In a dark room where the window is fitted with metal grills instead of glass, a man with only one arm was chained with lots of injuries that doesn't outright kill him but made to inflict tremendous amount of pain.
The tortured man spoke, " There's only one thing I'll tell you, the curse has turned to lvl eight. Hehehe... my curses all work perfectly. Enjoy suffering pain worse than death, Rembrandt!"
And the sounds of torture filled the dark room once more.
After leaving Tsilge the Master and her two Subordinates, along with five new additions to the group have reached a base to report on the destruction of Zetsuya. They told the clerk the 'edited' version of what happened, and only Rinon and Toa knows that Tomoe and Mio were the 'swarm of monsters' that destroyed Zetsuya but they agreed to keep quiet about this since they owe Ei's group for rescuing Toa and for removing all the drug's effects on her body.
Apparently they need to register once again since the information of their registration in Zetsuya wasn't able to spread to other branches due to what happened. Ei decided to do it in Tsilge since its only the nearest place where the information of their registration can spread immediately.
" I understand why you both did 'that' Tomoe, you feel jealous of Mio's lvl." said Ei in which Tomoe tries to refute " Th-that's not true Master, I-"
" You want to be a full-pledged Samurai right?"
" Yes Master."
" Then have a training journey then." Ei suggested
"Huh?"
" Samurais tend to do training journey to hone their skills and to widen their horizons." said Ei to Tomoe.
" Then Master! I wish to go on journey to train in the Wastelands while you travel to Tsilge."
Tomoe's declaration surprised the three and tried to persuade her not to do it but Ei said, " Alright, I'll allow it."
" Wh- You're gonna let her go?!" exclaimed by the only guy in the group.
" Well then, I'll get going now!" shouted Tomoe as she's eager to leave for her training arc.
" Do your best, Tomoe" Ei bid farewell as she waved her hand to Tomoe.
Mio thought, 'If Tomoe is going on a journey, I'll be the only one to serve Mistress! This is great!' as her eyes widened in realization and her face is tinged with a small blush.
Unfortunately she forgot about the five as Mio sighs, Rinon turns to Mio and says " I'm sorry Mio, we all got in the way in your journey together with Ei onee-chan."
Mio replied "... Mistress decided on this, so there's nothing else I can do."
Rinon whispers to Mio " But... aren't you two lovers?" which makes Mio to blush and covered her face with her fan as she denies it.
As the carriage moves on they encountered monsters and Ei ordered Mio to take care of it, and Mio followed the order with a spring on her steps as she's still affected by Rinon's words.
Mio kills the red bees quickly using wind blades made from Mio's swing of her fan.
The five especially the four adventurers were amazed by Mio's performance and they praised Mio, making her flattered.
Toa and the other three dismantled the monster's carcass and took the sellable parts.
After half a month of travel they reached a wall as Rinon said in excitement, " Look! Its a giant wall! That's amazing!" she points and added " Tsilge is just past it!".
Ei asks, " You haven't been here before Rinon?"
" Ummm... I traveled to the edge with teleportation magic Ei onee-chan, so I'm not used to traveling normally." replied Rinon and Mio asks " Oh? Teleportation magic? Why didn't you just used that? Wouldn't that be safer?" as she sighs and thought that if they have done that then she and her Mistress can travel with only the two of them.
Toa sweatdrops and awkwardly replied to Mio's questions, " Um madam Mio, using teleportation magic is expensive and much more if it includes luggage and you would need to wait." also adding some praises to Mio to change her mood.
They had several encounters with monsters during their travel, and this time they encounter a new type of monster. The 4 adventurers calls it ruby eyes and it was accompanied with size ants.
Ei sensing Mio's irritated mood sighs and said in a distorted voice " I'll take care of this monsters this time." everyone except Mio and Rinon reacted thinking that Ei can't take them on but Toa noticed Rinon's calm expression and asks her little sister, " Why are you so calm Rinon?!" and Rinon answers " Because Ei onee-chan is strong, that's why."
This statement surprises them as Ei brings out a bow with a simple design and a quiver full of arrows and shoot all the monsters, killing them with just one shot each.
Mio explains " My Mistress is not like other young masters/mistresses out there that only depends on their escorts during a fight. Mistress tries to solve her 'curse' by going to the Wastelands to find possible solution for it, and being weak is not allowed out there or you'll die immediately. She supports us with her Archery as Tomoe do melee and I do mid-ranged combat style."
After the four being amazed by Ei's capabilities they harvested the valuable parts of the dead monsters.
After about three weeks of travel, they have finally reached Tsilge.