A bad omen

The next day, I woke up early since I had not made any preparations to leave the forest last night. Hah…I should think twice before bringing a Canolf King to eat. It exceeded my wildest imaginations. I thought that it would be just enough for breakfast, lunch and dinner but it’s meant to be eaten within three days. Almost half of the meat remains still remained. Though I don’t like wasting food, I have no other choice. Just as I was warming up outside the hut, a voice came from behind.

“When will we go?”Cyrola said while yawning. She is unusually early today. Guess she is pumped up to view the world.

“Did you brush?”I asked while ignoring the fact that she didn’t said ‘Good Morning’.

“Uhh…I did!”Cyrola said averting her eyes from me. This brat is such a pain….I already regret bringing her along. But it is not without reason that I’m bringing her to the capital. I will ask help from the capital to search for her parents. I already asked her countless times about her parents, but the only answer I got is “You are my Papa!”After showing her my embarrassing stat, she was seemed confused about the word ‘virgin’ but I’m not that shameless to explain her that.

I made a very serious face.”Go brush!”Hurried footsteps of a small child and slamming of a wooden door could be heard. I should get ready now otherwise it would be night the time we leave the forest. I looked at my tattered, dirty school uniform I’m wearing right now. I frown and lamented on myself. I should have bought some clothes. People will take me for a beggar if I go this way…..A Hero like me dressed as a beggar. What an irony!

I picked up my spear and started swinging it. I wonder whether this spear is really divine or not. It is still rusty. This is normal spear but there is something that bugs me. Even after killing countless Canolfs, it didn’t break. Even now, when I take a closer look at the spear, the spear seemed to reach it limits and would break anytime soon. It is indeed mysterious though I’m not fully convinced about the story Xie told about the spear.

After a while, Cyrola came out again showing her white teeth to me, then slowly sticking her tongue out. Hmph! I showed my maturity to her by taking my tongue out as well. While I was engaging in a tongue with Cyrola, a rustling sound came from the bushes. My eyes and expression abruptly changed as I put on a fighting stance while gesturing Cyrola to move to the hut. Although I don’t know who is behind the bushes, the possibility of it being other than a beast is very slim since the location I’m in is far away from where the tribes are located. As I preparing my first strike, a female voice came from the bushes.

“Ouch! The bushes here are not less than the cactus. It hurts!”A blue haired girl who was struggling in the bushes due to her long dress was the source of the voice. I was taken aback since she was someone I know quite well. She was one of the three people who had A-grade elemental affinity. But why is she here? While I suppressing my laugh seeing her struggling with the bushes, another female voice came from the same direction.

“That is why I told you not to wear long dresses. We are not on some vacation!”This time, a short beast girl with a ponytail wearing revealing dresses came. Huh? Why are they here? Did God finally noticed my hard work and sent a few girls to me to join my harem? Haha. In that case, I must be polite to them. But my dream was short-lived as a handsome black haired guy along with two other beauties arrived. Looking closely at the guy, I recognized him. He is Satou, a mysterious loner in our class. I don’t have any memories of talking with him since he doesn’t talk much and isn’t in any clubs. Is this his harem?! Damn! While I was here hunting and taking care of a brat, you already created a perfect harem for yourself?

After grumbling for a while, I finally noticed that the short beast girl was giving me an incomprehensible look while knitting her eyebrows. Noticing me, she gestured others to look at my direction.

“….”

“….”

We silently stared at each other for a few seconds. What is wrong with these guys?? Shouldn’t Rumi and Satou greet me? And their gazes are moving up and down between my upper body and my face. A thought suddenly stroke me. I’m not wearing a shirt! But c’mon, is it that much of a big deal?

“Who are you? I don’t have any intentions of fighting you. So, I would advise you to move away.”Satou said with a serious tone.

“Urgh…Satou. Can you not recognize me?”Though I’m a bit pissed off at him for telling me to move away, I don’t want to start a fight for that. Satou can’t recognize me probably because of my beard and took me for a rogue adventurer.

Satou knitted his brows and looked at me closely after which his face had the word ‘shock’ written. “Ren….?”Beside him, Rumi was also taken aback.

“Yup, me. How come you are here?”

After recovering from the shock, Rumi exclaimed, “We should ask that question! Why the heck are you here?”

“To train and hunt?”

“….”

“Umm…excuse me. I am Flora, princess of the Alzemann Kingdom. Are you also a Hero like Satou-sama and Rumi-san?”This time, a black haired girl dressed elegantly asked. Satou already has a princess in his harem?! I’m so jealous….

“Yes. I am a Hero. I am Ren Kashikawa. I came here to train my physical abilities since I have a rare elemental affinity. Umm…does the palace have skills related to rare elemental affinity?”Without chatting idly, I came to the main point.

“err, we do have such skills but it’s not for free. Aside from that, I have a few questions for you.”Flora said with a serious look.

“Not for free? Why do you think I’m training my ass off for? It’s obviously to protect the palace and its people. But nevermind my words. What questions do you have?”I said while making an annoyed expression.

Flora shot a look at me to which I shrugged my shoulders. After some QnA, I finally got a rough idea of the situation. Apparently, the magical beasts are rampaging in this forest for a few months. Due to which, canolfs are often seen in the tribal territories. To neutralize the situation, Satou and his party (harem members) came. Listening to the story, I went in deep thought.

“Oh! That’s bad news. But that doesn’t explain as to why you are here.”

“We were just looking for an open place to rest just to find a rogue living here.”A blonde haired ‘small’ girl answered with an annoyed expression. It seems that I am interrupting her quality time with Satou. Whatever. I don’t have any plans to help them in neutralizing the beasts. While I talking to them, Cyrola who was hiding in her room came out. Seeing her, Satou and his harem’s expressions got strange.

