Chapter 16 – Good Morning and Goodbye

The cursed chains which bound me in my place finally began to rust away, as the black of the night started to fade. The crimson flame grew ever stronger until the black of the night was no longer, yet the ever-welcoming warmth turned to scorching heat.

Finally free, from the shackles of ire, I desperately fled from the scarlet fire. I dashed through a rocky field, past purple haze, lightning, and ice, only to be greeted once more by my only demise. Again, lost and alone, in the boundless abyss. Whatever did I do, to deserve a fate like this?

——————————

Again? Third night in the new world and I’m still having nightmares. Just as I thought I was getting used to sleeping within the surprisingly pleasant bedsheets... It was still the same tale too. I fairly sure it’s trying to tell me something, but I just can’t seem to figure out what.

I was woken up by a soft yet firm and a rather familiar sensation that suddenly covered most of my body. A flowery scent filled my lungs, yet it wasn't that of Violet's lavender. Another woman? Oh no...

⌈G-G-Grace…W-Why you..!⌋

⌈Eh? But you were repeating his name over and over when you slept! Nee~, 'Don't worry, I'll save you from the curse! Please don't run away! No, come back!' was it? Hehe~⌋

⌈Uuuh... I’ll kill you..⌋

Our room had been invaded by the two elven beauties, one of which was on the verge of tears.

And also on top of me.

Why is she on top of me?

⌈I feel like I’m getting jealous over here… First the senior sorceress, and now the snow elf. Hell, even the smith girl seems to be after you after you went ahead and flaunted your wealth…⌋

This is the first time I’ve heard Seth speak with such unease. Soon after, he was jumped by a ferocious beast... Or rather, the other elf, of the dark variety.

⌈I’m fine right? I should be fine?⌋

⌈Y-Yes..!⌋

The ferocious beast had painted the face of the mighty hunter as red as blood.

⌈Eh, eh!? Are you embarrassed? Eh?⌋

⌈N-Not at all!⌋

⌈It’s not nice to not be honest, you know!⌋

⌈A little..⌋

⌈Ehehe~!⌋

Those two seem to get along well... Did something happen that I don’t really get? Probably.

The other elf, this time of the snow variety, who was on top of me, quickly got up and stared into my eyes with the utmost scorn. She didn’t have to say a thing. I already knew what she was thinking.

⌈Pervert..⌋

There it is! Of course!

⌈But wasn't it you who woke me up by jumping on top of me!?⌋

⌈But it was Grace who pushed me..⌋

⌈That hardly justifies anythi–⌋

⌈…⌋

The icy-cold death glare of such beautiful eyes left me thinking that it’d be best not to say anything else. It seems like there are a lot of things that I don’t quite understand. Though women seem even more complex than magic and monsters if I'm completely honest.

⌈So, uh… Good morning..?⌋

⌈Morning!! Did you sleep better tonight? Nee~, Did you like the wake-up!?⌋

⌈Well, to be honest, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t.⌋

⌈Pervert..⌋

⌈You sure are a broken record.⌋

⌈Nee~, what’s a rec–⌋

As I finally managed to get up, the whole room went silent. Even the hyperactive Grace froze mid-sentence.

⌈Eh!? What? Did I do something?⌋

⌈Hey, kiddo. Are you alright!?!⌋

⌈You what now? Couldn’t you have asked that yesterday after I came back from the Trail or something!? But, yeah... I think I am?⌋

⌈But all those scars... That’s not normal.⌋

⌈Indeed..⌋

Even Lumi agreed.

For the first time in the new world, I got comfortable enough to sleep without a shirt on, and as I got up, my scar ridden upper body reveled in the light piercing through the small window on the back wall of the room.

Considering the stories I had written, and if my current self indeed followed said events, it didn’t come to me as a surprise that my current body looked like it had been run through a meat grinder more than once. Remnants of smaller strikes covered my sides, while a horizontal cut across my abdomen, and multiple scars from the claw of a dragon running down my chest diagonally, decorated my front. I can only imagine what my back looks like.

