"I am thinking of leaving this town soon."

Miika is surprised hearing my words.

"E- eh? Why? Suddenly say that you want to leave..."

"I've been thinking recently... about what I want to do."

Upon saying that, I remember Ean the goblin and Griselda the rabbit-type beastman.

Both of them suffered a great loss in their life. However, despite the things that happened to them, they still have their own clear goal and try their best to move on.

As for me... I just run away from the truth all this time with an excuse saying that there is nothing I can do about it. But that has to stop now.

"Staying here any longer won't accomplish anything. I'm thinking of going to Brahmastra Continent."

Miika looks dumbfounded hearing my words.

It's not surprising since he doesn't know my circumstances. In fact, I want to hide my status here due to possibility that some people here know about Graize family... even if I'm not really sure what happened in the past, I want to be extra careful about those things.

I want to know the truth even if my life will be at risk. However...

I look at Miika, who is not involved with my personal matter, before speaking again.

"Regardless of what kind of people your master is, I'm the one who take your place away from you. That's why I intend to take responsibility for that."

"Eh? Um..."

Miika still looks confused while I comtinue talking.

"However, it does not mean that I have the right to force you to follow me. So I want to give you choices."

After hearing me, Miika looks surprised and starts talking.

"I'll follow you! Please let me-"

Before Miika finishes speaking, I bring up my right hand to give signal for him to stop talking first.

"Hear me out first."

After I say that, Miika immediately stops talking.

"I expected you wanting to follow me. Since I'm the one who take care of you after your previous master. But I must say that my destination is a very dangerous place."

I say that considering the possibility of meeting that self-proclaimed hero and Nelsia once again.

My plan is to go back to Brahmastra Continent to learn the truth about the attack. So confrontation with them is very likely to happen.

Right after thinking that, I continue talking.

"Don't worry, I won't go that soon. I'll leave after I'm sure that you can live here without me."

"Eh?"

Miika looks surprised by my words. So I try to elaborate.

"Writing, reading, fighting, casting magic... I'll teach you as much as I can so that you can live here without much trouble. I'll also ask others if they can take care of you once I left. That is my responsibility."

"But... but I want to follow you!"

No longer supressing his emotion, Miika talks loud enough as if he is about to shout.

"Sigh... didn't you hear me? I told you that it will be dangerous."

"I'll do something about it!"

"Who's the one who almost got eaten and need to be rescued during Raid Battle?"

"!"

Miika looks down and becomes quiet the moment I refer to the time when I got him out from that big plant monster's belly.

"Remember what you said to me when I freed you from your Slave Crest?"

Upon hearing my words, Miika looks at me.

"You said that you want to use your life to repay me. The moment you risk your life in that Raid Battle, I already considered all your debts settled. So there is no need to feel like you still owe me something anymore."

"Shion..."

He can only reply by saying name with a sad face. I kinda feel bad about this but I'm not that irresponsible to bring an amnesiac kid with me to dangerous places.

Right after thinking that, I start lying on bed while talking.

"Besides... I'm not strong enough to protect you all the time."

"..."

I pull my blanket as Miika looks at me silently.

"Let's sleep. Tomorrow we'll start doing quests again."

After I say that, Miika silently lie on the bed to sleep. The one-sided conversation ends here for today.

I know I'm being selfish for not hearing what he has to say... I already expected that he wants to follow me after all the things I've done to him.

But... I don't want the incident in Graize Mansion repeat once again.

As I think that, I close my eyes to sleep.

_________________________________________

*Interlude*

The next day, Shion decides to do Potin(Potion's material) Gathering Quest with Miika.

They search for the Potin herbs outside of the town.

However, Miika is not able to concentrate with the quest whenever he remembers Shion's words from yesterday.

"Miika? ... Miika!"

"!? Y- yes?"

After having his name called twice, Miika finally realize that Shion has been calling him.

Upon looking at Miika, Shion continues talking.

"... well, we met our minimum quota anyway. Let's call it for a day."

"Eh? But..."

It's only been one hour since they start searching. Miika is confused because they usually take at least 3 hours before going back to town.

"It is dangerous to be here if you can't concentrate on your surroundings."

"S- sorry, I'll try to be more careful this time."

"Well, I also don't want to push myself too hard right after recovery. With this amount of Potin herbs, it will cover our expenses for today. Let's head back."

"Yes."

Miika can only agree the moment Shion brings up her condition. Even if Miika is still far from tired, he is still worried about Shion's condition.

Miika doesn't know that Shion only uses her condition as an excuse because Shion have a guess about what Miika is thinking about. She wants Miika to think about what she said yesterday and hopefully agree with Shion's decision.

.....

....

...

"I can bring this much to Pepprica. Can you go notify the guild?"

Shion says right after they arrived inside Liasr Town.

"Eh? Don't we usually bring the herbs to the Guild first?"

"Ah right. You cannot read yet huh. Pepprica specified in the request paper to directly bring herbs to his store because he will immediately put them into use. So I want you to go report to the guild to save time. After that, you're free to do what you want. Here is the money for tonight's dinner. You don't need to wait for me."

