Chapter 61 – Robin Bodkin, the Rogue Archer

THE PEOPLE OF SHIROPOLIS decided to live within the kingdom once again when they and the Emergent Kingdom settled with an agreement. Their citizenships were reinstated and promised to help the kingdom become prosperous again, so long as the kingdom provided a better living for them.

Prince Rafflessia and his associates were sent to prison for their crimes, especially for the kidnapping of Princess Cattleya, whom they planned to silence if she would not cooperate, assuming their plans succeeded.

Under Princess Cattleya's recommendation, King Daffodil ordered the mining tunnels to be off-limits until further notice, and that all information about it, including the ores being mined and the depth of the mining tunnel, has been classified.

Two days later after the banquet, Daisuke’s group prepared for their departure. The king asked for their presence first and thanked them for their assistance in saving his daughter, even though they have caused a lot of damage. As a reward, the group was given bags of gold and lanias.

“So, may I know where you all be heading?” asked King Daffodil.

“We will be heading towards the Elysian Republic, Your Majesty. If we’re lucky, we will find there the stolen treasure we are looking for.” Daisuke replied.

“And what kind of treasure was stolen from your homeland?”

“A wooden statue. If our friend from Port Royale recalls correctly, it was auctioned here twelve years ago,” said Riku.

“A wooden statue?” The king tried to recall. “I’m sorry, but I fail to recall if there was such a statue that was auctioned here twelve years ago.”

“Maybe you remember Don Luca? From the republic of Elysia,” asked Daisuke.

“Why of course! The man that brought tons of ‘personal guards’ to her sister's wedding! Now that you mentioned it, he indeed went here during one of our auctions.”

Daisuke and Riku were glad that even the king knew him. It seems Boris was right.

“Yes! That’s exactly what our friend told us! He said Don Luca got the wooden statue.”

“Well, I hope you find this wooden statue of yours and bring it back safely to your homeland. And my apologies for having your statue be sold in Zentolian Accords Auction. We’ve been doing our best to ensure that only legit treasures are being auctioned, but I guess some stolen ones are still making it through.”

The group bid farewell and went out of the throne room where Robin was waiting for them.

“Hey, Robin!” Mirana greeted. “What’s up?”

“And what’s with that bag?” asked Brunnhilde. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Yeah, about that. I’m actually waiting for you guys.” Robin then faced Daisuke. “I was wondering if I could join your group.”

Everyone was surprised.

“But why? Don’t you want to stay here? You’ve finally returned here in the kingdom?” asked Riku.

“Well, after leaving this kingdom, I realized that I have lived my life inside the kingdom’s wall for long enough. I think it is time for me to leave and find new things. I wanted to be as free as a bird! And I wanted to repay you all for helping us.”

Daisuke knew exactly how Robin feels. Being stuck in one place, knowing that you were being held back from what you’ve wanted. But he thought that Robin was better off to be in her former glory as a knight than to be a nobody traveling with an elf. “I don’t know, Robin. I don’t think you should trade your life here for something uncertain like traveling with us.”

“I think that’s unfair, Daisuke,” said Mirana. “After all, you’ve let me join your group, and my only goal was to be worthy of Merlin’s hidden academy. And something tells me that staying at Arcanas will not make me worthy.”

“She’s right. And Siegfried and I are only joining until we reach Snow Cape Peninsula,” Brunnhilde added.

“I already have a huge amount of lanias. I can have a new fishing boat better than Kaminari or those made of wood we made back at Port Royale. But I am already invested in this adventure. I need to see that wooden statue,” said Raijin.

“So what do you say, Daisuke?” Robin tried to persuade him. “Still got a room for another one?”

Daisuke looked at his friends. He started with Riku who decided to join him just because she wanted. Then came Raijin whom they befriended first. Siegfried and Brunnhilde decided to tag along. Then Mirana decided to travel with them as well. And now, their group seems like will get another unlucky person that will get involved in his crazy misadventures.

Daisuke sighed. “Fine. You all got me. But I must warn you though; ever since we left our island, we’ve faced nothing but trouble. These people know that first hand. You up for that?”

“My bow and arrows are always ready,” said Robin smilingly.

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Before Daisuke and his friends could actually leave, Princess Cattleya arrived just in time and requested for Daisuke's presence to speak in private.

The two went far from the others for a while, giving the others a chance for their final goodbyes to others.

“My apologies for asking you for a word when you are all set to leave.”

“Oh, no, not a problem at all. But may I know what you wanted to talk about, princess?”

“You are no longer wondering why I knew you were the avatar?” the princess squinted.

