Ellena's Cousin

After having a small talk with Isabella, they had lunch at the diner. Ellena made her way back to the guild to take another quest after lunch. She is really eager to earn big money.

It's not bad to have motivation, but I hope that Ellena will not forget about taking care of Isabella. She took her under her wing, so it means that she has a responsibility over her.

She finally took another round of quest from the guild. It was a slime subjugation which was easy to complete. Her only way to prove the completion is to provide the wax skin slimes have.

Slimes are just liquid colored blobs. They bounce, bash with little strength, but an overwhelming number give threats.

Her quota for this quest is 20 slimes. As usual, the destination is a location of a closed dungeon.

Despite not leaving a mark of a closed dungeon, there are still monsters in the area since dungeons in the depth of the forest result in being unnoticed, resulting in becoming an overflowing dungeon.

There are also cases where a wide plain will have an overflowing dungeon since it is not regularly visited by humans.

We too a different path from before and, surprisingly, we haven't seen Selena, which is also a relief. It would be too noisy to concentrate since she talks that much.

And her, seeing how Ellena moves, would make her suspect Ellena.

'There!' Ellena made a signal when she noticed the slime. 

Actually, I noticed it first but decided to let her senses work in a minimal siuation. It's not bad, I guess.

"These are water type slimes. Physical attack won't work on them."

'It will be bad. Does lightning work on them?'

"Yes, it does. It can at least evaporate water around its epicenter of impact. Just use a minimal amount, it's a small slime after all."

'Yeah.'

Lightning can heat the air it passes, so it basically means that when there's heat, water may evaporate and extreme heat is the weakness of water.

It is said that water negates fire and fire negates nature. However, fire can also negate water if the temperature is enough to vaporize the water.

It is also said that water is stronger than fire, but it doesn't mean that it has durability. I will praise the person who can make enough pressure to make durability from pure water. Well, from magic at least.

But... let's not be bothered by that. This is a fantasy world, so the laws of Science may be wrong in this matter.

Ellena conjured a small lightning heating the slime. Just after hitting it, the liquid slime became gas as the heat vaporized the water.

The only thing left was the wax skin of the slime.

"That was surprisingly easy." She made a remark before continuing the slaying.

More slimes appeared and she effortlessly slayed all of them. Just after half an hour, she hit the exact number of 20.

It is really easy to kill slime, but finding them is hard as they don't move in groups. They move individually, which makes it so annoying to kill them.

Ellena took a little rest before going out into the forest then met the paved road.

But before that, just near the paved road, I noticed some heavy breathing and screams. There were also growls which made me report it to Ellena.

"50 meters to your north-east, there is a presence of human beings and monsters."

'Really? Can I kill them? Wait, if it is a quest, I can't just steal it from them.'

"It is not." I zoomed more to the source of the scream, then saw a carriage with a noble insignia.

"Please move carefully. You may help these people as I can't see any threats in that."

A typical calculation made by my nature. It is not that I am against helping them, I just know that Ellena will ask for it.

'Thank you. You really know me!'

She started taking steps to the location of the scream. There appeared a mutated wolf at least 9 and 3 guards protecting the carriage.

From what I can observe, they are protecting the carriage rather than fighting it. If they let a wolf slip, it may endanger their client, or at least the noble inside.

Ellena conducted a small lightning into her sword before jumping in to the event.

She quickly shocked the wolves nearby her. The wolves made a groaning sound which took the attention of the other wolves.

"Now!" Ellena excliamed, giving a signal to the 3 guards to assist her. Thankfully, they were observant enough to follow Ellena's words.

After following her, Ellena didn't stop, then killed 3 wolves at her sight. With a little amount of lightning, her rune glowed a little and it helped her kill the wolves immediately.

She stabbed the other one, making her kill 4 and finally, just after seconds of brawl, the wolves were finally defeated.

The guards were left in awe at what they saw. Surprisingly, a lady just took 4 wolves as her prey, which makes it more amazing.

Mutated wolves are from mid ranking monsters, which is basically a C-rank monster.

Monsters have ranks too. Unlike the threat level that the adventurers' guild provided, monsters are ranked from F to A. Then the highest is S to SSS, mostly legendary.

The guard who looked like the leader approached Ellena with a heavy breath. "Thank you for helping us."

Ellena, on the other hand, just smiled at them. "It was good to be a help." As she pulled her sword, then unsheathed it.

"You are surprisingly good, Lady!" One of the guards praised her while the other one approached the carriage.

"My Lady, the monsters are now gone. Should we proceed or leave this girl?"

How!ever! This other one is one of a rude person! Can't he even say his thanks? What an ungrateful person. Maybe he was conceived out of hate.

"What are you talking about, Roberto?" The door opened harshly, almost hitting the rude bastard name Roberto. 

