Companions for the Road

It was still a bit dark out, so most of the residents of Zoltan, always loath to get up

early, were probably still asleep. Still, it wasn't like it was that early. It was just dark

because of the season.

"All right! Everything's ready to go!" Rit said.

The bigger things like tents were safely tucked away in Rit's item box, and I was

carrying the objects we might need to use more immediately, like the lantern and a

few days' worth of food and water in case the item box got stolen.

I had also pulled out a wide variety of medicines from storage that Rit and I had

tucked away into pouches at our belts.

"All right, shall we?"

Just then, there was a loud knocking at the door. "Red! It's me! Sorry to come so early,

but can you let me in?"

"Mogrim? Did something else happen?"

The dwarf had come knocking again. We were supposed to be closed for the day, but

if Mink needed some medicine, I could take care of that before leaving.

However, when I opened the door, Mogrim was standing there wearing chain mail

and with a dwarven ax at his hip. A large bag was on his back.

It sure didn't look like he was just out to buy medicine.

"What's with that outfit? Are you heading out on a trip somewhere?"

"I could ask you the same thing. You look ready for an adventure! But whatever. Red!

Can you loan me some medicines?"

"Just a minute. Could you tell me what's going on?"

"Of course. I'm planning to go to the Wall at the End of the World."

"Why…? Shouldn't you be with Mink?"

Mogrim's expression suddenly turned very serious.

"The missus turned forty-five last year. She's not a young lass anymore. Half-dwarves

tend to have smaller bodies and are easier to give birth to, but… You understand

what I mean, right?"

"I see. Dr. Newman's specialty isn't obstetrics, so it would be a good idea to have the

midwife Ivana come by to check on Mink, too. She has the Healer blessing and a

wealth of experience, so I'm sure she'll be able to help."

"It might end up coming down to surgery and taking the child out through her belly,

though."

"A surgical delivery? I can't deny the possibility, but even if it comes to that, the odds

of failure are pretty low, so long as you can get someone reasonably skilled with

restorative magic," I said.

"I want to do everything I can for her, but I don't have any talent for magic, and my

blessing hates me. I don't have any skills that can help Mink in any direct way."

Mogrim was the best blacksmith in Zoltan's working-class neighborhood, but his

blessing was Runesmith, one that specialized in magical enhancements. He had

never used it very well because of his difficulties with magic. Given his talent for

forging, if he were more proficient with magic, he could become a famed craftsman

in the capital. Hence the comment about being hated by his blessing.

Mogrim clenched his fists in determination as he continued.

"All I'm good at is hammering. That's why I want to make a knife out of earth crystal.

Earth crystal blades are famous for being so sharp you don't even realize you've been

cut. If it really does come down to a surgery, that should ease Mink's burden."

"Earth crystal? That's a pretty rare material. You're not going to find that just lying

around in Zoltan," I remarked.

"Yep. That's why I'm going out to the Wall. It's a special kind of gem to monsters, too,

so I'm sure there's a creature out there that has gathered some of it."

"True, there are gem giants there. If there is any earth crystal to be found at the Wall,

they would probably have gathered some of it."

"Oooh! So there really are gem giants there?! That's great!" Mogrim grinned happily.

However, even knowing about the gem giants, he had no idea where they were or

what to trade for the earth crystal.

What's more…

"Did you tell Mink that you were going?" I questioned.

"…Of course…"

"Look me in the eye and say that."

Unlike humans and high elves, dwarves were typically not talented liars, and Mogrim

was the archetypal example. He was clearly avoiding my eyes.

"I told her that I was going to get materials to make a knife!"

"Where exactly did you say you were going?" I pressed.

"…The mountain city Zkaria."

Zkaria was a town to the northwest that was known for quality iron. It also offered

small amounts of rare ores like crimson steel. There was no earth crystal to be found

there, however.

"But! Who do you think I am?! Did I ever tell you about the time I slew the frost drake

that was menacing the powerful Duchy of Loggervia?!"

Glancing over at Rit, I saw her smiling wryly as she shook her head. Apparently,

Mogrim had slain a dragon that even the princess of Loggervia hadn't heard of.

Mogrim stomped his foot and expounded on his vague tale as I nodded along to

pacify the man.

"I've got a bit of a proposal if you're interested. It just so happens that Rit and I were

planning on heading to the Wall at the End of the World ourselves."

"What? It did look like you were decked out for a trip, but…"

"The truth is… we're going to get a gemstone to use for a ring," I admitted.

Mogrim went agape as he looked back and forth between us.

"I thought I was a bit extreme, but you two are on a whole other level!" The dwarf

clapped his hands together and made a show of being taken aback. "My word! Going

all the way out there to make an engagement ring!"

"Anyway, that's our plan. So how about it? Want to go together? I'm just a D rank, but

with the one and only Rit the hero, we'll be fine even if a real drake shows up."

"I swear on my ax! You two are lifesavers!" Mogrim responded with dwarflike

boisterous joy as he grabbed our hands. "You have my thanks!"

"Save the thanks for after you get your earth crystal. But you need to understand

something up front, Mogrim."

