Happy New Year, everyone.
Thank you for your continued support. It’s a bit early, but since it’s New Year’s Day, I’ve updated today. Thank you for your support this year as well.
“Please wait!”
As we were discussing our next destination after finishing our business, we saw an employee of the Adventurer’s Guild, where we had stopped only once, running towards us.
“…Phew. I’m glad you were still here.”
“What’s wrong?”
When Aria asked, the stout male employee wiped his sweat and took out what looked like a document.
“Um… you are Aria-san and Snow-san, right? We have received a message from Dolton-sama of the “Rainbow Sword”.”
Dolton had sent a message from the Royal Capital’s Adventurer’s Guild to the guilds in the regions where Samantha was likely to stop.
It costs a considerable amount of money just to put up posters in various guilds, but to contact them even to search, I wonder how much money it cost?
The guild staff went out of their way to find us because we were a conspicuous party of a young woman and an old woman, and because Aria was famous.
A Rank 5 party’s scout. The “Ash-Covered Princess” feared by thieves and assassins.
Her reputation, which had previously only been known in the Underworld, is gradually spreading abroad.
“So, what is it?”
“…Return to the Royal Capital immediately. That’s all.”
When I asked, Aria, who was reading the message, replied.
“Here.”
“…Concise.”
That’s all that’s really written. Conversely, it shows how important the matter is.
Moreover, if it is sent to so many guilds, clever people will know that the “Rainbow Sword,” which is also connected to the Aristocratic Faction, is trying to do something.
But Dolton prioritized time over being known to rival factions.
“Let’s go back… Are you okay?”
“It can’t be helped.”
If Aria is really in a hurry, it means we’ll go straight through the Forest without using the roads or carriages.
My condition isn’t completely recovered yet, but I’ve learned from Granny, so let’s proceed while practicing.
We stowed the preserved food we bought at the viscount’s territory into 【Shadow Storage】, and started heading straight southeast towards the Royal Capital.
…In the end, I couldn’t sleep in a bed for even a day.
We use Body Enhancement and run through the deep Forest.
“Living in a hurry”… I really think that’s a word for us.
Aria risked her life for what she had to do, what she had to do, and for her oath.
I couldn’t stop until my remaining life was exhausted, to kill everything and be killed, for the sake of hatred.
People who don’t know anything, people who only know kindness, will pity us and think we’re pathetic.
People who have lived without seeing anything, people who have lived in a narrow world, will call us monsters and fear us, who can kill even demons in our early teens.
When other children were having picture books read to them by their parents until they fell asleep in bed, we continued to fight while vomiting blood.
And we don’t regret it or look back on it.
Because everything is what we decided for ourselves.
Those who can complain to someone are truly blessed.
Do you know?
Most of the dissatisfaction in this world disappears with “dying” or “killing.”
That’s why we had to become “strong.”
And we are still “living in a hurry.”
“You look pale.”
“…I don’t need medicine.”
Seeing Aria looking like she was about to take something out of 【Shadow Storage】 after seeing my complexion, I couldn’t help but stop her.
Because death isn’t that scary, but Aria’s medicine is bitter.
“That’s right. It’s about time for new medicine…”
“That’s not it.”
Why are you digging the ground with new medicine? What’s in the Forest floor? Are roasted earthworms really effective?
As I stopped Aria, who was smiling and looking puzzled, the Kitty on her shoulder sighed and dispelled its illusion.
“Nero?”
『Gaa』
The next moment, the Kitty’s “main body,” as big as a small house, appeared from Aria’s Shadow, who called out its name.
“What’s wrong?”
The Kitty, who stroked Aria’s cheek with its ear feelers as she stroked its nose, narrowed its eyes at me as if it were a bother.
“He says he’ll give you a ride on his back.”
“…Oh, really.”
I really wonder how she understands what he’s saying?
After getting a ride on Kitty’s back, we arrived in the vicinity of the Royal Capital in just a few days, a journey that would normally take Aria’s legs more than a week.
We were supposed to stop in a town along the way for a day or two, but I missed sleeping in a bed again.
Kitty returned to Aria’s Shadow along the way, and when we arrived at Dolton’s mansion in the Royal Capital without any problems, we found Dolton about to get into a carriage.
“You guys were fast. Just in time. You guys come too.”
“Me too?”
It’s not the “Rainbow Sword’s” carriage as Adventurers, but a carriage used by an inconspicuous merchant, so surely it was that person who called him?
“That’s right, you too, Snow. Aria too, but they said to bring you along if you’re with her.”
“…Hmph.”
The Princess is unexpectedly resolute. Even though she’s supposed to be dead, to summon the person who destroyed the Royal Capital, does she have a death wish?
She’s really living in a hurry. Aria got into the carriage as if she didn’t care… but I guess I’ll have to wait for a bed again.
But, as expected of the Princess. Whether it was planned from the beginning, or whether she believed Aria would come, we were waiting for the Princess not in the Royal Castle, but in a noble family’s mansion nearby.
“Welcome, Dolton, Aria. This is a former Aristocratic Faction mansion that has been seized and is under my care, so you don’t have to worry about other people’s eyes. You(・・・) too.”
“…I’m much obliged.”
The Cruz and the black-haired maid in the room glared at me warily as I sat down on the edge of the sofa without taking off my hood.
It seems that there are hardly any ordinary knights in this mansion, but the maids and servants are also Shadow Knights, and they are quite skilled.
Of course, they are most wary of me. But, because the Princess allows it, they can’t object. It’s tough.
“…Your power may be needed.”
The Princess sighed lightly at me, who was smiling faintly, and the maids who were wary, and began to speak quietly.
“First of all, Aria. Regarding this matter, I intend to use all my power to protect you. The final decision is up to you, but don’t forget that.”
“Understood.”
When Aria nodded, the Princess paused for a moment and showed a serious expression.
“To put it bluntly. The “Hero” who appeared from another continent wants to welcome Aria, who has heroic-level power, into his party as a formal request from the Holy Church.”
Here he comes…
Is the Hero friend or foe? And what is his true strength?
The new work “Dragon Girl Wandering the Doomed World” has finished up to the first chapter.
We are currently working on revisions, but please read it if you like.
Please support us as it will be a motivation!
Don’t forget that the new Otosaba book is on January 15th!