We left the farm in the early morning and we're back on the road. Well, or whatever you'd call these trodden paths in the middle of nowhere. Next stop will be a town, where the farmers usually sell their harvest. From there it's back to a real road. Well, as much as clay and stone paths count.
Why heading to a road, even though we used to avoid them as often as possible? Because there are only shitty options. The past showed that whoever wants to find us will find us, and while farming some XP by defeating monsters away from civilization did sound good at first, we decided to emphasize speed for several reasons.
First one is to get as much space between us and Gottfried as possible, the stay at the farm seriously didn't help there. However, if we can get to Zethtrin quick enough and break the curse of the ring, then... I don't know what, considering I'm now dating Rine, but I guess a large portion of complications will be accounted for? She may also break up with me and return home on her own. As long as she makes that decision herself, I won't say anything.
The second reason would be to fulfill our promise to Jii-san, as he wants us to accompany him there. Hm... never asked why, but none of my business, I guess. Repaying him by getting there without many delays seems to be the best course, though.
Third, with Correro being able to track us at any time—at least I'm assuming so—he decides where he will face us once more, so making too many detours doesn't help against him at all. Rather, it gives him more opportunities to fuck with us.
Finally, I seriously want everything to be over. I'm sick of it! ...well, mostly. I mean, the thing with Rine and Kyou-san is too confusing to categorize as purely good or bad. Need to figure out my stance on that soon.
“Phew...” If there just wasn't the curse which makes everything so muddy about it. I promised both that I won't take it as a reason to hold back, but it's not like I can just switch my brain off!
“Don't worry, Ken-kun,” Ara-san says next to me, holding my hand for the daily WP-grind: “Being worried won't help.”
I know this comes from a place of laziness, but that still pisses me off: “You don't even know what I'm worried about.”
“Affirmative. Let's talk about happy things, like sex.” What the- ah! She got me! That feeling I get from her—or rather her spirit—shows the satisfaction of getting under my skin for a moment! Yet she continues in a condemning tone: “Not between you and me, but between you and Momo. You—worked?—really hard to earn some WP and now we have a larger stable income of WP, so let's consider how to use them.”
Wedding Points, the reward of being intimate with my wives. A currency to buy some bonuses.
Currently we have [Shared Inventory], [Enhanced Attributes: Increased Effect II, Increased Range II], [Increased XP-gain], and [Spouse-Location]. I was thinking of getting better buffs during Rine's fight, but ultimately it wasn't necessary.
We currently got 637 WP... and more than a third came just quite recently, though there seems to be first-time bonuses at play. Like how my first kiss with Kyou-san got us 100, the first with Rine and Ara-san just 20 each, and now kissing Rine or Kyou-san gives 1 once per day. “I won't expect the turn-out to be that great.”
“So you won't jump her like an animal whenever possible?”
…I don't know? I mean, I actually enjoyed it? Even though I won't openly admit it, will this turn me into a sex-crazed maniac?
Probably not, I mean: If this was enough, then human society would look vastly different.
Back to topic though: “About what to do with the WP... I guess we can use them for more XP.” While it doesn't feel like XP and in extension levels are very dominant in the whole power-scaling thus far, getting these bonuses early is always better. “For the rest, I'd like to save them for emergencies, like always.” Having a resource with some flexibility to use whenever needed is helpful, like [Spouse-Location], which allowed us to find each other inside the Spirit Swamps when we were separated.
“I propose to you to reconsider saving them too much.”
Strange, so far she was on board with this: “Why?”
“Aside from the hope to unlock another [Increased XP gain] that we can purchase quickly enough, our approach so far leads me to believe that being too reactive with our approach will be detrimental. Our encounter with the barbarians could have been much smoother by having more [Increased Effect] on our [Attribute]-bonus.” Yeah, the bonuses via the WP-system are much stronger than what levels bring despite similar values. “Also, if we want to explore options like [Double Casting], then we better do it while we are in a safe environment, instead of making a leap of faith when we are out of options. In fact, we may avoid such situations if we extend our options beforehand.”