"What?"

"Even if we locate the gem giants, there's no guarantee they'll have any earth crystal.

And if they do, it's not likely you'll be able to convince them to part with it. You

should consider what to do if you need to compromise on some other ore," I warned

him earnestly.

Gem giants were skilled at mining and crafting precious metals and stones, but they

had not developed any skills for using fire. To them, glass marbles were far more

valuable than silver coins were for humans. With luck, glass could even be traded for

diamonds. Earth crystal was another matter, though. It was unlikely the gem giants

would give it up. Mogrim seemed aware of that.

"Even so. I want to do whatever I can for my wife," he stated as he looked down.

The three of us headed toward the plaza near the gate.

Ruti was waiting there with a large backpack. Tisse was by her side, dressed as she

usually was.

"Good morning, Ruti, Tisse. Sorry for being late," I called.

"It's fine. I don't mind waiting for you. Good morning, Big Brother, Rit… and

Mogrim?"

"Good morning, everyone," Tisse greeted us. "It doesn't seem like you're here just to

see them off, Mogrim."

Mister Crawly Wawly was on Tisse's shoulder, still sleepily swaying a bit.

"It's a bit sudden, but Mogrim will be coming with us. He's looking to find some earth

crystal," I explained.

"I see." Ruti looked slightly surprised. Not so much so that Mogrim would notice,

though. My sister recognized that earth crystal would be difficult to obtain.

"I see, so that's how it is," Tisse said after hearing the story from Rit.

"Congratulations, Mogrim. I sincerely hope you will be careful. I don't doubt your

dwarven bravery, but please remember that there is no greater honor than returning

home safely to Mink and being able to raise your healthy child together with her."

"A-aye. I've never really had a chance to talk much with you, but you're a surprisingly

nice person."

"That 'surprisingly' is a bit rude."

"Tisse is a very good person. I'm proud to call her my friend."

Although Tisse kept a calm face, she still seemed rather annoyed as Ruti

expressionlessly puffed out her chest and bragged about her friend. The whole scene

was a bit perplexing for Mogrim, but realizing that the two of them were not as

intense as he had believed, he smiled back with the sort of smile dwarves reserved

for friends.

"By the way, Ruti, were you not going to use your item box?" I inquired.

"No. Just like you."

Apparently, she was emulating me on that point.

I didn't use one, as I had handed mine over to Ares and hadn't purchased a new one

because they were too expensive…

Ruti was adorably smiling, though, so I didn't take issue with it.

"All right, then, Mogrim, Rit, Ruti, let's get moving."

"""Okay."""

"Starting tomorrow, we'll be eating preserved rations, but for lunch today I've got

fresh lettuce-and-tomato sandwiches."

""Okay.""

"O-okay?"

"Great. Let's go."

There was a little bit of confusion, but we set off, waking the napping guards at the

gate as we ventured beyond Zoltan's limits.

"Take care."

Tisse and Mister Crawly Wawly saw us off, waving as we headed out onto the winter

plains.

The dirt-paved Zoltan road swiftly gave way to wild meadow as one marched toward

the Wall at the End of the World.

We stayed on course, despite being surrounded by knee-high plants. There was a

gentle wind, and the weather was nice. A big cloud hung overhead, a smaller one

chasing after it. They almost seemed like a parent and child, which made me chuckle.

"Hmm hmm hmm."

Ruti was humming as she walked. Her big backpack was swaying slightly with her

steps, and from time to time it would bounce a little as she hopped over puddles.

"You're in a good mood today, Ruti," I remarked.

Ruti nodded. "This is the first time."

"First time?"

"The first time I've gone on an adventure for you, Big Brother. It's…" She paused for a

moment, like she was trying to figure out how best to express it. Ultimately, she gave

up and shook her head. "Words can't really begin to describe how great I feel!"

I couldn't help grinning at her excited response. "I'm glad to see you happy," I said.

"Mhmm!" she replied.

I held out my hand, and Ruti grabbed on to it, looking a little bit bashful. The two of

us walked like that through the grasses for around three hours.

"Wait."

Rit, who was walking at the head of the group, held out her left hand to stop us. She

rested her right on the hilt of one shotel.

"Nrgh, it reeks of goblins!" Mogrim readied his ax.

Ruti had already drawn her goblin blade filled with holes, and I reached for my

bronze sword.

"Four to the right and one to the left," Rit said in a quiet voice.

There were five goblins crouching down in the weeds to hide. Likely, they were a

band of looters from a tribe that stole money and food from travelers.

The grass swayed as they hurled a volley of spears at us. Rit had already dashed

forward, ducking past the projectiles and diving into the grass. In the blink of an eye,

she had already cut down two of the goblins. One of the creatures leaped up in

surprise and got Mogrim's ax in his head for it. The goblin to the left seemed to be a

Sorcerer in the process of casting Fire Arrow.

Just before it could complete its spell, I ran it through with my sword. The magic

exploded in a little puff of flame and disappeared. The final goblin had apparently

decided that Ruti, with her big backpack, would be a slow and easy target.

"Ghgi?" called the defeated creature, puzzled.

