Chapter 71: The Holy Country of Millis

Rudeus’s POV

…

“Rudy, Rudy, look!”

The person speaking was Eris, as she waved her fiery sword. One might mistake it for a magic sword, but it was nonetheless an aura. After pestering both Geese and Laurel for the entire journey, Laurel caves in, teaching her how to make her aura into flames.

In his words, transmutation… Speaking of…

“Hey Laurel. You said you and Geese are close, right?”

“Yup. Pretty much.”

“Then why can’t Geese use Magic or Aura?”

I mean, Laurel even offered it to Ruijerd, though Ruijerd had rejected it since it was unnecessary. So isn’t it weird that Geese was the only exception?

To his response, Laurel’s smile cracked. He literally plopped down to the floor, his hands held his knees as he curled into a ball and rolled to the corner of our carriage. Geese, on the other hand, had a bitter expression.

“Ah, big boss… it’s not that the boss didn't; it’s just because he couldn’t.”

“Shut it! It’s not MY fault!”

As Laurel kept hissing at Geese, I managed to summarize the answer. In short, Laurel’s capable of affecting existing properties. For example, since aura is made of mana, it was possible for Laurel to turn aura into mana and vice versa, as well as make aura more complex.

It was like a blacksmith changing an iron slab into a sharp sword. In other words, for Geese, who did not have excess mana nor the physical strength required to obtain more mana, there was nothing Laurel could do.

“How would I know there’s a person who’s so weak they can’t even take a bit of power?"

Sulking Laurel said indignantly in his corner of woe as he continued to lament about his misfortune.

”Just wait, just wait; one day I will make it happen. Because I am—”

“A man of your word. Yeah, yeah. Just knock it off already, boss.”

…

“All right then, folks! I know where I’m headed next, so I guess this is goodbye!”

Geese announced once when wrapped up at the stable.

“Huh? You’re leaving already?”

That was a little surprising. I’d been expecting him to tag along to the inn with us, at least.

“What’s the matter, big boss? Are you going to miss me?”

“Well, yeah. Of course.”

I knew Geese was just teasing, but I responded honestly. We hadn’t known each other very long, but he definitely wasn’t a bad guy. A traveling companion you got along with was a valuable thing on long journeys like this. He’d made my life a lot less stressful for a while.

Not to mention, with him gone, our meals were going to be a lot less flavorful from now on. That seriously sucked.

“Aw, don’t be blue, boss. We’ll probably run into each other around town one of these days, you know?”

He said while shrugging. And Geese wasn’t the only one either. The moment he left, Laurel also suddenly announced his departure.

“This is probably the part where I get off, as well.”

“Wait, Laurel, you too?”

I said in surprise. This kid really knows how to pull out surprises.

“Yes.”

Laurel said while nodding.

“I need to handle things at the guild first.”

“But can’t you wait until—"

“No. Sorry, but it’s urgent.  Leo, let’s go.”

Laurel said, pointing at the Sacred Beast. And so, we watched Laurel, Tonia, and Tersena, along with Leo, walk further away. Something about his gait makes him feel somewhat lonesome. But it was probably my own imagination.

It was Laurel we’re talking about, after all. What could a Chunni kid like him even be sad about?

…

Our immediate priority at the moment was finding an inn. This was always our first order of business whenever we reached a new city.

After we talked to each other and decided on what to do in the meantime, night had reached upon us—well, considering that we only reached this place in the afternoon, it wasn’t that strange.

“I’m going to go slay some goblins!"

Eris had proudly declared her intent of hunting down goblins.

“Goblins?”

Wait, wait. Goblins? Like…yellow-green guys, maybe half the size of a human, with the crude clubs? The ones that always feature prominently in fantasy-themed porn games?

“Yep. I overhead someone saying they’ve got lots of them popping up around here. That’s exactly the sort of thing adventurers should be dealing with, right?”

Eris replied cheerfully. To be perfectly honest, I’d heard a bit about them on our journey. In this world, goblins were basically thought of as a kind of vermin. They reproduced rapidly and caused all sorts of trouble for people. So when their numbers started getting out of hand, they’d typically be exterminated.

“All right then. Ruijerd, can you go along with her and—"

“Oh, come on! I can handle a few Goblins on my own!”

Eris interrupted indignantly. Not that she’s wrong—Eris was a very competent fighter. And goblins were E-ranked monsters. From what I’d heard, even a child who’d learned some basic swordplay could handle them, no sweat.

Maybe I was being slightly overprotective; after all, the girl could handle a B-ranked monster on her own… but still. When a girl adventurer gets beaten by a goblin, that’s an instant sex-slave bad end, right?

If I were the lucky goblin who managed to knock Eris out, I’d certainly enjoy myself. I mean, wouldn’t anyone?

Anyway, Ruijerd decided to meet an acquaintance. That had to be the first time I’d ever heard him use the word acquaintance.

…

And so when day arrived, I separated ways with my other two companions.