V3 Chapter 74

Listening to Jonathan and Rain talking, caused no small ripples in the surrounding, especially from Jonathan’s group who were staring at their master in shock.

‘It's a small matter…?’

Shila’s body is a small matter…?

They can’t believe they were hearing this from the mouth of their Master whom they’ve followed for a long, long time. Not they were angry that he seemed to be belittling the death of their comrade, but rather, they were too surprised they don’t know what to feel. Jonathan’s action and behavior seemed to be completely out of character that they couldn’t believe it was their master that was standing in front of them.

Though indeed their Master is often reasonable and forgiving… sensitive things like this, he would always be the first one to stand in front and seek justice. Even if it was against his principles, but for his family and subordinates, he would still pursue it. No matter the consequences, he would surely do anything and everything for his family, and to the people, he considered as such.

In this case, to maintain Shila’s dignity and pride, he would surely eliminate the Slime that had devoured her body and was even hatefully cascading on her form.

They’ve spent days already wandering around the Forbidden Land to find and capture the wicked slime. They should have rendezvous with their group who had gone ahead by now… but since their master; Jonathan wanted to kill the slime, they postponed their plan and continued wandering around this dangerous place.

But now that they’ve finally found it… why had their Master changed his mind?

And he even yielded so casually as if it was just a simple matter.

This is really strange…

They couldn’t help but look at their master with strange expressions. Then, they turned toward the boy who had become even more mysterious in their eyes… or rather, looking at this boy closely, why does he felt very familiar…? And his looks… it resembled… no, that’s not possible! No!

A strange thought appeared in their mind as they look strangely at Rain. A queer expression in their faces. But the moment ‘that’ kind of guess appeared in their minds, they couldn’t help but shiver in fright. For ‘that’ matter to happen is completely impossible… and extremely absurd.

As the three people look at them in doubt and disbelief, the two people in question don’t seem to feel or notice anything strange and continued talking as if it was normal.

Jonathan stared at Cyan for a while, then let out a sigh. He turned toward Rain and said; “Just promise me, you wouldn’t let her do something like this again…nor do bad things in the image of my friend. If she so much stained her reputation, I would come back here and kill her, even if you stand in front of me again.” He warned.

Rain inclined his body slightly forward, bowing to Jonathan again, expressing his heartfelt gratitude for Jonathan’s understanding and goodwill.

“Thank you very much,” he said. “I promise… truthfully, I just met her a few hours ago, and her mentality is still that of a child. But I will surely teach her what’s right or wrong. I won’t let her shame the image of your friend, and if she did, rest assured, I will be the one to punish her for it…”

Though what he said or did seemed too much, Rain knows that he needed to do it. Circumstances aside, he understands that they were in the wrong. If he was in his shoes, and someone from the Lamians suffered the same cruel fate, he would surely kill those who had devoured them, even if it’s only their lifeless bodies. No matter who they are or what they are. He can never be as forgiving and reasonable as Jonathan had done right at this moment. And this realization had made him admire the man even more.

Well, I guess that’s the difference between us. I might try to act like an adult, but inside, I’m still a child. I can never be so open-minded.

Rain smiled wryly. He might be biased, but he knows he is no hero, nor a righteous person. He doesn’t know the woman Cyan had devoured, so he didn’t have any feelings against what the Slime did. But if replaced with someone he knows, he might have done the opposite of what he was doing right now.

“You already said this much, and I believe you.”

Jonathan smiled gently.

He didn’t know why he would believe this boy so much, but for some reason, he felt a sense of familiarity with him. It was even to the point that he is unable to think, or even imagine fighting against him. Perhaps, if his subordinates suddenly attacked him just like how they almost did a while ago, he might even stand on the boy’s side and defend him. Even if it means tarnishing his reputation and honor. He felt as if it was something he should do.

Though it’s just a feeling, he thought perhaps that would happen if things really go in that direction. Still, he just can’t understand why… nor he could explain these strange feelings coming from his heart.

Jonathan glanced at the Slime Girl who was lying on the ground with her head on top of the boy’s lap. She really looks like Shila. Truthfully, he had never accounted that Shila will fall. However, they just have to meet an Ogre Lord just after entering the Desolate Cave.

After fighting for a long time, they were able to kill it. But one of them was killed in the process: Shila, their Mage. She was caught off-guard and was struck fatally by an arrow from the Ogre Lord’s comrade. Not to mention, the arrow was laced with a deadly poison.

Because they didn’t have a specialized Healer or Priest, they could not preserve her life. And eventually, the poison took her life. They tried to reach the other group to ask for help, but with how big the Desolate Cave is, they were unable to meet up with them before Shila couldn’t endure it any longer.