Ruti never even took a combat stance, merely waving her weapon casually. Just that

was enough to split the goblin's armor and body cleanly in two, a feat that caught

Mogrim's eye.

"Whoa! That's some cutting edge! What kind of magic blade is that?" he asked

excitedly.

No point hurting his dwarven pride by telling him it's just a plain old goblin blade

without any kind of magical enhancement…

"That seems to be all of them," I stated.

"Yeah. There don't seem to be any observing from a distance, either," Rit confirmed.

They'd just happened to be lying in wait when we came by. The road on the other

side of the city had significantly more traffic, so adventurers would have already

taken care of goblins on that side, but the path didn't really see much, so these

goblins had gone unnoticed.

"Hmm? What is it, Mogrim?" Glancing around, I noticed he was quietly peering down

at the spear that one of our opponents had been wielding. It was a modest weapon,

and it looked like it hadn't been properly cared for in a long time.

"It was a long time ago now, but I made this spear."

"…I see…"

Mogrim set the spear down on the ground and murmured a short prayer. The

armament's original owner had fallen prey to the goblins.

"Okay, let's walk a little bit more and then have some food. My stomach is telling me

it's noon," I said.

"Ha-ha, yeah, that sounds like a plan." Mogrim smiled as he picked up the spear and

fastened it to his bag before rejoining us, taking the lead.

This world was filled with combat. But even so, it would be miserable to go through

existence always just mourning and suffering.

Even after a fight, we could sit down to laugh and enjoy fresh, colorful sandwiches

for lunch. Time spent together with trusty friends was the same no matter how the

world was.

"This is where Gideon is," Yarandrala muttered as she looked up at the sign for the

apothecary.

A mix of anticipation and unease crossed her face, and there was a breathtaking

beauty in the tinge of anxiety in her gaze. However, it was the sort of allure that gave

her a distant air.

"Well, they're out now, though." Godwin pointed half-heartedly at the CLOSED sign

on the door, as if he was already tired of seeing that blend of emotions on

Yarandrala's face. "There's no sign of them inside, either. Maybe they decided to take

the day off and go on a date somewhere."

Yarandrala glared at Godwin for a split second before softly pressing a finger to the

door. With her abilities, it would be simple to force it open, but she recoiled after a

beat.

"So then, what sort of place would the two of them go?"

"How should I know?"

"Then where is the nearest guard outpost?"

"W-wait. Just hold on a minute. I'm thinking," Godwin pleaded. It wasn't as though he

were especially close with Red or Rit. However, if he admitted as much to Yarandrala

now, she'd have no further use for him.

If I did that, she really would turn me over to the guards.

Yarandrala seemed to be Red's acquaintance. That Godwin had claimed to be Red's

friend was probably why she had not brought him in despite realizing he was a

criminal. His safe escape from Zoltan hinged upon reuniting Yarandrala and Red.

"For now, how about we try checking where Rit lived before she moved in here?"

Godwin suggested.

"Very well. Lead the way."

Godwin started toward Rit's old abode downtown.

I can't imagine the two of them being there, but I only need to stall for a bit of time

until they return to the shop.

With that in mind, Godwin chose a slightly indirect route, a decision that ultimately

proved unfortunate.

As they were walking along, a voice called from the other side of the street.

"Yarandrala!"

"Ghk." A cold sweat formed on Godwin's back. The merchant who had been traveling

to Zoltan with the high elf was running toward her.

"Yarandrala! That guy's face and voice are different, but I'm sure that's Godwin! I

checked with local law enforcement, and Godwin apparently escaped from prison

and went missing."

"Th— Surely this is just a case of mistaken identity." Godwin flashed an ingratiating

smile, trying to look for all the world like an average, harmless person, but the

merchant jabbed his finger at the disguised man.

"That shit-eating grin is one hundred percent Godwin! Way back, he worked at my

shop as a trainee and stole the money out of my shop! I had to close because of him!

And he had that exact same expression then, too!"

Godwin was growing more nervous by the second.

During his tenure under the merchant's employ, Godwin had been a low-level

nobody in the Thieves Guild, which meant doing those sorts of petty robberies.

Godwin didn't consider the idea of fated retribution often, but that sure seemed like

what this was.

While Godwin's face tensed as he raced to conjure up an excuse, Yarandrala glared at

him scornfully before sighing and turning to face the merchant.

"This man is apparently a friend of Rit the hero and Red, so perhaps it really is just a

case of mistaken identity?"

"Preposterous! He sent a bunch of demons after Rit and kidnapped a boy named Al

whom she was protecting! This man's the worst kind of criminal! There's no way

such a despicable ruffian would be friends with her!"

All of a sudden, the air around the group changed. There was a murderous intent

unlike anything the people who lived in Zoltan had ever felt. Yarandrala's clenched

teeth ground audibly, and she was gripping her quarterstaff so tightly that her

knuckles turned pale.

Oh shit! Something in there hit a nerve!

On instinct alone, Godwin understood that this furious woman was as powerful as

Rit the hero, if not more so. The yellow mask covering Godwin's face slipped to the

ground.

