Chapter 21 — The Hero's Reason
Perspective — Bile
Maginia: Town Square
Honestly I thought it was harder than I thought, kinda sucks the vision doesn't show everything. Hey there's Mueller and Persephone, quite rare to see her outside the HQ.
Persephone: Ah, Meisa Guild, you've returned! Well done!
Mueller: We were truly worried when we heard you went missing.
Missing? How long have it been?
Mueller: However, seeing as how you've returned, it would appear we overreacted.
Persephone: It would've been rather troublesome had that not been the case. I don't know what we'd do if we lost them.
Diko: What's going on? Have we been in the labyrinth that long?
Mueller: You've been missing for several hours, no one was able to locate your party.
Lacia: Huh?
Wait what time is this?... 7 pm... 7-8 hours? That's a long time, but aren't they overreacting?
Persephone: I commend you for living up to my expectations, Meisa Guild. And of course, I'm incredibly relieved to see you're safe as well, Lady Shilleka. We're truly glad to have you back.
Shilleka: It's all thanks to the Meisa Guild. Oh, and Leo too!
Oh yeah, he's here.
Leo: Oh, no. I didn't really...
Persephone: Well then, Leo. I thank you for your efforts as well. It seems you and Meisa Guild made quite a team.
Well, I didn't work with him, Lacia and Neigal did.
Leo: But, Your Highness, I wasn't able to protect the soldiers you sent with me... I let them die.
Persephone: What are you saying? I sent those soldiers with you to ensure both you and Lady Shilleka would return safely. They were not yours to protect. It's true what happened to those men is a tragedy. However, we now know what we're up against.
Leo: ...
Persephone: You've done well in making it back alive. The intel you've brought us will undoubtedly prove very useful. Keep up the good work.
Leo: ...! Yes, Your Highness!
Persephone: Now then, Lady Shilleka, there's something I'd like to discuss with you. Leo, Meisa Guild. I've prepared a reward for the both of you, but first, I'd like you to get some rest. Report back to HQ once you've taken some time to recover.
There she goes.
Mueller: Well then, I should return to my duties. Once again, well done, Meisa Guild.
So does he.
Shilleka: See you around, Leo, Meisa Guild! Take care now!
Leo: ...
And both of them also leave.
Diko: So I guess we go get some rest and go to the HQ tomorrow?
Neigal: I suppose. It's been a long day today.
Lacia: Yeah, to be honest, I thought we might not make it out.
Bile: Well, you can thank us for doing the hard part for you.
Rolio: Yeah, getting past so many FOEs is not fun.
Lacia: Huh?
Diko: The next room you would have gone through have three FOEs if I remembered correctly.
Lacia: R-Really?
Just hearing that make her cower? Well, I actually have more concerning matter.
Bile: Hey, Diko.
Diko: What?
Bile: Remember how we fought the Wyvern?
Neigal: You did what?
Oh right, both of them weren't there.
Rolio: Some times after you two get caught the Wyvern returned and try to capture us, so we try to fended it off.
Lacia: You did that? How did you not get captured?
Bile: Attacking from the distance do the trick, I shoot from afar, Rolio use her air blade, and Diko sends out her afterimage.
Diko: Honestly it went far better than I expected, not that we did much damage, we have to make a run for it in the end.
Well, it's still some damage.
Bile: Honestly I was expecting to rescue you two and fight the Wyvern one last time while it haven't completely heal up, unfortunately the rescue mission took way too long, so that plan has go out the window.
Diko: Well, all we can do now is to rest up and get ready for tomorrow.
Bile: Right.
Perspective — Narrator
The party then go to the inn and rest up.
Day 6
Perspective — Bile
Lady of the Lake lobby 5 am
It's been six day now since we came here... I wonder, what's the time limit?... Well, that's not something to worry about.
Diko: Huh? I didn't expect you to be here so soon.
Bile: Well, I didn't expect you to be here before others either.
Diko: Wake up early today.
Bile: I usually don't have company during this time, how about we chat to pass time?
Perspective — Diko
I wasn't expecting her to say that. But it wouldn't hurt to chat.
Diko: Sure, wouldn't hurt.
Bile: Great, so what do we talk about?
Hmm, there's a few things I would like to ask her. Why is she here? What's her history with the guild? What is with that note she sometimes read? What should I say...
Bile: Well?
Maybe the note...
Diko: What's with the note?
Bile: Note?
Diko: The one you sometimes read in the middle of exploration.
Bile: It's just for reminding me.
Diko: Of what?
Bile: What will... You know what? I won't answer that.
Huh?
Bile: I get rid of that note anyway, I realized it wasn't necessary.
Diko: So that's why.
Bile: Well, how about I ask you something.
Diko: What is it?
Bile: How did you get recruit into the guild?
That's kind of personal.
Bile: Hm? You don't want to answer that?
Diko: No...
Bile: Well, I won't press that matter, your turn to ask.
Hmm. There's one thing that concerns me.
