shoulder.