"You betrayed her trust, too?"

"N-no! This is a misunderstanding! W-we were on opposite sides then, but there was

a reconciliation after some other things happened!"

The paved road warped, swelling up before shattering. Vegetation that would have

taken centuries to break through suddenly erupted in a single instant. An enormous

green monster formed before Yarandrala. At the center of the mass of wriggling

vines was a large red flower.

"An elderflower great spirit?!"

Panic gripped the hapless Godwin. This was a special kind of spirit beast that even a

relatively high-level Alchemist like him had never seen before.

"I'm going to take them with me. I won't let anyone wrong them again."

Vines covered in vicious thorns rose into the air to pummel Godwin into the ground.

A single blow would be enough to kill him.

Godwin had no idea why Yarandrala had gotten so enraged, but he could tell this

wasn't something he could weasel his way out of. The man glanced around, looking

for any kind of help, but unsurprisingly, the merchant who had exposed him and the

others nearby paid him no heed as they fled.

Not sure what I expected.

He was a criminal, a real villain. His fellows had vanished after Bighawk's fall. There

was no way anyone would stand up to a fearsome flower monster to help someone

like him.

I always knew this was the kind of end waiting for me, but now that it's time… I realize

that being all alone sucks…

Gripped by fear though he was, Godwin still attempted to stagger away, if only to

prolong his life a few extra moments.

Suddenly, there was a whinny, and Godwin felt something invisible tug at his body.

Just when he was on the verge of collapsing, a saddled horse with a chestnut coat

galloped up beside him. Godwin reflexively clung to the animal, and the moment he

did, it charged past the green monster. The vines came crashing down, but the horse

evaded the attacks gracefully, like it was being directed by a skilled rider.

"What the hell?"

There was no one riding the horse.

"Ah!" But then Godwin noticed the tiny figure on the horse's head. "You're that

spider!"

Mister Crawly Wawly was unhurriedly moving all eight of his legs up and down. He

was the one directing the horse. He glanced back at Godwin and raised one of his

front legs in greeting.

"Wh-why did you save me?"

Godwin struggled to comprehend what exactly was transpiring. Yet no matter how

he looked at it, the reality of the situation was right there in front of him.

This little spider rescued me.

He considered the possibility that the arachnid was here on Tisse's orders, but if that

was the case, it would have been surer for the girl to come herself. And it wasn't like

Tisse had any reason to risk herself for Godwin.

"Hey, spider, why did you save me?"

Godwin expected no response, of course, but Mister Crawly Wawly, still facing

forward, just tilted his head in evident confusion. Then he began gesturing

confidently with his forelegs. The message was plain, even without actual words.

"We're friends because we fought together… and it's only natural to help a friend in

need."

Godwin was a criminal who had worked with the Thieves Guild, but that meant

nothing to Mister Crawly Wawly. Complicated things like that were of no concern to

him.

"You…"

Godwin had survived on the whim of a tiny spider. Even so, the man felt something

warm inside himself as he watched the arachnid direct the horse.

"Sorry. And thank you."

Obviously, spiders had no expressions. Yet when Godwin saw Mister Crawly Wawly

glance back at him, it felt like the creature was smiling.

It's been a long time since I've felt such sincere gratitude.

Without his realizing it, a gentle grin had crossed Godwin's lips.

Unfortunately, just as the bud of friendship was sprouting between the little spider

and the villainous Alchemist, the verdant monster thrust its vines into the ground.

Yarandrala touched its flower and closed her eyes as she wove a spell.

"Child of mana dwelling beneath the earth, heed my call and arise. Thorn Bind!"

Following her songlike chant, a swell of magic power ran through the earth. The road

in front of the horse cracked, and several brambles sprang forth, ready to snare.

"Give me a little thread!" Godwin shouted.

Taking the spider silk from Mister Crawly Wawly, he mixed it together in his hand

with some hairs from the horse's mane, a handful of dirt, and several drops of his

own blood.

"Skill: Instant Alchemy! Advanced Alchemy: Constricting Net!"

Godwin hurled the paste-like substance he'd created. It expanded in the air to

become a net that covered the thorny hedges standing in their path. And the next

moment, it constricted violently, compressing the vines into a single bundle.

"Now!"

Mister Crawly Wawly's legs danced and, seeming to understand, the horse dashed

through the gap Godwin's net had created.

"Hoooo! That's something. Is this horse a friend of yours, too?"

Mister Crawly Wawly swayed in response, and the horse whinnied as if to agree.

Godwin laughed at himself for having asked so absurd a thing. He couldn't help

feeling like he wanted to be friends with the two of them, however.

I'm really starting to lose it now, aren't I?

Godwin grimaced, but quickly reverted to a pleasant sort of smile that didn't really

suit him. He started to believe that he would escape. Yarandrala was far behind now,

and her plant beast was quite slow. Mister Crawly Wawly's horse friend was so

powerful and swift that Godwin could only wonder where this fine steed had been

hiding in Zoltan.

If they could clear the plaza downtown, they would reach an area with more people,

hopefully keeping the high elf from using such flashy abilities.

