The Great Sword is not the Main Body!

“This is the payment for all the items we sold. It’s a good thing that some people needed them, or it could’ve been a real problem. But from now on, you really can’t make mistakes like that, okay, Noa?”

“Sigh... Yeah, I was really lucky. I’m just glad it worked out.”

“Thank you. Hermeela, and thank you too, Ailyn!”

Instead of me, who has no social skills at all, Ailyn had been leading the way, selling the goods.

During that time, Hermeela also heard about my situation and stepped in to help.

Thanks to them, everything except the things we really needed got sold!

I didn’t get the original price, but it’s still a relief!

“Now that we’ve got the horses, it’s time to leave for real. Noa.”

“Yes...!”

Ah, right. We were able to get the horses at an incredibly low price.

Hermeela arranged everything for me!

Hermeela is the best!

“Well, then...”

As I tucked my much heavier coin pouch into my chest, I bowed my head to Hermeela.

“When we finish the journey, be sure to come back to Arba village. Got it?”

Yes. I’ll be back, Hermeela. Should I pick up some souvenirs on the way?

“Yes, yes...! Sigh... G-goodbye... Hah... goodbye...”

Ugh... I’m not sad at all.
Not one bit.
It’s my body crying.
Seriously, it’s not me.

“Yes. Goodbye, Noa. I’ll be waiting for you?”

“Ugh... Hah... Sniff... G-goodbye... Hah...”

My throat closed up, and I couldn’t get the words out...

“Hey... Noa? We’re not going to die, you know...? Could you hurry up?”

Ailyn, who had already walked six steps ahead, urged me on.

Hey!
Have some sympathy!

I’m just trying to say goodbye to Hermeela, my life saver!

“Sniff...! Ah, cough! Y-yeah, Noa. We’re not parting forever, right? Sniff!”

As always, Hermeela’s warm hand patted my head.

“Ugh... Yes...!”

I bowed once more and turned my back with an air of coolness.

“I-I’m going, Ailyn.”

“Sigh... Yes. Let’s go.”

Ailyn glanced back at me for a moment, shaking her head, then walked out of the guild.

Following Ailyn’s footsteps, I absorbed the noise of the bustling village that I wouldn’t hear for a while.

I didn’t have any friends, but still, I had grown fond of Arba village.

This village was like a hometown to me since I first opened my eyes in this body of a woman.

I will definitely return.

“Noa, what are you doing standing there? Hurry up. The sun’s setting.”

Ugh, really.

“Yes, yes...!”

I cursed Ailyn silently for not understanding any sentiment, but kept walking.

The horse, trotting along, suddenly stopped.

“It’s starting to get dark, so we need to set up camp.”

“We’re camping here tonight...?”

I used my Giga Sense to check the surroundings.

Trees. Trees. Trees.
The whole forest was full of trees.

We encountered snakes and huge dragonflies on the way here... We’re camping here!?

We’re not even in a cave; we’re just camping on the bare ground?

I want my romantic travel back...

“Yes. Someone made a really foolish mistake, so we’re a little behind schedule. Originally, we were supposed to leave the forest and camp outside, but... it can’t be helped.”

“S-sorry…”

“Noa? What did I say would happen if you say that again?”

“Ah! I-I’m sorry...!”

Ailyn’s sigh brushed past my ear.
Ugh, it tickles.

“Hah, so you really think ‘sorry’ and ‘my bad’ are the same thing? Seriously?”

“Then... what should I say...?”

“Are you talking back?”

“Ugh... Ughh...!”

What do you want me to do!?
You’re the one who said I made a mistake!
Yeah, I made a mistake! But hey, that could happen!

You didn’t tell me we were riding horses!
Though you didn’t tell me we were using a cart either...!

Anyway!

“Hehe... Just kidding. When that happens, you just say thank you. Like, ‘thanks for selling my stuff,’ or ‘thanks for understanding.’ Something like that?”

Ailyn laughed lightly and spoke to me in a soft voice.

