Chapter 33

“Ah, you have come. You kept me waiting.”

After chasing the three forest wolves, we had arrived in a clearing in the forest that was a meadow. Among the pack of fifty or more wolves, stood the platinum giant wolf, Beowulf.

“You were waiting?”

“Indeed. I too have been thinking of setting off on my journey.”

Was that so. Then this was perfect timing. Daniela and I made our way through the gathering of wolves until we stood right by Beowulf’s feet. Then we sat down near the wolf who was lying on the ground and explained why we had come.

“We have come to ask of you a small request.”

“Oh?”

Beowulf raised his head and looked at me. There was amusement in his eyes.

“Unfortunately, it’s a rather one-sided request… But it would really help if you would like, not attack any towns, villages or people. This is really an issue on the human side of things.”

“Hmm. I understand what you are saying.”

“Humans have larger numbers. They could gather together as a large group and have you killed. And well, that won’t make me too happy.”

“Hahaha. But I am a monster am I not?”

“Even so. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to keep my promise with you then.”

I say with a shrug of my shoulders. I was sympathizing with a monster… I couldn’t really complain now about being treated as an outsider.

“In that case, I cannot reject such a request.”

Beowulf seemed to smile and then laughed. I couldn’t help but laugh as well. This wasn’t exactly a friendship between man and monster. Perhaps it was more like comradery. Perhaps we would always be fighting together. Just as Beowulf had accepted me, I would create a place for Beowulf to fight. Keep him away from humans that would hunt him, while I honed my own skills and techniques. That way, our relationship could be maintained.

“Well then, I think I will depart now.”

“You’re leaving already?”

I ask as Beowulf stands up.

“There is no reason for me to stay here. And I am looking forward to seeing this outside world.”

“Right. We’re leaving too. And if we ever meet again somewhere, well, I won’t hold back when that happens.”

Beowulf looked down at me and raised his front leg and thrust his curled paw at me. Heh, he had a very masculine side to him.

I too made a fist and thrust it out and bumped it against his. Then we both burst into laughter. Seeing us, Daniela couldn’t help but laugh, though her expression said ‘these men…’

“Farewell, Asagi.”

“Yeah, see you. Beowulf.”

I watched as Beowulf slowly walked away with heavy footsteps. Several forest wolves were following after him. Family? Guards? I didn’t know. The remaining forest wolves looked at us and then scattered throughout the forest. We would likely never fight them here again.

“We should leave as well. We need to prepare for our travels.”

“Aye. We will return today, prepare tomorrow and depart on the day after that.”

Daniela said with a nod. The road back home was very peaceful. Except for the area around my damn feet.

□ □ □ □

“I see, it will be lonely here.”

“You’ve been very kind to me, Maris.”

“We are grateful.”

I and Daniela bowed. Maris laughed and slapped us on the shoulder.

“This isn’t a permanent farewell. And I’m sure you will do well out there!”

“Yes, we will come back.”

“Take care yourself and protect Daniela, okay? You are a man after all!”

“Ahaha… If anything, she will probably have to protect me.”

“That’s quite regrettable… Anyway, you two help each other and stay strong!”

“Yes!”

She was a great person. We bowed again and thanked her. And then we left the Spring Wind, the best inn in all of Fhiraldo.

Our preparations were finished. Well, we already had a tent and other outdoor supplies. Things we had used during our training camp. There would be a lot to carry, but at least they were of good quality.

And so we went to the central guardhouse to say our farewells to Russell.

□ □ □ □

“Hello, Russell.”

“Ah, Asagi. What is it?”

“We’re going to be leaving town tomorrow. So just thought I’d say goodbye.”

“Well, that is a surprise!”

“Yeah… But we’ll be back one day.”

“I see… I will miss you.”

“Hehe… Thank you. Take care, Russell.”

“And you, Asagi! Ah! Wait there a minute!”

“Hm?”

“Ummm…it was somewhere around…. Ah, here it is. Here, take this with you.”

“What’s this? Ah, a filthy old bag.”

“You stupid bastard. This is a ‘hollow bag.’”

“‘Hollow bag’?”

“What, you do not know what that is? It is a bag with dimension magic cast on it. A rare item that allows you to carry more than what it looks like it could hold.”

“You’re kidding. How did you come by this?”

“I picked it up a long time ago after killing some bandits who were infesting the area.”

“Hmm, are you sure? This has to be very valuable.”

“Think of it as a parting gift. Don’t worry about it.”

“Got it. Thanks, Russell. Take care!”

“You too! Send my regards to Daniela as well!”

□ □ □ □

With that done, I now had a very dirty, *cough*…vintage bag on my back. Inside of it were food supplies, the tent and the four weapons we had taken from the ancient elven ruins. There were other smaller things inside as well.

I had stopped by the guild in order to retrieve the ancient elven weapons and was able to say goodbye to the people there. Luckily, Gardo and Ness happened to be there too.

“And so we decided to leave this town.”

“Well, good luck. And sorry for all the earlier stuff.”

