“Think this is what we’re looking for, Sera?”
“Yeah, looks that way, Lena. As expected, no one is alive.”
Spending hours gliding across the endless Badlands in search of the lost adventurer, we finally see something that might fit what we’re looking for. Like usual with everything in this region, peace wasn’t an option.
Bodies, a bloodied party of lifeless corpses, centred around a guy cladded in broken armour. From what’s left of the grizzly sight we can see; all appear to be killed by cuts or puncture wounds with one of them receiving special treatment compared to the other. All that’s left of that person is a head.
‘Presume status scans don’t apply to the deceased, Guide?’
[Affirmative, Sera. They really only work against humanoid targets that possess a certain threshold of intelligence.]
‘Eh, guess we’d still have to loot them either way. We still need to bring back some physical evidence to prove we found who we’re looking for.’
While I’m nattering to the guide, Lena takes a look at the head and says something I really didn’t want to hear.
“Sera… that one of them looks a little like you.”
‘Did she really have to say that? That’s definitely not a bad omen.’
S'more unnecessary gore levels, they'll stop soon enough. Blame the Badlands, you stay too long and this is what happens.
Spoiler
[collapse]
Lena is right though, one of the dead adventurers appears to have received special attention and looks an awful lot like me. Her crimson hair starting to darken as the sun sets… think it was a she.
Having just changed form, she approaches the bodies with me and together, we start looting for IDs. From the description given and the fact his armour is partially dyed yellow, the guy in broken armour is most likely the baron’s son.
Yep, already found his guild card. Surprisingly, the baron’s son is, or was, level thirty-four. Whoever did this must’ve been powerful.
Also, it appears all of these have already been looted for anything good. These definitely died by human hands, animals would leave coin… I’m excluding crows and dragon for obvious shiny reasons.
[STORAGE][WEAPONS][ARMOUR] [Name][Quality] [Weight] [Name][Quality] [Weight][Iron Dagger][Weakened]1[N/A] 0[Wooden Bow][Weakened]1.5[N/A] 0[CONSUMABLE][MISCELLANEOUS] [Name] [Weight] [Name] [Weight][Waterskin: Mostly Filled]0.75[Adventurer's Guild ID - Sera]0[Waterskin: Empty]0.25[Adventurer's Guild ID - Braxton][Quest Item]0[Raw Mantis Meat] x21[N/A]0[Alchemist's Book]
Spoiler
[Potion Type][Solid Ingredient][Fluid Ingredient]HealthHealing HerbsGlacial WaterStaminaEnergetic HerbsGlacial WaterMagicMagi OreGlacial WaterHealth PoisonHealing HerbsDemonic WaterStamina PoisonEnergetic HerbsDemonic WaterMagic PoisonMagi OreDemonic WaterAphrodisiacSuccubus CoreSea WaterNight VisionPurple CarrotSea WaterWater BreathingShark's ToothSea WaterSpeedCheetah's BloodSwamp WaterJumpingRabbit's FootSwamp WaterCarry WeightCamel's ToeSwamp WaterWeight GainTroll FatOasis WaterWeight LossAvocadosOasis WaterInvisibilityGriffin HeartOasis WaterPerceptionSalmon RoeMineral WaterIntelligenceOpiumMineral WaterSpeechcraftGold CoinMineral WaterStrengthOrc BloodMineral WaterEnduranceSuccubus SalivaMineral WaterDexterityCoffee PlantMineral WaterCure DiseasePearlHoly WaterCure PoisonSnake VenomHoly WaterExperienceDragon HeartHoly Water[Current INT Range: 10 - 29] [Brewing Quality: Weakened][collapse]
0 [CURRENCY: 154c][CAPACITY: 10/11.5]“Think they stumbled into that black General person, Sera?”
“Could be, we should know in a moment…”
‘…Guide? Any visions around here?’
[Unfortunately not, Sera. That ability is surprisingly selective, acting as if it has a mind of its own. After what happened yesterday, would you want to see what happened?]
“Or not. No visions lingering around here today, unfortunately.”
After seeing someone being smashed in the face via rock through someone else’s lenses, think my Guide has a point. Should I be worried that the only other person with red hair I’ve seen in this world is just a head? This might be a bad omen.
“Should we do anything else, Sera? We’ve got the IDs which should be enough… I guess we could collect his head. That will definitely be enough evidence.”
I have to chuckle and shake my head at Lena, no way are we cutting off someone’s head to show the father he’s really dead. There’s dark humour and all but we’re not doing that!