What she says makes sense, and she's in her serious mode, casting aside all considerations for fun to make the most logical decision, which is something all alfar can do when needed.
“Hm... next XP-gain is 300 WP, so even if we unlock a new one, how much will that be? 500?”
“Which would take just eight days to get there without sex, and depending on your stamina one day and some.”
She’s got a point there. “Well, we agree on the XP-gain, so let's start with it. After that, I will take a day or two to study the list and come to a conclusion.” As all spouses have to agree on a WP-store purchase, so as long as even one of us is against it, this will go nowhere. That's why Ara-san and I need to look at it from every angle to find the best path possible, which can also convince Kyou-san. Rine... well, I guess she'll be fine with whatever we decide.
Heart-throbbing? “Phew...” I let go of Ara-san as it's just a task we both engage with for functional reasons. Like doing laundry. No, laundry is a pain in the ass in this world. Holding hands is just routine at this point.
I think my brain is deteriorating, as I used to be much more irritated by this. Or maybe it's just me losing my virginity. Nah, it's just after being fucked by life so many times, I just see small annoyances as not worth the effort of being agitated with anymore.
“Guess this is a good opportunity to break the news to the others.” As Ara-san is the first one I held hands with today, we can use the swap as an opportunity.
Rine is blabbering about the first time she visited a foundry, as Kyou-san and Jii-san listen to her: “And then came in a dari, he had really silvery hair. Not like old man silver, but the one you'd find in accessory, and he said- Hi Dear.” I'll assume that's not what he said, but her noticing that I have something to say.
Well, as she’s told this story to each of us except Jii-san maybe five times already, I have little reason to not interrupt it.
After a short explanation, we got [Increased XP Gain II], therefore boosting the amount of XP we get by killing a monster from 120% to 140%. Yet it's all split fourways, so each of us get 35% of each kill, just a small boost, but it will snowball. Especially if we get the next level, which we indeed unlocked and will cost 550 WP.
“Now onto important matters,” Ara-san starts while prodding Jii-san from behind: “We still have to cover barbarian stories!” Her spirit certainly exudes a lot of pressure.
Is it because she failed the storytelling section? Because she feels guilty and wants to improve herself, to learn more about how humans entertain each other, to understand my species even more? I can say with certainty: Absolutely not.
Rine doesn't understand though: “For your next storytelling contest?”
“Why?” Ara-san sounds legit surprised and I feel no contradiction in her spirit, so she's really baffled. “Katarine-san, I tried my best. So if my best wasn't good enough, it only supports what I've learned a long time ago: Stop trying. Yet as with any folklore, there is a certainty that there are hero-related stories, especially the oldest ones, as barbarians are supposed to be the descendants of some, just like your family.”
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“Ah...” I'm very sure Rine has some flashbacks of how annoying Ara-san can be when she pries about information.
“Erm... Ara-kun? I already told you everything I know.” Seems like Jii-san also was subjected to it already when I was mostly out of order.
“Grekkun, did you know the story of Gerd?”
“Yes, everyone knows that one.”
“Then you missed telling me that one, and I'm positive that I can torture more out of your memory.”
“Did you just say torture?”
“Only emotional and mental, as I doubt that I can inflict physical damage onto you.”
Well, time to bail out of this conversation. “Kyou-san?” I grab the hand she doesn't use to massage the bridge of her nose, indicating that I want to swap to WP-grind that hand-holding session next.
She nods and starts accelerating and after getting a bit ahead of the rest, I even see a small smile on her.
“What's up?” I ask, as she even has a bit of a spring in her steps.
“I'm holding hands with my boyfriend,” she answers and it's unfair how cute she sounds, especially considering her usually prickly attitude.
I hear someone catching up from behind and Rine takes my other hand: “Let me join you, it's a bit hard to stay there. Tehehehe.” She's absolutely delighted to hold my hand, which is somehow different to Kyou-san, though I can't tell why.