Godwin's hopes were quickly dashed, though, when he turned and spied Yarandrala

grabbing the conjured vines and getting into some kind of stance.

She murmured something.

"Release."

And then she went flying.

"Th-the hell?! She used that great spirit like a catapult!"

The high elf arced through the air and was back on the horse's heels in moments.

"O great monarch of the forests of old! Ruler of mana, origin of all!"

Fractures ran all through the plaza where the upper crust of Zoltan society went

about their leisure. The ten or so people in the area ran in terror as they saw a figure

rise from beneath the ground.

"Wh-what are you doing summoning something that huge here?!" Godwin screamed.

Yarandrala did not appear to pay him any heed, and a great tree spirit destroyed the

plaza as it slowly rose from the ground.

On closer inspection, tendrils were grasping those too slow to escape and carefully

carrying them to safety. Thankfully, Yarandrala was at least ensuring her actions

didn't injure innocent bystanders. Godwin still had to believe there was a way for

someone so powerful to fight without so much property damage.

It was baffling that a hero could engage in these decidedly unheroic actions, but

when Godwin glimpsed Yarandrala's face, he realized what was going on.

"She's so mad that she snapped?"

He felt a chill run down his spine. A valiant soul like her had been so enraged by a

two-bit lowlife like him that she had lost herself in anger. What had he done to

provoke that?

Yarandrala had summoned a terrifying spirit in the middle of town. Godwin had

never seen that manner of entity in person before, but he understood enough to

know it could destroy all of Zoltan if Yarandrala wished it.

"Run!"

There was no way to fight that. The Alchemist, spider, and horse continued to flee,

but an enormous tendril as thick as the road was wide swung down at them.

"Uoohhh?!"

Even the incredible horse could not fully evade in time and was knocked aside,

throwing Godwin and Mister Crawly Wawly to the ground.

"Argh. Are you okay?"

"Neeeeigh…"

Staggering to his feet, Godwin saw that one of the horse's legs had been injured. It

wouldn't be able to run with that. All Godwin could do now was make a break for it

on his own two legs, so he started looking for Mister Crawly Wawly.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

The little spider was staring down the enormous tree spirit that towered above the

plaza and waving his front legs to block its path.

Why? Even Godwin understood the answer this time. Mister Crawly Wawly had a

friend who needed protecting.

The spider turned to Godwin.

"I… I…" Godwin subconsciously edged backward, feeling pathetic as his legs buckled.

Mister Crawly Wawly gestured with his front legs. Seeing that, the fallen horse

whinnied softly.

"Y-you're telling me to run away?"

It looked like the horse and spider were both nodding.

Godwin felt something curious welling up within himself. He slammed his fist into

his trembling legs and hurriedly gathered several things scattered around on the

ground.

"Fragments of glass, mud, insect wings… I can make the missing water using my

blood and some dirt… Instant Alchemy! Intermediate Alchemy: Vulcanized

Crystallization!"

Godwin flicked his wrist as a liquid formed in the palm of his hand. The substance

hardened in midair, forming into a thin, serrated, swordlike crystal—an instant

alchemical weapon. Godwin held the blade in his right hand and stood next to Mister

Crawly Wawly.

"Don't worry, horse. I'm a master Alchemist, so I'll make you some medicine that can

fix that leg in no time."

What was there to gain from helping a horse or spider? They weren't rich, nor were

they beautiful women. Godwin hadn't been ordered by some bigwig to safeguard

them.

"This is kinda refreshing."

A grin crossed Godwin's face as he readied his makeshift blade. Mister Crawly Wawly

gleefully hopped onto his shoulder.

"All right, do your worst, you damn monster! I'm the greatest Alchemist in Zoltan!"

The great spirit raised its green limbs and swung them down at Godwin and Mister

Crawly Wawly.

"Uooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" Godwin roared as he swung his weapon…

"No matter how you look at it, you have no chance of winning, so please just run

away." A little shadow appeared in front of the tendrils that were hurtling down at

them. "I admit you've gone up a bit in my book, though."

The deadly vines were cut to pieces.

"Tisse!"

There was a hint of kindness in the girl's eyes as she glanced at Godwin and the

spider riding on his shoulder. She tossed him a bag with her free hand. Catching it,

Godwin quickly realized what it was from the feel alone.

"An alchemy set! Thanks!"

"Please use that to escape with the horse."

"But what about you?!"

Tisse raised her left hand in place of an answer. Mister Crawly Wawly leaped from

Godwin's shoulder to her hand.

"I have no idea what is happening, but if someone is running wild in Zoltan, then as a

Zoltan adventurer, I have a responsibility to stop them."

"Oh, hey! Where's Ms. Ruhr? And Rit and Red?"

"They're all out of town right now. I'm the only one still here."

Tisse jumped to evade the tendril bearing down on her. A dozen more vines

swarmed her in the air, but Tisse just held out her left palm and then changed

trajectories as though something were tugging on her.

"This is nice. Lots of tall obstacles all around and plenty of places to hide. Perfect for

me to really fight properly."

Tisse was controlling Mister Crawly Wawly's thread using her left hand. By sticking

the spider silk to a nearby building, she could freely move even while off the ground.

