Volume 8 Chapter 1 Part 1 (1/2)
”If you're feeling out of it, you could rest at the inn, you know.”
”Kuu”
Yuzuha, curled in a ball on s.h.i.+n's shoulder, expressed that she was okay, so he just lightly patted her on the head.
Since their battle with the demons that attempted to sacrifice the Holy Woman Hermie, Yuzuha would sometimes lean on his shoulders, maybe because she was not feeling too well.
”Your companion does not seem to be feeling well.”
”She's saying she's OK, though. It doesn't look like she has a fever either, so I'll just keep an eye on her for now.”
Leaving Hermie to Wilhelm's care, s.h.i.+n and Schnee had gone to meet Berett at Balmel's Golden Company, as they needed a s.h.i.+p to return to Sigurd.
Many of the s.h.i.+ps leaving Balmel's port headed towards the northern part of the continent (Est). Travel by land would take too much time, so they decided to head by sea to a port town near Sigurd and then reach the city by land.
Using the dragons to travel by air was a last resort, so the party would not use them this time.
”So, how are the arrangements for the s.h.i.+p going?”
At Schnee's question, Berett lowered his head apologetically.
”I would love to help you, but unfortunately our guild's s.h.i.+ps are all out. There is, however, one s.h.i.+p heading towards Est. It will stop by another port for supplies on the way there, but it will certainly allow you to reach your destination faster than waiting for one of our s.h.i.+ps. What do you say?”
It was a s.h.i.+p that carried both trade goods and people. A relatively high social status was required to board it, but with Berett's introduction the party would have been able to board it easily.
”Using Tsuki no Hokora's introduction or revealing our members' ident.i.ty would have been troublesome, so this really helps.”
An introduction letter from Tsuki no Hokora would have been more than enough proof of status. Using Hermie's name too would have probably made it easy to board the s.h.i.+p. But both methods would have created trouble down the line, so they wanted to avoid them as much as possible.
An introduction letter from Berett, Golden Company deputy manager, had the same worth, but saying that they were business partners made it easier to use in their situation.
Having an A-rank adventurer (Wilhelm) and a Church knight (Konig) with them, saying that they planned to do item transactions would make their travel more believable.
”The s.h.i.+p's departure is scheduled for tomorrow, would that be alright?”
”Yes, we don't have a lot of time to waste, so that's perfect.”
”I will contact you later about the current available cabins.”
”I would prefer a private one. There are some members that wouldn't like their faces to be seen.”
”Understood. Please wait a while.”
Berett opened a drawer and began to write quickly on a piece of paper. He then inserted it into an envelope marked with the Golden Company's logo and sealed it with wax.
”Please show this to the captain. I will let them know.”
”Thank you, and sorry for the trouble.”
”It is a joy and an honor for me to be of help to High Humans. Do not worry.”
Berett's smiling expression as he bowed was honest and pure. There wasn't the single trace of malice within it.
s.h.i.+n thanked the man again and left the Golden Company.
While s.h.i.+n's entourage was at the Golden Company, Tiera, Filma and s.h.i.+baid were buying foodstuffs and items. Kagerou, as usual, stayed within Tiera's shadow.
Filma, who had awoken after a 500-year long sleep, was excited to see the streets' hustle and bustle.
”As expected of a town based on trade, there's so many people here. They also look pretty happy too, it's a relief to see.”
”A relief?”
Filma's words caused Tiera's puzzled question. After a chuckle, Filma answered.
”I only remember until the era of reconstruction after the natural disasters. At the time, even a small earthquake was enough to send everyone into a panic.”
There was no sorrow in Filma's tone.
”As the generations changed, they probably forgot about what happened then. But the present was born on the efforts of many people. Now and then, people are much more resilient than one would expect.”
s.h.i.+baid, who was accompanying them to prevent Filma from going too wild, commented with a smile.
Not finding any words to say, Tiera kept quiet.
”Yes, I feel that clearly. Anyway, that was nice of you to leave s.h.i.+n and Schnee by themselves, s.h.i.+baid. You've become more perceptive, haven't you?”
