45 『The Handler Princess』 (2/2)

Climb looked over the man, not seeing him as a dragon seemed to be underwhelming, but he was still stiff and on guard.

Vertum sensed his weakness, and it almost made him chuckle. The strongest person here, on a solo basis, for the most part would be EvilEye other than himself.

”You don't look like any dragon I've seen,” EvilEye spoke up as she appeared standing beside the Princess and the leader of the Blue Rose Adventurer Party.

”Hah, Pardon my subordinate's bluntness. This is Evileye, and my name is Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra, Leader of the Blue Roses and holder of--”

”That's a Sword of Darkness,” Ninya and the other members of the Swords of Darkness began whispering to one another over it. They knew exactly who this woman was as the weapon that she held was one of many influences on their group.

Lakyus raised a brow at the Silver ranked Adventurers for a moment before smirking valiantly, seeing the jeweled imitations sheathed on their persons.

The two on the horses jumped and landed by either side of their leader, one hand under their breast plate as they remained crouched and bowing. They were identical twins, only the colored bows told them apart.

”This is Tia,” Lakyus gestured to the blue ribbon wearer, ”And this is Tina,” she then moved her hand to indicate the red ribbon wearing shinobi type character.

That was when Gagaran came walking over to the group after settling the horses, and joined the rest of her party. ”Hey there!” She said raising a hand with a loud and friendly tone, ”I'm Gagaran, it is a pleasure to meet you all.”

”They are the Blue Roses, but you probably already know that... Since you intercepted us halfway,” The Princess deducted as she looked over the man before looking to the villagers, a friendly faint little smile across her lips as she did so.

The woman seemed almost... Harmless.

”Traveling is tiresome, isn't it?” Vertum snickered casually as he leaned on his staff, resting the side of his head against it, messing up the hair which Ninya groomed earlier once more.

”I can open a portal that will bring you right to the Village, should you wish to begin negotiations... Or whatever your father wanted you to do.” Vertum offered as so that they no longer had to sit for hours in a carriage before they arrived.

Her lips parted hearing this offer, hardly expecting a portal of some kind. If she hadn't known about the Theocracy's failed plot, and the fact he had massacred them without mercy, she would've thought he was part of them due to such a huge magical spell.

Ninya though also seemed to perk up at the mention of a portal, magic was her thing, so she was intent on learning as much as she could while she was around him. Not that there was any rush, she had her whole life ahead of her, a life that belonged to him of all people.

Evileye also seemed rather eager to learn about this portal magic, she had the ability to copy abilities due to being a rainbow eye'd human at one point. Though as Vertum could tell just by her smell, he knew she was indeed a Vampire, just like Silva.

”Though I'd like you to leave your guards... Only take the Adventurers,” his eyes narrowed on the guards which were eying him. They didn't seem at all friendly.

The Adamantite Adventurers all looked at one another. They didn't mind traveling by portal, but they were rather curious as to why he wanted to leave the Guards behind.

The Silver ranked also were curious, but at the same time, could see a reason.

The Guards were nothing but cannon fodder compared to the Adventurers themselves. They were typically weaker than Adventurers and Workers as individuals, and even more so as groups. It was mainly why the Guild was given most of the responsibilities of a nation's army, like wiping out infestionations of Goblins Ogres and the like.

Climb however was already thinking of the Princess's Protection. Being teleported could be used to ease them into a trap without trouble, though he seemed confident with all the firepower around them, that it was unlikely it would succeed.

”Let's do that then,” Renner nodded at the offer, not wanting to get cramped up in that carriage for another moment. ”It might be refreshing... How long does it take to get to the other side?”

”Instantaneous,” Vertum assured as he looked towards his group of people, then back to the Princess and her group. Holding his hand out to the side, the dragon would recite the spell in which to summon a portal to another destination.

『Gate』