Chapter 17: The Long Road to the Imperial Capital – 01
The meeting was filled with an overwhelming amount of information, but after the discussions concluded, we were finally able to leave the castle.
At the end of the meeting, we received permission as a reward to enter the “Foundation of the Royal Family” Dungeon. Moreover, we could enter it three times at our convenience. While it was unlikely we would obtain something as powerful as the “Immovable Fortress Wall” each time, it was still an incredible opportunity for an adventurer party.
Afterward, we headed to the outskirts to pick up Geshura before returning to our inn.
“Starting tomorrow, it’s all about conquering the remaining dungeons and the ‘Foundation of the Royal Family’! I’ve been feeling so pent-up lately, I can’t wait!” Larni exclaimed, her tail wagging excitedly.
“Indeed, that is quite true. It seems I haven’t had enough training lately,” Soushi replied.
“With powerful equipment like Soushi’s shield, we’ll be able to cut down strong monsters! I’m looking forward to that as well!” Larni continued, her enthusiasm infectious.
The priestess from Oz, Shizuna, and the tiger beastwoman, Karma, nodded in agreement. These three certainly had a festive spirit.
Mariane, the guild receptionist, chimed in, “It’s the first time for guild staff to enter the ‘Foundation of the Royal Family,’ so I’m quite motivated!”
Amidst this lively atmosphere, an inn employee approached me, saying, “Soushi-sama, you have a visitor.” A wave of tension washed over me, recalling the recent incident at the church, but I doubted this would be anything similar.
As I made my way to the lobby, I was surprised to find a woman with gray hair tied in a ponytail, dressed in traditional warrior attire—Sakurahime.
“Oh, Sakurahime-san! It’s been a while,” I greeted her.
“Ah, Soushi-dono! I’m delighted to see you. I’ve heard there was quite a significant incident in the Royal Capital recently, and that ‘Soul’s Guidance’ managed to resolve it splendidly. Truly impressive!” she replied, her face devoid of the weariness I had seen before. It seemed that her connection with the “Supreme Radiance” had been severed, relieving her of some burdens.
“I’ve heard it was quite challenging for you after returning to the church, but has that situation been resolved?” I inquired.
“Yes, we have concluded our discussions. I believe my activities with ‘Supreme Radiance’ held some meaning, but I intend to return home for now. I would like to express my gratitude to you, Soushi-dono, with an Elixir…”
“There’s no need to worry about that until you return home. We plan to head to the Empire afterward, so we can visit the Zanzagil household then,” I assured her.
“Oh, is that so? In that case, may I accompany you? If possible, I would like to repay your kindness along the way,” she asked earnestly.
“Ah, why not just join our party?” Larni suggested, her voice coming from behind me. It seemed she had been eavesdropping.
“Sakurahime has no specific plans afterward, right?” she pressed.
Taken aback by the wolf beastwoman’s sudden enthusiasm, Sakurahime hesitated, “W-well, I have no particular plans… But I thought you already had enough members in your party, Soushi-dono.”
“Don’t worry! Soushi is fine with any cute girl joining. Plus, traveling with our party makes long journeys easier, helps you grow stronger, and you can aim to become a legendary adventurer! Just know that once you join, there’s no escaping!” Larni added with a mischievous grin.
“I’m not sure what to think… But if joining your party would be a way to repay my debt, I would be grateful to join,” Sakurahime replied, her resolve strengthening.
“That’s settled then! Oh, and everyone is already on board, so no worries there. Besides, your skills must have leveled up by now, right?” Larni continued, her excitement palpable.
I raised my hands in a gesture of caution, “Wait, wait! It’s not that simple. Sakurahime-san, please take a moment to think this over. Our party is quite active and it can be demanding. We aim to conquer all dungeons, and we do so at double the speed of normal adventurers.”
I intended to warn her, but instead, Sakurahime leaned forward, her interest piqued. “So, you are indeed dedicated to training. I came out here with the intention of honing my skills, so that sounds rather appealing. ‘Supreme Radiance’ was not fond of dungeons and rarely entered them.”
“See? Sakurahime is perfect for ‘Soul’s Guidance’! It’s decided!” Larni declared, rushing back into the room before I could respond.
I sighed, watching her retreating figure before turning back to Sakurahime. “Are you truly okay with this? It would be a great honor for us if you joined our party.”
“If my joining would serve as a way to repay my debt, I would gladly accept. After hearing your conversation, I am eager to join ‘Soul’s Guidance,'” she affirmed.
“Understood. ‘Soul’s Guidance’ welcomes you, Sakurahime-san. I look forward to working with you. However, be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead; our party is more demanding than I mentioned earlier.”
To be honest, I felt a connection with Sakurahime from the moment I first laid eyes on her, but I hadn’t expected it to lead to this.
However, with nine members in the party, there would be no room for deception.
Given how the recent meeting went, it seemed that His Majesty the King, the Guild Master, and even the Holy Pope intended to treat ‘Soul’s Guidance’ as anything but ordinary.
With Freinir’s Divine Attribute now revealed, perhaps there was no longer a need to hide my “Vessel of the Commander” skill.
But if that were the case, our treatment would inevitably become even more exaggerated. I had long been aware of my unusual power, but perhaps it was time to fully embrace the fact that I was something special.
As someone who had once cast aside such notions, it felt oddly resistant to accept.