Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Departure
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I slipped into some slightly rough, unadorned common clothes and pulled a black robe with an auto-repair function out of my sub-space.
“For now, this’ll do.”
Then there was the living metal I’d picked up at the auction house.
After dripping a drop of my blood onto it to imprint it, the metal reshaped itself on my palm into whatever form I desired, then got sucked into the black robe like it was vanishing.
This should give me at least some resistance to physical attacks, even if it wasn’t full plate armor.
Luna’s robe had been dyed ivory to suit her tastes, while mine, reinforced with the living metal, had turned a deep gray.
Looking in the mirror after putting it on, it wasn’t too flashy.
“Young master, you’re already… all dressed?”
“You changed too, Luna?”
Instead of her usual maid outfit, Luna was wearing what looked like traditional bunnykin attire—a skirt that fluttered with every step……
“Wouldn’t pants be more comfortable?”
Doesn’t it get in the way when riding or moving roughly?
Catching my concern, Luna spoke up with a hint of pride.
“I’ve got short pants… underneath……. Long pants are… more uncomfortable if you run a lot.”
Is that so? I wouldn’t know since I’ve never worn a skirt, but if Luna says so.
Swapping my usual fine clothes for these slightly scratchy common ones felt oddly uncomfortable on my body.
While waiting for Kane and doing some stretches, my eyes met Luna’s.
“Hmm, Luna.”
It might make me seem like an oblivious old boss saying this now,
but better late than never.
“Are you sure it’s okay to come along?”
“…Huh?”
Luna stared at me with a face that said she had no idea what I was talking about.
“If you want, I could give you enough severance right now to send you home comfortably with your family.”
Stroking the head of Luna, who was just blinking her big eyes, I spoke gently.
Truth be told, Kane and I living happily ever after all lovey-dovey—that’s my wish as a fan.
But that’s not Luna’s dream.
Sure, I might joke about harem endings all the time, but Luna, Kane, and the other heroines—they’re all real people with their own personalities. I can’t force them just because I want it.
Otaku fantasies are one thing. As a true fan, I want everyone to be happy.
“This journey might be harsher and crueler than you think. You might see ugly things, or even have to kill someone.”
We could become wanted across the continent, hailed as demon-slayers one moment and hunted as demons the next.
That’s how the original story goes.
That’s why I asked. If we were just following the script, I wouldn’t even be here.
Luna was a key party member for sure, and beyond that, one of the few people I’d opened my heart to in this unfamiliar place.
Really, really—
Do I have to take her along? Out of my own greed?
“Young master.”
“Yeah, what is it?”
Did she sense my unease?
Luna grabbed the hem of my clothes and looked up as she spoke.
“If I’m not a burden, if I’m not unnecessary, I’ll follow you. Because I’m your maid.”
“…….”
In stories, they’d say something like “moved by these emotions.”
Seeing Luna speak so slowly and deliberately stirred something in me, and I pulled her into a tight hug, ruffling her hair wildly.
“Later, okay? Don’t regret it later?”
“Eek… I can’t… breathe…….”
Aigoo, so cute.
I grinned and turned to Kane, who had arrived in his outing clothes.
“You didn’t say any goodbyes, right?”
You seemed attached to the knights.
“As if.”
Black clothes even on a day like this.
I tossed him a matching black robe and beckoned him over.
“Leaving is leaving,”
I said with a playful smile at Luna and Kane.
“but we gotta pack what we need.”
There’s the family ring too—what can’t we take?
Grabbing too much might draw Kai’s attention probabilistically, but a few things should be fine.
I led them to the armory, flashed the glowing ring on my finger along with some attitude to brush off the guarding soldiers, and boldly opened the door.
“Let’s see. Whoa, damn. It’s actually here. Luna, grab some greaves. Kane, pick out a decent sword.”
The moment I stepped in, my eyes widened at something right there.
‘It came out here?’
I quickly snatched a book floating in one corner of the armory.
It was a thick hardcover that must have once been adorned with flashy gold leaf, but now it was worn and peeling in places, looking worthless at a glance.
But I knew its value better than anyone.
‘This is it—the newbie magic codex. Codex.’
Super efficient early on, but useless late game.
Like a scroll repository—no mana required from the user; just find the page and read to activate the spell.
But conditions: all spells must be pre-stored, and imbued by a mage.
You can’t just buy market scrolls and slot them in; for spells you want, pay a magic tower or mage to imbue them.
Even then, they’re one-use, more expensive than buying scrolls, and high-class spells require familiarity.
‘But I’ve got overflowing money, a title, and most of the heroines joining later are mages.’
“Picked one…….”
“This side too.”
As I tucked the codex into my small sub-space, Luna brought white greaves and Kane a sword.
Both looked familiar—probably rare grade, if not unique.
“Good, let’s go.”
“By the way, you’re not wearing any armor?”
“You’re not either. How am I supposed to move in that heavy stuff?”
Even lightweight armor weighs at least 10kg in metal, and leather’s no feather either.
