Chapter 68 – Breakup

"So... onto the next one then, it would make more sense to head to the one near the meadow since it's now the closest dungeon to us"

"Agreed Ikarus-sama"

"Yeah, let's head there next"

"..."

After 'completing' that last dungeon if you can even call it that, we had words with the guildmaster on what went down and it went surprisingly well seeing that they have lost a training dungeon. The reaction was of a little annoyance but Miss Penelope basically just said that now the mages in the tower have an actual reason to step outside once again, clearly she can see the positives in the whole situation.

She was also really apologetic on the fact he attacked us as well, did have the feeling once or twice that maybe this guildmaster knew about what would happen but seriously doubt it now. She doesn't seem to know me and Petra are phoenixes as well so that doesn't really add up that much, she let us into their dungeon and unfortunately, we just came across a madman who seemed of his rocker today.

Still not completely sure what that was all about, that God was mad after all but still, all stuff like this ever does is leaves me with more questions than answers. Maybe one day I'll understand what's happening, maybe not.

Everyone is back on my back and we're flying through the skies like with the usual. It seems like Petra has something important to say though.

"It might be best if we split the party up... permanently now"

Huh? She wants to split the party up? Where's this come from?

"Wait Petra-sama, what's going on?"

"Yeah, why do we need to split up?"

Of course those two are a little shocked, there's got to be reason why she said permanently though. Wait, I think I have an idea now...

"Me and Ikarus have things to do elsewhere. Since we're heading to the capital, it would save us a load of time instead of having to come back on fourth to pick you up"

If I think heavily about this, this might be about Jekyll, why else would she just randomly bring this up? Has she received a message from him already or something? I'll have to ask once we're alone again, she is also right about saving time as well. Once we complete the remaining two, the last one being in the desert, it would end up being a pointlessly long trip if we'd have to drop these two back before we start acting on our plan. The bastard is in the east part of the human continent apparently, we could head there straight after completing the mesa dungeon.

"What about protecting Ikarus-sama?"

"Yeah, you two alone might be too risky"

They've got a point but of course, Petra's debating skills triumph all.

"We'd be picking up the other two we told you about to complete the next two dungeons with us"

Oh great, we're getting Zeki and Ariza once again? I guess at least with those two, we can start talking about our 'kill the royals' plan in person but is this a little too soon?

No, plans will need to be made as we can't always being stepping on tiptoes around these two. The second I'm cured, the royals must die, that's how this is going to go. It's obviously not as simple as just that but this is how things need to go.

The party shouldn't be splitting up permanently though... well, that kinda depends. In order to do what we need to; we do need to split the party up. There won't be any need for us to travel afterwards so what do I do after? Forget it, this isn't worth thinking about right now.

"Petra is right you two, it probably is time to split up"

...

I'm starting to think these two have loved being a part of our journey, their faces must look terrible right now. They did know that one day we would be splitting up, they are only employed to help me out after all. The priestess is a bit different since she's kinda self-employed to the empire, the knight however would obviously need to go back and serve under the prince.

It's either that or they end up dead by our hands, I'd rather not have to do that but that's a conversation that needs to be spoken about with Petra when we're alone.

"It's been really fun travelling with you Ikarus-sama and Petra-sama"

"Yeah, it's been a pleasure"

Damn, they do be sounding a little depressed as well, they are acting like we're minutes away from the capital though.

"We haven't split up yet, you two numpties! We've still got a good week ahead of us before we get back to the capital"

At least I can lighten their moods a little, it sounds like they might need it...

__________

At one of scheduled rest stops back towards the capital, words now must be spoken with Petra. I need some more information.

"Petra, what's going on?"

We both left the sleeping two in the camp and have gone a little distance away; it is long past midnight now. Even then, it still makes sense to talk quietly and whisper just in case they do hear us. In my bird form right now, made no sense to change.

"It's about you know who Ikarus. Even if he can find the bastard, convincing him is a whole different idea. Once we get back to the capital, expect a message waiting saying he can't be convinced knowing him"

So it is partially about Jekyll, this bastard guy is really going to prove an issue. Still, if he can be convinced and is powerful as well as intelligent enough to run the capital, then we need to do it.

"Just tell me how high to jump and I'll do it then Petra"

"Heh, you don't have to agree to everything I say Ikarus"

The thing is, her plans and actions are pretty much spot on, it makes sense to just follow her along.