Though… it does look pretty cool, no? And that's not even mentioning my muscles. Though not that sizeable, they were lean and nearly unobstructed, as I had little to no fat to speak of. However did I not notice this before? I really want to know what my face looks like now...

⌈Kiddo… No matter how well I think I’ve figured you out already, you still manage to surprise me one time after another.⌋

⌈But you’ve shared a room with me all this time. You should’ve noticed!⌋

⌈It’s too dark at night, and I don’t like to ogle at other men.⌋

Good point...

⌈Nee~, would you ogle at me? I’m not a man!⌋

Grace playfully asked Seth.

⌈Wha-!?⌋

⌈Hehe~!⌋

Seth’s cheeks were as red as his eyes once more. Can’t those guys tone it down just a bit?

⌈Get a room, you two.⌋

⌈Oh!? Are you saying you want to switch places with me? Nee~, do you perhaps want to share a room with my little Lumi!?⌋

⌈Please stop joking about such matters.. I’ll never share a room with that… uh.. pervert..⌋

Lumi snappily replied, though thinking twice before calling me a pervert for like the fifth time this morning for no reason at all.

⌈It’s not good to not be honest~!⌋

I mean, I guess I would... She is beautiful after all. And she can be pretty cute at times… No! What am I thinking!? She’s been hostile against me all this time. I shouldn’t give in this easily… Begone, foul vixen!

⌈No, that’s not what I meant! I wouldn’t want to share a room with someone like her anyway.⌋

⌈Tsk..⌋

Thankfully, Seth managed to step in before Lumi and I began waging war against each other.

⌈Eh, should we get going? The breakfast time will be over soon.⌋

⌈Oh yeah, let’s go~! I’m getting hungry!⌋

Surely enough, we made our way downstairs to the dining area. Despite the morning being so eventful, and everyone else seeming so cheerful, I couldn't shake the feeling of melancholy. I tried to not pay too much attention, but the thought still lingered.

The food was basic once again, but ever so delicious nevertheless. It was a rather sizable meal, which is good since I probably won't have many opportunities to eat. The inn employees were overjoyed to house 4 new adventurers, that our 'pets' also had meals prepared for them. After all of us had our fill, we made our way outside and eventually ventured to the walls.

As we stopped under the large arching gates, I started to reminisce the times I had with Seth and the elven girls since being sent to the new world. It’s only been a couple of days, but it sure felt like so much more…

This is where my journey to the world begins, huh? I guess it was fun to hang out with these guys, but this is where we part ways.

⌈Hey, Seth..⌋

⌈Yeah?⌋

⌈Thanks for taking care of me until now.⌋

After uttering those sorrow-filled words, I ran off faster than I’ve ever run in my life. Had the wind not blown against my face, I’m sure my face would’ve been covered in tears. I'm fairly sure I know why I didn't feel too great not too long ago...

It’s going to be easier this way.

⌈HUH!!? HEY, KIDDO! COME BACK!⌋

I could faintly hear Seth's shouts echo across the plains as I ran without looking back. For one reason or another, though my heart felt heavy, my steps felt light. They wouldn’t be able to catch up even if they tried. Before long I was lost in the horizon. Gone, beyond the flowery hills on the blooming fields that opened up to the east of the valley in which the capital of human realm laid...

We had only been together for a couple of days, so they’ll forget about me before long. I don’t want to worry about getting attached, and then crying myself to sleep once things inevitably go wrong.

——————————

⌈Nee~, Seeeth, what’s up with that guy!? Couldn’t we have gone together?⌋

⌈Man, I don’t know. Light is pretty weird, but I didn’t imagine him doing anything like this. He does know we have to be back at the Chapel before sundown, right..?⌋

⌈He does, I'm sure.. But I think it might be best to let him go..⌋

I faintly muttered..

