Special Chapter XXII - So Long, Friend (part 1)

Great… I have... obtained yet another nickname for myself…

Though it is technically the same as being 'Masked Man' at Mazino, this time it's in another kingdom. Which simply shows that I have become just as famous here.

Funny how Valon's plan was actually working…

It just felt weird for me. I'm not sure whether I should be happy or sad.

I let the confusion dissipate itself while making myself busy with helping the village. I helped out with the heavy stuff, like carrying the giant wooden logs that they cut from the forest, or hunting large animals for food sources.

The men were crying when I carried a large wooden log with only one hand, especially the knights. They had larger muscles than me, and yet I am carrying a whole log by myself.

Aside from me, Kirene and the captain were also able to do it. Everyone else needed to form a team of two or three in order to lift one up, since the logs were very large and heavy.

Yes… we made it into a competition.

For the whole day, I worked for the village, helping stuff here and there. I even gave them some ideas on where to improve, since I do have some experience at city building myself. At night, we had fun. Enjoying the rest of the time we had together to the maximum. Because tomorrow is the day we all left for the kingdom.

After another loud and lively night, another entire day came to an end. And today is the day of departure.

According to Gajah, the path back to outside is quite difficult to go through if you don't have a dwarf as a guide. So he contacted someone from the dwarven kingdom for help yesterday, and he somewhat already arrived this morning. 

That was quick… I was very sure that the dwarven kingdom was very far away.

The hardest part about meeting new people is leaving them. Sometimes we just can't stay together forever.

Which is why I hate goodbyes more than anything.

"See you later, heroes! We will never forget your debt!"

"Bye! We will definitely come back here for the holidays!!"

The villagers said to us while we all stood by the village's entrance. Lyona shouted at them while waving her hand, all while being on top of a horse back. Her other hand is holding Eva's hips who is sitting in front of her.

Being a noble, the knights can't allow her to take a tiring long walk back. So the dwarf lent her his horse. Since she can't ride a horse, Eva rode along with her.

I took a souvenir from the village, which is a map. A route through the mountains to get to the village, so that one day I can come back here on my own will.

But something tells me I can just parkour above the mountains. I feel like that option is much easier rather than going through the maze that we are going to go through in a little bit.

"Thank you, Rize. For all you have done for us."

Belmar said with a very gentle tone. The way he spoke felt very knight-like, and he does not suit that tone at all.

"Wow, never thought you have that side of you."

"Just let me do this correctly..."

"Then thou are very welcome."

I said with a very arrogant tone, and that made him slightly pissed. Kirene pushed him out of the way and bowed at me.

"Thank you for being my temporary teacher."

Seeing her bowing, I grinned.

Yesterday, after that little log lifting contest, I taught her and the captain how to use a more immersed magic energy enchanting. And now, they are even more powerful at using it.

Apparently they were completely relying on these magic energies too much, that they forgot about their muscles. I taught them how to merge those two together, and they became multiple times more powerful than before.

What's left is just training.

"Well, I'm counting on you to keep this village safe. Okay?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

She stood straight and saluted, like a knight. I guess having knights around really does get things into your head…

And… no need to use ma'am… that simply hurts me rather than praises me…

After Kirene, I turned to the rest of the group who were with me during the mission. They all looked like they were about to say something.

Noticing that my gaze turned to them, every single one of them immediately bowed.

""Thank you for your guide!!""

Apparently, the men of this village had some training sessions with the captain for a week when I'm still floating on the ocean. They all learned how to use magic energy and stuff. And since I'm the one who taught the captain, they all thanked me.

"N-No problem…!"

I turned my gaze to Gajah, leaving the happily cheering men. For some reason they looked quite happy seeing me grin.

Gajah stepped forward and shrugged the back of his head.

"Well, I guess it's time for a goodbye..."

He said shyly. Seeing him flustering, I chuckled.

"Why the hell are you making this a big deal?"

"S-Sorry..."

I patted his left shoulder heavily. He felt a slight pain there, but it's not enough to break his shoulder.

"I'll come back here in the future for some holidays, so you better not get the town destroyed while I'm gone. Got it?"

"Y-Yes!!"

I grinned at his answer and nodded at him.

"Then, see you some other times."

I turned my back and headed towards the group that was leaving. The knights had also somewhat become quite attached to the men in this village, they had quite a hard time to leave.

They are still hugging each other now.

"Men!!"

The captain shouted at his knights, and they all immediately saluted.

Wow… knights.

"No need for tears! We are going!"

"But captain, you are crying yourself."

The captain wiped the tears from his face at a speed, which my eyes could barely see. He then looked tough again as if nothing happened.

The knights finally finished their goodbyes and went back to the entrance. We all waved hands to the villagers and they all waved back. Before long, we started walking without turning our backs.

Just like Gajah said, the path was quite difficult. We had to go through multiple caves, forests, and even climb up some steep mountainous areas.

Though, none of these paths were dangerous, and we all made it safely outside.

"Well, we arrived in the outside forest. This forest is located right on the south of Veldonia, so if you go north you will be able to see that big ass tower."

After explaining that, the dwarf then turned his back and tried to climb the horse that Lyona and Eva were riding. But because he is short, he had a hard time trying to climb. In the end, the captain lifted the dwarf's body up to the horse.

"Don't help me!!!"

The dwarf barked, and the captain took a quick step back. The pissed dwarf immediately turned the horse around and went back from where we came from.

"Wow! How rude. So where do we go for now… Captain?"

Lyona commented, but then her words stopped when she saw the captain. His eyes looked white, and he was simply frozen in the spot.

Is he… dead?