"I know but you are a hell of a lot more intelligent than me, makes sense that you take the lead since I'm dum-"

She cuts me off from my response there, I am stupid though, everyone knows it.

"Please stop it Ikarus, stop putting yourself down all the time. Maybe you might be a little naïve but I've met hundreds of people who are full on ignorant and really stupid. You are not stupid..."

I know she's just trying to be nice but still, blatant lies still won't make me feel better about it. I have clearly improved, of course but I'm still the dumb bird-brained fool I always was, just now I refuse to allow people to take me for a naïve fool. Maybe I have gotten a little better but I'm still dumb, alright?

"... I'm not going to be able to convince you, am I?"

"Heh, you're right about that"

Okay, I just copied her trademark laugh then, completely unintentional there. Oh well, I like Petra so that's perfectly fine.

...

Oh great, an uncomfortable silence, why can't I just accept praise from the best waifu around? At the very least, there are more questions I need the answer for.

"Well anyway... what about those two though? What do we do about them?"

Petra can very quickly give me an answer to my worry though.

"We don't need to worry about them, they shouldn't need to get involved in this"

There is something else I'm questioning; wouldn't it look suspicious on our end if those two get sent away? From the prince and mage's perspective I mean, it would look a bit weird if they just rocked back up to the capital with only us two doing the dungeon searching in their eyes.

"So we don't have to kill them or anything? What if the prince gets suspicious?"

"There should be no need. If we do things quick, clean and silent, then our involvement won't be known about. As for sending them away, the prince is too arrogant to be worried about such thoughts, he'll probably see it as something completely else. Of course, I'm only assuming after all, it's still a possibility"

Oh, I had a feeling Petra's plan was going to be like that, it really is going to be like a secretive assassination. I'd say that's cool as fuck if we didn't have to try and get four people killed as quick as possible as well as getting the successor for when shit hits the fan afterwards.

I'm still not completely convinced that sending them straight back to the capital is a good idea, even she doesn't sound that confident about it. I do have a slight idea though.

"What if we ask them to take a break and not speak to the prince for a while? I'm still worried that the prince might get suspicious even if he's arrogant, we are sending both their puppets away after all"

Really don't like to call them puppets but it does fit the situation here. As for Petra's response, she seems to be thinking pretty heavily on what I just said, I guess even she hasn't gotten every part of the plan set in stone.

"Huh... that might work, get the feeling they might be easily convinced on that as well"

She looks like she's got an idea now, at least that's somewhat sorted. Wait, there's something I've only just realized, the main reason we're trying to get this bastard fellow in charge.

"Hang on a second, is that why we're getting this bastard guy? To take the fall after we do what's needed?"

I've literally only just realized that. If we assassinate those in power, then you'd think the older legitimate prince could take the blame and on the outside to the public, it'll look like a family dispute for power. Would the citizens of the empire support it though?

Actually, I could see that part being pretty easily, all he'd need to do is stop mandatory drafts for the military and knights and that would gain a hell of a load of support right there alone, ending the war with the rebels would also help. Look at this bird knowing a little about politics, that's basically about it though.

"Something like that, it'll be seen as the true royal coming to take back his legitimate seat... only hope he can be convinced on such a thing"

She sounded a little unsure while finishing that up, let's be optimistic though!

Before we head back, there is something I want to do, something I feel like I've missed since we have been flying for quite the while now. I quickly change form and while the smoke is still all around us, I take a seat somewhere comfortable.

"Ikarus, what are yo-"

"You are right, laps are pretty comfortable ya know"

This time around, it's my turn to sit on Petra's lap, she was sitting down cross-legged throughout all of that after all. I feel like I haven't had some relaxed time with her for a while, thought this would be a nice way of doing it. It also might ease any tensions a bit, we do have an empire to potentially destroy or fix after all.

If the roles were reversed now, I reckon I'd be fine under her, why do I say things like that? Sighhh...

"Heh, then at least allow me to get closer"

Then she does something else, she wraps her arms around my belly. In all honesty, hugging is pretty good, don't mind this at all. I'm on her lap, and she's giving me a hug, kinda a little odd but that's how we do things around here.

We'll just stay here for a little bit longer before heading back...

