We had lunch and not much happened.
For once, things were uneventful.
Dracona was relatively close and even if we left before the afternoon we'd arrive just after sunset. So, Alisa convinced us to leave right afternoon, as then we'd arrive before the evening. I didn't see why not. I didn't have to do in Xylax anyway.
I was supposed to look for a guy nad Travador. Since it was similar to travel, I actually rembered a na for once. Finally, my mory wasn't failing !
Since we'd be leaving in roughly an hour, I began to pack my things. I didn't have many things to pack since I had this ring.
But still, there were plenty of things I wanted to bring along- like this herb for example. It had a similar look and benefit as green tea but tasted like li water once boiled.
Very sour, very effective.
"Would you-" Viola's voice ca from behind . "Would you take along? I know I can be a hindrance but- but I'll try- no, I will keep up!"
I stopped and turned around.
She was looking very expectantly at . I could tell, she was shivering and trying her best to say what she did but-
"Look, it's not about you being a hindrance, it's just this is a very dangerous journey. After eting the person, I want to et in Dracona, we'd travel to Galbatia, and after that my fight with the emperor will break out. Let's just say, I don't want anyone near at the ti. That includes all of you. I don't want anyone of you getting hurt."
There were tis where honesty really was the best policy.
"Really?"
Another voice ca from the door- this ti Alisa and Ve entered. Biteria had followed them in.
Apparently, this wasn't one of those tis.
"So, you plan to ditch us in Galbatia or maybe-" Ve cracked her knuckles. "Before that?"
I got the feeling I shouldn't have said that last part. I gulped and as the four girls inched ever closer to , I kind of wanted to run away.
Jumping out of the window wouldn't kill , right?
It was just 70 or so floors high anyway.
So- jump!
Or so I'd have jumped if both Ve and Viola weren't pulling the hell out of . They'd dragged back in and I was currently on the floor as Ve and Viola were holding my hands and Biteria, my legs.
Where the hell did my bunny co from and why were these people so damn strong?
"What are you going to do to ?" I was almost scared. The surroundings around almost felt dark. Just what were they planning to do to ?
Alisa grinned and let out a villainous laughter. "The world shall never know." She locked the door and slowly climbed on …
She took off my armor and well…. Tickles!
"AHAH UAH AH HAHAHH!"
She kept on tickling , my underarms, my neck, my feet, my stomach!
"AHAH STOPLE! SHs ha HA AH Ah! Stop stop!"
I had no idea what I was saying anymore.
After roughly five or so minutes- which felt like an eternity, she stopped and the rest of them let go. But I didn't have any strength left.
I hadn't been tickled like that since the birthday of my third cousin, eight years ago. All my cousins thought it'd be funny to tickle all at once… well, it sure wasn't funny for .
I breathed rapidly and barely kept my sanity.
"We'll go with you, whether you like it or not," Alisa said. "And I believe I'm speaking on behalf of these two too."
Ve and Biteria nodded.
" too!" Viola said.
"No, you'll have to stay here. I'm sorry to say but you'll slow us down."
Alisa ruthlessly shut Viola down. Viola didn't fight back, I guess she knew.
I still couldn't catch my breath.
"Let that be a lesson to you Daarc Green." Ve crossed her arms and puffed her non-existent chest with pride. "Never underestimate won's resolve."
Uh-huh!
***
Eventually, it was ti for farewells, and though I wanted to have a normal farewell, Viola kind of cried way too much: silently, but crying regardless.
She didn't say anything either. She just hugged and wasn't letting go. I couldn't really hug her back and my hands just hovered but at the very last mont- I hugged her with one arm and patted her head with the other.
"I can't say I'll be back, so you'll have to be strong. I'm not the type to force my will on others- well, not always." I chuckled. I might or might not have tried to force my will on others in the past and even now but I wanted to avoid that. "But- I'd like you to grow stronger and do things you like. I'd also like you to beco a better ruler, so one day you can lead your people to prosperity."
Hearing what I just said with my own ears, almost made sound like a hypocrite. I didn't want to force my will on her and yet, I was just laying out my vision to her without thinking what if she didn't want that.
So- "But- feel free to ignore what I just said. Your life is yours and what you'll do with it is also your freedom. Stay strong and enjoy life while it lasts. Now I know that's really hard at tis but really- good luck and goodbye."
I again realized, I sucked at bidding goodbyes. Like what the hell, !? I couldn't even say a farewell without being cringe about it?
And yet, I found, everyone here just crying. Viola, crying was one thing. But the guards, maids, and even the ministers?
I honestly didn't know how to react to that.
So- "Goodbye everyone. Take care of her for ." I spoke to everyone here in particular but then rembered sothing and looked at the head minister. "Oh yeah, try to see if the son of the duke can be trusted with so responsibilities like we talked about."
He smiled and nodded.
As for the rest, they too nodded.
Anyway, I was done.
I climbed on Ve and well, lift-off. After a long ti, it was just Alisa and Biteria with on top of Ve.
Viola and others all waved as they gradually got smaller and smaller. I waved back for a short period of ti but then stopped looking down. It wasn't because I was afraid, of heights, okay!?
'Aren't I riding Ve a bit too much these days?'
I laughed at my own joke as we gradually picked up altitude.
Sothing was wrong with . I was cracking jokes and laughing at them on my own too.
***
Roughly three hours later, we saw the large walls of Dracona. About a kiloter away, we landed and then started traveling.
Unlike Saram, this place wasn't a crackling ss. But instead of being hot and dry like that dessert full of cracks, this place was both hot and humid.
And there were far too much grass and trees. What was this, a forest? It was too thin to be a forest though.
"Well, guys stay sharp for goblins."
"I don't think there's any around," Ve said.
"Oh, trust , they are everywhere." This did remind sothing though. "What are we going to do with the goblin in my ring though. I an it looks so humane."
"Oh yeah, how about we take a detour to the west region of Galbatia first. My old kingdom was in that region and I heard there were ancient ruins there built by the ancestors of the goblins."
"Really?"
If it was ancient to Alisa, I guess those stuff were really old. And wouldn't that an Alisa was a demon? Oh, wait, just because she lived there didn't an she was a demon. After all, most demons were categorized as demi-humans in the first place.
But boy was this place hot. I was sweating like crazy and this way too much humidity didn't really help.
But just as Ve said, we didn't co upon any goblins. We did kill several large beetles though.
By evening we'd reached the city gates. If it weren't for the forest-like environnt, it wouldn't have taken us this long.
And even now it was still way too hot and there wasn't much wind. Damn, even deserts were better than this. At least those places cooled down at night…
Okay, maybe they weren't that better but still!
"HALT!"
And as usual, we were stopped right before entering.
I guess one guy and three beautiful girls weren't sothing these people were used to seeing. Actually, this world didn't really have the concept of having multiple won as slaves or stuff like that. It wasn't quite absent from the culture but it was really rare.
"First class?" There were about five guards and we were the only ones entering.
The guard had a very suspicious look when he stared at my card.
"Yes, and all of them are mbers of my party."
The guard kind of looked at with sothing in between envy and disgust. the guy couldn't decide, I guess. "Next!" He returned my card.
But there wasn't anyone next.
Anyway, finally, we entered.
But I was not prepared to see the city. "WoW!"
Compared to the rest of this world's cities- this place was really- wow.
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