I really can’t figure her out...
It’s not even like she has bipolar disorder. Ugh.

“Then, thank you...”

I bowed my head and expressed my gratitude.

Ailyn was behind me, but I didn’t want to turn around to say thank you...
If I did, my face would probably get buried in her...!

So, I just bowed into the air.

“Aha, you’re doing well. Now, let’s go down.”

She gave me an empty compliment.

If you’re going to do that, don’t do it at all...

I pouted and tossed the greatsword over my shoulder.

Then, thump!

With the sound of grass being stepped on, I felt the soft sensation around my shoes.

Thump-thump

Stepping on something while being completely blind actually feels pretty good. Heh heh.

Thump-thump-thump

Thwomp

The sound was a little different, so I figured Ailyn must have gotten off the horse.

I immediately crouched and began to search the ground.

The greatsword should be around here...

Rustle-rustle

Hmm, where did it go...?

“Here.”

After searching for a while, Ailyn slid the greatsword toward me.

“Ah, thank you...”

I grabbed the hilt and looked around.

The footprints in the grass made it clear that this was the right place, but... what’s going on?

And... why is Ailyn crouching next to me, looking at me?

“What... what’s up...?”

“It’s nothing. Just thought you looked cute. Should we prepare food?”

Her answer was strangely ambiguous.
I’m pretty sure that’s not the reason...

“…Yeah.”

I replied roughly and secured the greatsword to my waist.

“Since it’s the first night, should we eat something nice? Let’s eat the food with a short shelf life first.”

“Yes, sounds good... What are we eating?”

“This should be good.”

Ailyn rummaged through the supplies bag hanging by the horse’s side and pulled out some meat wrapped in paper.@@novelbin@@

“Barbecue. How does that sound?”

“Barbecue...!”

I nodded vigorously.

Oh, wait...
Is it really okay to cook barbecue in a forest like this?

As I kept nodding, my head slowly stopped.

I don’t think this is a good idea...

Is she testing me?

If I suggest we eat here, she might make fun of me for the rest of the trip...!

Ugh... I’ll have to save the barbecue for later.

“Oh, no... I don’t want to eat it. Let’s just have bread.”

“Why?”

She’s asking me this?
I knew it! She’s testing me!

This scary woman...!

“Because the smell... will attract monsters or bandits...”

“Aha. That’s fine.”

After saying that, Ailyn’s body seemed to radiate a warm energy.

“Eh...? What is this? Uh...?”

Some unknown energy spread in a circle around us.

It’s not magic.
It’s not an artifact either...?

“I have a lot of skills, including catching things. Can you see this?”

I nodded and watched the rippling energy.

It feels strangely familiar.

“What is this? Tell me...!”

Ugh, this is frustrating.

I’ve definitely seen this before, but I can’t quite remember!

It’s like an itch I can’t scratch!
Please tell me!

“When you become an adult, you’ll just know. Kids like you, Noa, don’t need to know yet. Now, let’s sit down. To become an adult, you have to eat well and sleep early.”

“K-kids...?!”

Hah, wow. No... hey!

I’m an adult!

I’m 25 years old!

“…But, I’m an adult.”

I looked at Ailyn and said as firmly and confidently as I could.

“Noa’s an adult, huh... I see...”
I can’t see her face, but I could feel her expression was very annoying.

Is she really doing this?! Huh?!

I’m definitely older than her!

“Ah, no... really!”

“Yes, yes. I get it. Come sit down. Don’t worry, I’ve made sure the smell won’t spread.”

“Then... what was that...?”

“Hehe... You’re an adult, so you already know, right?”

Wow... wow... agh!!!

This is so annoying!

“Ugh...”

“Shut your mouth.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Tch. Don’t you want to eat the meat?”

I pouted.

“Good.”

“Good? What’s good about it?”

I muttered as quietly as I could so Ailyn wouldn’t hear me.

“Talking back?”

“S-sorry...!”

Whether I apologize or not, Ailyn rummaged through her bag.
Then, she pulled out a firestarter and asked me.