⌈Eh!? That kiddo will probably get himself killed out there!⌋

⌈He must have a reason, he always seems to have..⌋

⌈I guess that’s right. I mean, he might be weird, but he’s got his reasons. He said something about being from another world too… I don’t really get it, but it doesn't seem like he's lying... I just hope he won’t forget us just like that though. Aaah, especially after I made that elaborate speech about him not being alone now, too. I know I'm not good with words, but still... A-And I’m not saying that just because he’s paying our lodging! I-It’s just that I guess I would’ve been really lonely in the Capital without him. Seriously...⌋

⌈Yeah, yeah! He was pretty amazing! He wasn’t a bad guy at all! I wouldn’t mind giving my little Lumi away to someone like him!⌋

Shut it, Grace! I’m trying to think here… If he really was from another world, it would certainly explain a myriad of the secrets that surround him, but there’s a lot more to it than just his knowledge.

Do Celestials even exist in another world? How much information is interchangeable between the worlds? Why would he even attend the adventurer trials if he was capable of something on the magnitude of cross-dimensional travel… It just doesn’t add up! What a frustrating mystery. Wait.. Did he leave because we found out about his true identity!?! No, that can't be it.. He wouldn't have announced it in the first place in that case.

⌈Nee~, Lumi... What are you thinking about?⌋

⌈It’s nothing…⌋

⌈Eh, eh? Are you sure you’re not thinking about Light?⌋

⌈Yes, actually..⌋

I said before even realizing what a horrible mistake I had just made..

⌈EH, EH!? Have you finally fallen to someone!?⌋

⌈For that kiddo!?⌋

⌈No.. Please get your sanity checked. It’s about him being from another world. It’s the only option that really makes sense..⌋

⌈Really? I thought he just didn’t want to tell me where he was from for one reason or another. Are you sure about the ‘other world’ stuff?⌋

⌈How else do you think he’d have an ability one receives from the Gods as a blessing prior to becoming an adventurer? How else do you think he’d be a Celestial of such a young age at the current era?⌋

⌈True.⌋

⌈And where do you think he got those Midnight Wyvern Hide clothes? When he looked me into my eyes and told me the story behind them, it really didn’t seem like he was lying. Though it was out of character, he was adamant about it.⌋

⌈…⌋

⌈Eh!? That weirdo really is from another world!? Amazing!⌋

⌈Still… I hope he doesn’t just blow us off and never talk to us again.⌋

⌈Indeed.. I’ve still much to learn. Besides, it isn't like he was all that bad despite being such a pe–⌋

Our brief conversation came to an abrupt end as an obnoxious voice emerged from behind us..

⌈Hey, hey, hey! What are you lot doing here? And where’s the cloudy-haired guy!?⌋

⌈Oh, hey Brigid! Sorry, you’re a bit late. The kiddo just ran off on his own.⌋

⌈Oh, dammit. I really wanted to travel with him!⌋

⌈He didn’t seem to want to travel with us though. It’s a shame, really.⌋

⌈No matter! I’m going to clear all the Trails and become the best blacksmith in the world! Then I’ll forge a blade much better than what he has now, just you watch!⌋

⌈You sure are energetic.⌋

⌈Damn right I am! Do you guys mind if I tag along?⌋

⌈Sure, feel free! The more the merrier!⌋

⌈Right, right!?⌋

I chose not to take part in the conversation, but it seems that I was dragged into their plans regardless.

Though I wouldn’t exactly call the proposition alluring, I have other reasons, apart from annoyance, to decline. I can’t lose to Light, and he’s already way ahead. In a group, I’ll only be slowed down. Maybe he will recognize me if I do well with the Trails..

⌈I think I’ll go by myself too. I’m sorry..⌋

⌈Eh, eh!? You too, Lumi!?⌋

⌈Yes.. Take care, Grace.⌋

I began dashing towards the hills. Though I could sprint for a lot longer than before, I couldn’t match Light’s pace nor stamina. Did he really possess such superior physical ability? I wonder..

As I was making my journey over the verdant hills, I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that my baby Wyvern, Luna, was already able to fly beside me and match my pace, despite her wings being barely serviceable. She also swiftly chomped through the lower tier monsters that prowled in the fields. To display such power as a mere baby... I can’t help but feel anxious knowing that I’ve been chosen to raise such a monstrous creature. Perhaps I could steer the course of her evolution... I should search for a tome on that topic once I arrive back home.

Speaking of creatures, I wonder where Light’s Slime was. I didn’t see it anywhere after the morning. How weird…