“Guess we could burn the bodies; doubt it’ll get us an extra reward but might put a father’s mind at rest.”
“Okay dokey, Sera. Let’s do it.”
And so, Lena nods back at me so we get to work creating a makeshift fire with anything we can find.
…
A lot of dead branches, twigs, kindling, and a slight amount of alcohol I was keeping in my backpack for a rainy day, this will do. This should burn up nicely.
“E-Erm… Sera? Don’t turn around.”
Once we’re done with this and have gotten far enough away upwind so we don’t have to contend with the smell, Lena’s face turns bright red and fills with distress.
Whatever stands behind me must be terrifying to put such a strong and powerful dragon to worry.
“Shit… should I run or stand tall and strong?”
“Hehe… you should be safe, Sera. It’s just that you don’t want to know what’s there.”
As I gradually turn around, heart pounding at what could be behind me, I’m pleasantly surprised when the thing Lena is referring to is just a pack of goats roaming the Badlands.
‘A pack of wild goats wandering the wastes, could kill them to get the meat and EXP but they look too pet worthy. A brown coat of fluffy fur and looking really cuddly… wait. Oh no, oh dear God, no!’
Seeing Lena visibly start to sweat, I can’t help but tug on my collar when I understand the reason why. These must be the fabled wandering walnut goats I’ve heard of.
“Are these the goats the ones your fath-”
“Don’t say it, Sera! Can we please leave?”
“Heh, guess you’re not in the mood for eating goat tonight. That’s… really not funny.”
Even I’m disgusted by my joke, imagine eating something smothered in… just forget it, Sera! We need to leave.
“Please Sera, I’m trying NOT to die of cringe here! Just get on my back already and let’s pretend we never saw this…”
__________
“Heh, are we really not going to discuss what happened earlier?”
“Lah lah lah, Sera! Those goats were a figment of your imagination. Keep at it and I’ll make you stop!”
Instead of directly flying back tonight, I suggested we spend the night out rather than make Lena spend all night flying again. We’re flying around so much these days, it’s nice to take things at a leisurely pace.
Besides, it’s cheaper and more fun to spend the occasional night looking out at the stars and two moons. Also means I can try my hand at teasing Lena a bit.
“Oh, how do you plan on doing that? Gonna beat it out of me? Every time I close my eyes, I can’t help but see the pleading eyes and a small reflection of what those goats have gone through.”
“S-Sera! Hehe, you really are a misbehaving disciple that needs to learn a lesson.”
“Heh, you really are planning to beat it out of me. Let’s go then.”
“Yup! Let’s fight!”
Both of us quickly scarper off the ground smiling madly to grab the deadliest weapons we can find. Two dead tree branches we’re yet to use for the fire, this will probably work.
[EQUIPPED] [Name] [Effect][Quality] [Weight] [Name] [Effect][Quality] [Weight][Adventurer's Backpack]0% res[N/A]2[Wooden Branch]8 dmg[Weakened]0.5[Adventurer's Outfit]0% res[N/A]0.5[Adventurer's Gloves]0% res[N/A]0.5[Adventurer's Boots]0% res[N/A]0.5[Quiver]N/A[N/A]0.5Lena charges at me first, branch in hands and looking to attack, aiming diagonally in an up to down fashion that will hit my shoulder. Thankfully, she’s learnt to adjust her speed from the last time we fought so I can just about respond in time to block.
Crack! Splinters fly everywhere as the wood struggles to take the hit, my block manages to stop her advance for now.
But of course, Lena doesn’t stop here. Next, she tries her hands at a sideways swing aiming for my waist…
Whack! Again, I block her advance but this time handling my stick downwards, blocking the hit. These branches aren’t going to hold up much longer.
The third strike goes in a different fashion, Lena charging it up and attempting to strike directly down on my head. If I can time this right, I can get a hit in and avoid the attack.
[Dexterity improvement +1] ‘Ouch! That’s going to leave a bump.’
In the process of her swing, my branch makes contact with her hip while Lena’s breaks it over my head. My dexterity may be improving but we’re still a lifetime away from reaching that overpowered mark.
[HP: 121/135] [-14] “Sera! You were supposed to dodge, numpty! I let you have that free hit; I’ll have you know.”
My eyes instinctively eyeroll when Lena presents such a high and mighty attitude, she really can be competitive at times. The issue for her is that I can be the exact same.
