21. The Wind's Blade and Trouble
After parting ways with Aidan, we headed back to the inn. The sun had already set.
We lit our lantern. The darkness felt oppressively deep. The faint light spilling from house windows and the moonlight weren't enough to ease our minds.
"I'm switching to the Asuka Pavilion starting today too."
"What? You wanna come to my room? You're welcome anytime."
I grinned at Mizuki.
"Our rooms are separate, obviously! We're in the same party, so I just figured the same inn would be more convenient."
"Yeah, sure. But you haven't gotten dragged into any trouble, have you...?"
Aidan's words about quitting the Wind's Blade party had stuck with me. Just as the Asuka Pavilion came into view, I noticed a group gathered in front of it.
It was none other than the Wind's Blade. Their leader, Lead. The mage Cecily. The priestess Ira, Myra's little sister. And one unfamiliar warrior.
"What a coincidence. New warrior?"
"This is Beers. First time for you too, right, Mizuki?" Lead replied.
"Uh, y-yeah..." Mizuki gave an awkward, half-hearted response.
"Hm? Wasn't the last one the same name too?"
"Slave names are a hassle. We just call 'em all Beers."
"What?"
I hadn't meant to pry or anything, but now I got it—the vague creepiness Lead gave off. He didn't treat slaves like people. Maybe my senses were off, and this was just normal here. But glancing at Fam, her face had hardened too. So my instincts were probably standard.
I looked at Beers. He had a sturdy build. Third Beers I'd met since arriving. I'd heard female warrior slaves went for 100 gold coins. A guy like this had to cost about the same. Not an amount a B-rank adventurer could drop casually—or the slave market would collapse.
"This isn't a coincidence. We were waiting for Mizuki."
Mizuki looked down. Surprising—she never backed down from anyone.
"Mizuki, you said you were sick and needed rest. But you've actually been diving dungeons with Mash's party."
"Lead, I want out of the Wind's Blade."
People from inside the inn were peeking out, murmuring "What's going on? What's the fuss?"
This didn't look like it had nothing to do with me anymore. I couldn't just slip inside to my room.
"Mind telling us why?" Lead asked.
"Pushing to the dungeon's depths is fine. But I hate always sending warriors in as decoys to charge ahead, judging situations, fighting, dodging traps. Four have died already."
So he was the fifth Beers. Prioritizing speed meant burning through decoy warriors. Brutal strategy for such a pretty boy. I glanced at Cecily and Ira. Didn't they mind this approach? I'd only been in this world 15 days. No way they could keep up that pace—warrior slaves weren't infinite. They must be stuck.
Before I knew it, drunks from the inn's dining hall had stumbled out, circling us at a distance. "Lovers' quarrel?" they jeered. This sucked. I just wanted back to my room for some cozy time with Fam.
"I'm in Mash's party now. Not going back to the Wind's Blade."
"I see. But we can't let you quit that easily."
"Wait—stop using warriors as decoys. Then Mizuki might come back."
I'd planned to stay out of it, but the words slipped out.
"Stay out of it, F-rank. I don't have time to waste. This is how we dive."
Lead glared. Total blunder on my part.
"Yeah, sorry. Just spoke my mind. Buying slaves ain't cheap—we couldn't pull that off."
"I'm not going back!"
Mizuki cut in.
"Then you'll have to make it official," Lead said.
"That's stupid. If someone wants out, let 'em go."
Black company vibes. No, black party. Way too petty. Their talk with Mizuki was going nowhere, so I butted in again.
"We have our rules. If you're interfering, you'll settle up too."
"Oh...?"
Lead declared it. The onlookers roared "Whoa!"
"Noon tomorrow, the arena."
"Hey, I'm not taking that!" "Yeah, that's crazy!" Mizuki and I shouted.
"These witnesses here agree. Wind's Blade versus Mash, Mizuki, and that dog-ear girl. Just settling Mizuki's party is boring. Losers hand over the winners' party members as slaves. That'll get everyone hyped."
The crowd cheered wildly.
"That ain't cool! You think you're guaranteed to win. You'll look stupid."
"Fun. An F-rank thinks he can beat us? Can't wait."
"Mizuki's involved, fine. But the dog-ear's got nothing to do with it. And those two over there can't just get dragged in."
I looked at Cecily and Ira.