”To be precise, there's someone else with them. But I didn't do it for a particular reason. I just made the decision that letting you go unattended was far more dangerous.”
”And what would you mean by that?”
”I'm speaking from past experience. Try to think about it and you'll understand.”
s.h.i.+baid was looking at Filma with half-opened eyes, clearly showing his disbelief at her last question.
”Don't treat me like a troublemaker now. Well, I've gone a little overboard sometimes in the past, I'll admit.”
Maybe because she recalled what s.h.i.+baid was talking about, Filma avoided looking directly at him.
”Come on, both of you, that's enough. Since we're out in town and all, why don't we check out the stores?”
”That's true too. We have the list of what we need, so let's wrap that up quickly. ”
”Yes, yes”
Filma welcomed Tiera's proposal, while s.h.i.+baid gave a wry laugh. He didn't want to fight either, after all.
Filma quickly went to buy foodstuffs.
”Tiera, are you good at picking the good from the bad here?”
”More or less. I've been trained by master, after all. How about you, Filma?”
”I can cook if it gets down to it, but I make no promises about the taste. So, the choice of the groceries is up to you.”
s.h.i.+baid wasn't one to be fussy about food either, so the only one among them who could tell the good groceries from the bad ones was Tiera.
The huge load of foodstuffs they bought was then carried by s.h.i.+baid.
”We really bought a huge amountwill you be all right?”
Tiera was worried about s.h.i.+baid carrying the large bag of groceries by himself, but Filma casually brushed away her concerns.
”No need to worry, he's not the type of guy to buckle under this much weight.”
”No problem, I will place them in the item box as soon as we reach a place without people around.”
s.h.i.+baid was in fact holding the bag without the least bit of difficulty.
”By the way, Tiera, there's something I wanted to ask you”
”Yes, what is it?”
”What's your reason for traveling with s.h.i.+n?”
”Hmm, I have been wondering that too. And the divine beast you have with you is clearly superior to your abilities as a tamer, too.”
s.h.i.+baid also joined in questioning Tiera.
”Uhm, do I have to talk about that here?”
”On the contrary, this is the ideal situation to. Crowded places are the best to talk about secrets.”
In a noisy and bustling street, as Filma said, it would be impossible to understand who was talking about what. Furthermore, neither Konig the Church knight nor Wilhelm the White Lion Lancer were around.
”s.h.i.+n and Schnee are close to me, that's why I want to know.”
Both Filma and s.h.i.+baid served directly under s.h.i.+n, thus they wondered why Tiera, who was not under s.h.i.+n's command, was part of the entourage.
Tiera understood that they didn't just ask her on a whim, and nodded seriously.
”I understand. Everything started when my master, Schnee, saved me.”
Tiera than explained briefly what happened until s.h.i.+n removed her curse.
”.I see. It's true that the ”Cursed Gift” was usually removed in town before, so there was nothing else to do.”
”Indeed. I too have attempted to research it, but could not find anything.”
”s.h.i.+n seemed to know about it, but both of you didn't?”
Tiera was surprised to know that, Schnee included, no one knew how to acquire the skill of Purification.
”I knew that s.h.i.+n had learned it though. I helped looking for the items needed to learn it, but the last part was done by s.h.i.+n alone, so I don't know the details. It wasn't a skill used often to begin with, so it was enough for only s.h.i.+n to learn it. I think it's similar for the other people we know too.”
”That's right. That time, even if you did not learn it yourself you could have curses removed easily in the cities now called 'Sacred Places'. It was not something to spend effort to learn.”
”What can I sayit's incredible.”
The existence of cities where cursed people could freely enter and leave and easily be purified was something Tiera was not able to imagine.
s.h.i.+baid and Filma, who knew how the world changed after the ”Dusk of the Majesty”, understood Tiera's surprise.
”By the way, Tiera, what do you think about s.h.i.+n?”
”Eh?”
Tiera couldn't help but voice her surprise at the sudden question.
”I mean, you thought you wouldn't ever leave that shop and he pops out of nowhere and dispels your curse without a single explanation. I honestly doubt that you aren't the least bit interested in him, with all that happened.”