“Oh! Meet her. Her name is Cyrola. I found her alone in this forest. I thought it would be dangerous to let a child like her roam around in this forest full of canolfs. So, I decided to take care of her and find her parents after reaching the capital.”I didn’t lie.

Cyrola, who seemed to be uncomfortable with strangers, stood motionlessly behind me.

“Poor child….Let’s take her with us and search for her parents. If we can’t find her parents, we will raise her ourselves.”Rumi said giving a doting look towards Cyrola. Heh....did you already decide to make her your sister? Nice! But….

“Umm….I have some serious business to do. So, I have to depart from the forest today. How about this? After you guys come back in the capital, you could take ca-…I mean search for her parents. Since, I’m not familiar with the working of the government of this world as much as you guys are, I will have problems in doing the search. Can I rely on you for that?”I asked with a usual smile.

“Eh? Of course. For a moment, I almost forgot that you are Ren and not some rogue adventurer who kidnapped a child.”Rumi chuckled.

This isn’t funny at all. But it can be excused since Rumi is-….no was my friend. Although I’m annoyed enough to counter her words, I chose not to do so since it will only make the situation more troublesome. I could just awkwardly laugh for a while.

“Oh. That reminds me. Isn’t Xie friends with you? Where is he?”Satou asked giving a thoughtful look.

“He went on in his own way but told me that he will show up at the festival.”Though I doubt that. With his strength, he can freely move around this world. Its highly doubtful that a guy like him would come to a mere festival. I must ask about his level the next time I meet him.

Rumi snorted derisively.”Troublemakers like him don’t have much time to live. Thanks to him, several people in the town became wary of us. ”

“By the way, how is your progress? I see that you use spear. You must be quite good in combats.”Satou said smiling.

“Although I don’t like to brag, I did gain some basic understanding of the spear but it’s not worthy to mention in front of two Heroes who has an A-grade elemental affinity.”

“Hahaha. You jest. We have a long way to go. The only thing we did in these six months is mastering some elemental skills.”Satou said giving a good-natured smile.

“At least you have some elemental skills unlike me…..”I mumbled. Hearing me, Flora exclaimed. “Cheer up! The palace has all you need.”

“I guess….Anyways, what are your plans?”I asked them evading the topic.

“err, we will visit each of the tribes to get a more detailed view of the problem then hunt them.”Satou explained. It was a simple and short plan. Though Canolfs are not to be taken lightly, they are nonetheless low-ranked beasts. Beside him, Satou’s harem members were discussing about something.

As I was talking to Satou, Flora came to me with a troubled expression. “Do you mind if we take Cyrola with us...?”

“I do.”I replied as soon as she completed her question.

“….”

“…..”

I stared without blinking my eyes at Flora who was giving troubled looks every now and then. It doesn’t make any damn sense to take a little girl like Cyrola to a dangerous expedition. I already noticed that something was going on after you guys gave such doting looks to Cyrola.”Can you girls not wait for a few days?”I asked in a joking tone.

Flora, Poula and Rumi awkwardly laughed for a while Cicele snorted and cried. “I’m hungry!! Do you have something I can eat?”

Satou shot a look at Cicele gesturing her to zip it. Wow! Satou has good control over his harem. Cicele averted her eyes snorting. She snorts way too much. Now, I’m hungry too because I didn’t have my breakfast.

“I do have something to eat but care to help?”I asked the other group smiling.

“Sure!”Cicele jumped in excitement.

…………………………………….

“Did you catch this by yourself?”Poula said while eating the fried Canolf beast.

“Yes. Hunting is the only thing I’m good at.”I said shrugged my shoulders.

“You are strong. I would like to fight with you someday.”Satou said giving a friendly look.

“Sure. But I will only disappoint you.”I couldn’t understand this guy. Though living in this world made me learn that power is everything, I’m still a pacifist. Yes, I don’t like fighting. But I had no other options. Getting a cheat is another thing. But I’m absolutely normal! How am I supposed to fight with a guy like Satou who has probably mastered many A-grade elemental skills? Oh! I forgot a factor.

“Can I ask for your level if you don’t mind?”Looking at Satou, I asked.

“78.”

“….”

I’m not even half of your level! I won’t be surprised if you said that you received a cheat from the Gods. Seriously….how am I supposed to fight with you? I guess that he is the ‘Chosen One’ (There is no such title). Are all people with A-grade elemental affinity that strong? Let me check it out.

“Wh-what about yours, Rumi-san?”

“87”

“….”

Eh? How should I react to this? I thought that the strongest person in the group is Satou but didn’t expect Rumi to be stronger than Satou. They are way too overpowered! No….maybe I’m the weak one…..I didn’t mind much when I heard that I have a D-grade elemental affinity but it makes a huge difference. I should start taking my training seriously. But the question is how exactly? I can’t get strong just by hunting. I guess the only one who could help me is Xie. I wonder where that bastard is!

“Umm….can we take Cyrola with us? We promise she will be safe with us. Besides, the expedition within a week.”Satou asked with an troubled expression.

Thinking momentarily about it, I sighed and concluded with a ‘fine’. I could hear Cyrola’s agony from behind but I paid no heed to it.

……………………………….

Casade Town

Six days later, I was peacefully sleeping in a room of an inn when loud door knocks destroyed my peaceful sleep. I got up angrily and opened the door vigorously. In front of me were Satou and his harem. Looking at them, my expression turned serious.”Where is she?”Though I didn’t mention the ‘she’, they understood what I meant. There were no signs of Cyrola around them.

“We found her parents. She is from the Shuta Tribe.”Satou explained.

“Oh! That’s good news. I guess I should visit her tribe to bid her farewell.”Even I’m not heartless enough to not bid farewell to a little girl whom I considered as my own sister. But somehow, I have a bad omen about this…