Conversation With Elise

"You want to go with me?" Elise asked. 

"Yeah, if I want to go to the kingdom, it's much safer with you right?" Zeus replied as he unwrapped the bloodied white cloth off of his weapon. 

Elise looked at him, confused at what he just said. She alternated her eyes between Zeus and Shelly before she replied in a perplexed tone. 

"But, you have her." Elise glanced at Shelly as she continued, "You can just use her to descend. Not only would it save time, but the dangers ahead also won't be much of a problem. Wanting to go with me while you could do it easily would be dumb. Unless…" Her eyes sharpened, "...unless you're planning something."

Hearing her judgment, Zeus' mouth twitched. 

'Isn't she being too cautious?' 

Well, she might be right but… he's only 12 years old! 

His third leg was still in the process of development! Moreover, he's not that kind of piece of shit! 

"Based on your reaction, it seems like it." Elise narrowed her eyes as she stared at Zeus. 

The temperature rapidly rose as Elise released her Aether. Flames around the surroundings began to overflow inside her palms. 

Sensing the tension rising in the air, Zeus hurriedly waved his hand to dispel her misunderstanding. 

"No, no it's not like that. I was just wondering if you could help me." He muttered, scratching his chin.

"Help?"

Elise tilted her head. It's not like she's doubting Zeus but in her opinion, he was already as capable as her. 

The fight with Kleo proved it. If they fight and he manages to get close, her defeat would be just around the corner. 

So, why would he need help? Unless he encounters a 2nd Order Monster, he could walk out safely in this mountain. 

Additionally, with Shelly at his side, dangers could be avoided by just flying around. After all, only a handful of monster species in this mountain could fight in the air. 

"Well, you see, although I'm strong, I haven't awakened my aether yet so there are still many things I can't do." Zeus explained. 

To be honest, if not for the mission he wouldn't bother to ask for help. However, he's desperate now.

"Please, go straight to the point." Elise urged. 

"Cough, fine. Uhh, can you help me kill a 1st Order Monster?" Zeus asked calmly as he looked at Elise who had a surprised look on her face at this moment. 

Her silence didn't last long as the next moment, a loud cry resounded in his ear. 

"What!!?" Elise exclaimed. "Are you out of your mind!?" 

"Well, it's not that difficult, right? Moreover, I only need to kill one, easy right?" 

"What in the hell are you thinking!?" Elise raised her voice and stared at him as if he was an idiot. She exclaimed, "Do you know that a 1st Order Monster requires a team of Novice ranks to kill!? Even if I am at the peak of Novice rank, it would be impossible for the two of us to take even one down!"

Zeus nodded. He could understand her worry, after all, his request might be a little overboard. With the stakes including one's life, it's not really worth it. 

However, he's also surprised after hearing her words. 

'1st Order Monsters are that hard to kill?' 

Remembering how he managed to draw a tie with some of them, Zeus fell into a deep thought. Sera never mentioned the ranks of power in this world as he was just focused on training his physical capabilities and fighting experience. 

However, if he looked at it from a different perspective, a 1st Order Monster seemed really impossible to kill alone.

'They have their innate strong bodies. Be it sorcerer or a knight, their attacks would always be reduced in power once it collided with the monster's skin.'

At the very start, they would always have an advantage compared to humans. Additionally, some of them are well versed in using aether. 

In the end, a deep sigh escaped his mouth as he looked at the woman in front of him. 

"Just one." 

"No." Elise galloped away from Zeus. 

"Please."

"No." 

"How about just aiding me behind and I'll handle all the fighting."

Elise stopped in her tracks. The veins on her forehead popped out as he cocked her head behind. 

"Are you serious? That's suicide!" 

"Not really."

"And why are you even obsessed with killing one? Did they steal your money or something?" 

She couldn't understand nor did she want to understand. Elise just wanted to get out of this mountain as soon as possible. 

Hearing her words, Zeus didn't hide it anymore. 

"Actually, it's a mission I have to complete."

"Mission?" 

"Yep. It's really important to me. Don't worry about me dying as I already fought a handful of 1st Order Monsters and I probably know them more than you." 

Hearing Zeus' words, Elise's eyes widened. 

"W-what did you say? You fought…" 

"I already fought a handful of them." 

"Y-you? J-just you?" 

"Uhm." Zeus nodded as he recalled his past battles. "My master helped sometimes though."

Elise stood dazedly, numb from what she had heard. 

