Special Chapter XXII - So Long, Friend (part 2)

After walking for fifteen minutes, we finally came out of the forest and were able to arrive on a large field. Way across the field is the gate to Veldonia, which is our target.

Truthfully speaking, our target was never Veldonia, but simply the carriages. Once we arrived, the captain spoke with one of the knights to order some carriages back to Mazino. The captain used some... methods, to make the knight on the gate listen to what he said (he bribed him).

After waiting for half an hour, the captain and his knight returned and were able to get us two carriages, both fit six people.

Since there are 9 of us, we split the group into four and five. Inside our carriage is the captain, me, Eva, and Lyona. The other carriage was just filled with the knights.

"Rize, what will happen to you from now on?"

The captain asked, and I simply shook my shoulder.

"Well, I'm going to continue my daily life. As an adventurer."

"So your real job is an adventurer, huh…"

The captain thought about it for a moment. But then he got a bright idea, and immediately asked me.

"Say... would you like to-"

"No."

The captain got taken aback, but I already know what he is going to ask.

"You didn't even listen to my request!"

"You were going to ask me to join the knights. Specifically, under your command."

"W-Geh…??"

So I was right. To answer his request, I let out a sigh.

"There are... more things I can do as an adventurer. Doing missions like these is one of them."

"I... I see. You are right."

The captain then turned into silence, but then Lyona had something to say.

"Rize, is it possible for me to-"

"No. Not possible."

I already knew what she was going to ask, and she knew that I already knew. After all, it was her wish that she told me since day one.

"What? Why…?"

"Because obviously, you won't be allowed by your family. Especially now, you have achieved something so great, your family will definitely not let you go."

"That's..."

Both the captain and Eva seemed to be confused. After all, I stopped her before she finished asking the question.

"She was asking if it's possible for her to become an adventurer."

"Hell no."

Eva added immediately. It was so sudden, I somehow chuckled. But Lyona doesn't look happy about that, and Eva felt slightly sorry about that.

The carriage back to the kingdom took a very long time, just as expected. During this mission, the knights had lost four men. One at the pond, another three by the kingdom.

Most likely, they will overlook the part with the kingdom, because this matter could actually be something heavy. At worst, it could cause a war.

Personally, I just hope the story about the devil mask won't spread that much to me. I'm okay with it being widely known, even to the other kingdoms. But if that story somehow reaches me, I will totally have an identity change. 

I had too many rumours around me already... It's bad for my health.

Now then... I wonder how things will go once I'm back at the kingdom. Certainly some things will change, such as how the Office will treat me, or how my friends will, considering my accomplishments.

The trip took around twelve hours, just like before. We finally arrived at the kingdom during midnight.

This simply means that I won't have to report to the Office right away. I can just slack off this evening first, and then tomorrow I can go to the Office for a report.

The knights will take Lyona back to her home, and then they will head back to their barracks to report. For knights, there is simply no such thing as late night rest.

"Then, this is where we will part."

The captain and I shook hands, and I hugged Eva. I turned to look at Lyona, and her face was already quite pissed. I walked towards her and hugged her too. She managed to soften up since I went for the hug, and she also wrapped her hands around me.

"Write me letters, okay?"

"Sure. Let's keep in touch."

I said to her as I let her go. It was already midnight, so she shouldn't stay up for too long. The carriage that we used continued moving, carrying her and the knights and headed towards the noble area at the northern main road, leaving me on the western gate.

Oh yeah, what happened to the fake nobles that they set up?

Whatever, another question for another day.

I began walking and headed straight to my inn. The trip was quite tiring, so I ended up simply taking a walk while enjoying the environment.

During midnight, everything seemed to be silent. The atmosphere here is so different from Veldonia's hot temperature. It's probably because it was next to an ocean, that the heat will always be there. Mazino is in the middle of the continent, so it should be much colder than the kingdom at the beach area.

After walking for a long time, I arrived in front of my inn.

Ah... here it is. Home sweet inn.

I entered the Inn, hoping to see someone inside. And luckily, there is.

"M-Madam Rize?"

The inn lady recognized me immediately. I closed the door behind me and walked to her at the front desk.

"Hello ma'am. I have returned."

"Oh, we cleaned your room for you while you were gone! I hope you are happy with our service!"

"Thank you very much."

The two of us bowed at one another before I headed up the stairs. That talk was rather short because I was too tired, and I just wanted to sleep.

The door to my room was locked, thankfully. If the inn services entered the room, then they must have access to my room. A second key, to be exact.

I guess that's the downside of living in an inn. I already knew that, but being reminded about it just felt scary. I simply have to stay on alert every time I'm at the inn.

I took out my key and unlocked the door. I slowly opened the door, and the smell of home welcomed me.

Right… home. Even though it's an inn, it is still a home for me.

"I'm… home."

I awkwardly said as I closed the door. I hope nobody heard that, because that was very awkward.

I dropped a bunch of my items on the table, such as my clothes and gears like my sword. I jumped straight to the bed, and stared at the ceiling for a very long time.

I lifted my left hand up, and stared at the bandages that were wrapping around it. My right hand was lifted, slowly taking the bandage off of my left hand.

As soon as the bandages were dropped to my chest, I could see the skin on my hand very clearly. 

It's a demonic hand that was completely made out of charcoal. The fact that there is still some normal skin left on them simply made it uglier.

I stared at that hand with hatred, without having any idea why I am so angry from just looking. While I was thinking, an idea came to my head.

I jumped out of the bed and immediately ran to my table. I grabbed a short throwing knife that was on the table, and immediately placed it on my left arm.

I took a long deep breath and let it out. Then my eyes opened with even more hatred, and I tried very hard not to scream.

SRESH!!!

"Gahh…"

I sliced the entire skin on the top side of my arm off. Blood fell to the ground, but there's not that much.

The pain made my head hurt, but I held it off and quickly activated my healing magic.

The healing magic made the wound on my left arm bright. Slowly, the wound closes, but I immediately see something that I don't feel is right.

The skin is regenerating, but it didn't turn into normal skin. In fact, it turned into the same hideous charcoal skin.

After the hand was healed, I stared at it with utter disappointment. My right hand dropped the short knife to the ground, and it clanked when it fell to the floor.

I gripped both of my hands together, and placed my forehead on them, as if praying. Since I'm already here, might as well…

Please…

Stop this endless nightmare…

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End of Trials of Veldonia Special Season