I'm holding hands with my girlfriends. … Plural.
Don't think about how I will mess it up. Or how it'll fuck up anyway. Don't think about the curse, don't think too much about it at all, and certainly don't get conceited.
A rare sigh tears me away from the negative thoughts, as Rine regrets: “I really wish I could have stayed longer. It was nice there.”
“Yes,” Kyou-san agrees: “Especially without barbarians. Having people around us that don't want to get us killed was certainly a nice change of pace. Even though...” Why are you getting closer? “...at least I can now flirt with you.” Argh, so many complicated emotions!
“Ah, I'm sorry Kyou,” Rine says: “When we get in town, you can be his lover for the public.”
“Sigh, I fear it's already too late for that, Rine-chan. If we want to keep our marriage situation a secret, we can't have inconsistencies in the rumors that will eventually spread.”
“Shit,” I answer in realization that the story about the whole incident at the farmstead will now also roam around the region: “I hate it. I need new armor so that the whole Red-Ranger thing will die out soon.” The red hide armor I wear is just the best I have and it'll be hard to find something similar or better in stats.
“Why?” Rine asks. “You are an inspiration! Dear, your stories will be of help for everyone, as much as your deeds so far and in the future.”
“Rine, I don't want that and don't plan to do that. I'm just a shitty person that somehow got lucky.”
“Don't talk about yourself like that! You're a hero and you are an idol! Not by luck, but because you help people, like Obert or the whole farm.”
“Ken,” Kyou-san, your smile is a bit scary: “If you talk about yourself like that out loud again in my presence, you will regret it. You are my boyfriend, so every time you put yourself down, you do the same to me and my judgment. And Rine's judgment as well.” The blonde girl nods heavily.
“That's unfair!” I mean, Kyou-san is also a bad person, but getting Rine mixed up is nasty! “What do you expect, to act like I'm some kind of good-hearted person!?”
“I expect you to act like always and be confident about it, instead of hiding behind pessimism and self-depreciation.”
“Phew... I'm just honest. I just somehow get through situations and some people misunderstand that as skill. Nobody should model themselves after me and I'm sure that nobody actually does. They are just out there for the stories and spectacle because their lives are boring without any modern entertainment. It's not like I'm actually influencing anyone.”
―○●○―
It's been a few days since the Red Ranger left. Obert hugs his mother, tears in his eyes as he knows how lonesome it will be, but he has chosen his path. Uncle Poal waits for him at the cart, together with Uncle Benjam and some others, as they will make their way to the town to sell what is left of the harvest and in return buy some goods.
Though Obert won't see the farm for a while, if everything goes well. Uncle Poal will talk to the smith, so that Obert can start his apprenticeship. It's strange, Obert thought we wanted to be a warrior, but now he wants to create instead.
He plans to return to the White Horst, but maybe he will be like Uncle Benjam and explore the world as a journeyman later. Feuerberg, wasn't it?
Then a piercing sound, somewhere between a scream and a yell howls through the farmstead, and Aunt Kenza storms out of the building: “AAAAAAAAGH!” She's also in tears as she has a crumpled piece of paper in her hands: “Has anyone seen Mirianne today!?”
―○●○―
It's been two weeks since Mirianne left. She is hungry. She's thirsty. She's tired. Also dirty. She has slept outside since leaving her home, aside from a night in a barn in town. She didn't take enough food and water with her for that hike, not realizing how much she needed.
Water isn't a problem though, as snow is starting to pile up everywhere, but her stomach feels like it wants to digest itself. Yet despite feeling miserable, she also feels a strong drive in herself, which shuts down any complaint and transforms it into another step.
It's supposed to be here... She's in a forest two weeks away from her home, which is much farther than she has ever traveled. Also a place that nobody visits who is right in their mind. Yet being 'right in her mind' won't give Mirianne anything, so she's fine with being crazy.
How many hours did she walk in here? How often did she reach the border only to turn around and head back into the depths? She hasn't bothered counting, as that would take too much strength. Just use it to move.
