Chapter 6: Behemoth Subjugation (1/3)

Previously on Living in Idle...

Relisha: "Hm... Up to what extent do you know about this collaboration task?"

Ace: "Not much. Only that it's urgent and something about meeting with the Duke. Nothing really related about the task, but that's all I could gather. Though, if my assumptions are correct, then the ones collaborating in this task would be me and the Grand Duke, right?"

Relisha: "Yes, you are correct. This is a really dangerous task that only you two, or the only Gold ranked Adventurer would be able to do."

Ace: "I see."

Relisha: "Not to worry though. Because from what I was able to gather from your past tasks, this mission should be fairly doable."

Ace: "So, what exactly is this task that you talk about?"

Relisha: "I don't want to repeat myself, so let's wait for the Grand Duke to arrive-"

Before she could finish,

*Knock knock knock*

-a series of soft knocks were heard.

Relisha: "Hm. It seems that he's here... Please come in."

Touya: "Hai. I apologize for being late. Hehe~."

A fairly good looking youth with black hair said as he entered while sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

Seeing him act like this, the two inside the room smiled. Even though he's already of nobility, he's still a little awkward when it comes to formality.

As they say, old habits die hard~.

---Line break---

Touya: "I'm not that late, am I?"

Relisha: "No, you are just in time, Grand Duke. Please sit, join us for some tea. And please do familiarise yourself with the gentleman over there. You'll be working with him with this task."

Hearing this, Touya nodded and walked towards Ace who also stood up and greeted him with a smile.

Ace: "It's nice to finally meet you, Grand Duke. Ace BladeHeart, at your service."

He greeted and gave a polite bow.

Touya: "No need to be formal with me, Ace-san. We will be working together in this task, so please just call me by my name. And it's also nice to finally meet the famous Asura."

He said and and brought his hand out for a handshake, and smirked a little as he mentioned Ace's title.

Seeing this gesture, Ace gave a smile in return and shook his hand, but a flash of mischief also appeared in his eyes.

Ace: "I could say the same for you, Harem King-sama~."

Ace said with his own smirk.

Hearing this, Touya's eyebrows twitched as he put on a helpless expression.

Touya: "I really don't like that nickname. It got me into a lot of trouble more than I could count with all of my fingers."

Ace: "Hahaha~! I can somehow imagine that. But, right now it became more of your title than a nickname, especially in the male Adventurers' circle~."

He said and gestured for them to sit down.

Touya: "Hais~. I can't really do anything about it anymore at this point, so I just try to ignore it as much as I could. How about you, Ace-san? Do you also face this kind of trouble? Just based on your looks, I'm sure there's no shortage of female admirers from the Adventurers and citizens alike, right~?"

Ace: "Eh~. Not really, no. I'm usually on my tasks or flying around most of my time, and when I'm not into anything, I just laze around in my house, so~... Nope~! I did not encounter such thing~!"

Touya: "Wow, I just wish I could have done the same as you, but I don't think it'll be a good idea to say that in front of the girls..."

He said this with a light shudder.

Ace: "Mhmm~. And you should never, women are far more dangerous than what they show on the surface, so we should be careful when dealing with them."

Touya: "Mhmm, you are exactly right."

As the two went on with their conversation, the only woman in the room just listened to them in amusement. They got along somewhat easily, so she had already achieved one of her goals in this meeting. Still though, she hadn't expected them to get comfortable with each other so quickly to the point that they talk like old friends.

Deciding that the two already had interacted sufficiently, she decided to interject and move in to the main point of this meeting.

Relisha: "Ehem. Can I get your attentions now, boys?"

As she said this, the two stopped in their talks and turned to her.

Relisha: "Thank you. Now, let's begin. As you two already know, this task requires the both of you, two Silver ranked Adventurers. This task requires the two of you to subjugate two Behemoths, that are currently in the process of wrecking havoc in the Sea of Trees, and are moving eastward to the direction of the Ryle Kingdom and was estimated to reach there eventually if not intercepted. But the worst thing is that along the way that these two are going, they will surely pass the medium-sized town called Temu, so we will have to move as soon as we can as it was estimated to reach there in no more than half a day's time."

She calmly explained the situation, but judging from the tone of her voice, the situation is really turning out for the worse.

Touya: "I see. But, why choose the two of us specifically for this task?"

Touya asked to which Ace also nodded, but Ace already had an idea as he clearly remember this point in the plot, but he chose to remain silent, but the excitement growing in him is like a raging tide that he keeps on trying to restrain with a small dam, and he was sure that it'll be freed eventually, but he'll have to reign it in for now, and let it all out later.

Relisha: "Aside from the incredible prowess that you both have shown, we have receive words of your giant metal knight, Grand Duke, and we are hoping that it could be of help in stopping those behemoths. As for Ace, his mysterious abilities and immeasurable strength is what compelled us in assigning him in this task too."

She that last peace for Ace with slight humor, to which just chuckled.

Hearing this, Touya gained a look of understanding while Ace is beginning to lose control of his excitement and was already starting to show in his face.

Touya: "I see. Those giant metal knights you are talking about are what I call a Frame Gear. It's an ancient technology that I've found from a ruin of an ancient civilization and recreated with help from some capable people. It's origin, from what I could tell for now, is for the purpose of combating against threats that may come to our world."

Ace: 'There it is. Frame Gears. A mecha. A giant robot~! Hehe~! I'll be sure to get one myself later~!'

Ace excitedly thought.

Relisha: "I see. So from what I can gather, there are other threats out there that requires these Frame Gears to fight against?"

Touya: "Yes, unfortunately so. Are you familiar with those crystal creatures that are seemingly indestructible to physical attacks and can absorb magical attacks?"

Relisha: "Yes, there have been several reports about such creatures. The first report was from Belfast, the second was from Mismede, then followed from other kingdom that have been reported simultaneously."

Touya: "Yes, those creatures are called Phrazes. An otherworldly threat that have once appeared in the ancient time that have threatened the whole world, but they have all mysteriously disappeared one, until now."

Relisha: "I see."

Ace: 'It seems that the time line is already beginning to change. Touya already decided to tell some limited information to the Guildmaster, and in extent to the Guild...'

Ace thought as he calmly sipped on his tea.

Relisha: "But I think it would be wise to not let this information out to the public for the time being, it would only cause unnecessary chaos as we are now. I would also ask this of you, Grand Duke, Ace, please keep these informations to yourselves for now."

Ace: "I have no problems with that."

Touya: "Mm. I'll also inform my subordinates to keep quiet for now."

--end.