It was terrible. A tragedy. The encounter of the Ogre Lord is just too sudden, and even Jonathan was caught off-guard. Who would have expected a Monster Lord would be coming from outside?

They came here in a hurry to regroup with the expedition team who had reported to the Kingdom about finally finding the Dungeon of the great ancient Hero as soon as possible. The King was excited and more so, worried about the princess, so he send them to help her.

With their skills, they were confident that they would not have a problem on the way. They only needed to catch up and regroup with the Princess and her group as soon as possible. But the carelessness bites back harder than they had expected. And one of them fell.

Jonathan understands that he had underestimated the Desolate Cave. Just by entering it, they immediately met an Ogre Lord, which, is a Monster that possesses the power to threaten or worse, destroy a City singlehandedly. It’s a frightening monster that was ranked (a) in the monster category and is considered a Disaster Class monster.

However, when they returned, to pick up Shila’s remains, she disappeared. And the only thing that was left there was a Persona Slime that completely looks like her. And in an instant, they immediately understand what had happened.

They were outraged, and attack immediately in anger. But in the end, it was still able to escape from their hands. Now, it was once again appeared in front of them. But sadly, they cannot do anything against it now. Or at least, Jonathan cannot kill the creature in front of the mysterious black-haired boy who could strangely birth him familiar feelings.

“Let’s set aside for that,” Jonathan made a sigh, and then look at Rain, “What are you doing here, little brother? Do you really live here? Do you live here alone?”

“It’s true that I live here, though. But I don’t live alone. I live with my family…” Rain answered.

“Live!? In this Great Monsters Nest!?”

“Impossible!”

“That’s hard to believe…”

Just like how Jonathan reacted before, the three people also opened their eyes in surprise, unable to believe what Rain had just said. They look at him in doubt, and their expression full of disbelief. They just can't believe that someone would choose to live in this kind of place.

Rain shrugged his shoulders, not caring whether they believe him or not.

Well, I guess in their perspective, it is hard to believe that someone would be living in this place, known to be inhabited by powerful monsters.

However, although I’m just shamelessly using the reputation of the Desolate Cave to reason with Jonathan, according to what I heard from Elder Sister… is this place really that scary for the outside world?

Of course, I know that this place is beyond just being scary... but that’s because I came from a peaceful world with no experience in fighting nor facing monsters that seems to come out from fantasy games or movies. But though I did hear from elder sisters how dangerous this forest is… I never imagined it would to this extent…!

They are quite strong themselves, and yet they always have that fearful expression when speaking about the Desolate Cave.

Thinking like that, Rain can’t help but be curious; “Come to think of it, I’d like to ask you one thing…”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“That’s… Is this place really dangerous?”

“Huh?”

Hearing his question, Jonathan and the others were dumbfounded.

“W-wait a minute! Didn’t you live here knowing what kind of place this is?”

Jonathan asked with a wry smile.

“No, no, that’s not how it was…”

Rain smiled wryly. He was suddenly thrown into this world, into the heart of this place without knowing anything. As for this world’s common sense, he doesn’t know a thing or two about them.

Though I often heard stories about this place, as expected I just can’t completely understand nor comprehend how deep and serious things were.

Of course, if things were to be understood based on my circumstances, then I could say that this place is really dangerous. However, that is also true for any place that has monsters living in them. And I doubt I can find a perfectly safe place in this world.

Of course, that is before when he was still weak. Now, even the Desolate Cave was just scary and dangerous, but not an impossible place to survive and live in.

Well, if I say that they won’t believe me…

“Aah… little brother. Are you serious?”

“Yes. Ever since I’ve become aware, I’m already in this place. So, if you say this place is dangerous, then I could agree with it. But I think the level of danger we are talking about would…you know, be different. I don’t know how dangerous this place is… no can’t I even imagine it. but somehow, recently I met a lot of people from the outside world, and just like you, they always say that this place is really dangerous…you know, very, very dangerous… so I just felt, a little bit curious…something like that.”

“Haah… I’ve never thought that someone would live in this forbidden place without knowing anything. And here I thought you know it, with all that talk about the law of this place…” Jonathan smiled wryly, not knowing what to feel as he look at the strange but mysterious boy that doesn’t seem to make any sense.

Rain shrugs his shoulders, “I didn’t lie about that either. Though, indeed I admit, I just used the name to deter you after being told often by it. But about the law I spoke of, that is based on my understanding of this land, after living in this place for a long time. It’s not like I didn’t realize nor understand things up until now. But as for how dangerous or feared this place is, I don’t have any idea… to how much extent… but I just can’t help but feel curious as you showed the same expressions when talking about this place with the other people I met, and have this curious, but a little bit interesting thought of; ‘Is this place really that dangerous…?’ something like that,”

Rain said while looking straight at Jonathan’s face. Jonathan suddenly burst out laughing after hearing his words.