In her life, this was the first time she looked at someone with amazement. Zeus seemed to be a being more terrifying than the so-called geniuses. Although she's doubtful if his words were true, it didn't change the fact that he's already a monster at his age. 

A 12 years old kid with the strength of a Novice rank. That should be the first in the kingdom, maybe even history. 

'Just who is this kid?' 

Even then, Elise didn't want to gamble. However, she's also reluctant to leave alone. She's a sorcerer after all. Monsters aren't as stupid sometimes and once they found out that she's weak physically, they'd exploit that weakness and ambush her anywhere. 

After weighing the consequences, she inspected the man ahead before her gentle yet cold voice echoed around the surroundings. 

"What do I get?" 

This time, Elise didn't refuse. 

… 

Half a day had passed. 

The sun had already set and the moon shrouded the land in a moonlit night. 

Walking sideways with a woman while the two of you just silently enjoyed the scenery of the forest as you passed by. This was something Zeus didn't experience before. 

Thus, anyone could just imagine the awkwardness he's feeling right now. 

Due to the silence permeating around them, the two felt uncomfortable. In the end, Zeus manned up and glanced to his side. Now that he looks at her closely, she's even more gorgeous. 

Unfortunately, her cold personality made it reluctant for him to talk to her. However, Zeus was not fond of this awkwardness. 

"Why are you staring at me?" Elise asked, sensing his gaze. 

Zeus smiled as he looked at the path ahead. "Can you tell me more about the land outside this mountain? My knowledge is lacking, you see. As I was born and grew in this mountain, I sometimes wondered what the world on the other side looked like."

Elise glanced at the boy walking with her side to side. Unlike the seriousness of his manly face earlier, this time, he gave a feeling of a curious boy. His eyes screamed in the excitement that made her wonder how his change of personality could be so much different. 

'He's 12 right?' She thought.

"The world outside this mountain is more vast than you could ever think of. A big mass of land spanning hundreds of thousands of miles. You can just imagine how big it was."

"Hundreds of thousands of miles huh?" Zeus muttered. A world several times larger than Earth, how big is that? 

"The East, West, North, and South Region is ruled by the 4 giant kingdoms. Our Rocco Kingdom is one of them, and we're the overlord of the Eastern Region. And since the kingdom was so big, we have numerous vassal states. Fortunately, the current King is powerful. Otherwise, we won't be able to unite a single region in one rule."

"Is that so?" Zeus murmured. The information was somewhat unclear as it didn't give him the answer that he sought to hear. 

If this world is only ruled by 4 kingdoms, does that mean Sera is one of the 4 kings? 

"That's really interesting but I have one question for you to answer."

Elise momentarily paused before nodding. "Go on."

"Do you know the Ministry?" 

"Mi…nistry?" Elise tilted her head. 

"Yeah, ministry. It's a giant power as I was told."

Elise held her chin before she slowly shook her head. 

"I don't know any ministry that you talk about. Maybe it does exist but it's too small. Because if it's really a giant power as you said, it wouldn't be unknown."

"Is that true?" 

"Well, as far as I know."

Elise stopped speaking after seeing Zeus fall into a deep thought. She's also somewhat curious about it but decided not to pry too much. 

'Is it possible that Sera is lying to me?' 

According to his master, aside from them, the Ministry is the largest power in the world. However, as Elise elaborated, it seems that this ministry didn't exist or its rule didn't exist here. 

'There is one more possibility…' 

Zeus didn't want to think of it as that is just ridiculously unbelievable if that was true. 

'But that's what makes it interesting.'

Even though there's already a mystery puzzle shrouding this world, this didn't reduce the excitement and curiousness he's feeling. 

To assure his doubt, Zeus glanced at Elise and asked once again. If Elise didn't know this then that means his hypothesis is correct. 

"Have you heard of mana then? It's something like a form of energy." 

Elise pondered for a second before she shook her head. 

"No, I never heard of it." 

A smile bloomed on Zeus' lips as Elise answered. 

"Well, now it makes sense." 

"What makes sense?" 

"Nothing." Zeus stopped in his tracks and scanned the area around him. After determining the safety of the location, he looked at Elise and suggested, "Should we rest here for tonight? The night is growing deeper. It would be dangerous to continue." 

Elise surveyed the surroundings before nodding in agreement. "Sure… but I have no tent."

Zeus waved his hand as if it was a trivial matter.

"Don't worry about that. I just happen to have one. We can sleep together."