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After our awkward introduction, the group of adventurers was clearly having a hard time speaking with me.
Or rather, the two powerful adventurers were quiet, while the others were not. It seemed like the 'Swords of Darkness' had been escorting a pharmacist to this village, and picking herbs in the nearby forest. 'Momon' and 'Nabe' were a separate group that was also joining them.
It made sense to me. After all, the strength difference between those two and the rest of the group was incredibly vast; while Momon, the level 100 warrior, and Nabe, the level 63 spellcaster, were the strongest things I had seen in this world since waking up, the other adventurers were only around level 12 or so.
I did notice how Nabe continually glanced at me sharply, with a rather hostile expression on her face. Had I already done something to offend her, or was it just because I had stared at them for a while?
Either way, I mostly watched Momon.
While trying to be more discreet this time, I was too curious not to watch him closely.
After all, he was level 100!
Something like that was impossible to ignore, especially when all the equipment he wore was also pretty eye-catching. My instincts told me that although his two great-swords didn't have any magic in them, they were very well made and probably just a little weaker than a Knight's Claymore.
The Knights Claymore was a pretty average weapon, though- especially for somebody like Momon, who was level 100 and clearly a powerful warrior. Were my standards just a bit too high from exclusively using late-game weapons?
I shook myself from those thoughts. Someone at level 100 was bound to have plenty of powers and abilities- and there was nowhere near enough information for me to properly guess all of them.
However, it seemed like Momon and Nabe could tell there was something up with me, and the level 63 Nabe was getting increasingly aggravated. Her glare becoming even sharper before Momon put a hand on her shoulder.
My lips unconsciously twitched upwards, lightness bubbling through my chest, as the group passed through the wall surrounding Carne and entered the village proper.
There was an energy that filled me at the thought of meeting two adventurers this strong.
If we fought, would I win?
Would I be crushed?
Would I finally encounter a difficult opponent? A proper challenge, and a fun fight?
My thoughts constantly turned in that direction, and I faintly understood that these emotions were purely Link's. -This anticipation for a good fight was only something that could have come from a warrior, one who couldn't help but seek out challenges to test himself on.
After another five minutes of the adventurers, me, and the goblins walking through town, the group began to split off. Jugem let me know to keep an eye on them, but apparently, he wasn't worried too much. There had been some kind of altercation at the gates where the adventurers didn't act very hostile. According to the goblin they all seemed like decent people.
That said, before we parted ways with the goblin troop, Jugem pulled me aside.
"...Oi, Link,"
He spoke quietly, his voice low and his eyes intently tracking the adventurers.
"I just wanted to let you know… those two, Momon and Nabe, those adventures… They seem dangerous. They don't look like they're gonna attack anybody or anythin', but, just be careful."
I nodded seriously.
Even though I already knew that, it was good to have confirmation that it wasn't just my Champion's Tunic registering the mysterious pair as high-level. Even Jugem could recognize that something was strange about them.
Enri and the herbalist, Nfirea, quickly walked aside, the pharmacist stuttering out a request as they entered Enri's house, and the four weaker adventurers spread out to explore Carne. Before splitting, the group made plans to meet back in the center of town in an hour, and then go off to the forest of Tob in order for Nfirea to pick herbs.
Momon and Nabe began to walk off, making their way to a small hill overlooking the town.
Should I have introduced myself directly? Or would they take that the wrong way?
I didn't want to start off on the wrong foot, but I definitely didn't want to watch as this opportunity slipped away from me.
...That said, even I didn't really understand what I meant by 'opportunity.'
Sure, I would have loved to speak with a person as strong as this armored man, but what was my goal here?
My eyes widened as I came to a realization.
Most of my gear was all ready to go, and the townsfolk all understood that I had made plans to leave soon, my destination being the nearby city of E-Rantel. The place where the adventurers had just come from.
I had already spoken with Aly, and agreed with him on my current goal.
And now, I was suddenly faced with a chance to test myself, and a fervent curiosity I just couldn't ignore.
Nodding absently, my feet began to lightly carry me after the pair of adventurers.
I stood in front of the imposing warrior, staring up into the shadowed slits in his helmet and clenching my fists desperately.
The battle I was provoking would be a harrowing and difficult one, something that would probably become my toughest challenge yet.
The enemy: my horrendous social skills.
The goal: a decent introduction of myself to Momon.
"You are… Link, correct?"
He was impressive, to say the least.
Even ignoring the level indicator hovering above his head, one could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary man.
With his enormous stature, impressive set of gleaming armor and a pair of eye-catching swords, along with a posture so rigid and stoic I couldn't help but be impressed. After all, as a former royal knight I could appreciate a stance as unflinching as Momon's.
But I couldn't get distracted.
I nodded at his question, and took his outstretched hand in a firm grip.
As the two of us shook, and I felt the iron tightness beneath his fingers, I absently thought that if there was a single word that could describe Momon, it would be… 'strong.'
A confident and firm handshake, a proud posture and bearing, and an aura of power that seemed to surround him.