There appeared a young lady with shoulder-length orange-colored hair. She was making a furious face. Thank goodness this one is a fine young one.

She stepped down the carriage wearing an extravagant dress. Just where are they going? Being stranded in the middle of the forest's road.

"My Lady, I will assist you." But the lady didn't accept the offer.

"Thank you for helping us. May I know the name of our savior?"

"It's Noelle." 

Hoh... So she stood on that alias.

"Thank you, Miss Ellena."

What the lady said, Ellena's eyes widened in surprise. Even I can't help but to be shocked.

"H-how?"

"Please forgive me for disclosing your private name, Miss Noelle."

Even if it was just for teasing Ellena, it didn't make Ellena smile. Instead, she wore a serious face.

"How did you know my name?"

"It looks like it was a wrong move. Please forgive me." The young lady bowed but I noticed something.

"It looks like she isn't going to tell you how she knew. Perhaps her rune?"

Ellena just smiled after my word. She let out a breath then continued to speak.

"It can't be helped if you won't tell me. Just don't randomly say it. I don't let strangers know my name."

"Thank you very much! I am Amber Lumbert! Pleased to meet you!"

"LUMBERT!"

She is a Lumbert? Shit... this isn't good. Not this time, it's too soon. And also, that hair is quite familiar.

"F-from what Lumbert are you from?" Ellena couldn't help but to stutter.

"Please forgive me again, dear cousin."

Shit! This is too much! THIS IS ELLENA'S COUSIN! But thank goodness it wasn't her sister. I thought that I mistakenly did not recognize the baron's insignia.

***

We still can't believe that her cousin was her. And most of all, it was just pure coincidence. What a slim chance of meeting, but yet... sighs... I can't even say.

The journey to the town was just awkward. Ellena was left speechless and lightheaded through the whole trip. They didn't talk, but what made the whole situation awkward, Amber was just smiling endlessly.

In a matter of seconds, they reached the town at halt at a grandous inn. It was a huge mansion, rather a castle to be described. I haven't seen this one. After all, we haven't visited the nobles' district.

Amber invited Ellena into a room to talk. Since Ellena was sure had plenty of questions, she decided to entertain her.

For me, it was okay as I didn't see anything wrong. Her hair color was just too annoying. I don't know, but I can remember someone who was ungrateful.

They entered a wide room filled with decorations. This seems to be a top-class suite. This room is a simple description of money. The King size bed was the biggest object inside the room.

The two guards remained outside and one accompanied Amber. I think he's the butler type. I don't know, a personal assistant?

"Ellena, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Do you want to become a noble again?"

"No." Ellena just replied quickly after hearing the second question. 

I think it was still because of the hatred of her towards her parents. I mean, she's not being unreasonable, she just doesn't want.

I may know what her reason is. First, the dark past experience and, lasty, the future responsibility. A noble must work with his tongue to remain in position, so I guess I can understand her remark.

"And why is that?" Amber, on the other hand, was dumbfounded by that answer. She seems to be confused. Maybe she thought that everyone wanted to be a noble. 

"I just don't want. I guess since you were from the main family, you don't know what happened to that estate."

"Hm... You may be right and wrong." Amber made an interesting tone.

"And how? From what they did to me, you can't explain it in words."

Somehow, I felt down at Ellena's tone. She seemed to really consider it as a bad memory. I think that's when she hasn't realized it, she didn't pay heed, but right now that she's wise enough to conclude things, she doesn't want to remember it.

For me, it was also a tormenting experience. My whole 16 years was full of punishment. I have to bear watching a pitiful child. I can't do anything. I can't help her. It was torture.

"I may not know what happened to you but I know something. That's why I'm here."

Amber was still spouting nonsensial words... At least that is what it looks like to me. She keeps making the words short and suspense as time goes on.

"What is it?"

"They neglected you. That's what I just know."

"Then why are you asking me if I want to be a noble if you knew something?"

"It's... because... we need you. Grandma sent me here to gather the third generation. And you were the last one."

Third generation... She's here to gather the grandchildren of the main family? But why? I want information. It keeps tingling me. I want to know!

"Why? Why do you need me? Didn't you know I was a cursed child?"

"At least from what I can see, it was mere speculation. You just have different hair from us, but you aren't a cursed child. The midwife was already executed for announcing you were a cursed child."

This girl! She's not going to the point! She keeps suspensing the talk!

'Don't worry, I got this.'

"Then tell me. Why do you need me?"

"We need you because... we have to kill Grandpa."

Grandpa? As in the head of the main family? This is getting really interesting. A door has been opened to solve our pending case!

"Why? Why the third generation? Can't you ask their children and in-laws?"

"We can't because they are already corrupted by Grandpa."

Corrupted?

"What do you mean corrupted?"

"Grandpa is not a human anymore. He's controlling the nation in the shadow."

This is getting bigger. I can't anticipate everything!