Chapter 9

Investigation Time

It was about five days since they started their trip and with nothing else to do on the caravan they decided to enjoy a series of conversations. The most recent of conversations caused Sigui to ask, "So your equipment was enhanced with alchemy?" Will answered, "Yes; my armor has multiple features made that actually work together in combat while Nyx's bracers allow her access to her powers minus the whole tentacles and lewd punishment part of the bargain". The thought of using magic and alchemy was something she thinks is an offense to God but for some reason she will stomach it since it was the Queen's orders that made such equipment possible. That made Will think, "She only tolerates it if the Queen approves it, and I thought the Church back in my world was the only one that had the occasional hypocrite". She then asked, "I also curious about you and Ymir-san. The way you two argued back when we first met seemed like something similar to a lovers' quarrel but she seems too…" Will started to blush with a light red as he said in shock, "WHA…WHAT DO YOU MEAN LOVERS' QUARREL!?"

Will POV

The very thought of me having feelings for Flatty-Flat chest was just unbelievable. So I explained to her, "I'll admit she might have that petite figure and childish charm to go with but it still doesn't mean we're lovers". She just answered, "You sure? I just see this hint of passion whenever she hits you so I assumed…" I interrupted her by saying, "YOU ASSUMED WHAT! That I prefer that kinky mistress stuff on the side, sorry but the closest I'll go will probably be Nyx in your outfit (Or a sexy nurse outfit now that I think about it since her coordinates are just one number shorter than Sigui's on each)".

I practically forgot Nyx was with us until she asked with a dark red face, "What do you mean me in an Inquisitor uniform?"

This just made it worse; NOW THEY'RE BOTH GONNA THINK THAT I'M SOME KIND OF ECCHI! I simply calmed down and told them what I said was a spur of the moment with hopes that whatever beating I would get be nothing more than a black eye. What I got instead was two separate blows to the head and to spend the rest of the way there with a piece a cloth shoved into my mouth while I was tied up like a freshly caught wild boar. Not to mention that when we got to our destination they made me carry everything from the items we need to set up camp to their clothes the rest of the way (Its like the first trip to Gainos all over again).

From outside the Swamplands the only thing that we saw was a line of dead trees that mark its border while a sulfur-yellowish color engulfed the top of it with constant electric storms to cover its skies and to make matters worse…we have to get inside its borders for this job. We had no idea what to expect while we investigate these sightings; whether they are monstrous creatures, demons that have past through the gates that lie within these lands, the minions of The Swamp Witch, or worse The Swamp Witch herself was simply out of luck once we got inside.

Nyx POV

It was hard to imagine that it was only a little over a month since all this started. I was back living in servitude where Elina could pop out of nowhere just to torment me. Despite that Will is usually there to stand up for me even though he and Elina always come close to killing each other. I just didn't understand this man killed Funikura and could've easily done the same thing to me but he spared my life and made sure that I got this second chance.

All this laid on my mind as we entered the Swamplands and what I saw was just horrifying. There is not a single trace of life here that isn't slowly rotting away, if this is what The Swamp Witch wants to do to the continent then I have to do something about this evil. What really surprised me was what we found during the investigation. We came across a large number of hot springs and the water hasn't even been touched by the decay or dirt. Sigui and I assumed that Will was gonna beg us to take a break so he can test the hot springs but instead he seemed to be on alert about something like he was waiting for someone or something to sneak up on him. He then asked Sigui if anyone has ever scouted the Swamplands before and she answered, "Yes; Archbishop Melpha was sent to investigate this place a months ago and survived an encounter with Melona and Airi which was what promoted her to her current status in the church". Something about that just made him laugh uncontrollably when simply answered, "Look if I argue with you, you'll burn me alive. If I offend you, you'll burn me alive. The way I see it; you got the Zealot theme right and in other words it means do as I say or perish as a heretic and that also means that being against you is a death sentence which is something I can't have until I fulfill a promise I made almost two months ago. Now if you don't mind; we should stop somewhere up ahead to set up camp because I'm about to hit my limit as a pack mule and it's hard to tell if its day or night thanks to these damned clouds".

Sigui POV

We decided to set up camp before we continued to help re-check what we are supposed to investigate. The sightings involved some kind of flying ship that resembles an old merchant ship used a few decades ago and a strange cocky laughed that can be heard from the ship. The source of the laughter must be from the person in charge of the ship. The only thing left to do is to identify these heretics and punish them for their crimes against God.

It was about two hours after we set up camp when we started hearing something similar to thunder nearby so we went to investigate.

POV ends

What they discovered was the flying ship testing its cannons on an empty space of land. It was then they spotted someone on the ship who would most likely be the captain; it was a woman wearing nothing more than a small pink frilled black skirt, a short red shirt, a black overcoat with pink frills near the bottom, knee high boots, a black pirate hat with pink frills, and a gold lined white choker fashioned with a green hexagonal gem in the center along with a frilly white bow tie. The sight alone made Will think, "Now we got a sexy pirate working with the Swamp Witch. I mean come on! Look at her, 33-22-33, her body's curves are perfectly centered and that outfit just makes me wanna…" his train of thought was interrupted when Nyx "borrowed" Sigui's staff and hit him on the head with it because Ymir told her, "If Will ever gets a nosebleed outside of a fight; find something blunt and hit him in the head with it. That should show him some restraint".

Will: (rubbing his head) Why does this keep happening to me?

Hollow: Maybe because you inherited your dad's wandering eyes. Tells me that I need charm school huh? At least I can control my inner ecchi.

Will: Last I check everything from my personality to my physique is based on the son of y...(mouth covered by Hollow).

Hollow: Will, thats classified information. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter of Where's Anne? Please leave us your comments and reviews with us and we hop to see you next time.