Volume 8 Chapter 2 Part 1 (2/2)
”Of course, I would be the first to request for his help if it was possiblebut are you really sure? Your party's companions are not with you now, are they?”
Kanade and Karin, who had traveled alone until now, knew well the dangers of adventuring solo.
”Kuu!”
Yuzuha cried as to protest against Kanade's words. She might look like a baby fox, but her fighting capabilities were far above the average monster. In addition, Demon Foxes excelled in illusion magic. There was a high probability that she could do something about the mists said to sway human senses.
”I have my partner here, so I'm not really on my own. She might not look it, but she is pretty strong too.”
”Is that so? Well, if it is the partner of a formidable warrior such as you, I should not judge her by her youthful looks.”
Even while saying so, Kanade was eagerly stroking Yuzuha's fur.
”By the way, when we were on the s.h.i.+p I remember she used a powerful magic spell. If I didn't witness it with my own eyes, I would doubt that such an adorable creature could perform such a feat.”
Karin was just looking at Kanade at first, but probably lost to the temptation and started stroking Yuzuha too. Cute things were their weak point too it seemed.
The group left the cave and walked along the coast. After roughly an hour, they reached a small fis.h.i.+ng village.
There they asked about their current location and the directions to Mt. Fuji, and once again departed on their journey to the sacred mountain.
”How is your condition, you two?”
Just after they lost sight of the village, s.h.i.+n inquired to his companions.
”Nothing out of the ordinary. Rather, I must say I feel even more lively than usual.”
”I have nothing to report either. Is something the matter?”
s.h.i.+n wondered if they were tired, as they had taken turns standing guard the night before, but the answers he received were very rea.s.suring.
Looking at them, he didn't feel they were putting up a facade either.
”Well, walking at this leisurely pace is nice too, but considering your lady sister's sickness, I think we should speed up a bit. Judging from our battle on the s.h.i.+p, I don't think either of you are average adventurers; if we raise our pace a little, we can shorten the travel time considerably.”
”You had seen through us, after all. Yes, while not as far removed as you are, neither I nor Karin are simple adventurers.”
”People such as I and Milady are called ”Returned Ancestors” in Hinomoto. Sir s.h.i.+n, I a.s.sume you are familiar with the term ”Chosen Ones”?
As expected, they were both Chosen Ones.
When they introduced themselves to s.h.i.+n they both mentioned to be rank C, but other than their levels, the weapons they equipped were of Legend grade.
They also carried equipment that required stats impossible to achieve only through level up, so he was sure they had to be Chosen Ones.
Judging from their speech and equipment, it was not difficult to imagine that they came from a household of high rank.
”You too must be a Returned Ancestor, I suppose. I have the ability to read others' level and job type, but in your case the information I see does not match your actual abilities at all. For someone with your strength to be under level 200 sounds like a joke.”
Kanade could use a.n.a.lyze, apparently. s.h.i.+n's status was modified by skills, so for Kanade, who had seen the battle on the s.h.i.+p, it must have seemed unnatural.
”To tell the truth, there are skills that allow you to hide your status. In the guild of the country where I registered as an adventurer, I was told that there are few people of high level with an appearance close to mine. When appearance and actual ability do not match, in some cases unnecessary trouble occurs. That's why I'm hiding it.”
s.h.i.+n had until now taken part in the extermination of the irregular Skullface monster, the ”Great Flood” at Balmel, Hermie's rescue at the Church..all events that would attract a great deal of attention, so he wasn't sure anymore that hiding his status served any real purpose.
”Indeed. An adventurer's ability cannot be judged by appearance, but those who will judge a book by its cover can be found everywhere”
”We are sometimes treated lightly as ”just a woman and a kid” as well, so we understand how you must feel.”
”So you had a similar experience too lady Kanade.”
They looked like sisters with a wide age gap, after all. People probably thought that even if they could fight monsters, they could only defeat small ones.
”Just punishment was administered to anyone who acted improperly towards us. Mainly by Karin though.”
”It was troublesome to see how many uncouth people there can be.”
”I can imagine.”
From Kanade's words, s.h.i.+n had imagined that Karin wouldn't keep quiet if someone had dared to look down on them.
His prediction seemed to have been correct; Karin looked sour as she was recalling such situations.
”By the way, are there guild branches in Hinomoto? It is completely separated from the mainland after all.”
Compared to the mainland, Hinomoto was just a small island country.
s.h.i.+n was wondering how many branches the guilds had located in it. Kanade, as a good representative of one of the ruling houses of the country, answered after pondering for a few moments.
”Certainly there are. Hinomoto's government structure however, is slightly different from countries; because of this, guilds are only present in large cities.”
”There are guild branches in the city at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Sir s.h.i.+n, do you have business with them?”
”No, nothing in particular. If there are guilds, in case of necessity we could sell materials to obtain funds for our journey, so I wanted to make sure it was possible, that's all.”
The reward s.h.i.+n had obtained after Balmel's ”Great Flood” had been split with Schnee and the others, with everyone managing their part on their own. s.h.i.+n was carrying a considerable amount, so there was no risk of finding himself without funds for the road.
There was always the possibility of sudden expenses though, so he wanted to know if there were guilds to change materials into money.
”Now that s.h.i.+n's doubt has been cleared, let us depart soon. Fortunately, the path is simple enough that we run little risk of losing our way.”
”Understood.”
”Let's go then.”
Kanade was in the lead, with Karin and s.h.i.+n in tow. As expected of Chosen Ones, their running speed was faster than a horse's.
As they could always see their destination, Mt. Fuji, in the worst case they would pa.s.s through the forest, but the relatively well-maintained road was naturally easier to run on.
s.h.i.+n's entourage of three thus kept running towards the mountain, while surprising pa.s.sing travelers and carriages with their speed.