Tisse and Mister Crawly Wawly dodged the great spirit's attacks and cut down its

tendrils one after the other as they drew closer to Yarandrala. Godwin, meanwhile,

had the wounded horse drink the medicine he'd made with the alchemy set as he

beheld the battle.

"Dammit. What do I do…?"

If he could just get Yarandrala to calm down a bit, they could explain that Tisse and

Red were close friends. But Godwin had no clue how to go about that.

"Wait just a minute, please, Yarandrala! Please listen! The person you're fighting

right now is Tisse! She's Red's friend!"

Unfortunately, Godwin's shouts fell on deaf ears as Yarandrala continued to fight

using the great tree spirit. Tisse and Mister Crawly Wawly kept flirting with disaster,

just barely avoiding the vines coming from all directions as Godwin desperately tried

to think of something to do.

Despair gripped Godwin as the newfound bravery in his heart began to wither. And

that was when he heard a familiar voice.

"Well, this is a right old mess."

Turning around, Godwin saw an old lady with a walking stick sighing as she watched

the skirmish between Tisse and Yarandrala.

"M-Master Mistorm?!"

"Oh, if it isn't Godwin. Still getting up to mischief? Didn't I tell you to cut that out and

be a good boy?"

"This isn't the time for that! Please do something to stop them!"

Master Mistorm put her hand to her chin as she peered down at Godwin. "Tell me

everything you know."

Humans! Damn humans!

High elves did not get angry without reason, but their fury was like a raging fire

when they were provoked. They valued trust above all else, viewing disloyalty as the

worst sin.

To Yarandrala, that Gideon had disappeared was incomprehensible. His comrades

giving up on him without trying to search for the man was not only harder to believe

but also absolutely unforgivable. That was why she had abandoned the quest to save

the world. To her, the party's betrayal of Gideon weighed more heavily than the fate

of the world.

After she left the group, Yarandrala had gone to the Duchy of Loggervia, thinking that

Gideon would go to Rit if he was feeling hurt. However, he hadn't been there, and

neither had Rit.

Rit had fought and bled for her country and had given her all for the restoration of

her homeland, even though it meant leaving Gideon's side. That same woman who

had done so much for Loggervia had left because she had become an obstacle to the

crown prince's succession to the throne.

It wounded Yarandrala as surely as any knife. Two whom she dearly loved had been

betrayed by the very people they had protected. They had gone unrewarded and

abandoned for their troubles.

After that, Yarandrala continued on her own, tracking Rit. Whenever she heard

rumors of Rit's travels, her heart felt like it would split in two. Yet when she heard

from Godwin that there was someone at her side, someone who might be Gideon,

she had been elated. The thought of finally meeting the two of them again had been

the final hope supporting her troubled heart.

But they had not been here. What's more, the human who had claimed to be their

friend turned out to be an enemy who had betrayed their trust.

Why do Gideon and Rit have to suffer such a fate? Why must every human seek to hurt

them?

Godwin's desperate pleas would never suffice. Yarandrala would crush her beloved

friends' enemies and then take them back with her to the high elf country of Kiramin

so that they would never have to suffer such mistreatment again.

Yarandrala was driven by a mix of love and savage rage as she continued to fight.

"Smash her down!"

Innumerable tendrils swarmed Tisse, but she continued to evade them using Mister

Crawly Wawly's thread and her exquisite swordsmanship. Tisse moved in close to

Yarandrala several times, but the high elf was skilled with her quarterstaff, and she

did not allow Tisse to land a blow.

The battle seemed to be at something of a stalemate.

"O polar winds, O life-stealing chill! Blizzard!"

Suddenly, a violent chill enveloped the tree spirit, sealing its body in ice.

Yarandrala's furious gaze shot to the source of the magic. "Who are you?" she

demanded.

Standing there was an old lady wielding a staff.

"You really did a number on our town," the elderly woman remarked.

"You're—!" Tisse shouted.

"Tisse. I had no idea you were so skilled."

"And I never would have guessed you could use such powerful magic, Mistorm."

"Ah-ha-ha-ha. I'm glad we could get to know each other better. So have you cooled

your head a little bit, high elf missy?"

"I don't want to be called 'missy' by someone who hasn't even lived half as long as I

have," Yarandrala shot back.

The ice sealing the great spirit began to crack as its body trembled.

"Personally, I'd kind of like being called that no matter how many years I've got

under my belt… Looks like my magic isn't enough to stop you, though!"

"However, with the two of us fighting together, it would be quite difficult for you,

right?"

Even with Tisse's words, Yarandrala did not show any sign of backing down.

"Yarandrala! Listen up! We're friends of Red and Rit!" Mistorm called out.

"The trifling words of a human can't be trusted!" Yarandrala shouted back. She

remained unmoved. However, Tisse was stunned to hear the high elf's name.

Yarandrala?! The one who was Ruti's comrade?!

It certainly explained why she was so strong.

"In that case, just ask them yourself!" insisted Mistorm.

Yarandrala frowned at that. "Where are they?!"