“Heh, of course you did…”
“Woah… damn it!”
“Was that one free as well?”
Fighting dirty, I get a free hit on Lena’s ankles and take full advantage of the fact she cares for me too much, sending her flying right to the ground where I remain. The fact I’ve done this and she doesn’t expect it, she’s either really naïve or doesn’t realize how far I’ll go to win.
“Damn it, Sera! You’re supposed to be a high elf, right? You’re fighting how a dark elf fights!”
“Wow Lena, that’s a bit racist. Why is it high elves can’t fight like dark ones?”
Seeing her visibly sweat and become red from my response, Lena waves her hands and looks like she wants to crawl up in a ball and die. I’m not all that sure why, wasn’t it obvious I was kidding?
“N-No, Sera! I didn’t m-mean it like that! It’s a stereotype, I mean, i-it’s in the freaking name! Dark elves fight in a dark and gritty way w-while high elves are supposed to be h-high and mighty! S-Skin or anything like that means nothing to dragons.”
Now giggling at her fluster, Lena instantly picks up on this and starts to cross her arms and even begins sulking. I guess we’re ending this training session because the dragon I’m travelling with needs to be cancelled!
“Hmph! I know you’re messing with me, Sera. Other than beastkin, you do know elves are one of the most racist species around, right?”
“Eh, could’ve predicted that considering how the stereotype is built around Tolkien’s work. Other than lifespan, I’m not sure what the big deal is. The ears are just annoying, really.”
Sure, I can wiggle them which is kinda cool, but it’s really uncomfortable to sleep on your side with knife ears. They bend but it always makes them feel sore. I can’t even sleep on my front either because of my breasts, feels like they’re being crushed. It’s on my back or nothing at this point.
Putting aside the humour that really could get us cancelled and the fact I’ve literally got an ability called Elven Supremacy, us elves will make a new world order someday, we really should call it a day. Considering the fact Lena is already starting to get herself comfy, I can tell she agrees through her actions alone.
“Hehe, fair enough, Sera. Think I’ll call it a night. You don’t have to stay up and keep watch, ya know?”
“Yeah, I know you’ll wake up if anything dangerous approaches. I’ll see how I feel later.”
“Okay dokey… k-kiss goodnight?”
“Heh, night Lena. Here.”
Giving her a quick peck on the cheek to say goodnight, she lies down on her front and gets herself comfy using a fur blanket as a pillow. The thing is, dragons are notorious for being easy sleepers but will wake up if anything with a murderous aura or intent approaches.
‘She’ll be out in less than sixty seconds… mark my words.’
‘Heh, called it, adorable tsun-dragon. Bet she’s dreaming of ripping apart mantises and eating their steaks, drenched in strawberry sauce. That sounds disgusting.’
Now, I’m all alone in the wasteland with the only person alive I know of is a powerful dragon that will protect the both of us. If someone comes along, I just know we’ll be safe.
‘What to do, what can I do?’
It won’t be too long before the campfire starts to dwindle so I’ve got some alone time in a place where the chances of running into someone alive are practically zero. Heh, that gives me an idea.
‘Just us all alone, a busty elf and sexy dragon against a world of death and destruction. Two fated souls, bound to each other by fate, luck and love. I should start writing smut.’
It’s the middle of the night and I’ve been long neglecting my avatar’s passion; you should know by now where this is leading…
‘Let’s see… skimpy lingerie again, a dopey smile, an expensive hotel… ah! What if Lena is alongside me? Hope she’d see it as compliment… what if Lena was part elf as well!?’
‘Wow… let’s sneak off for a bit. Lena won’t mind, right?’
It’s not like I’m being that irresponsible, I’ll still be in range in anything happens to wake and try my best at protecting her, even if I’m too weak to. It’s not even like I’ll be caught with my pants down so to speak, the art of commando-ism and skirts are highly practical in that regards. The major problem with commando-ism, strong gusts of wind…
‘Let’s get up… or not. Why are dragons so clingy?’
But fate will not allow my degenerate mind to flourish. Remember how Lena has a tendency of being a sleep hugger? I may have made the mistake of putting my legs too close to her.
There’s no point even trying to free myself from the dragon’s grasp, her warm and slender arms are already wrapped tightly by my ankles and they will not let go unless I break free. The problem is, I can’t in good conscious kick her even as my loins continue to betray me.
‘Eh, another time perhaps, think I’ll just go back to watching her sleep. Is that weird? It feels romantic but in an odd sort of way…’