I was absolutely not a social person. In fact, I was probably one of the least outgoing souls I could think of. And Link was the same; he was someone who refrained from speaking at all due to fear of his words being used against him. After the two of our personalities came together as one, it seemed like the worst traits had combined as well.
Thinking of all this, I was nearly shaking in my boots at the prospect of willfully speaking with such an intimidating man as the one in front of me.
But luckily, Link had a damn good poker face.
So even when I struggled to unclench my teeth, and I fought to peel open my lips in order to bite out a sentence, I managed to look calm and composed.
The cold sweat dripping down my back, and the heat rushing to my head, it was all kept quiet. Although I could practically feel my anxiety kick into high gear when standing before this man, I forced myself into an appearance of composure.
"...You adventurers… are heading back to E-Rantel, after this."
The question I intended to ask had awkwardly come out as a statement instead, but it was mostly a success, so I was proud anyway.
"That is correct."
Momon's deep voice carried confidence with every breath, something I noticed immediately and was slightly jealous of.
But I didn't let it bother me.
I had to leap for the finishing blow, and quickly, before my willpower failed and I routed.
"...I'd like to come with you."
"..."
There was silence in the clearing. My eyes desperately searching his stoic frame for any sign of body language that would suggest victory.
"...Ah-hum."
After a moment, Momon coughed awkwardly into his gloved hand, his posture shifting slightly.
"Well, is there any reason for this request? ...I cannot speak for the rest of the group, but we don't know each other at all."
I blinked, internally crying at the failed attempt.
No! It hadn't failed yet. I just needed to push a little more...
"...I want… to go to E-Rantel. Register as an adventurer."
"-Umu. If you'd like, we can speak with the group. If they are fine with you accompanying us, then I see no problem with it."
Nodding, I quickly turned and walked away, feeling something of a shiver run up my spine.
But as my feet carried me away from the sight of the battle, I couldn't help but feel elated.
I had done it.
Victory was mine!
My plan had gone off without a hitch so far! Soon, I'd be able to travel with real adventurers, and register as one myself in just a day or two. Once I became an adventurer, I would be able to travel the country and amass money at the same time- which would naturally help with my final goal.
The future was looking up.
I had succeeded.
So why did I feel so unsettled after speaking with that man?
The intimidating aura he gave off… it wasn't just his personality. There was something I could feel about Momon, something that felt… strange.
I had never sensed anything like that before, and not even my instincts could recognize it. A chill that seemed to creep into my bones, weighing me down in an almost physical sense.
When facing Ganon, Link had felt afraid, but determined. There had been a pressure that emanated from anything infused with the dark magic of the demon king. Strangely, this new feeling seemed similar to that pressure.
...It made no sense at all.
"Hah…"
Shaking my head and letting out a short sigh, I focused my gaze onto the village that stretched out before me.
I could think about that later, but first, I had somebody I needed to see.
"So… you're leaving, huh?"
I shrugged.
Aly stood in front of me and the small building, his current task forgotten as he stared, a shadow of hesitation in his eyes.
We walked together in the shade, just next to the house we had kept for the past few days, and the place where Aly would continue to live on his own after my departure.
I had already explained my intentions to him.
The group of adventurers, along with myself, would be setting off in just a few hours.
And after that departure, I did not know when I would return.
"Well, it's not like this is a real goodbye or anything…" At this, Aly smiled to himself, "Right? You better come visit whenever some free time comes up between all your adventures, okay?"
I smiled at the kid in front of me, who had grown so much in such a short time.
Something in my mind caught itself on that image, and I asked myself something.
Was this really the best thing to do? Did I really want to go chasing some half-baked dream of being a hero and leave a kid by himself, without anyone to take care of him?
My eyes narrowed in a sudden burst of shame.
It was insulting to call Aly a simple child.
He was mature- a person I could call a friend, maybe the first such person in years. He was responsible, determined, and hardworking. Someone who didn't give up on his goals and fought hard for what was important to him.
Aly had gone through too much for me to doubt him. And I couldn't stay with him forever, no matter what.
So at his statement, I let myself grin.
I nodded, mindlessly brushing my fingertips against the Sheikah Slate on my waist before gripping the young man on the shoulder.
He would be fine. In fact, I fully expected Aly to thrive here.
I turned and walked away.
It was time to leave Carne Village.
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*Author's Note*
Okay. I get it. I've been gone for a little while, and left the last chapter on something of a cliffhanger. I apologize. But now I'm back!
I've been busy for the past few weeks and didn't have a lot of free energy to write something like this, so I basically let it fall to the wayside. I've returned now, though, and trust me that this break was nothing compared to my full potential for hiatuses…
That said, I'm going to try and make sure we don't get to that point with this fic. This will hopefully be the longest time between chapters. I might not be able to update daily or every other day, but my goal will be to at least get out a chapter per week. If somehow I can't do weekly updates either, well, that would be sad.
Anyways, this chapter was more of a transitionary one, with Link getting a chance to converse with Momon himself, although he certainly wasn't very inconspicuous about his interest in the two adventurers... I'm sure there is no way that could end badly in the future.