"Ah, I can answer that one," Tisse chimed in.

"Who are you?" demanded the indignant high elf.

"Uh, umm… I'm a friend of theirs."

Tisse decided to hide the fact that she had been a member of the Hero's party

herself. Like Ruti's, her face was largely expressionless and difficult to read, but she

understood the feelings of others better.

She had been added to the Hero's party as Red's—Gideon's—replacement.

Mentioning that to Yarandrala would only stoke the flames, however.

"So then, where are they?" Yarandrala asked again, fixing Tisse with a piercing gaze.

"They should be on their way to the Wall at the End of the World."

"What? There's no passage through the mountains to the east from here."

"You're right. Red, who I suspect is indeed the person you think him to be, is going

there to get a gemstone for a ring to give Rit," Tisse explained, observing Yarandrala's

expression as she chose her words carefully.

How will the high elf react?

"Gideon? A ring for Rit?"

Tisse panicked a little when Yarandrala used Red's real name, but fortunately, the

high elf's voice was little more than a whisper, so only Tisse's sharp ears caught it.

"Really?"

"Yes."

The crack in the ice holding the great spirit suddenly widened. Once free, the

monstrous thing roared before disappearing in a cloud of flowers and white mana.

Petals swirled around Yarandrala, gradually lowering her to the ground. With her

adversary finally quelled, Tisse landed, too. The high elf was still plainly wary, but at

least she wasn't attacking anyone.

"Phew."

Tisse wiped the sweat from her brow as she sheathed her sword. Mister Crawly

Wawly shifted to her pocket, tired from everything that had happened, and curled up

to rest.

"""Hoorayyyyy!!!""" came cheers from all sides.

To Tisse's astonishment, people who had been hiding just outside the plaza gathered

around her.

"Thank you so much! That was a magnificent battle!"

"I was worried about what to do when Rit the Hero retired and Albert and Bui left,

but it's a relief to know someone like you is in town!"

"Please allow me to treat you to dinner at my mansion sometime!"

"Do you mind if I sell steamed buns with your face on them at my store?"

"You were flying around like an angel, miss!"

Yarandrala, the cause of the rampage, was still alive and well, but the laid-back

Zoltanis could not help showering Tisse with praise for the heroic spectacle she had

given them.

Although internally baffled by the praise, Tisse remained expressionless. This was

something an Assassin should ordinarily not be on the receiving end of. She was

exceedingly embarrassed.

"Still, you really made a showy mess of things here," Mistorm stated with

exasperation as Yarandrala stood there dumbfounded.

The great spirit had disappeared, but the plaza was a scene of utter destruction. The

ground was torn up, and the surrounding buildings were off-kilter, tilted down to

their foundations. Massive reconstruction was going to be needed.

"…My apologies."

Yarandrala still did not trust these humans, but she did at least recognize her own

misdeeds.

"Well, what's done is done. Fortunately, no one seems to have been hurt. You took

care not to injure any bystanders, right?" Mistorm said with a smile.

However, given the destruction, Tisse suspected that not all of the residents would

be able to just laugh it off. And sure enough, a well-dressed, mustachioed middleaged man approached Yarandrala.

"You, high elf. I don't know what all happened, but I'd like an explanation. Who gave

you the right to wreak havoc on our town like that?"

Yarandrala glanced over at Godwin. The man had been trying to sneak away while

hiding his face from the crowd. And seeing the horse walking in front of Godwin to

help conceal him, Yarandrala smiled ever so slightly. Then she turned to the welldressed man who had approached her.

"I was searching for someone. I thought that the person who was guiding me to them

had deceived me because of a misunderstanding, and I got angry."

"Huh? That's it?"

"Yes, that's it."

"Preposterous! Causing such an enormous incident over something like that is…" The

man surveyed the destruction around him before facing Yarandrala again, looking at

her like he would at a monster.

Yarandrala pulled out a small bag and handed it to the man.

"My personal circumstances have nothing to do with you all, so I apologize for the

trouble. I understand that regardless of my apology, what I've done is not something

that can readily be forgiven, but I would at least like to provide adequate

recompense."

"Hmph. Payment with such a tiny bag? Even if they're gold coins, there can't be more

than ten in— What?!"

The man's formal tone cracked as he was overcome by shock. Curious about what

had happened, others gathered around to look, but upon seeing the shine from

inside the satchel, they just shook their heads in confusion.

"What's the baron gawking at? It's just a few silvers."

"But aren't payrils a different size? And the color's a little different, too."

"F-fools! These are elven coins! A single one is worth ten thousand payrils!"

"T-ten thousand?! Ummm, how many silvers is ten thousand payrils anyway…?"

"Ten thousand, you dolt! And there are seven elven coins here! Seventy thousand

payrils is enough to rebuild the assembly from the ground up with plenty to spare!"

"What?!"

"That's crazy! Are you really giving us that much?!"

When Yarandrala nodded, the residents started whooping and hollering around the

ruined plaza about how they were going to throw a huge party with all that money.

There did not seem to be anyone still angry at the high elf. She'd been ready to flee if

they tried to arrest her. Thus, her sudden absolution was perplexing.