__________

"Bye Ikarus-sama and Petra-sama!"

"Yeah, see you then!"

Over on the trip to the capital, we suggested they both take a leave of absence in helping us for the dungeon search, Petra came up with some reason basically saying we wanted to spend some quality alone time for a while and didn't want to be disturbed by the empire when we did start to go back on the dungeon search. There was a little more to it than just that but it worked well enough.

You'd think that maybe they would've maybe questioned a little more but it was almost instantly they agreed to it, it's almost as if those two want to spend some quality time themselves together as well...

I mock but it's probably true, the knight is supposed to be tremendously loyal to his empire but then again, he's more than happy to bunk off from his duties and spend some couple's time alone. Ah, the ships do be sailing.

They could both be lying but they seemed genuine, maybe having another long break from everything that's gone on as well is a good idea for those two. Next time we meet back up, I bet they might even be able to hug each other! I still shouldn't mock, I'm slow as hell with Petra, it's a good thing she's so patient with me.

"Byeee!"

"..."

I give a slight wave while responding and those two walk away out of sight from us, the centre of the capital market is pretty crowded after all. I do hope they have a good time together.

Once everything is sorted, we'll definitely contact these two again someday, the issue for now is we're about to do some things that they will definitely disagree on. We will kill those bastards in power...

"So what do we do know? We're obviously got to pick up those two from the cave but what right now? Oh, and are we still doing the meadow dungeon?"

"Need to check for a message from you know who, then yeah, that sounds like a plan"

Petra then starts to walk off heading towards wherever her message might be sent to, I'm not letting her get away that easily though.

"Oi, get back here!"

"Heh, okay"

I of course want to hold hands while we're walking, might as well seeing that I want to and she won't ever say no.

After a little walk together in the streets of the capital, we find ourselves back in the red-light district we've visited so many times already, I'm guessing Petra's message from Jekyll would've been sent to this bar, odd place to receive a message but I guess it's secretive enough.

We both enter the bar and quickly head up to the barmaid tending the counter, it's a little crowded in here today but not as bad as it can be usually.

"What can I do for you two?"

The woman has a sly smile towards us, it's clear she has a thought about us two still holding hands. It's just a sly one so there's no point calling her out on it, at least a sly smile is better than a face of disgust or something similar, the church don't like same sex relationships after all.

"Should be a note waiting for me, should be addressed to a Miss Bat"

Miss Bat? Is that a fake name Petra using? Why do I also feel like that's her referencing our first meeting?...

Before the barmaid walks off to check, might as well order something, we are in a bar after all.

"Two whiskeys as well please"

We've got very similar tastes in alcohol; we can share a drink together while we're here.

The barmaid pours us two drinks and passes Petra a sealed envelope, it's honestly a bit weird a bar is willing to accept messages but this place is in the red-light district after all, they probably have some shady behind the scenes business going on as well.

We then get a table and take a seat after paying, I'm enjoying my whiskey and Petra is also sipping hers while reading the note. Thinking about it, I should've gotten her something else, whiskey isn't really her favourite but she'll still drink anything though.

Now that Petra has finished reading the sent message, she'll give me a quick a recap on what was sent.

"That was a little different to how I called it. It turns out, he can't even get to the bastard in the first place"

She sounded a little stressed while saying that, this is potentially going to be a problem now.

"What does that mean anyway?"

"It means there's an entire beachfront size of a small country of pirates in the way of actually getting to speak with him. Had a feeling the bastard would've cleared them by now but knowing him, he's probably just toying with his prey"

The more and more I hear of this guy, the more curious I'm getting. After we get these next two dungeons complete, we're definitely going to meet him as fast as possible.

We spend a little while chatting about some other things said in the note and now that we've both finished our drinks, it makes sense to leave.

"You finished now Ikarus?"

"Yeah, let's head off"

There's some things I need to do before we fly off, haven't stocked up on stuff like cake in a while and some other bits, we are in the capital after all and shopping is a plenty here. Luckily my parents' money fund is still very much full, what made it run out quickly last time was buying loads of potions, only need to buy magicka ones now since the other two fountains have kept my stock permanently high. Should have some magic ones spare so I can avoid buying them as well.

Then, it'll be time to go and get Zeki and Ariza, hopefully we can withstand completing two more dungeons with them...