After explaining to everyone who she was and what we were going to do, I asked them to come with me. Yes, I was the leader but I wasn’t someone who decided on how they choose their paths.

It was noon and we were talking about it. We were waiting for Merry to finish cooking.

“But why? There’s really no reason for me to come along with you.” Takana said.

“Why?” I said.

“Yeah, what, you’re deaf now? I’m fine with this town. Maybe I’ll travel in the future but right now, this is the safest and most comfortable place I’ll be.”

“But we’re going to the place where there’s a witch. I thought you guys wanted to go back to your world?”

Saying that made Risa angry. Sorry, sorry.

“Idiot. Do you really think we can kill a witch at the state we’re in? You might think we’re strong but you haven’t even seen how strong the other monsters are. Nobody wants to die, you idiot.”

Well, he had a point. We were weak, that was why I needed them to come with me. But the main reason was I really liked them. I thought of them as family.

“Well, all right.”

“What!? Just like that?” Takana was surprised. I mean, what did he expect?

“Yeah. I really can’t force you. Besides, you’re stubborn. No matter what I say won’t change your mind.”

“O-Okay then! Have a safe trip!” he crossed his arm and turned around. This was relatively uncharacteristic of him.

“I…too, am not going with you, Terrin.” Fuyuki said. I knew that there were possibilities they wouldn’t come with me but I didn’t fully grasp those possibilities.

“Can…I know the reason?”

Fuyuki lowered her head and then she cackled. What was so funny? “It’s funny. If he was here, he would have told me to come with you.”

So, he’s thinking about Hashi, huh?

I couldn’t really blame her. Fuyuki had been with Hashi her entire life. Merry had only been with me for approximately three months and she’d already been worried whenever I went alone. But how about Fuyuki? Could she just go and leave someone she knew her entire life?

“I’m sorry, Terrin.”

“It’s okay, Fuyuki. I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

“That’s a really dumb reason.” Takana interjected. He’d already turned around when I asked Fuyuki about it.

Fuyuki didn’t even respond. She just ignored Takana.

“How about you, Kihana?”

She was surprised. “I-I-I’m sorry, Terrin b-but I’m staying with them…”

Well, that’s to be expected.

Silence and discomfort dominated the room after I asked Kihana. It was hard to leave them. Even though we’d only been together for three months, we’d been through a lot.

So, after all that, it just ends, huh?

As if to intentionally break the ice, Merry came with Risa and her hot meal in tow. I didn’t know if Risa got along with Merry but it was probably because Merry was a half-beast and she’s the one preparing the food.

“What happened?” Merry asked. Now it became more awkward. Risa probably didn’t notice it because she was focus on the food that Merry was serving.

“They’re…not coming with us.”

It made Merry stop doing what she was doing. “Is…that so?” she looked at each and one of them. “Well, it can’t be helped. Though I’m sad we’re parting, I’m actually glad I won’t get to see Takana anymore.” Though she said that, there wasn’t a tinge of happiness that could be seen in her.

Takana didn’t reply and instead ate his meal. We all did. Though the food tasted great, it wasn’t able to soothe the pain and anxiety in my heart.

*

After a week later, the three of us were ready to set out.

The week went by in a flash. We didn’t hunt monsters because of the bounty we received for killing Bladetree.

So, instead, I focus my time on figuring out how we would make the trip.

There were two things we needed for this trip: transportation and supplies. And both of them cost money.

As I was wondering where to find the money, Risa gave me some. And by some, I meant, three gold coins. I asked her where she found the money and she told me that when I was out hunting the rabbit earlier at the cave, she looked at the stuff that Nimog kept and when she looked at the expensive-looking closet, she actually found three gold coins. I was just surprised on how convenient it was.

Incidentally, we had to postpone, again, my questions about Shakna. She said that I should focus more on getting things done because we would have a lot of time, especially in the wagon. And since there were only few entertainments this world could provide, I figured she was right.

So, since the money problem was fixed, I had to figure out about the transportation. The main transportation in this world was a wagon or horses. There might be others but I hadn’t seen them. We were in another world, after all. Everything was possible.

There was a wagon station south-west of the town. It was a place where you can rent wagon or buy tickets for a place in the wagon. Foulk told me when I asked him about it. He, too, was surprised when we told him we were going to leave.

I didn’t know much about anything in this world, so I had to accompany Merry with me. I got a dubious looked from her but she nonetheless agreed.

The wagon station was, as expected, full of wagon. Also, the rough smell of men and alcohol. The station didn’t look bustling. It was actually quite depressing to look at. The only thing that would interest other world visitors would probably the animal that pulled the wagons. But, since I’d seen them a countless times, it barely counted as an interest.