Ah, not again. She's seeing the trees opening to a plain, but she doesn't want to exit the forest, she wants to get to the middle!
As she turns around again, her foot is caught in a root and she begins to stumble, setting one foot after another until she regains her balance. Wait, why is she out of the forest now? Ah! Now she understands!
She takes a deep breath before saying as loud as she could: “Hello?” It's not that much, she's just so exhausted.
It's not like she can hear someone, but she's sure there is someone there, so she feels a presence. Then a woman jumps down from a tree, despite it having no leaves anymore Mirianne couldn't see her before: “Go away. Your kind is not welcome here!” She's an alfr alright, her yellow-green double iris, high cheeks, and unmoving facial expressions are so similar to Ara'ainn, though that one has bright orange hair.
“M...my name is... My name is Mirianne!”
“I haven't asked.”
“Please.” Now that something like a conversation has started, it's easier to continue speaking.
“We don't share food or shelter, we won't help any of your settlements, and the only reason why we haven't shot you so far is that we're civilized. Yet our patience runs out quickly.”
“Wait, I... please make me a ranger!”
Oh no, she's not saying anything! She will turn Mirianne away! Yet instead of shirking away, the braided girl stands taller. It may not make her look intimidating—which isn't the intention in the first place—but she wants to face the answer head-on.
Unbeknownst to Mirianne, the silence is not one of consideration. It's one of surprise and deep thought of how to maximize the fun potential of a willing victim.
―○●○―
“Hm... Attack?” Adalbert von Stolzherz answers his father after thinking thoroughly about the question presented to him.
“Where do you take the forces from?”
“The rear.”
“What about the supply line?”
“Erm... but if I take the forces from the frontline, then they will find a weak point and break through that.”
“So the question is, whether to risk your supplies being raided by a small group that was able to infiltrate or let a battlegroup create an opening for more to invade.”
“Ugh, what would be better, father?”
“Neither. That's why attacking isn't always the answer. In this spot, it's better to wait until you amassed enough supplies for a brave foray into the enemies' territory.” Heinrich von Stolzherz V wished he could use the same stratagem against the demons, but it's not that simple with enemies like them, who live in tainted land deadly to humans.
“Doesn't the enemy have time to prepare then as well?”
“Then think of a way to make it harder for them to do so without exhausting your own resources.”
“Yes, father.” Adi nods still in thoughts and it makes Heinrich happy to see his son taking his studies so seriously. If this goes on, he may become Ludolf's successor and serve his brother as a tactician.
I sure hope that they will get along better though. Heinrich and Ludolf are very different in their ideas and opinions, Heinrich being a more conservative king who upholds the ideals of his ancestry whenever possible, while Ludolf is someone who claims to follow efficiency.
“You're progressing well, Adi,” Heinrich smiles his worries away as he praises his ten-years old son, who just started with military tactics. “I'm proud of you.”
“Ehehe.” This smile hurts a bit, as it reminds Heinrich of Kati. “Thanks for letting me take your time, father.”
Heinrich may be busy, but he's also always willing to spend time with his family whenever possible. It's important to keep his focus, as he loves his family. Additionally, he can witness how they grow up and make sure that the tutors are doing their work properly and won't corrupt his children in their young years, while they are still easily influenced.
Kati...
A knock echoes in the study chamber and interrupts this train of thought before it could pick up speed. Heinrich is a bit annoyed, as this is time he spends with his son, but on the other hand, the guards usually turn everyone away during these times unless it's important. “You may enter.”
It's Urs, one of the messengers. He's holding a document in his hand: “My liege, the chancellor asked me to bring this to you as quickly as possible and to visit him whenever Your Highness finds the time.”
Heinrich thinks about sending Adi away for a moment, but decides to let him stay, as this will show him how a ruler works: “Thank you, Urs.” The messenger hands Heinrich the document, it's a letter of the western border.