"... got it."

After Miika accepts Shion's money and replies with less enthusiastic tone, both of them split up to each of their own destination.

At the guild, Miika sees Erkimi the dyrad receptionist as the only person working at the counter so he immediately report to her.

The process takes less than 2 minutes and Miika immediately leaves the guild right after.

Now that Miika is alone with nothing else to do until dinner, he starts wandering around the town just like back when he was given free time by Panthos.

But unlike last time, Miika thinks about what Shion said yesterday instead of searching for people that need help.

Shion will leave the town. And Miika is not allowed to follow her.

Miika also starts remembering about the time when Stephanie the Orc Guild Master treat him to breakfast.

"I see... so that happened during the Raid Battle huh..."

Stephanie said that after Miika explained about the time Miika takes the Sweet World away from Ean the goblin girl.

Stephanie was having lunch full of meat dishes while Miika is having the cheapest meal set of ham and salad. Stephanie wanted to give more but he is not sure if other meals available are suited for human's tongue.

After Miika nodded at Stephanie's statement, Stephanie started talking again.

"Thank you Miika. You saved someone from becoming a victim of Sweet World. Good job."

"You're welcome..."

Right after Miika's reply, Stephanie ate a steak-like meat with his fork and eat it. After chewing and swallowing it, Stephanie starts talking.

"Come to think of it, have you regain any memories about your past?"

"Eh? Ah... no."

Miika was surprised by the sudden topic change, but then he remembered about Stephanie wanting to confirm if Miika is involved with illegal slavery, a crime where a non-criminal person is turned into slave.

In this world, slavery is used as a mean to restrain criminals especially those who have no place in jail. The magic formula used for slavery is considered a secret among monarch and kingdom's officials.

Stephanie wanted to know about Miika's past to clarify whether he is victim of illegal slavery or not.

"That's a rather weak response. Aren't you curious about your memory?"

"I'm curious but... I don't know how to regain my memory so I don't really think much about it."

"I see... but it's not like there is absolutely no clue about your memory."

"Eh?"

Miika looked surprised by Stephanie's statement.

"I heard from Antarea that the slave trader who sold you before is a lizardman called Obriendo. That guy usually comes to this town twice a year. When he comes again, I can ask him about where he find you."

"!?"

Miika stops walking after remembering about the possibility of knowing his memory.

(No matter how I think about it. Staying here seems to be the best choice if I want to get my memory back...)

Miika looks at the sky before thinking further.

(And Shion doesn't want me to follow her anyway. So it's my only choice to split up with Shion. ...my only... choice...)

For the first time after his amnesia, Miika feels really terrible. The terrible feeling is even worse than the time he is abused by Panthos and the time when he is about to be eaten by the big plant monster.

He does not want to be separated from Shion. But he also does not want to go against Shion's wish.

"Watch out!"

"!?"

A kid's voice surprised Miika and at the same time, something flies towards Miika at high speed.

Miika brings out his magic knife by reflex and use it to shield against the incoming unknown object. Miika also manage to sharpen the knife using his mana just in time.

*slash!*

"... eh?"

It turns out that Miika's knife slash at a ball made from animal skin. The air inside the ball goes out and the ball is no longer at the state where it can be played.

"..."

Realizing that Miika slashed something that is not dangerous, he looks at the children of various races who is approaching him.

Among the children, a lamia little girl cries indicating that the toy belongs to her.

"EH!? W- WHAT'S WRONG!?"

Miika is surprised because he does bot know why the lamia girl cry.

"That ball is her favourite."

A boy with cat ears from the children group says that towards Miika. Realizing that the ball is something precious for the lamia girl without knowing the concept of toy itself, Miika looks at the slashed ball on the ground.

"... UWAAAA! I'M SORRY!!!"

Miika quickly apologize. He stops using his mana and puts his knife back into the sheath. Then he picks up the slashed ball.

(Ummm... what should I do... ah! That's right!)

Right after thinking that, Miika puts the empty ball to the ground and bring his right hand towards the ball.

"Heal!"

Miika casted Heal magic at the ball. But it doesn't seem to affect it at all.

(It didn't work at all!?)

The second time Miika ever use the heal ends up being another useless attempt since Heal magic is meant to close wound rather than repairing inanimate object.

The other children starts to get panic looking at the lamia girl's cry becoming even more louder.

"What's wrong?"

However, Miika hears a mature female's voice and see that Linda the Lamia Guild Receptionist is approaching the children.

The lamia girl quickly hugs Linda amd starts sobbing.

"Mom! My ball... my ball...!"

"Um..."

Upon hearing the statment from her daughter, Linda look at the toy near Miika.

"S- SORRY! THIS IS...!"

Miika starts apologizing and explains what happened in panic.

"Ah... I see. It was an accident huh."

Linda says that while still hugging her daughter.

"I'm sorry..."

Miika apologize once again.

"It was an accident so no need to apologize. In fact, you guys need to play a bit more careful next time."