The animal in question was the one I saw the very first day I came to this world. It had the combination of a horse with a horn and the scales of a reptile with their tail being of a reptile. They were called Norji. Their functions were essentially like a horse; it was mostly on transportation. That being said, Norjis were more of an upgrade version of the horse.

We asked around if we can rent a wagon and a driver but all we could get were lousy men who built their lives around alcohol or greedy men who thought of us as an easy catch. Incidentally, Merry was the one who thought of the men as greedy bastards. She got sharp instincts, as expected of a cat.

“So, what should we do? Those gold coins are not going to last long if we let those men have their way.” Merry said.

We were taking a break under one of the trees. The sun had not been merciful.

“We just have to keep asking. There’s probably someone out there who has a good heart.”

After a while of sitting under the tree with Merry, we heard the thumping footstep of someone. It was a Norji.

Is it lost?

The Norji had a saddle, so it most likely had an owner. It was looking around everywhere as if looking for its partner.

I stood up and went to the Norji. I tried to touch it. Why? I also didn’t know. Maybe because I hadn’t touched one before.

“Hey! Don’t come close to her!” I heard what that person said but I was too late. All I could say was that it caught me off guard.

I’m going to get stamped on.

The Norji raised its legs up about to stamp me when Merry tackled me out of harm’s way. While we managed to get out of there, the Norji didn’t calm down. It, instead, continued to kick aimlessly.

“Calm down, girl. It’s me, it’s me. You’re safe now.” The one touching the Norji’s head was a man. I said man but he looked like he was the same age as us.

Why does every competent person I know is the same age as me? And why can’t I be like them? I thought as the owner of the Norji came to us.

“Is your head okay?” the man asked.

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for your —“

“No, no , no, I’m not asking whether you're fine or not. Rather, I’m asking is your head working. And clearly from your response, it seems it’s not.”

“W-Why is that?”

“Why would you touch another person’s Norji’s!? Only a child would do that!”

“I don’t want to repeat myself but…why is that?”

“You really don’t know? You either a noble or you have a screw loose in the head.” He deeply sighed. “I apologize for my rash action. I just didn’t want my girl here to hurt someone. The reason they don’t want to be touch by other people is because they are a loyal race. Once they made a pact with a person, only that person is able to touch her again. Even kids are not allowed or else they’ll go on a rampage, just like what you’ve seen.”

“We’re sorry, too.”

“It’s fine, water under the bridge. By the way, is she a maid or something?”

Ah yes, haven’t heard this one for a while.

“Not entirely but yeah, you could call her that.”

“So, what’s your business here?”

I told him why we were here.

“Well, you’re in luck! If you’ll have me, I can get you to your destination with the most minimum payment!”

“How much?” Merry asked.

“I’ll only ask for a gold coin but there is a catch.”

The other drivers we asked for two or three gold coins which could provide a year worth of food, more or less, and this guy only asked for one. That was how much of a good deal it was.

“What’s the catch?”

“Well, I’m an independent mailman. I go to the post office to collect mails then travel throughout Ergaos. Though that being said, this is my first time doing it and I wouldn’t mind some companion with me.”

“So, killing two birds with one stone, huh?”

“Hehe, what do you think?”

“What do you think, Merry?” I asked her because she was the one who was good at this.

“It’s too good to be true but why not. Out of all the people in this station, this person seem the most reasonable we’ve met so far. But let’s check the wagon and its state, first.”

“Of course, of course.”

We went to the wagon and all I could say was it looked new. The cover looked clean and the wood seemed newly painted. The wheels were in good conditions and there were a lot of spaces inside.

“What do you think, Merry?”

“It should suffice.”

“All right, we’ll take you.”

“Yes!” we shook our hands.

After that, we signed a small amount of official papers. I didn’t expect it but the transportation part went well, to be honest. Overall, we were going to leave after three days.

The supplies were next. This time, we got help from Kihana. Merry and I hadn’t seen much of the other two. Kihana said Fuyuki went somewhere and Takana had probably been going to the tavern. I wanted to talk to them but we just couldn’t meet at the right time.

We bought food for the trip and necessities such as clothes and medicine. We also prepared our gears and belongings.

And just like that, the day of the departure could be seen.

We were going to leave after the fourth short bell. I was going to talk to Fuyuki and Takana but they weren’t there. I asked Kihana where they could have gone but she said when she woke up, Fuyuki was gone and she didn’t know where Takana was.

They probably don’t want to see us.

Well, who could blame them, though? Their leader was leaving them for a reason that wasn’t even true. But this was my choice. I had to do this.

So, instead, I wrote them a letter and gave it to Kihana, who was the only one who would see us leave.

Everything was fully prepared. Risa, Merry and I were all set. There were still no sign of Fuyuki and Takana. Merry gave Kihana a hug and we bid farewell. After the sounds of whiplash coming from the driver, the wagon started to move. Still no sign of them.

I guess it’s just like what people say. They come and go.