"We'll be fine. No way we lose," Cecily said. The crowd murmured.
"Master, I'll be fine too. No way Master loses."
The Wind's Blade crew burst out laughing. Fair enough. Fam knew better than anyone how weak I was. And here she was, declaring victory. Even I wanted to laugh.
"Heard from the guards you gave up on the third floor today and bailed."
The crowd laughed at Cecily's words.
"Muu."
Fam bristled, ready to argue. I shot her a look to drop it—pointless anyway. She got the hint and stopped.
"It's settled then."
Lead smirked like he'd already won, slapping my shoulder.
The Wind's Blade crew left amid cheers from the drunks.
We were in the inn's dining hall.
"Somehow, it went from Lead and Mizuki's issue... to Lead and Master's..."
"Sorry, Fam. Pretty boys like that just piss me off."
"Sorry. My fault."
"Yeah, I just wanted a quiet life."
"Uu... sorry. If we fight, I'll teach you their tactics. If we run, I'll follow. I'll protect you."
Mizuki hung her head. Right—she'd brought the trouble.
"Mizuki, was Lead hitting on you? Loser becomes slaves? That's messed up. Normal here?"
"Muu... He's older, not my type, not interested. Kept turning him down..."
So he figured now was his shot. I was probably way older than Lead. Knew it, but still—out of her league too? Hurt more than expected.
"Never seen a duel, so no idea what's standard," Fam said.
"Right... Fam, take all our money and run solo. Hit up Aidan."
"No way. I'm staying with Master."
Figured. Worst case, I'd tie her up and dump her in Aidan's yard.
"Lead got a special skill?"
"Haven't seen it. Maybe hiding."
"He prioritizes clears. If he had one, he'd use it."
"Yeah."
Mizuki agreed. No worry about a sudden nuke like Aidan's Siege. Only Mizuki could dodge that.
"I can guess their style. Throw Beers in front, we twiddle thumbs, they blast magic/skills to end it. Worst case, take us out with him. They probably don't count Mizuki as combat."
"Lead's level 49, Cecily 27, Ira 28. Straight fight, our levels can't win."
"Ages?"
"Lead 28, Cecily 25, Ira 26."
So Myra was 26 or older.
"When'd Lead start adventuring?"
"Noble's son from a western city. Said he dives for prestige. Started about five years ago."
Level 50 benchmark: average 12 years, talent 6. Mages double. If he switched to adventurer right away, he's talented. Noble probably started swordsman—second job means faster levels against strong foes. Hard to gauge true strength from levels.
Endless slaves? Noble perks.
Fam was stronger than me, but levels were a wall. Mizuki had fatal dodge and insta-kill chance skills.
"Eh, Mizuki and I can handle it."
Back in the room.
Alone with Fam. She wasn't tense at all—really thought I'd win. She was scrolling my smartphone, looking at nudes I'd snapped of her before.
"This is really me? So weird."
Back home, she'd freak "Delete it!" But here, no real sense of it.
"Not embarrassed?"
"No, it's lewd... super embarrassing."
She eyed my old landscape shots too.
"Master's world, huh? This one's funny—white fluff all over the ground."
"Yeah, shot climbing Mount Fuji. That's clouds, not fluff."
"Clouds in the sky?"
"Yep. Mountain's over 3,000 meters—sometimes you look down on 'em. Sea of clouds."
"Wanna see it..."
"Should work on tall peaks here too. Don't need 3,000 meters. Let's go sometime."
"Yes."
Fam handed back the phone. Our hands brushed.
I leaned in; she closed her eyes. I kissed her.
"After the duel, we'll have to leave town either way. Migurutto earlier than planned."
"Yes. I'll follow."
"Dragged you in. Regret it. You scared, Fam?"
"When we saved the goblin village, I wanted to help but didn't know how. Master opposed it but made a chance to fight—and saved it."
"Aidan and you saved it. I napped at the end—bored."
Fam laughed.
"Right. I'm scared this time too. But Master thinks we win. To save Mizuki and Beers, right?"
I had a plan. No guarantees. And I wasn't some saint—just pissed at the pretty boy.
"Yeah, me too."
I pulled Fam close. Kissed her.
This warmth—I'd never let it go.
Thank you for reading.
To everyone who bookmarked and rated—seriously grateful.
It motivates me. I'll keep pushing.
Thanks for typo reports. Really helps.