Daisuke felt as if he was stricken by lightning. “Right! I remember now!”

Cattleya chuckled. “Actually, Robin told me you are an avatar. Also, my grandmother used to tell me stories about a woman who appeared here in Aria. That woman had the same power as you. Turns out, she was your predecessor.”

“I'm...not sure if I'm following.”

“Those blancipresses were that avatar's handiwork. She created those giant trees during the time of my grandmother which gave a home to the giant beasts and enormous insects. It also served as a natural division to the twenty-three nations to prevent further territorial disputes and expansions, and to prevent people from excavating Sootinite Ores.”

“Excavating a what?”

“My grandma used to tell me that hundreds of years ago, ink ores were used to pass down powers. The success rate was below one percent. And those who were inked, regardless if they got the power or not, had more than eighty percent chance of getting an incurable sickness.

“That avatar told my grandma about it, who told my mother, who told me. The avatar knew how dangerous the ores were so she created the giant trees of Shiromori. We even went as far as proposing the Zentolia Accords to "protect the forest and the beasts living inside it", thus keeping people away from learning about the ores.” Cattleya then handed Daisuke an envelope. “That avatar also entrusted my grandmother with this. And we were supposed to give this to her successor avatar.”

Daisuke accepted the letter. “Back at the Arcanas Kingdom, we fought artificial power users. And we actually learned who were the people behind them...a group called Eclipse Hunters.”

Cattleya smiled. “That's valuable information, avatar. I thank you for that. I'll also visit the Arcanas Kingdom one day, and see if they could give us more information about them.”

“What will you do about those ores then?”

Cattleya sighed. “Since the ores are abundant below the forest, I guess that's what my brother was really after. Now that I think about it, digging from the kingdom to Shiromori would be a lot of work than digging directly at Shiromori. The ores will be destroyed and the mines will be closed. We will ensure as well that the ores beneath the Shiromori will be kept untouched.

Daisuke opened the envelope and read the letter's content, “Find and spread prosperity.”

Inside the envelope was a wooden ring. There's nothing special about it, except that the ring has an engraved word on the inner side—PROSPERITY—and the ring was emanating faint mana.

Daisuke showed the ring to Cattleya. “Do you know what this is for?”

Cattelya shrugged. “Sorry, but I have no idea as well.”

* * * * *

The remaining knights were saddened. It has only been a while since they caught up with Robin again. Now, she had to leave and join Daisuke's group.

Even the Rogue Archers were saddened by Robin’s decision. But she already made up her mind, and they know very well that there’s nothing stopping that.

And Cattleya could only pray for Robin’s safe travels.

Brunnhilde used her magic to summon Geri and Freki. The group rode the two wolves as they headed east.

“So…where are we heading again?” asked Robin.

“We’re heading to the Elysian Republic. That has been our goal ever since leaving Port Royale,” Daisuke replied.

“What’s the objective?”

“Hopefully, we finally get to see and recover the statue we’ve been looking for.”

“Sorry for asking, but why is this statue so important that you have been in so much trouble lately just trying to get it back?"

“It has been one of my dreams ever since—to return the Wooden Statue of Maria back to our home island.”

“Many elves called 'Seekers' travel outside our island to recover stolen treasures,” Riku added. “Daisuke, Jack, and I are specifically after that statue.”

“Hey, I just realized. You’re missing one elf,” said Robin.

“He’s…He joined the United Alliance back at the Emergent Kingdom that left before the banquet,” said Daisuke.

“Is that so…”

“He was already planning to leave before anyway. I guess this time he really did decide to leave,” said Riku.

Robin wanted to break the tension. “Anyway, I still do not know much about you guys so come on and tell me more stories!”

The group did as they continued to travel east.

End of Shiromori Arc

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On the ship of Captain Nat, the recording was finally sent to Union Gates. Captain Nat immediately received a call from Garou.

“Captain Nat, I just finished watching the recording,” said Garou. “We have already informed Raya of the Chasers as well. Do you have more information about the avatar?”

“Yes, sir. We need as many soldiers as we could. He literally stopped hundreds of soldiers and destroyed dozens of heavy equipment all by himself!”

“Well, it’s a good thing that we have Rear Admiral Bolton here. Where are they now?”

“Last time I saw them, they are at Shiromori. If Jack was right, they should be traveling east to the Elysian Republic to find some elven treasure. Jack also mentioned meeting the Dragon Raiders at Snow Cape Peninsula.”

“Dragon Raiders?!”

“Yes, sir. Jack told us that the princess of Drasgard Kingdom is traveling with them.”

