An Unexpected Encounter!
"Kyaaaaah! So freaking fast!!"
On my back, Cecilia—now my little pony rider—let out a cheer of delight. She was whooping it up like a kid riding in an open-top car for the first time.
Puhuhu. You've ridden me before, so why're you acting like this... loving it so much?
"Of course! You think it's easy getting out of the city? That's why people become adventurers in the first place!"
...Fair point. In Essentia, where monsters could pop out anytime and transportation sucks, normal folks wouldn't wander outside unless they had to. Even slow-moving merchants usually hired escorts... So yeah, regular people in Essentia probably rarely ever left their cities. Wealthy ones might hire adventurers, but even then, traveling far would be a hassle. And for adventurers themselves, unless you're high-level, it'd take weeks just hopping between cities, right? High-level folks could cover massive distances in a day or two by wrapping themselves in fighting spirit and sprinting... Travel would be a breeze for them. Come to think of it, Essentia probably isn't the friendliest place for civilians.
"Plus, they never let me out much! I've joined a few scouting missions, but they nagged me to death every time..."
Puhuhu. Guess being the lord's daughter came with special treatment. Yeah, must've been stifling. Even if Radia was as big as a district like Gangnam or Seocho, a personality like Cecilia's wouldn't handle being cooped up forever. How could anyone stay trapped in a city when there's all this wide-open scenery?
"Haa~... You're seriously so fast... With your speed, Sema oppa, it feels like we could travel the whole world..."
"Obviously. I could run at this pace all day. World tour? Piece of cake."
"...Argh! Why can't the monsters you can tame run this fast... Then I could travel with Leo oppa right now..."
"Puhuhu. Isn't it 'cause the gods gave me this privilege? As the superior male, to carry my females around."
"......Fe, male..."
Well, sure, there are flying ones like the griffon I saw with Lizbet back then... But on the ground, I'm pretty much top-tier in speed, right? These legs move like a runaway locomotive—no monster's gonna mimic that easily. And it's not just raw muscle; the stamina's insane. Is there some hidden thing in my status window? Whatever. If they become my females, they get to enjoy this perk. Think hard about it, Cecilia. About ditching your fiancé and becoming my female.
Kukuku...
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While I was subtly selling her on the perks of being my female, we ran into a group of adventurers pretty far out. Thirteen of them... Loaded with gear. And separate porters, too. Makes sense—if it's this far from Radia, it'd take 2-3 days on foot. They're headed even farther, so that much prep is normal... Most adventurer parties I'd seen were hauling tons of stuff anyway. This bunch is probably geared for a weeks-long trip.
"Whoa, isn't that the Divine Beast? What an honor! Nice to meet you!"
At Cecilia's request to chat, we approached, and they looked shocked before their leader—a guy who seemed experienced—stepped up with a grin. They all looked seasoned, age-wise and otherwise... Yeah, veterans for a long haul, huh?
"Hello~. Nice to see you. Some of you might recognize me—I'm the Divine Beast just passing through. And this is..."
"Cecilia Laidir Neve. Nice to meet you, adventurers."
"...!? Lady Cecilia...!"
Whoa. Why're they dropping to their knees!? Oh, right... Cecilia's the lord's daughter—a noble! She's dressed casually, but with those jewels on her pricey outfit and riding me, they clocked her instantly! I'd forgotten the kingdom's all about class since my nobles are my females!
"Pfft, no need for formalities. We're not in Radia—why fuss over status?"
"Th-thank you for saying so..."
Sheesh. To regular folks, Cecilia's status hits harder than a Divine Beast like me... Makes sense. My face is old news in Radia, but piss off a noble? Trouble. Puhuhu. My nobles. Kinda makes my ego swell.
"Which guild are you from? Where you headed?"
"We're Travelers of the Plains guild. We took a quest for an ogre heart and are en route... B-but what brings Lady Cecilia and the Divine Beast out here...?"
"Eh~. Just out for a stroll to get some air."
The adventurers stared at us with blank looks at Cecilia's words. No wonder—they'd trekked days for their quest, and here we are calling it a "stroll."
"Ogre, huh... You guys are solid. Nice! Good luck out there!"
