V2 Chapter 8

“This is…?!”

It was a beautiful knight sword with almost one and a half meters tall, beautiful decorated blue hilt and dazzling sky colored blade.

It can even be said that this sword was better to be a decoration than used in battle due to its high art impression—of course, if it was only used for that, this sword would surely be a waste of precious resources. It wasn’t a normal Knight sword, this was a magic weapon that all knights in the world dreamt of having!

It was almost comparable to those swords owned by high ranking knights, and most of them were created using so high amount of money and wealth.

Runa was completely dumbstruck.

She stared unbelievingly at the sword in front of her.

“It’s my regard… it’s called Deep Sky Sword… hope you take care of it,” the youth smiled lightly and then immediately climbs at the back of the Snow Wolf King. “If fate leads us to meet one day, I will ask you for a meal…”

After speaking, Bon Voyage, the Snow Wolf King with the youth on her back, jumped into the sky, leaving two pairs of icicle paw prints on the ground.

When they started flying a voice called them from behind.

“Wait! Where are you going?” exclaimed Runa.

“Predestined friends, later meets!” The youth muttered while turning his head to face her.

“What!?” When Runa saw the smile on his face, her heart palpitated with more eagerness; the heart she just put together shattered.

“There should be no monsters here that your group can’t handle… however, I advise you not to go deeper for a while, the Golden Toad King’s death would alarm the other Monster Kings… the forest is a bit, unstable and chaotic… better to turn back,”

“You realized that issue and you still killed that Toad?!” The Snow Wolf King growled angrily. Due to this son of hers, right now, the forest was indeed quite stormy. One of the Kings had died, how can it not be?

“I had asked it for a Nine Poison Lotus but it did not give, and instead chased us away, even scolding you… mother! What if it was a Monster King? It’s a cabbage in front of me!” The youth snorted in contempt.

"Scolding me is okay but scolding my family... even Hades or Yama wouldn't be able to secure him!" The youth angrily declared. His voice and tone seemed righteous that anyone who heard of him would surely nod in agreement and deemed to the other party an enemy of humankind.

“… …”

“Then, just tell me!”

As the Snow Wolf King was running through the air, Runa couldn’t help but step forward and pursued.

“Hm?”

“Your name! I still don’t know your name!”

“… …” The youth stared at her but didn’t answer. Name? Why would she want to know that?

Besides, being known would surely be a problem for him. After all, if those people know that he had already gone out of the cave, they would surely pursue him...

He doesn't want that...!

At least not for now.

The youth stared for a while and then, he just waved his hand goodbye with a faint smile.

The Snow Wolf King turned and left as though running in the sky.

*** ***

After taking turns to watch over the fire throughout the night, Rain and Alba were greeted by the arrival of morning.

Without extra clothing to use as blankets, Rain lasted through the night relying on nothing but the fire and Alba’s warmth. Not catching a cold was probably thanks to luck or the resilience Rain had gotten after all this year of strengthening and boosting his status.

As soon as the sky grew light, the two of them went along the Rhine and returned to the animal trail they were using to descend.

Even so, the forest is bigger than what Rain had expected. It took three full days to get out of the forest from the place where he had separated from Runa and those human warriors. Although Rain was thinking like that, their pace was actually quite slow in his standards as they picked up delicious-looking fruits and useful herbs, ores, and items they found on the way.

They got out of the forest’s eastern side on the fourth day since then. Rain doesn’t know how long it would take to get out of the depths of the forest, but it was quite the distance to get out from the edge of the forest. It takes probably more than a week.

Soon after, they passed through the forest and reached a plain.

Indeed, a plain—an endless flat field stretched all the way to the horizon. This was a type of terrain seldom found in cramped little city Rain was living at in his former world.

There was a road paved over this vast plain.

Although the road was not especially wide, it was a major route paved with a great amount of gravel. It was quite well designed, with gutters on both sides for water to drain.

If one were to follow this road, the chances of reaching a human settlement were quite high. Rain was ecstatic and filled with uncontained excitement. Finally! He had spent more than a year to finally able to visit human civilization.

Naturally, the two quickened their pace and arrived at the road.

Heading west from the direction of the Desolate Plain and continuing further. It's a flat path and the weather is so good that Rain feels like he’ll casually fall asleep.

On the sides of the road, there are plains as far as you can see.

Behind them, one can faintly see the infamous Desolate Plain—known as Adventurers Grave or something—but that was the place Rain can call—Home.

Looking around, he saw several shadows slowly circling above the Mountain Range. If he wasn’t mistaken, they are wyverns or flying dragons… massive creatures that hold terrifying power. They were probably startled by the Golden Toad King’s Death since they had gone out from their habitats.

Well, in any case, it's kinda peaceful.

Occasionally thieves and bandits dressing up as adventurers who can't read the mood come out and tell Rain to leave his money and go, or say other things of similar nature, but just as they wished for, Rain would give them his fist and they run away in shame.

It seemed like at first Alba was just going to go with slaughtering them all, but after listening to their situation, it seems most of them were just troubled being unable to eat, so for the time being Rain just let them go.

Just once though.

Even though it's the Central Continent, the road around this area seems to have some slightly bad public order. I guess, one should say, as expected of the Desolate Mountain Region—

Although, 10x as many monsters would come out compared to criminals and bandits.