Filma spoke with confidence and a strange gleam in her eyes. She couldn't help pointing it out.
”It wouldn't be exaggerated to call him ”a prince who saved the damsel just as she was about to give into despair”, right?”
”Well, umof course I am thankful! But, er, you know it! s.h.i.+n has master with him!”
”Polygamy is the norm in this world, isn't it? Elves don't seem to like that too much though. But do you really feel only grat.i.tude for him?”
”Ahum.”
Tiera couldn't find the words to answer Filma's dead serious look. But her floundering for words without denying the allegations was an answer in itself.
”Filma. It's not proper to poke about in people's love affairs.”
”I know, and I'll stop now. But Tiera, let me say just one thing.”
”Y-Yes.”
Filma wasn't grinning anymore now, and talked with a very serious tone.
”It's better to make your feelings clear. If you do after you feel regret, it's too late.”
Tiera found herself swallow her breath, feeling that Filma had seen right through her.
”I'm sorry. I know this is none of my business.”
”no, honestly speaking, I can't find the answer yet myself.”
Tiera spoke with a small, wry laugh.
Filma was looking at her with a kind smile.
(I wonder what s.h.i.+n's answer will be, then.)
That was what s.h.i.+baid was thinking, apart from the two women.
”First, we've secured a means of transport.”
s.h.i.+n's entourage, back from the Golden Company, explained to the others about the s.h.i.+p to Sigurd.
Not only Tiera, Filma and s.h.i.+baid, but also Hermie and Wilhelm, who had stayed back at the inn, plus Milt, who had gone out with Konig, were listening.
”When will we depart?”
Konig asked.
”Tomorrow morning, in the s.h.i.+p called the Mediel. How were things on your end?”
”I contacted the Church. As I said before, they should come meet us at the town called Lesh.e.l.le.”
Konig nodded to s.h.i.+n's inquiry.
Most members of the group coming to meet them, however, would be heading to the ”Summit Faction” base.
The group, composed of Chosen Ones, was made to subdue the base in one fell swoop. It was a strategy possible only because s.h.i.+n's party had defeated the more powerful demons.
”Aw, I wanted to go with s.h.i.+n too”
”Didn't you say that you would pay for the trouble you caused? You'll have to work hard volunteering for a while.”
Milt's complaints were quickly shut down by s.h.i.+n.
Even if she had been manipulated, it was a fact that she had kidnapped Hermie. For this reason, it was decided that Milt would serve the Church for a period. Starting, of course, from this base capture mission.
”Well, is there anything else that needs to be said? If not, we have an early start tomorrow, so let's go rest.”
As no one had anything in particular to add, all members proceeded to their a.s.signed rooms.
The room division was s.h.i.+n with Yuzuha and s.h.i.+baid, Schnee and Filma, Konig and Wilhelm, Tiera with Milt and Hermie.
The bright and cheerful Milt had become good friends with Tiera and Hermie and could also act as bodyguard, so she was put in the same room. Kagerou was, as always, in Tiera's shadow too, so the fighting power was more than sufficient.
”Anyway Yuzuha, you're still sick?”
”Kuu”
”Monsters get sick too, huh. It's not a status ailment, so I really have no idea what it could be”
s.h.i.+baid was worried too, but Yuzuha kept mentally signaling that she was all right.
s.h.i.+n told her again to let him know if her condition got worse and went to sleep.
The next day, s.h.i.+n's eyes opened earlier than expected. The reason was a weight of unknown origins on his right arm.
”I think this happened beforeYuzuha, is that you?”
After confirming the situation with a.n.a.lyze, s.h.i.+n looked at the young girl sleeping next to him.
She was Yuzuha, transformed in human form. But her appearance was not the ”small girl mode” s.h.i.+n knew.
She looked like she could be in her early teens. Her height was around 150 cemels, and her body now showed budding feminine curves. Her silver hair, stretched until her waist, sparkled in the sunlight coming in through the window.
Her ears and tail were the same as before.
”Your feeling sick was because of this, then.”