“Interesting, you are a really interesting little brother,” he said in clear amusement. “Well, this place commonly called the Desolate Cave is often dubbed as the Great Monster’s nest after all. It is said to be the top-class among the super-dangerous zones that many countries decided.”

“He~h!”

“The deeper you go, the more super-powerful monsters are running rampant. I heard that even a dozen Monster Kings were living in this place, making it even more terrible. Just so you know, each one of those Monster Kings can threaten an entire country… So don’t you think it’s reasonable to fear this place? Knowing a lot of them are gathered here, for some unknown reason!” Jonathan said with a smirk.

“….Moreover, since the monsters compete for survival, they also have territory. However, the adjacent entrance area isn’t safe either, since the monsters that could destroy a large-scale town such as Orc Kings, Goblin Lords, or even Ogre elites were common to be found there. This isn’t a nightmare anymore. If these monsters came out of this place and flood the entire continent, what would you think will happen?”

“... …”

Rain can’t say anything after hearing that.

I didn’t think it was such a terrible place. To think even countries feared it. With people of powers such as Jonathan and these people, it's hard not to think how dangerous this place is if even they are afraid of it. But indeed, quite a few Monster Kings live in this place, including Elder Sister and Grandpa Arfa.

So Monster Kings is not just simple Kings of Monsters...it's a classification of very dangerous monsters... perhaps, even on a nuclear level...

I'm living in a very incredible place...aren't I?

Jonatha continued. “Now I’ve talked about this place lightly, but if I had to put it together in one simple phrase… just like what you said, I also think it’s the most brutal land where the living creatures live by the rule of the survival of the fittest. Devour the weak, and the strong survive. It’s a common law of survival,”

Rain nodded his head.

A Forbidden Land, huh... So the other places aside from this place would be considered fairly normal in my standards… still, no wonder the monsters of this place are fairly strong, that even a mere Goblin can give me a hard time.

Were normal monsters outside this place be weaker?

“In professional opinion, since it’s such a dangerous place, it’s not possible to collect special medicinal plants in this forest or hunt monsters… No, it is just not confirmed since no one has ever reached the hinterland, but there would be no one looking for super valuable herbs without any information. After all, if you enter a forbidden land like this without knowing, you will lose your life. And, up until now, those who are recorded to ever come here, had never gotten out alive…and had never been seen again. At least, that’s what I heard. And those that miraculously did… they’ve gotten crazy, losing their minds from fear… making the reputation of this place, plummet even more. Now, it becomes something like a legend.”

“I see, well, I guess that’s natural. But that doesn’t seem to be the case for you, Brother Jonathan. What are you doing here? Hearing how dangerous this place is, you should not be coming here for a stroll, am I right?”

"Brother, or Jonathan is fine. And of course, I’m naturally not here for a stroll." Jonathan put on a genial smile. “Well, I came because I need to help a troublesome princess and ensure that nothing happened to her- a poor retainer’s life, you see~”

"... ..."

“Wherever they go, and whatever whim they have, all must be followed without question. Even if the destination is hell,” Jonathan muttered with a wry smile.

As I thought,

“Troublesome princess…you’re talking about should have Leticia, am I right? So you did come here with them. Nah, I haven’t seen you before, so perhaps, you came for them, would that be the right way to say it?”

Jonathan let out a surprised expression. And so were the other three behind him.

He, is he talking about the Princess?

However, those who dare to call Her Highness her name casually don't exceed 10 people in the Kingdom. So this boy's relation with Her Highness...could it be...

“You know our princess?”

“Yeah, I met them before…a lively bunch,” Rain grinned.

Jonathan paused for a moment, before exploding in laughter.

“Then, you must have been quite close with our princess, no one dared to use her name so casually- even the Great Nobles would not dare~”

“She’s the one who told me to just call her like that. Though it works for me since I’m not good with formal stuff. Even my polite language is shallow... I’m not born a noble, nor do I have any manners and etiquette, befitting as one. I’m just an ordinary man who likes to look and regard people equally, no matter their race, status, or appearance. So regarding her as someone superior in status would be hard,”

Jonathan’s eyes widened somewhat from his words, but Rain just grinned at him. His expression turned into mischief, as he regarded Jonathan and the others with a teasing smile; “… and besides, suddenly calling someone a princess…don’t you think endearments are only for loved ones you tied a knot with your heart? Even if they are real princesses, they are not necessarily an exception, I just can’t call anyone like that so casually, unless she is my lover,”

“If you are in the kingdom, that would call for the worst punishment, and you will be beheaded, you know~”

Jonathan scowled. Though, inside his heart, he felt amused by what he had heard. He had never met someone who would say such a thing. Either one had eaten a leopard's gall or a bear's heart, no one would dare claim or joke about those words.

