* * * *

The two of them continue to looking for the remnant of destruction to tail the dragon. Up till now, they have found 4 more destruction by the dragon. From the remnant they have pin-pointed 3 possibilities.

“So what do we do now?”

“Hmm I’m not sure but I guess we will just give up on chasing that dragon after the next one if it’s no good.”

“You sure are quick to give up huh? Such a useless man.”

“Urk, you are the one who complained that it’s tiring every time.”

“So then, which one shall we go to?”

Mao opens up a map of this place and marked the 3 place that Shou had already said.

Shou points the mountain range on the map while explaining to Mao.

“I think the most of probabilities is the dragon resides there after all… Wait! Where did you get this map?!”

Seeing Mao brought out a full map in a good condition Shou got surprised.

“Oh this? I picked it up from the building before.”

“If you have this tell me sooner! I’ve been looking for some map in ages and all I got is this!”

He takes out a burnt map from his pocket.

“Uwah… that’s lame.”

“Oh whatever! Just give me the map!”

Shou takes the map and trying to pint-point their location right now.

“You can read the map?”

“Well to some extent. As long as I found obvious landmark I can guess roughly.”

“Wow, I’ve never been good with maps before. More like, it’s so confusing and end ups making me lost rather than helping.”

“…Then for what reason did you pick it up?”

“Well, at least it’s useful because you can read it right?”

“Oh whatever, and so it seems we are around here. And judging from the map and the scale of the map, it will probably take around a day to reach the mountain if we walk.”

“Eee~~~.”

Mao sighed unmotivated.

“Um…”

“You need to fix that unmotivated attitude you know.”

“But~~~”

“E-excuse m…”

A small meek voice called.

“Didn’t you want to go back to your world?”

“Well~~~”

“Excuse me...”

But Shou and Mao didn't realize about the sound that's trying to call them and Shou kept lecturing Mao.

“Even I also want to quickly go back to my own world. What would you do if you are alone?”

“Of course trying harder. But I’m not alone anyways, there’s still you.”

“E-excuse me.”

This is the third time the voice got ignored.

“What will you do when I part ways with you?”

“When the time comes, I will think properly~~~”

“Excuse me!”

“Eh?” “Huh?”

Mao and Shou turned their attention to the voice’s source. There stood a young boy looking at them shyly.

Mao softens her looks when looking at the kid.

“Oh my, what is it young boy? Can we help you with something?”

“Um… the map.”

“Huh? Oh this map? Is this yours or something?”

“Um… yes, actually it is mine. I dropped it when I was running away from the demon that attacked. So… do you mind? If I could, I would like to have it back.”

“Ah yeah. Can you wait a bit? I will give it back to you after I copy it.”

“Ah yes! Thank you big bro, big sis.”

The kid bows his head to both of them in clumsy behavior.

“Kya~~~ what with this kid, adorable! Can I be your mom?!”

Mao hugs the boy, and the boy getting flustered by her.

“Uwah! Um… that is, sorry, I already have a mom. And there's a mark on the map, that is our promised meeting spot.”

“Such a remarkable child~~!”

Shou who is copying down the map notice that it has a mark to the village a bit far from here.

“You sure you get on your own? Do you want us to accompanies you? It’s quiet far. Can you read the map?”

“Ah yes. Thanks for the concern, but I can take care of it myself, and I can also read the map.”

“Oh, you sure are one smart kid eh? Be careful on your journey, and here is the map, thanks.”

Shou who has finished copying the map down, give the original one to the kid and keep the copy for his guide.

“Ah thanks also. Alright then, see you big bro, big sis!”

The kid waves goodbye to both of them and run forward.

“Ha~~~ seeing such a cute kid makes me want to have one myself~~~.”

“… you sure are unexpectedly motherly huh? To think that Mao is fond of a child.”

“T-that’s..!”

Mao getting flustered over, and suddenly the kid runs back to both of them.

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Big bro, you should go to learn more about the contracted soul you’ve contracted with. Here!”

The kid gives Shou a black colored Rubik’s-like cube and then left quickly.

“Hey wait!”

The cube looks exactly like Rubik’s cube, except the color is all painted black. The black cube works like proper Rubik’s but because of the all black color, Shou can’t figure out the purpose of the cube.

When Shou wants to ask about it the kid has run far away to the corner of the road.

“…What is this thing..? And what does he mean by contracted soul?”

“Who knows?”

* * * *

“…”

“…It really is suspicious…”

“Isn’t it a trap? Let’s just blew it up.”

“No wait, don’t use your magic. Rather, what’s with this thing? It’s obviously shady business.”

Right now, Shou stumbles upon an old looking hut. But the hut just clearly suspicious as at the entrance there’s a big , , and others written.

“This is stupid. Let’s ignore it.”

“WAAAAAIIIIIT~~~~!!!!”

As Shou and Mao were going to continue their journey, a young man came out from the hut.

“Aren’t you people a little cold? I’ve tried to make my shop to be attractive like this yet you guys are just going to ignore it?! Come on, you guys must be wondering what it’s like inside right? Come on, come on.”

“…Well… I am interested but… Nah, I’ll pass, it looks suspicious.”

“Su-suspicious?! Why?! Even though I’ve used these signs to make my shop attractive! I even cut off the money from repairing the shop to set up the signs.”

““THOSE SIGNS ARE THE THING THAT MAKES YOUR SHOP LOOKS LIKE A SHADY SHOP!!””

Shou and Mao retorted in unison.

“Eh...”

The young man fell depresed.

“Are you serious? Your shop outward appearance are a mess and then with these grandiose sign all over it who wouldn’t find it suspicious?”

“N-now that you said it, I think you’re right… is that why for months my shop has been empty?!”

both Shou and Mao thought so.

“Right then, because of the shop looks like th--"

“I refuse.”

“EH?! I haven’t even asked you for anything!”

“But you will ask for us to help you right?”

“G-gu…”

The young man lost of words because his intention is caught by Shou.

“Sigh… I thought so.”

Scratching the back of his head, Shou alternating his gaze between the old hut and Mao signaling he asks for her opinion.

“Why not? It’s not like we can’t help if it’s just a bit.”

“R-really?! You guys will help?! T-thanks! Ah, don’t worry, I also will be preparing for compensation for helping me.”

“Haah~. Seriously, Mao, recently you're nothing like a demon lord even for the slightest. Oh well, lending a hand for a bit won’t hurt. After all, the quest completion prizes from weird people like you are surprisingly useful, usually.”

“Alright! Thank you! And so here is the list of thing I need to gather.”

The young man gives Shou a paper written things like wood and some stone and where or how to get them. To his surprise, the requested items are quiet easily to found at the forest nearby and some things from the demon.

"Recently, I've been thinking." Shou interupted for a bit. "Why are people like you (the one who gives quest) knows where and how to get an item but never tried to get it yourself? I mean, what if there's noone who will do your request?"

"Of course because I'm afraid of monsters and the risk of dying!"

'Are quest giving NPC always has this selfish reasons? I'm getting really unmotivated to do this.'

"Ah, is that so." Shou said while hiding his anger, which unintentionally leaked out, causing his face to smile awkwardly.

"HIIII! So-Sorry!"

Shou sighed and scratch his head.

‘Hmm wait, why do the demons give an item drop? Do they even give out this kind of things?’

“Shou come on, let’s go.”

“Huh? Oh right.” ‘Eh whatever.’ “Wait a bit.”

* * * *