Garou sighed. “Nat, I am ordering you to go to Snow Cape Peninsula and do a reconnaissance mission. If you ever see the Dragon Raiders, you are not to engage and simply inform us.”

“But sir, shouldn’t we follow the group to the Elysian Republic?”

“I’ll talk to Raya about that. For now, I am assigning you and your crew to Snow Cape Peninsula.”

Nat didn’t argue and accepted the mission. “Yes, sir. We'll start to sail south ASAP. We will inform you once we reached Snow Cape Peninsula.”

Their conversation ended with Garou unsure if he should be glad or not. It was good news that they finally had a lead to the possible location of the Dragon Raiders. Six months ago, they fought with the Dragon Raiders but the Dragon Raiders managed to escape.

What made him worry was that the Dragon Raiders were led by the most powerful and influential treasure hunter and the leader of the Hunters’ Horde, Odin. With two avatars already at Hunters' Horde's disposal thanks to Arcobaleno Hunters and Celestial Hunters, they cannot afford the Hunters’ Horde to gain their third.

“Bolton, prepare for departure. I’ll ask Garuda to go to Snow Cape Peninsula with you.”

“What’s going on, Garou?”

“If that avatar will indeed meet up with the Dragon Raiders, then we are in huge trouble. We cannot afford another avatar joining the Hunters’ Horde.”

“Don’t you think we are using too many resources for one avatar and some bunch of treasure hunters? We haven’t even heard that he could actually control his powers yet. I think my crew is enough to deal with all of them. Sending the aviation unit is just too much.”

“We’re not taking any chances, Bolton. We need to ensure that the Dragon Raiders and that avatar does not meet. We capture the Dragon Raiders and take down the avatar while he is still not fully awakened.”

As they were having a conversation, an alarm sounded.

“Ugh, now what?” Garou complained.

Bolton looked outside. “Hmmm. Looks like it’s him again.”

“That kid really does not know when to stop, does he?”

“I guess that’s just how young treasure hunters are now.”

Some sort of black powder started to materialize in Bolton's hands.

“Bolton, I do not want any further damages here in my headquarters. Deal with that brat immediately so you can prepare for departure.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure thing. But what about Elysia?”

“I'll contact Raya again. Maybe she knows someone who can help us get in there. Err…wait a minute, aren't you from Elysia?”

Bolton ignored Garou and immediately went outside to deal with the Dawn Hunters who keep on trying to escape.

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The Drasgard Kingdom was one of the oldest civilizations of humans. Despite the cruel and unforgiving landscape of the continent of Dragonheim, the progenitors of the Drasgardians saw nothing but opportunity; the opportunity to live in peace, away from the tyranny of the Ishvaras.

For years, the ancient Drasgardians continued to live in a harsh cold environment, surviving in any ways they could. Years passed and they have overcome the land. They tamed the blizzards, commanded the avalanche, and ruled the beasts of Dragonheim. The Drasgard Kingdom became a prosperous kingdom, envied and feared by others.

The kingdom even became more flourishing with the rule of the current king, Odin Borson, dubbed as the most powerful mage as of today. The only contender to the same title was Merlin, a direct descendant of the first-ever human mage named Miyuki.

Drasgardians were natural-born explorers. They’ve traveled the world in search of new lands to live in or take home new things with them. Some say that the Drasgardians were even the first-ever treasure hunters, exploring uncharted lands and raiding other civilizations for what they had.

Some treasure hunters even pledged their allegiance to the Drasgard Hunters, forming what's known as the Hunters’ Horde. The answer of many kingdoms to this was the United Alliance, and for years, clashes between the two have only been escalating.

Around six months ago, the Drasgard Hunter’s subordinate, the Dragon Raiders, left the kingdom with the princess for an expedition. But nothing can be hidden from Odin.

Odin had a soft spot for Brunnhilde. Maybe a bit overprotective as he sealed his daughter's own mana. But he still believed that his daughter could take care of herself. After all, Brunnhilde was a stubborn princess that loves action. This incident will only make her stronger.

But still, necessary punishment has to be given for losing the princess.

Inside his throne room, Odin was speaking with Freyr, the mentor of Brunnhilde.

“Freyr, find the Dragon Raiders and take them back, with or without my daughter. And if you find Volstag’s son, bring his decapitated head back to me.”

Freyr nodded. “As you command, Lord Odin.”

Freyr left for the kingdom’s harbor. There, his ship, the Skidbladnir, was waiting for him with his crew of Ljosalfars, light-skinned elves with golden patterns on their skin.