"Haha... Thanks. Never thought we'd get encouragement from the lady mid-journey..."
We were wrapping up the small talk—no point holding up folks with a long trek ahead—when Cecilia paused like something hit her and called them back.
"Oh, wait... That demon beast suspected to be a Hero Eater. Any leads from adventurers yet?"
"Ah, that one. Scouting quests are still up, but no one's sighted it yet."
"...I see."
"No traces either, so no guilds are hunting it specifically. Everyone's hoping to stumble on it during other quests. Us too."
The bounty was huge, but no clues meant no dedicated hunters... Yeah. Even Cecilia and I only found a pit-like mark. No footprints... Could be fake.
"Well, we'll be off then. Safe travels back."
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After parting with the adventurers, I figured it was time to head back to Radia. Hmm. Kinda disappointed. Hoped they'd turn bandit so I could heroically save Cecilia... Whoops. That's pretty trashy thinking? Out here, murders probably go unnoticed... But normal adventurers don't pull that crap. Maybe they just don't wanna piss off a Divine Beast and a noble.
Lucky break or curveball...?
"...Not a demon beast trace after all? No sightings yet..."
While I pondered their morals, Cecilia muttered thoughtfully about the traces.
Hmm... Hero Eater... I'm not in a rush anymore. Caught two, broke three heroes—Essentia's doom has some buffer now, right? I can live it up and snag it when it shows. But why's Cecilia so hung up?
Ah!
"Puhuhu. Missing time with Leo?"
"Uh, y-yeah... He's my fiancé, after all..."
Puhuhu. "After all"? Kukuku... Right, his affection's still higher than mine.
"Puhuhu. Yeah. Once Leo's scouting ends, you'll be glued to him—no playtime with me. What a shame~."
"Wh-what...? Sema oppa could play a little too, y'know?"
"Oh~?"
Puhuhu. How sweet. Even after his scouting, she'll play. I'm touched? Nah, she just craves submitting to me more. Don't worry, Cecilia. Soon you'll want me over Leo.
"...Huh? What's that...?"
Mid-flirty chat, a gray mass appeared near Radia's walls. Oh? Soldiers? Ah, Radia troops scouting nearby. Leo's probably there.
"...S-Sema oppa..."
"Puhuhu. Gotta go see Cecilia's fiancé, Leo oppa, right?"
"......"
With Cecilia's awkward vibe, I galloped toward the soldiers. A few stepped forward—spotted me?
"Lady Cecilia! Divine Beast!"
"Captain! Leo oppa!"
Oh, no kneeling like with the adventurers? Guess since she's in the unit, no special noble treatment. They're using mutual respect... Faces aren't bad, though. Some must've been bossed by her, but she's cute, so they roll with it.
"What, on break?"
"Yes. But how'd you end up with the Divine Beast...?"
"Sema oppa offered a ride, so we took a quick stroll."
"A stroll..."
The squad captain looked drained. Face screaming, 'Told her to stay put, and she calls it a stroll.' Puhuhu.
"Ah, Leo oppa... Y-you okay...?"
"I'm fine. Stroll fun?"
"Y-yeah... S-Sema oppa's super fast..."
Hm? He's smiling, but Cecilia's acting weird. Oh, the horse cock worship flashback? Puhuhu... Guilty look much? You'll blow your cover quick, Cecilia.
"...Oppa...?"
"Ah, uh, yeah. We're close now, so casual speech."
"R-really...? Hmm..."
"Puhuhu. How's scouting? Any luck?"
"...No results yet."
"Figures. No traces. Tomorrow's rest day, right?"
"...Yes. Thanks to Lady Celestia..."
I asked Leo all smug, like teasing. He twitched but bowed gratefully.
"Puhuhu. Yeah. Special rest 'cause I asked, so everyone relax..."
- KUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNGG!!!
Feeling smug, I kept lording it over Leo when a deafening boom—like a bomb—cut me off, kicking up dirt.
"Kyaaak!?"
"Wh-what!?"
Vision blurred by dust from the massive explosion. Startled, we turned—and as the dust settled, something black glared at us with glowing red eyes.