Chapter 197: To Saint-Arkh

Giliath demands your power stones! Let's try getting over 500!

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[Ding! As a result of overcoming a trial of reflection, Renne has reached a new resolve and found a new path forward. Determined to stay by Player Naoto's side, Renne's favorability has reached its limits. Renne's favorability meter has reached 100%. Renne's Blessing has been granted to Player. A new parameter has also been unlocked for Renne.]

"The hell?", I couldn't help but utter a curse, not expecting such a notification to sound off inside my mind, causing me to get distracted. I was not expecting such a notification seeing where my current position was.

"Naoto?", Emma's voice called out to me, causing my thoughts to get distracted again.

Right now, I blinked my eyes, only to see Emma's face further up to where I was, along with her large chest in front of me. My head was currently resting in Emma's lap. It was indeed the lap pillow.

Some time had passed since my spar with the Stormwatcher ended. I came out battered and bruised, but was victorious nonetheless. Lady Aurier was pleased with the growth that I had shown from learning the way of the Arseid-Style.

But as for the spar itself, Lady Aurier still came out on top, giving me a loss. It wasn't a matter of stats or skills the Player System had, but only showing the progress I have learned in the way of the sword to Lady Aurier. Just through Lady Aurier's skill alone in her own path, she came out on top, much like how Klaus came out on top over me. Both considered losses, but it was part of the learning.

Lady Aurier saw my determination to improve my martial arts, and thus permitted me to further dive into my sword training, to which would appear to be alongside Kurt this time, instead of Laura.

Since the spar, we stayed the night in Parm and enjoyed a hearty meal together with the Vanders. Many laughs were shared and Kurt was already showing interest in becoming a bodyguard at Valflame Palace, the spar that I had with his mother was definitely an eye opener for him. It seemed he too reached a new resolution, wanting to improve his sword skills in the main school located in Heimdallr. I could see that Kurt respected his older brother. Their relationship was pretty harmonious as far as siblings went. Having different mothers didn't seem to sway that.

And in that sense, Kurt is very similar to me. Kurt and Mueller have different mothers and it was the same for Rean and I. Go figure.

Still, Lady Aurier was kind enough to give us lodging for the night, allowing Emma and Fie to stay as well. After the night passed, we quickly found ourselves in the orbal car Mueller had originally tried to drive the day before.

However, this time along, it wasn't just Kurt and Mueller anymore. Thankfully Mueller's orbal car was wide enough to fit me, Emma and Fie.

It seemed Lady Aurier still had business to attend to in Parm, so she did not plan to ride the orbal car with us. Mueller was the only one old enough to drive right now so he was stuck in the car seat. Emma was beside me while Fie was next to Kurt.

One battered and bruised body later, I found Emma placing my head in her lap, suggesting the idea that I was to take a nap while my body regenerated the dull wounds Lady Aurier delivered to me. It wasn't anything deep thanks to it being a wooden naginata, but wooden weapons still cause plenty of bruises and the likes.

Our next destination wasn't actually Heimdallr as that city was still a ways away from here. What we had next in our sight was Saint-Arkh, also called the old capital of Erebonia. in the old past, Saint-Arkh temporarily became Erebonia's capital during the ravaging of the Dark Dragon on Heimdallr.

But now, with several hundred years passing since then, it became one of the four provinces of Erebonia. It was ruled by one of the Great Houses, none other than the Hyarms family.

It was definitely not a long ride to Saint-Arkh considering Parm was its next door neighbor. Still, Emma suggested that I was to take a nap during the drive. I found myself in her lap. But just as I was to drift off into dreamland, a sudden notification sounded off inside my mind, one which I was not expecting at all.

Moreover, it had to do with Renne. She was in on the plan that I had brought to my family so I knew she wasn't worried about my current position.

Still...

'Just what in Aidios's name did you do during my absence, Renne? A trial of reflection...', I inwardly thought to myself. It seemed Renne had become quite busy. But doing what exactly, I was not informed. Renne only told me that she would stay around in Liberl for a while.

And yet, it appeared Renne had gone through a trial in some location. Considering it is Liberl, I can only fathom a guess, but thanks to that trial, she had reached a resolve on her own, without my presence being there. So in the end, I guess it is good after all?

That only leads to the next question though, what is Renne doing now?

However, at the time, me nor the rest would eventually come to meet Renne again before we knew it. In a place that I wasn't to expect either.

[Renne's Blessing] though...That will definitely have to be looked at some point. However, before I could think of anything else, I looked up, only to see worry in Emma's eyes. Seeing this, I smiled at her.

"It's nothing. I know Saint-Arkh isn't a long drive from here. Lady Aurier left me pretty bruised so I should take all the rest I can get, haha.", I said, trying to ease Emma's worry.

"Mmm. We are expecting to meet the Lord in Saint-Arkh, so I fear our free time won't be much after this.", Emma said, nodding her head. Seeing her do that, since her chest was right in front of my eyes, I could see them bounce a bit.

"That's right. Lady Aurier has already sent word to Lord Hyarms, so he is already expecting our arrival. I do wish she had hesitated, but those bruises are marks of victory for you, Your Highness, so with a little bit of explaining, I'm sure Lord Hyarms won't mind.", Mueller's voice said, coming from the driver's seat.

"I also think as such. That really was a splendid spar. You are quite intune with your sword, Your Highness. I guess most of the nobles in Liberl train in the rapier...", Kurt began to say, only to drift off a bit into his own thoughts.

"Hahaha. Well, don't blame me if I decide to rest some more, alright?", I couldn't help but say with another laugh.

Hopefully that was the only notification that I was to hear, and it looks like it was. I saw my system turn quiet again. Not waiting around for anything else, I closed my eyes. Letting my body continue to regenerate the wounds thanks to my ability, it didn't take long for me to drift off into dreamland while enjoying the warmth of Emma's legs that aws currently being released.

Seeing me successfully cease my thoughts only to let out a peaceful snore soon after, a smile bloomed on Emma's face as she looked down my way.

The conversation seemed to not last much long either. Fie turned her direction toward a side window enjoying the rolling scenery while Kurt looked forward to where the driver's window with Mueller now focused on driving. Seeing me now snore, Emma reached out her hand and began to ruffle my hair a hit. Both Celine and Tamamo were also present on another seat. Celine raised her head up a bit only to see Emma do that, but lowered her head again, letting her body coil around Tamamo's. The two seemed to also drift off into dreamland.

AI KeA was not present and was currently inside the Enigma II resting herself. I had plans to introduce Emma and Fie to her, but now was not the time. Before the three could meet, I had AI KeA hide herself back into the Enigma II while we were still in Legram.

And like that, the car ride to Saint-Arkh was rather uneventful, but it still allowed me to take a much needed nap. Last night's rest clearly wasn't enough to heal me after having that spar with Lady Aurier.