The standing of the Royal Family to the public is as high as the Gods themselves. Saying those words casually would make one be branded as a heretic, worst be given capital punishment for blasphemy. But this boy doesn’t seem to be just putting on a tough act, but rather, he’s not afraid at all.

Rain stared at Jonathan and then burst into laughter.

“But this is not the Kingdom, old man… just like I said, this is the desolate cave! The mandate of heaven doesn’t reach this place. More so with your law… this is the garden of the savage, where everything must be pulled down from the high pedestal, to stand in equal grounds, and look eye to eye. You are the same, that’s why if you tell me to regard you highly because you are a noble… then, I apologize beforehand because that’s impossible.”

“I knew it…”

Jonathan grinned, then followed by loud laughter. His interest in this youngster was growing more and more.

“If someone said that before me, I would have beaten them to a pulp. Your words desecrate the Kingdom. Much less, calling me an old man… I would have flagged you up for that. However, I don’t know why… but, a feeling of affection arises in my heart whenever I see you. I just can’t start with you- I guess, this must be what they call, fate,"

Truly, fascinating…

Jonathan didn’t know why but he had an intimate and familiar feeling in his heart since the moment he had seen Rain.

Even though he had seen this youth for the first time. That’s why he cannot bear to show hostility against him. And, the more he got to know about this youth… the more he admired him.

At first, he admired the youth’s power… then his mental prowess, concentration, courage, and style of speech. This youth was faced with a stranger who was far beyond his level, and even stood up without hesitation to protect a monster… yet he was neither servile nor overbearing.

All of this had left him to admire a mysterious black-haired boy called Rain Revert.

Just what is he relying on?

He even didn’t put the Great Kingdom in his eyes. Either he’s just a country- naive small boy who doesn’t know anything, or was it that he has something to rely on, something that can rival their power of the Great Kingdom, and let him disregard their authority.

Jonathan didn’t want to think it was the former, since the boy in front of him doesn’t seem to be that stupid, or naive even… he seemed harmless, but Jonathan felt he has an edge, as sharp as a blade. Then, it must be the latter.

If he lives in this kind of place, then perhaps, he indeed has the capital?

After all, this is one of the Forbidden Land- one that no one would ever dare to come.

If he lives in this kind of place and survives, he’s not a simple person. Perhaps he comes from one of the secret families? One that secluded themselves from the world?

But Revert…his surname is Revert… I don’t recall anyone in the known Secret Families having the Surname Revert.

Perhaps, it's a fake name?

Jonathan continued to laugh, clearly very happy. The three people behind him, however, were shocked. Though their master often smiles, they rarely see him being so happy like this. Much less, to an unknown person he had just met. How is it possible?

“Well, though I hate to admit, I feel the same. So, how about a drink before you move?”

Rain smiled mildly.

He could tell from the appearance of Jonathan that his level was far above his own. However, he was having a strange feeling in his heart… this man wouldn’t hurt me! He had been confronted by such a feeling for the first time in his life. And he felt awfully strange. That's also why he thought he doesn't need to be formal with him, and even able to make daring jokes.

Why?

Why would I think that this man won’t hurt me?

Rain felt utterly confused. He couldn't find an answer, nor could understand why. So, following Jonathan's words, he could only treat it as fate. After all, he had heard in the past that some people felt the same when meeting for the first time- some of them even become lovers, saying they are soul mates.

But this old man is surely not his soul mate, so he can only think of him as a fated person he should meet.

No, didn’t I feel the same way when I saw Celia for the first time…?

Rain suddenly recalled the beautiful girl he had met and even saved not too long ago.

Indeed, when he met her, he also felt almost the same emotions of familiarity. I guess it must be something like a fated friend… Shaking his head, Rain let out a wry smile and suddenly pulled a 1L bottle of cola out of thin air, startling people, and several paper cups as well, along with a plate of pastries.

With his Shop System leveling up again, more miscellaneous things started appearing on the list that could be bought. And they are pretty cheap, only needing a few gold Coins to buy them. And ever since Cola had become available, he had never spent a single day without drinking them. He always had a fondness for this wonderful carbonated drink.

“A Space Item…?”

Seeing what Rain did, Jonathan's eyes once again somewhat widened in surprise.

Ho? This boy is really rich, to have something that not even a noble could necessarily have. It seems like the assumption of this boy coming from the Secret Families might not be wrong at all. The only people who possess these kinds of treasures aside from the Royal Families and Great Nobles are the Ancient Families themselves who had been around for a long, long time in this world.