After defeating the Chieftain, I grabbed his scimitar and tied it onto my right waist.
Then I turned my attention to the teenage boy after I finished tie up loose ends.
"Hey thanks for-" Before I could finish, the teenage boy threw his chakram at me.
I drew my sword instinctively and deflected the chakram.
Before I could say anything, the teenage boy said "fight me" in a barely audible voice, drew his swords and lunged at me.
"Aye I think you should ask for consent before challenging someone to a duel!" I shouted as I dodged his attacks.
"The Wind Aquila is nearby... Maybe I should stall some time for it to reach us..."
The teenage boy ignored me and kept on hacking. Me on the other hand, kept on dodging as I had zero intention to fight.
"Why aren't you fighting? Aren't you the Magic Swordmaster, the one who can take out an army single-handedly? The hero who will save the world?" The teenage boy asked as he pointed his sword at me.
"What are you talking about? It is true I am the Magic Swordmaster, but I am no hero." I sighed as I face-palmed myself. "Or rather, please don't call me a hero, as this will just bring disgrace upon the word 'Hero'. Also, would you please tell me who spread those rumors? I would like to take care of those obnoxious idiots later on."
At that time, I used Advanced Lurk to sneak up on that boy and try to knock him out.
And somehow that kid took a step forward when the Shadow Clone was about to knock him out. Then he defeated the Shadow Clone in a few seconds' work.
"Nice try." The kid said as he nocked an arrow on his bow.
I channeled light magic into my sword to prepare for the fight.
All of a sudden, a green artillery bullet flew towards the kid.
'Thank whoever is looking over me.' I thought to myself.
"Onii-chan! Are you OK?" Iris asked as the Wind Aquila landed a few metres behind me.
"Yeah I am. You guys made just in time."
"Fight me alone, you wimp!" The kid pointed at me as he gave me a glare.
"That eagle is one of my weapons, or rather, familiars. So technically, you are still fighting me. You got what I am saying?" I shot back as I rolled my eyes. "Besides, aren't you supposed to introduce yourself? How am I supposed to fight you when I don't even know who you are?"
"If you really wish to know my name, then defeat me."
"Oh well, I am going to call you Isekai Indiana Jones then!" I said with a smug smile.
"Hey stop that!" The boy refuted as he seemed to be offended by this name, albeit he probably didn't know what it meant.
"Um sorry, no can do. After all, I don't even know who you are. So the best I can do is to name you myself, and remember that." I replied as I shrugged my shoulders.
"Argh fine, my name is Karu. The Wanderer."
"Be happy and you will be the Happy Wanderer, you know?" I told Karu with a bit of mischief in my eyes.
"The Happy Wanderer? What are you talking about?" Karu asked as he scratched his hair in confusion.
"The Happy Wanderer is a song from my world." I replied.
"Onii-chan, I remember! Was it the song you told me before? 'Valderi, Valdera, my knapsack on my back!' I like that song!" Iris chimed in as she sung a part of the song.
"Exactly!" I answered as I turned around and snapped my fingers.
"You (Kisama)... Are you making fun of me?" Karu questioned as he forced a smile on his face.
"Nope, I ain't mocking you." I shook my head and put on a blank expression. "By the way, I think you are awesome while fighting the Chieftain, albeit you probably got Stormtrooper Aim, considering how bad you missed the arrows. But still cool nonetheless."
"What's Stormtrooper Aim?" Loby asked.
"You wouldn't understand this as that's an Isekai joke."
Then I turned to Karu.
"So, would you like join our party? We could use your strength."
"Beat me on your own, and I will join your party." Karu replied coldly.
"Oh ok. See you then. Also, thanks for helping me taking out the Chieftain." I waved my hand at Karu and signaled my party members to leave the village.
"Summon Core Constellation: Fire Phoenix."
And then we flew back to the Adventurers' Guild, leaving Isekai Indiana Jones back in the village.
At the Adventurers' Guild...
"Good evening, Guardian-san. Did you finish the quest?" the staff member asked politely.
"Yeah I did. Here you go." I replied as I placed the scimitar on the table and signaled Iris to collect the quest reward.
Then I turned to my party members.
"Alright, we have enough money to get ourselves a house as our Operational Base. Let's go and buy this." I said slightly excited as I showed them the leaflet.
During our way to buy the house...
"Uwah!"
Hearing this cry from the alley, the four of us rushed to the scene immediately, which Isekai Indiana Jones and a kid were seen at the scene.
I gave a glance at Iris and Loby, by which they understood the message, ran over to the kid and check his injuries.
Chris and I stood in front of them.
"What great timing, Magic Swordmaster. Fight me." Karu said as he drew his swords.
"What did you do to the kid?" I asked.
Karu said nothing as he lunged at me and attacked out of the blue.
"Fk. Why wouldn't I expect that to happen?" I thought to myself blankly.
"Core change, Pegasus to Phoenix!"
I tossed the money pouch to Chris.
"Chris, go take the cash, get the base and protect that kid with Iris and Loby! I will get to you guys right after!" I shouted as I changed my Core Outfit into a set of red samurai armor and blocked his swords.
"Gotcha! Quick, this way!" Chris chanted Lurk onto the trio and herself, then left the scene, leaving me up against a random who was obsessed with defeating me alone.
I kicked Karu in the stomach and drew my nodachi as I prepared to fight him seriously.
"Oho? Finally found your will to fight, Magic Swordmaster?" Karu lunged at me once again.
I kept silent as I blocked a few hits from Karu.
"You are wide open!" Karu said in glee as he stabbed me in the back (or backstabbing in short) (literally).
"I win! I defeated the Magic Swordmaster!" Karu cheered.
"You only defeated a Shadow Clone, and the thing is, he held back." I said from behind as the Shadow Clone turned into a smokescreen.
"Shadow Bind." I chanted the skill as ropes tied Karu's body and shadow.
"Like the PTU of where I came from said: 'Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail.' It is beyond doubt that you are strong, but you fight without tactics, and that... is your downfall, apart from that Stormtrooper Aim of yours."
"You... lost. Don't worry, this skill will wear off after an hour or two. Peace out." I chanted Advanced Lurk and left the alley after saying these lines to Karu, which was being tied up at that moment.
A/N: Hope you all are enjoying the story! Positive critiques are appreciated. Stay tuned for the next chapter.
Also, this chapter is uploaded as a celebration for Darkness' birthday (Today is 6th Apr), the next chapter will be uploaded two days later.
Remember to wish Da- I mean, Pfft... Lalatina (www) a happy birthday!