—–
After having prepared things for around three days, we were ready for going out now. We had taken another trip to the town of Snowfall, where we resupplied with more food, ingredients, and materials for the Greenhouse, which should be ready in a week or a bit more. Leaving all these supplies to the town, we felt like it would be enough until we came back. Although that town is pretty far away and the food they have is also limited, so I cannot really just go there and buy constantly, and I am also running low on money, we have spent most of it already in supplies and materials, and the only choice I got is stealing money, which is not a good thing to do in an already very poor duchy such as Snowfall, I wouldn’t really want to make these poor people lives even harder, so I won’t steal.
Therefore, in search for more money, adventure, and also some more clues about my past, we have already decided to go to the Duchy of Affnaria, where we’ll met with the new Duchess, the niece of the previous Duke, who had been the one responsible for setting up my death by guillotine and ultimately died by my hands, this girl named Julia Memendin Albraun. I have forged a contract with her that I must fulfill, and therefore I must go back to her and see what I can do for her and the people in there, I know there are some shady business she’s been tracking down, and I am pretty sure I am faster at finding crime as I am a ghost and can do all sorts of stuff that normal people can’t. Especially getting through buildings and all of that.
“Are we ready then?” Asked Lucifer. He had gone back to his enormous dragon form, and he was going to give us a ride to the duchy of Affnaria, his speed of flight even surpasses my Shadow Transportation Skill, so he’s ideal for transporting.
“Yeah, I think I’ve packed enough stuff.” I said, as I saved the last provision inside of my Inventory.
“Please, take care!” Said Syllis.
“Don’t get into danger…” Said Bellerine.
The two rabbit-kin had grown quite a lot since I first encountered them, Syllis had become a more responsible big brother to Bellerine, his little rabbit sister, and he had also begun to train into martial arts, using his swift body for fast movements. Meanwhile, he had also started practicing magic, although it seems that he hasn’t reached that far, I’ve discovered that beast-kin have special types of magic known as Beast Magic, that can enhance their physical abilities or even summon spirit beast familiars, although those capable of using it are probably very rare, everybody seems to have that hidden potential. Bellerine is small but she’s also practicing with her brother, and she seems way more adept at magic than him. Syllis is slowly gaining more self-confidence, and is an innate leader of his tribe, while Bellerine is enjoying her childhood more now that she’s out of that forest, with the rest of the children.
“Yeah, we are going to be okay, don’t worry. You two should take care of the rest of the rabbit-kin, so I al leaving all that work up to you.” I said, Syllis and Bellerine nodded energetically.
“Take care, we’ll keep the goblins organized.” Said the Goblin Elder, the old man with a long beard seemed to still have some more life yet before kicking the bucket, probably he just needed a healthier diet to regain his strength.
“Yes, rest assured. I will also protect the town with my Hobgoblins, we are training every day to hone our strength to be more useful.” Said the Goblin Chief.
“Auntie, don’t go…!” Cried Gofumin.
“I’m sorry dear, but I have to go. It is something important that I must do… But you can take care of yourself, right? You’re a big girl! The other day you were smacking that tree trunk with a sword, right?” I asked with a smile. Over this time Gofumin had been having a small growth spur and she had become slightly taller, enough for her to attempt to learn sword technique by smacking a tree with a tiny and light sword.
“I will become strong like mama and papa, and I will find mama one day!” Said Gofumin.
“…I see. I will watch over you then. And it’s not like I am leaving, a part of me is always protecting all of you. I am leaving the goblins to you guys too, I know I can trust you.” I said, as the phantom snakes flew around me.
“For sure, if anything happens we’ll talk to you through the snakes as well.” Said the Goblin Chief.
“Hm! That’s the spirit.” I said with a smile.
“Hey! Why are you not letting us go with you?!” Asked Catarina, reaching up to me angrily.
“Eeh? But you’re strong! You have to keep in here so you can protect the people, Catarina… Remember that you said you would do anything for me?” I asked while crossing my arms.
“I-I never said that…” Said Catarina while averting her gaze. I smiled teasingly as I provoked her to blush for a bit.
“You sure did~ Now, don’t be so stubborn and protect this people that you’ve grown so close to.” I said. The grumpy Vampire girl had gone through a lot when she was alive, and although she died quit gruesomely, she had changed into a new leaf now that she was given the opportunity to be free, even though she’s technically dead now.
“Okay… Sure. Whatever…” She said, walking away angrily, she seemed to not want to look at my face anymore.
“We’ll miss you!”
“Please summon us whenever you need some fire!”
Silvio and Francesco, the two former Vampires subordinates of Catarina who had become fire ghosts seemed to be about to cry tears of flames as we departed.
“Haha, don’t worry, if we ever need more backup, I’ll summon you guys with Catarina.” I said while petting their heads.
—–