One of the watchtowers has fallen, by a group of at least thirty demons. In addition, there have been sightings of three young women who happen to look like the heroes they summoned.
Three young women among the heroes... This is the moment that summoning heroes will bite Heinrich back? He vaguely remembers three of them going MIA when they looked for Kati in the Mauerfelsen-mountain range, so they joined with the demons?
“What's wrong, father?” Adi picks up that his father is trembling.
Is it anger? Self-pity? Enjoyment? He can't say for sure, but his instincts tell him that something will become unstuck and he has to be quick and decisive about his next few steps. Heroes turning against each other and their summoners isn't something new, but they have prepared for this eventuality even before the first hero went rogue.
“Don't worry, son. You also don't need to shirk away, Urs,” Heinrich knows that rumors about his latest outbursts went around the castle like a wildfire and he will need to pull himself together to earn the goodwill of his subjects back: “It's indeed a concerning message, but it just comes earlier than expected, not unexpected.”
―○●○―
“I'm back,” says the oni in a bored tone as she enters a dark chamber with a shining desk, too many books, and a stinky perfume. She has the form of a juvenile with dark hair and tanned skin, the form she had when she met Katakata and her friends the first time.
“Welcome back, Ogra,” the fat, white-haired sack of potatoes says, who is something like her interim master for a while. Ogra isn't her name—she has none, after all—it's just an identity she adopts for her real master while in this form. “Have you succeeded?”
“Yes, sir.” It was the worst kind of task, stalking and stabbing someone using her shapeshifting from behind. That's not the demon way, it's the way of someone who stalks and stabs someone from behind by using shapeshifting to get close to them!
“Excellent.” Interim master folds his hands together as he seems to revel in the murder even though it's been the oni, who’s done the deed. Oh well, maybe he feels all the satisfaction she misses with such an unfun way to kill someone. No bone-breaking, no mutilation, not even a bit of laughter allowed.
The last time she had to work under those indemon conditions was back in Déjuma!
“While I would be delighted to see your handiwork continue here, there have been rumors about the Red Ranger in the east, which are concerning for me.”
“About bro?”
“I just said that.” The meaty face of interim master moves as if he was chewing on something. Or maybe he wants to scowl and has too much fat to do so properly. “He's approaching a particular city-state, and it's the worst possible timing. You have to know that *blah, blah, blah* and *blah, blah, blah* unless the *blah, blah* happens. Understood?”
“No.”
“*Sigh* I will plan around your simple mind.”
“Yes, sir!” The oni answers cheerfully.
For some reason, this seems to annoy her interim master even more.
―○●○―
Almost a year ago.
After my realization, I called off the raid before Fir could gather the warriors, but despite some worried looks nobody stayed by my side. Therefore I stand in the midst of my tent, alone and unobserved.
It's night time and I'm still torn whether to take the poncho or not. This journey may take a long while, and while a part of me refuses to accept that I'm at an age when I can't go around topless anymore, there is another feeling inside me.
I can't name that emotion, but I know what it makes me do. I have to live for a while longer, and this poncho will make it more likely. This is more important than my pride.
So poncho it is. It also has some pockets, so I can carry more stuff with me. I guess I also need shoes. Do I need weapons? Nah, swinging them around has been very stressful lately, so I'll just use my hands and if I need more, there are plenty of things around: Rocks, trees, houses...
I hope the food will be enough. It's mostly meat with some bread and cheese. Oh well, there is plenty to hunt out there.
A final, long look at the inside of my tent. It's surprising that I won't miss anything from there. Not the furniture, nor the trophies. I only need the crochet stole.
Time to go. I walk straight out of the camp, the nightwatch notices me, but doesn't dare to stop me. They don't even ask when I’ll return.
Behind me is nothing that is dear to me anyway. Everyone I actually liked died and I never made a connection to my children. Yet there is still the one person I need to find. At least if she's still alive. My first regret. I never resolved it.
Time to go to that oracle. For the first time in decades, I have a goal and it feels like this alone is enough to return some life to me.