“It’s long forgotten. You two take care of yourselves then.”

“Actually, we also travel quite a lot on quests. We might just bump into each other out there.’

Somehow, I felt that that was exactly what would happen. We were adventurers after all. Our paths would surely cross.

Great. We got the weapons and said all of our goodbyes. Now we could set off. Just as I was headed for the door, something crashed into me from behind. I was barely able to regain my balance before falling. Then I turned around to look at the culprit. Unsurprisingly, it was Fiona who stood there.

“What! Asagi, are you really going to leave this town!?”

“Uhh… that was a little rough, Miss Fiona.”

“But my gold-digger plans. Oh, what am I to do!?”

“Don’t ask me.”

“You must return! Come back for me!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Goodbye!”

“…goodbye.”

When all was said and done, I couldn’t quite hate Fiona, the overly familiar guild worker. She was cheerful to the end. I glanced back and saw that Flo was waving from her counter. She must have heard the conversation. I waved back.

I look back at the place that had given me a new way to live after coming to this world. Not everything had been pleasant. But a lot of it was. It was a place that held many memories for me. The Fhiraldo headquarters of the Adventurer’s Guild.

One day, I would return here after much growth. I was looking forward to that day already.

□ □ □ □

The last person I went to see was the person who gave me the most important thing since I came to this world.

“Hello.”

“Ah, you came.”

Chief came out to greet me today as well. But it would also be the last day he would do so.

“I had a feeling that you would leave soon. So it is today then?”

“Uh, yeah. We thought that we might as well.”

“Indeed… I will miss you.”

Chief was uncharacteristically subdued and looked at me with a gentle expression. It was like a parent watching its baby bird leave the nest.

“Oh, right. There was something that I wanted to show you.”

“Hmm? …Ahhhh!! Is that it!!”

I took out the ancient elven weapons from the hollow bag and placed them on the counter. Chief inspected them enthusiastically.

“You took them out as if they were nothing. But they are incredibly rare artifacts you understand? Nobles would hang such treasures on their walls.”

“Daniela said as much. I’d be rich if I sold them.”

“How pragmatic… Anyway, this has a marvelous shape… What is it made of?”

His eyes never left the sword as we talked. He removed the sword from its sheath and murmured with approval when he saw the jade green blade. His face was one of concentration, even as his eyes sparkled like a child who had found a treasure.

After looking at it for quite some time, he resheathed the sword and handed it back to me.

“I am glad I was able to see it. Thank you, Asagi.”

“I hope that it was enough to repay you?”

“It was too much, you idiot.”

I chuckle as I accept the sword from him and put it back into the bag. It was time to leave.

“Well, then. See you.”

“Aye. I will expect you to have that sword on your belt the next time we meet. I will be waiting.”

“Thank you. I’m glad to have met you, Chief.”

“Bah, likewise!”

He tightly gripped my offered hand, even as he roughly wiped away his tears with the other. When we let go, his hands grabbed me by the shoulders and forcefully turned me around before punching me in the back.

“Pull yourself together and go!”

“…Aye!”

I don’t look back. I open the door in front of me and go outside. The door slams behind me as I continue to walk and head for where Daniela was waiting.

The person who had given me the power to live. I must live in a way that he would not be ashamed of. It was a small, yet important oath.

□ □ □ □

Well then, it was time to set off on our journey. We had now finished saying goodbye to everyone. Except for Mizel, who was unfortunately out of town to buy new supplies. I had to tell Maris to say goodbye for me. Not being able to say goodbye to her was my only regret.

We discussed where our destination should be and decided to head to the east. It was the opposite direction that I had come from, which had been through the west gate. While we had bought a lot of things, we were still trying to save money, so we would travel on foot. Plus, we were in no rush, so horses weren’t really necessary. Horses were expensive, but the cost of feeding them was even worse.

We arrived at the eastern gate.

There were two guards stationed here, and both had been in the group that had saved me from the forest wolves.

“So you really are leaving.”

“Yes. Thanks for saving me that one time.”

“Don’t mention it! And be careful out there.”

“Will do. Thank you.”

I waved goodbye at them and we both went through the open gate. I had come into this town alone. I would never have thought that I’d be leaving it with a partner.

I look back once we are on the other side. As always, I could hear the lively, bustling noises of the town. My time here had been eventful, the first town I found in this world. I would miss it. Russell, who had come to help me. Maris, who prepared a place for me to stay. Mizel, who was ever light-hearted. Fellow adventurers, Gardo and Ness. Fiona, the overly casual guild worker and the bookworm, Flo. And finally, Daniela who I ended up forming a party with.

They say that there are as many partings as there are meetings, but this wasn’t for life. I would surely meet them all again one day.

I look ahead of me. There was a vast forest spread out before us, but there was also a road running through it.

“Asagi, hurry up if you do not want to be left behind.”

Daniela was already walking down that road as she called for me. I couldn’t stand here idly. Like I would let her leave me behind! I begin to run. Headed for a new place, for a world that was alien to me.

My adventure had only just begun!