Diko: Why do the higher ups hold us in such a high regard?
Bile: That's an interesting question, you have no idea?
Diko: Well, all we have done is clear some labyrinth, is that such a big deal?
Bile: The thing is that most can't even survive going into a labyrinth, so clearing a few and defeating the ruler of them is quite an accomplishment.
Diko: It's that big of a deal?
Bile: Yes.
Diko: Huh.
Bile: Anyway, one thing I would like to ask... Why are you so small?
Gah, should've know she'll ask that.
Diko: Just so you know I'm not a child.
Bile: Well, I doubt you are with your prowess in battle.
Diko: I have stunt growth okay!?
Bile: Well, that's the logical conclusion, but what's the cause?
Diko: Aren't you looking to much into this?
Bile: Well, I just wonder what the cause could be, people usually hand wave the reason for it and I always find that unsatisfactory.
Diko: Well... To put it simply it's a childhood accident!
Perspective — Bile
Can't she just spell it out? Is she ashamed of the cause? I already know why she joins the guild, why she's like this.
Bile: Can't you just spell it out? Is it that embarrassing?
Diko: Y-Yeah...
Bile: ... Glare
Diko: Hey don't give me that look!
Bile: Tell. Me.
Diko: O-Okay fine!... You see, during my childhood, I'm always inspired to be an adventurer, so one day I gathered my friends and sneak into the Armoroad's labyrinth, thinking that we can manage ourselves.
Bile: Well, it's pretty clear what happened next.
Diko: We were slaughtered, everyone except me die, someone came to rescue me before I shared the same fate as the rest, I was also in a coma for a few years. The injuries I receive stunts my growth, that's why I'm so small.
Bile: I see, and who is this rescuer might I ask.
It's clear who that is.
Diko: The Guild Leader.
Yep.
Bile: ...I see.
I actually remember visiting her while she's in a coma, some of the member don't even think she'll wake up.
Bile: Well I think we have enough talk for now.
Diko: That's it? I didn't even get any answer from you!
Bile: We'll have time to talk later I'm sure. Time to prepare our supplies in advance.
Diko: Don't just change the subject!
Perspective — Narrator
The two check the supplies and wait for their member for a bit. Then the rest show up.
Rolio: Huh, I didn't expect you two to be here before us.
Bile: Well, it's just by chance that this happen, well, it's time to go to the HQ.
Neigal: Right.
Expedition HQ 6 am
Diko: Your Highness! We're here.
Persephone: Meisa Guild! You're all here.
Bile: We sure are.
Persephone: Now, mission report.
Diko: Right. At first we were thinking of where Shilleka could be, we theorize she's in the middle of the second floor, since that's the only place we've never explored, when we get there a Wyvern appeared, caught Lacia and Neigal while me, Rolio, and Bile try to fend it off. We manage to reunited and find both Leo and Shilleka.
Bile: As someone from Etria, the Wyvern here are identical to the one in Etria, the environment are the same, somethings are missing though. We also mapped out the Primitive Jungle as well, though the Wyvern make it impossible to map out everything.
Persephone: I was surprised when Lady Shilleka told me you went up against a Wyvern.
Diko: Two of us get caught and the rest play cat and mouse with it, I'm not sure if that can really be call "up against".
Persephone: Well regardless, I'm glad to see you've made a safe return, Meisa Guild. Lady Shilleka was most grateful. Please accept this as reward.
Persephone gives 1000 en to the party.
Persephone: With that report, we've begun to better understand the land surrounding Yggdrasil. So the the only place left that is unexplored is Wyvern's nest. There's no mistaking it. The way out is hidden somewhere in that nest. However doing so means you'll have to battle the Wyvern, if you're up to the task, accept the next mission
Chapter 21 End
Status
Frontrow
Diko
Level: 15
Class: Hero
Weapon: Cutlass
Armor: Ring Mail
Helmet: Wooden Hairpin
Accessory: Memory Conch
Rolio
Level: 15
Class: Ronin
Weapon: Dangosashi
Armor: Elk Cuirass
Boots: Bear Boots
Accessory: Power Ring
Lacia
Level: 15
Class: Protector
Weapon: Gari
Armor: Plate Mail
Shield: Aspis
Accessory: Health Armlet
Backrow
Bile
Level: 18
Class: Gunner
Weapon: Pischal
Armor: Carb Gardbrace
Gloves: Boulder Bracers
Accessory: Power Ring
Neigal
Level: 15
Class: Medic
Weapon: Warhammer
Armor: Sack Dress
Boots: Fawn Shoes
Accessory: Rabbit Armlet
Others
?
Level: ?
Class: ?
Weapon: ?
Armor: ?
?
Level: ?
Class: Ninja
Weapon: ?
Armor: ?
Astroa
Level: 75
Class: Farmer
Weapon: Verdant Bird Knife +5
Armor: Kokopelli Vest
Helmet: Red Flower Hairpin
Accessory: Almighty Ring