"What a hopeless bunch," Mistorm commented with a chuckle as she watched people

celebrate by tossing both the middle-aged baron and Tisse into the air. "That's just

how folk here act, I suppose. No point worrying about the past."

"But the plaza is still destroyed," Yarandrala reminded her.

"That's hardly uncommon! Zoltan's hit by storms all the time. Every year, some

buildings get toppled and crops get wrecked. It can be a right old mess. But the

weather doesn't care what those on the ground think, right? If something gets

destroyed, just build it again. It's better to smile than be sad. You're only missing out

if you don't. That's the Zoltan way of thinking, at least."

Yarandrala's brow furrowed slightly. "Are you calling me a storm?"

"In a sense. I trust if you genuinely went all out, there'd be no stopping you. Getting

angry at you would be like shaking one's fist at a hurricane."

"…" Yarandrala silently watched the people cheering.

Sensing that the high elf's ire had settled completely, Mistorm breathed a sigh of

relief.

While still being flung in the air, Tisse called out to the two women. "It's all well and

good for you to continue chatting, but do you think you could help me out now?"

"Oops." Seeing that Tisse was at a complete loss over what to do with the sudden

adulation, Mistorm headed over to the crowd with a smile on her face.

"All right."

Tisse, Mister Crawly Wawly, Yarandrala, Mistorm, and Godwin headed to a small

restaurant after leaving the plaza.

"I thought we should have a little something to eat. This place is a favorite of mine,"

Mistorm said as she started in on the large plate of pasta with a meaty red sauce that

had been set in front of her.

"That's beside the point. I need to find Gid—"

"Red, right?" Tisse hurriedly cut Yarandrala off.

The high elf glared at her, but Tisse just eyed the woman back.

"You said that Red and Rit are heading for the Wall at the End of the World, right?"

Yarandrala asked.

"Yes," Tisse confirmed.

"So that Red can make a ring to give to Rit?"

"Yes."

"Huh, he always seems like such a wuss, but I guess he does have some stones after

all," Godwin quipped, eliciting a scowl from Yarandrala that forced him to look away

hurriedly.

"…Thank goodness…"

Tisse did not miss the high elf's whisper. She had never interacted with Yarandrala

before. By the time she had met Ruti and the others, Yarandrala had already left the

party. There had been plenty of stories, but now that Tisse had interacted with

Yarandrala firsthand, the high elf made quite a different impression from what Tisse

had first imagined.

"That hits the spot."

Mistorm had cleared half the big plate of pasta in the blink of an eye. None of the

other three had so much as touched their orders. Mister Crawly Wawly did seem to

be enjoying a fly he had caught after the scent of the pasta had drawn it.

"We're going to chase after Red and Rit, yes? It's going to be far more than a day trip,

so you should eat now while you can," Mistorm chided.

"'We'?" Yarandrala asked suspiciously.

"If you want to find those two, Tisse will have to guide you. It just so happens that I

have business with Mogrim, who's traveling with Red and Rit, and Godwin here is

just along for the ride."

"Huh? Me too?"

"Yep, you're coming with, kiddo."

"Why should I?"

"Now, now, don't complain. I've got my reasons, so be a good boy and just do as I say."

"'Be a good boy'…You know I was pretty high up in the Thieves Guild, right? I've

never been able to deal with you, though," the Alchemist admitted.

Tisse was surprised to see Godwin accept Mistorm's instructions so readily. She

turned to the old woman and asked, "I don't mind guiding Yarandrala, but what

business do you have with Mogrim?"

"Mink, Mogrim's wife, said he was probably headed to the Wall and asked me to lend

him a hand."

"Ahh. Yes, he went with Red and Rit to try to get his hands on some earth crystal,"

Tisse explained.

"I didn't expect that. I was sure Mogrim would assemble a group of adventurers, but I

would never have guessed he'd go with Rit and Red. I had planned to catch him at

the Adventurers Guild, but by the time Mink told me what her husband was

planning, he'd already left town. I was preparing to depart right when that mess in

the plaza got underway."

"Sorry about that," Yarandrala apologized.

"It worked out in its own way. We've got a nice little group of companions for the

journey," Mistorm said before turning back to her plate.

"Do we really need to make such an effort? They only left early this morning, and it's

noon now. If we chase after them on horses or riding drakes, we should catch up by

tomorrow evening," Tisse remarked.

"A journey's a journey, no matter the length," Mistorm responded with a smile.

"Indeed." Yarandrala nodded before turning to the pasta in front of her with elegant

poise.

"So long as I don't end up hanging from the gallows, that's enough for me. And if I'm

going to end up dying anyway, I'd rather it be after I eat some delicious food," Godwin

declared as he dove into his meal with gusto.

"Are you not going to eat?" Mistorm asked Tisse.

"I will."

The young Assassin was worried about Ruti, Red's true identity, and several other

things, but she decided to let those be and trust Red to figure something out as she

turned her attention to the pasta in front of her.

"Delicious."

"Right?"

The flavor certainly merited Tisse's attention. She made a quick mental note of the

restaurant's name.