Rain wonder if people being able to do as they please are proof of peace.

It seems like since the Central and West Continent was extremely chaotic, a lot of countries are jumbled together at war against monsters and demons, and the thieves increased thanks to the influence of that war...

Oh, well, Rain wasn’t in any case, interested.

*** ***

"Walking here on foot took roughly three hours. Looks like we haven't completely exhausted our luck—"

Using the pocket watch to calculate the time taken, Rain chuckled and smiled. This was the pocket watch he had gotten from Arturia’s strange collection of items that looked like a gathering of things in several eras in the other world. And this particular watch was among the things Rain particularly likes.

The watch used Roman Numerical Numbers and there was also a beautiful music box build within it, that the instance the lid was opened, a piece of beautiful music would flow out. Rain was not certain if this kind of thing was uncommon in this world, but seeing these things just makes Rain somewhat comfortable—Arturia might be feeling the same. Thus, she made all this kind of things…!

Since this was a new different world, longing and homesickness would never disappear no matter how much time passed by. Furthermore, Arturia had almost a century of living alone—bored as it can be, she did many things as killing time.

“Son, you didn’t forget what I had said before, right? Humans can’t be completely trusted. They are…”

“I know mom…” Rain smiled bitterly. Alba had warned him so many times along the way. “It’s not like I want to go there to socialize and be friendly with them…I just want to gather information, that’s all…”

The information he needed to prepare for his great adventure.

“Well, as long as you understand…”

Just as Alba answered—

A cart drawn by two horses moved leisurely along the road, approaching Rain’s group. Two Caucasian-like men were sitting on the driver's perch.

Their clothing was very simple, one could even call it crude without objections.

In short, each man was clad in a long-sleeved shirt with long hems, secured tightly with a belt, with baggy pants.

Inauspiciously, they both drew their longswords from atop the driver's perch.

They looked like ruffians in appearance. It was possible that they did not earn their living through legitimate means. Rain went "Hmm?" in puzzlement.

Did he feel suspicious to find these people on a horse-drawn cart, dressed in this manner? Well, whether in ancient or modern times, horses for riding were expensive livestock. Thus, either they had such capital such as they were escorting merchants… or…

That said, they finally managed to find people who could provide information. Rain immediately sprang into action.

"Hey, good sirs hurrying along your way! May I trouble you for a moment?"

Standing before the cart as if blocking their way, Rain walked over and asked. As a side note, Alba’s current appearance was no different from a normal sized wolf, white and flurry. Alba did this in order to not caught any unwanted attention—after all, her original appearance would surely alarm any people seeing her.

However, beast tamer and beast master was not a rare existence in the continent. Humans who have a monster companion was also not rare—thus, Rain wouldn’t be in danger or catch unwanted attention if he was seen with Alba around him.

Alba stared at the cart behind the two and saw several people huddle in the cart. Bounded by chains and shackles, these people were dirty, looking unsightly. Ranging from children about 8 to 9 years old to good looking women around their 20s to 30s. Sorrow, Sadness, Despair—all kind of negative emotions appeared on their faces but no one dared to make a fuss.

After talking for a bit, Rain returned towards where Alba was, smiling bitterly. Alba knows this expression; Rain would wear it in moments he finds himself incapable of doing something.

“The City seemed to be still further in front… around, half a days' journey away.”

“Hm…” Alba stared at Rain, indifferent but some inquisition. Rain understands what she wants as such; he could only scratch the back of his head in an awkward manner. Rain turned his head and look at the cart that was already leaving.

“I’m fine… just, although I had expected that slavery is indeed normal in this world. But encountering it personally was really…” Rain shook his head with a bitter expression.

He had really expected the two men to be criminals such as kidnappers and the like. And so, he tried baiting them before taking action…

However, who would have expected that they were in fact, just legal traders, possessing even merchant’s permit. Something that only merchants permitted by the Merchant Guild to have.

In addition, there’s no illegal slave in there but—Debt Slave, Criminal Slave, War Slave and many kinds of slaves. Even if Rain wanted to do anything, he couldn’t. After all, if he does anything, he would then be branded as a criminal. He would be the one breaking the law. Furthermore, right now, he has no capital to support such amount of people. He has barely even started. It's not about money at all, he has a surplus of it. But attention and responsibility that would come after.

Thus, although he has money, a wealth that could rival that of a small kingdom through Arturia’s inheritance, he just can’t do anything as of now!

He has many goals and dreams, tripping at the very first lap would surely be unamusing...

Nevertheless, though it's a pity he can't save everyone he wanted to save just because he wants to...

“Let’s go,”

Rain cast one glance at the cart before walking in the opposite direction.

“Son, everyone can’t be saved… God couldn’t, a Hero couldn’t… much less you,” Alba muttered softly. Being with Rain for almost a year, as a mother, Alba knows what her child was thinking or worrying. Thus, she muttered; “There’s no such thing as omnipotence—there always bound to be a minority.”

“I know, mom… I know…” Rain bit his lips and moved his legs. He clenched his fist but he didn't turn around, instead... he kept his gaze forward...

"I have my own goal... my own family first before others... for them, if I need to become a demon, I shall embrace it..."