Chapter 9 "Beggining of the Trial"
It was an almost week from my supposed death. The city celebrated it very loudly, and then swiftly returned to it's normal self. I was to preoccupied with my Whaler training to even remotly care about it. Not that I did.
On the sixth day I was approched by Daud.
"Naofumi, there's an old custom we have in the Whalers." He started "When a novice finishes his training course, he sets out into the world. This "Trial" lasts to the first time he calls for help and uses Summon Assassin. However, my informants tell me there's about 43 days left before the Second Wave of Calamity." He intentinally answered my earlier question.
"I see. Thanks for letting me know." I said "Do you have any info about three bastards?" I asked, meaning the Three Heroes.
"I'm in process of getting this piece of info. Stay put, you'll know before you set out." He stopped and continued "Your trial will be timed. You will be able to call us, but only after the Wave has started. If you do it before, the Trial will be failed."
"Okay, I get it." I answered."I'll be off in a couple of minutes. Can you spare a mount for me or something?" I asked him, to what he rubbed his chin and replied.
"Sorry, Naofumi." He anwsered "You'll be travelling on foot. Good Luck." He bid me fare well and walked off.
'Great. Now I will be walking on my two feet for over a month. That's just great.'
I then checked my gear, not that I had a lot of it mind you. The teachings were very clear about having only necessary things with you. Only some rations, a bottle of water and my two runes.
'Yes, now it's the best time to learn new skill."' I thought as I opened the interface and learned the Larger Devouring Swarm. 'There. An upgrade to my offensive capabilites is a welcome one.' The two runes disappeared after that.
I then walked out of my room and proceeded to move to the exit. Many Whalers bid me farewell and wished me good luck on my way, to which I waved my hand.
"Naofumi, before you go. I got the information you requested." Daud stopped me as I was going through the door.
"Then, please go on." I anwsered, slightly curious.
"Well, first is Spear Hero. He apparently saved a famine-stricken village to the shouthwest by introducing a legenary crop. But there's a catch. The crop is not so legendary, it's a cursed one instead. The shining example of stupidity it is." 'Probaly that cheating bitch convinced him to do this.' I thought as he said it. He continuted after a while "Now, there's Sword one. There are rumors of his killing a dragon and gaining 5 levels just form that. But the body was left behind, not even burned to ashes after he was done. Again, a shining example of stupidty." 'Eh... It's logical that he's just as arrogant as the first one.' I thought. "And now for the Bow Hero. There was lots of talk about him, but I managed to get the truth. He joined another country's resistance and helped them ovethrew the king. But he only changed the figurehead at the top, the lower class has just as bad or even worse that before." He then ended and added "If you need something, summon one of my underlings and say to him that you need to give or say something to me. That should be enough. Good Luck on your Trail." He cut the conversation and went inside the complex.
'Useful information this indeed was. I think I'll check the mess thry have caused... But I won't help any of them before settling on a respectable pay.' I thought as I walked out.
It was now evening. I decided to stop by a nearby village to get some sleep, but chased off that idea. 'Sleeping on the tree is comfortable too. And much safer compared to sleeping on the ground.' And as I ended that thought, I aimed my Blink on a nearby branch, and casted it. I made myself comfortable and went to sleep.
Next day, I found myself in a village somewhat close to town. As I was talking to a trader that was present there, I noticed a gathering.
"What's this about?" I asked, my voice muffled from the Mask.
"Well... You see, dear Sir..." One of the Villagers answered.
"The King made me in charge of reconstruction." I heard a voice that I grew to despise."I am your new Lord, Kitamura Motoyasu!"
'Who thought it'd be a good idea!?' I thought 'He couldn't find his own opinion even if you pay him!' I ended my thought, and faced the villager.
"Well, it looks like you're in tough luck." I said "Good luck serving him." I ended that sentence with a smirk on my face, but it was covered by my mask.
"Dear Sir, please talk some sense into him. Form what I've heard, he is going to tax 50 silver coins upons entering here, and another 50 upon leaving it." He begged me to talk to him, saddend expression in his face.
"I'm really sorry, but I have no intention to talk to him." I replied, my voice ice-cold "And I won't give him any amount of money." As I said that, the villager's face collapsed and he was now wearing one of pure desperation. But then...
A group of 4 dark-clothed people appeared. They were wearing a silver-colored breatplate with shoulder pads on top of a deep purple, alomst black robe. Their faces were covered with some sort of cloth.
"Princess Matly. We assume you know about us." One of them said some thing to Mein, wo was also present there. "We have brought you a letter with a certain Master's orders." As this person said this, he handed her a scroll.
'Would you look at that...' I thought, analayzing the possibilites. 'The Queen's back in country. I wonder why?'
Mein's face immediately paled afer reading the letter. She said to the so-called 'Shadow'.
"Why's she back!? She was supposed to be back in three weeks, not now!"
"You can go and ask her yourself. She will be in the Capital in 5 hours." The Shadow then turned away and added "Decide yourself." and then disappeared in a blink of an eye.
'That's not blink. I didn't notice any smoke after that.' I thought.
Mein stood there for a few seconds and grinded her teeth. She then turned and gestured something to the Royal Guardsman.
'It doesn't concerne me. Let's best be on my way.' I thought as I started marching away. "I guess I will check the body of the Dragon. Maybe I will find something useful there.' I then took a quick look into my bag.'Rations should hold up until the end of the Trial.'