Linda says that to other children and they nod in responses. Then Linda looks at her crying daughter.

"I'll buy you a new one so stop crying already. Okay?"

Linda says that while also patting her head.

"!"

Miika is surprised that the crying lamia girl starts to calm down. He immediately remembers the time where Shion cried in her sleep.

Miika starts thinking again while looking at Linda hugging and patting her daughter.

(... Shion...)

*End of Interlude*

_________________________________________

After I split up with Miika, I make my way to Phalanx Store.

When I arrive there, I see many goblin kids are busy sorting alchemy-related materials.

Ean is the first one who notices and greets me.

I ask her where Pepprica is. She says that Pepprica is still inside the store, so I go inside there.

Once I'm inside the store, I call out to Pepprica's name few times but he never shows up.

Then I start looking around thinking that he might be too small for me to see from my current position.

"...help..."

"?"

I suddenly hear Pepprica's voice from behind the store. It seems like he's calling for help.

I put my bag to the floor and go towards the source of the voice.

The voice comes from the room when I previously had my Craft Test before.

"!?"

Once I arrive, I saw messy equipments inside that dark room. It's like an earthquake had happened in this room.

"Help...!"

And then I see Pepprica having the upper half of his body inside a basket upside down and cannot get out from there.

I help him get out from that basket. The basket seems quite tight so it takes around 4 minutes to pull him out.

Pepprica talks to me right after that.

"Ouch... you saved me. Thanks."

"Don't mind it. What happened though..."

I ask that question while looking at the messy room.

"I stumbled and then some equipments fell from the shelves."

"... makes sense. By the way, about your request."

"The Potin herbs, right? Follow me, I'll pay you now."

Both of us go back to the store. I bring out the Potin herbs from my bag and hand it over to Pepprica.

Pepprica counts the number of Potin herbs and decide to give me 2 silver coins and 2 bronze coins as payment.

Then Pepprica starts talking.

"Alright. You can go now- Oh, can u ask the kids outside to help me sort my equipments?"

"Asking beginners to touch advanced alchemy equipments is like asking for natural disaster to happen... if you're fine, I can help instead."

"Oh, that would certainly be helpful."

In order to solve Pepprica's problem without anymore incident, I decide to help Pepprica sort his equipments. I might sound exaggerating but I know that some alchemy equipments in that room can be dangerous if handled carelessly. As an alchemy user myself, I sometimes question Pepprica's way of handling his equipment.

During the sorting Ean comes inside the store to check Pepprica. Then Pepprica asks her to tell other kids that there won't be any alchemy lesson for today.

While Pepprica is talking to Ean, I find a painting among the alchemy equipments. It's a painting of a Halfling man that looks like Pepprica in appearance and two other Halfling girls. One of them looks mature and the other one looks like a happy cheerful Halfling little girl. Though their heights are not that different from one another. I decide to wait for Pepprica to finish talking before asking him where to put this painting.

The sorting takes more time than expected. It's already night the moment both of us finished sorting every equipment.

"Thanks Shion. You're surprisingly tougher than your look."

"Don't mind it."

Both of us talk as we gets out from the store.

"It's already this late. Maybe you should go home earlier. Miika must be waiting for you."

"It's fine. I already told him that he can eat dinner first without waiting for me."

However, Ean approach us while shouting.

"T- there is a problem!"

Pepprica is the first one who reply.

"What's wrong?"

Ean points at the sky while talking.

"Just now, I spot something there through clairvoyance... it seems like a flying monster is heading straight toward this town!"

As Ean says that, other goblin starts chatting with each other with anxious tone.

"Flying monster... like a wyvern or bird monster?"

I ask that to clarify what Ean saw.

"I- I don't know... I never see that kind of monster before."

"Hm... wait a sec, I'll bring out my Magiscope."

Pepprica says that while heading back to his store.

Magiscope is a telescope device that uses mana imbued in the jewel inside the device to see things at far distance.

Pepprica brings out Magiscope. It almost looks like a telescope in real life but without the leg part.

Then he uses it to see at the direction Ean was pointing at.

"Hm... that's... a flying ship?"

"Ship?"

Ean says that indicating that she doesn't know what a ship is.

"Ship is a mode of transportation just like carriage... so it's most likely not a monster but... can I see?"

After explaining to calm Ean a bit, I ask Pepprica's permission to use his Magiscope.

Pepprica hands over the Magiscope. Since this magic tool uses mana from the jewel inside, even a person with level 0 Astral Body like me can use it without having to use Overtake.

Upon closer look through telescope, I indeed see a flying ship.

It's not just a flying ship, it has big cannon on the centre and many other weapons...

It is a... battleship?

Suddenly I have bad feelings about this even though I know that it's not a monster.

I look at the flag on top of the ship. And it indeed has a symbol indicating which faction that ship belongs to.

What I see... is a symbol of a golden sword pointing downwards with gold sprouting behind it.

... there's no mistaking it.

That battleship... belongs to Graize family...