Better to trust the shield artifact and pendant……
‘Once I get unique defenses later, it’s all solved.’
Leaving the armory, I wrote a note saying I’d snag his four underlings later and grabbed a passing servant.
“Deliver this to Halon in exactly three hours. Exactly three.”
“Yes, young master.”
Kane and I mounted the horses Luna had brought, like we were off on a picnic.
We’d gone out together sometimes, grabbed food in town, so no one would bat an eye.
The shadows were invisible to them anyway, so no one would notice their absence today.
Still, a fugitive vibe was in order.
“Hey, run!”
I spurred my horse toward the gates, laughing loudly, and Luna and Kane followed belatedly at my sudden move.
“Y-Young master, it’s dangerous……!”
“I’m not a kid.”
“What’s wrong with it? Get in the mood—we’re escaping this castle right now.”
I gestured for the gates to open, and the soldiers, maybe dozing in the sun, hurriedly lowered the drawbridge.
The horses’ hooves pounded the earth rhythmically.
Mastering the sway, I gripped the reins and steered in a gentle arc, charging across the nearly lowered drawbridge.
“Hya!”
Just before hitting solid ground, with the drawbridge still hovering, I spurred once more, leaping it like an obstacle, then galloped down the road.
Wind whistled past my ears, hair whipping coolly.
People far off recognized my face, averting their eyes slyly—but today, I didn’t care.
“Why are you so hyped?”
“Just raising the tension since it’s the start. Think about it—it’s the beginning of the adventure, right?”
For Kane, wandering outside probably just meant memories of being tricked into slavery, fleeing, and hiding.
“Getting stronger matters, but no need to obsess.”
It’ll be different now. Like protagonists in other novels—traveling with companions, eating good food, making memories.
We’ll crush all enemies in the end and find happiness.
I’ll support them that way.
“Still… don’t go… too fast and dangerous…….”
Luna mildly scolded me, so I said “yeah, yeah” before suddenly speaking up.
“Oh, and no more ‘young master’ for you either, Luna.”
“E-Eh? Why……?”
Out there, it’d scream spoiled noble kid luring servants into running away.
Kane, don’t give me that blatant “what’s different” look……
I grinned shamelessly, defying Kane’s gaze with a “what?” and turned to Luna.
“Got it, Luna? So, try calling me by name.”
Luna flustered, mumbling, then slyly turned her head.
“I-I’ll go ahead…….”
“…Where to?”
You even know the way?
Before I could add more, Luna sped up and shot forward.
“Wait, that’s the wrong direction!”
I burst out laughing and yelled at Luna, who’d veered off course far ahead. Her cheeks flushed as she looped back to my side.
“Anyway, Kane, I’m thinking warp gate straight to the big city near your hometown. Cool?”
I tossed it out like no big prep needed, and his golden eyes met mine.
“I figured you’d say I need real combat experience and take the roads, but no?”
“Why bother? Pay and arrive comfy. Combat’s something we can start there.”
Roads could take months.
Romance of travel is nice, but no need to drag out going home after years away.
‘Plus, monsters and bandits are rare here due to Kruger’s influence.’
No thanks to camping for bare-bones XP.
Better to dungeon-dive for combat XP plus pocket change.
“The wind… feels nice.”
“Yeah, and smells like fresh bread baking somewhere. Delicious.”
Great mood.
Today might be the freest, most peaceful day ahead.
I turned to look at Luna and Kane, half-幻觉 seeing bloodstains spreading on their bodies.
“Let’s do our best.”
Not some mutual destruction ending.
“Yeah.”
“Y-Yes……!”
An ending where we all laugh at the end. In this world.
* * *
“Hello. Here for the warp gate?”
The warp gate office had a goatkin manager on duty.
Pretty high beastkin ratio here—reverse-jointed legs under the skirt.
Horizontal pupils were intriguing, but no need to get caught staring.
I flashed the fake ID made via Alkaido, pulled my robe’s hood low, and nodded.
“Two humans, one beastkin, three horses. Destination?”
“Nolwell Mining City.”
Voice low and gravelly, the manager nodded once and flipped through the coordinate atlas.
“Pretty far. Sure? Fees scale by distance.”
I nodded to hide my voice. The manager inputted coords into the round frame structure, then spoke again.
“Two humans: 300 gold. Beastkin: 80 gold. Three horses: 615 gold. Horses are heavy.”
I dumped gold on the provided table, paid up, and stood before the gate.
Can’t sub-space living things, so no choice. Manager fetched a mana stone from storage, slotted it into the outer groove, pressed something—and a humming resonance filled the air.
Then the center of the round structure rippled in the air, green and blue light seeping out until—rip!—a shimmering gate tore open.
‘Wild.’
Looked like luminous liquid floating midair.
Tense, I swallowed dryly and glanced at Kane and Luna.
“Let’s go.”
Can’t show weakness in front of them.
I stepped into the warp gate and felt sucked somewhere.
Like falling through the floor before sleep.
I closed my eyes, then opened them.
I was somewhere unfamiliar.