“Do you know how to make a fire?”

“...No.”

For some reason, I couldn’t get it to light.

“Then, how about a tent?”

“I... I don’t know...”

It kept falling apart.

“What can you do?”

“Hunting...!”

I’m great at hunting!

“Wow... You can hunt? So, adults really are different.”

“Nooo...!”

“Just watch and learn. Adults should know how to start a fire too.”

“Please...”

“Why? You’re not an adult? Are you a kid or an adult? You choose.”

“Adult, not... uh, adult...”

“Yeah. You’re an adult. Go gather some dry grass. You’re an adult, so you can do it, right?”

I didn’t answer and stood up to go collect the grass.

I made sure to stomp my feet loudly.

Ailyn, you’re really crossing the line with your pranks.

Thump, thump

“Hanzel. Have you heard the news?”

“I’ve heard…”

“Right.”

The adventurer’s guild, usually loud, was filled with silence.

“She’s gone.”

“I see…”

“Sigh... Never got a chance to say goodbye.”

“She didn’t even look at me.”

“Think about it. Hanzel. With that face... even grown men would cry just seeing it.”

“Luchi. You’re not much better yourself. What’s up with those eyes? Did you trade them for booze? Close them once in a while. Honestly, they even scare me sometimes at night.”

“Is that so...? Heh, so that’s what it was.”

“…Maybe I should have grown my hair out. Maybe even dyed it…”

Sighs from Hanzel, Luchi, and the other rough adventurers filled the guild.

Some had forcibly bought the girl’s belongings.
Some sold a top-quality horse for a cheap price.
Some were haunted by the sight of the girl crying.

And most of them couldn’t forget the girl who had been the guild’s mascot.

“She was cute.”

Luchi recalled his younger sister, who had passed away in an “accident.”

“Very much so. It reminded me of my daughter who’s gone.”

Hanzel also recalled his daughter who had passed away in an “accident.”

“I used to tease you, Hanzel. ‘Hey, did you hear the rumors?’ The way you flinched was always so cute.”

“Heh. That’s true. You always acted like it wasn’t you, but everyone knew. Ha ha ha!”

“How could I not know? You walked around with a greatsword that looked twice as big as you. It was almost worrying how innocent you were.”

“Exactly. Pure, innocent, unaware of the ways of the world, but worked harder than anyone else... So Luchi, what are you going to do?”

“What? What’s there to think about?”

“Right? Ha ha ha!”

Hanzel and Luchi chuckled as they finished their beers.

Suddenly, Hermeela’s voice cut through their laughter.

“Both of you. Have you checked the details I mentioned earlier?”

“Of course.”

“By the way, I’m a bit worried about how we’ll go about this secretly.”

Hanzel answered, and Luchi mumbled.

“I’m worried about Ailyn... or should I say, Priestess ‘Lubyia.’ It’s still... okay for now.”

Hermeela’s eyes turned toward where Noa must be.

“Why did the precious priestess run all the way out here? I can’t figure it out. It’s like she’s running away.”

Hanzel, who was carrying a halberd, spoke.

“Looking for a runaway priestess? These guys are serious, though.”

Luchi grabbed a sword stuck in the ground and spoke.

“That’s right. So, before it’s too late, let me tell you the details.”

In the quiet guild, Hermeela’s voice echoed.

“It’s a special request. The agents are Hanzel and Luchi, both Platinum-tier adventurers.”

The two Platinum adventurers picked up the request.

“The task is to protect Priestess Lubyia and Noa. The condition is that we must do it without being noticed. Stealth mission.”

“What’s the deal? As long as the imperial knights don’t die, we’re good, right?”

Hanzel lifted an unconscious knight by the collar.

“I don’t have a problem with it, but Hanzel, can you handle it?”

Luchi grabbed the knight and put him back on the ground.

“Well, my hands might slip, ha ha!”

“Right. It’s just too hot.”

The two adventurers joked as they stepped lightly out of the guild.

The only sound left in the guild was Hermeela’s sigh.