Chapter 33: Adventure Time!

Chapter 33: Adventure Time!

I looked at the orb in curiosity, thinking about all of the future applications that I could do with the thing. I was going to ask more about it but Aunt Amelia stopped me from continuing.

"Alright guys, let's not forget that we're celebrating two happy people getting together. The crystal ball is neat and all but let's remember why we're all here tonight."

Aunt Amelia grabbed my arm and dragged me away, while leaving the happy couple to their lonesome. Gramps called my name before we left to enjoy the party.

"Make sure you have all your affairs in order, I'll send you away tonight."

I nodded my head to him and went back to the party. I was going to walk over to my mother and tell her the news until someone stopped me.

Aunt Amelia noticed things were about to get awkward so she decided to walk away before she said, "I'll let you two talk, I'm going to get something to eat."

Thanks for the assist.

"Jess, can we talk?" Alora was standing in front of me, she looked a little worried.

"I'm a little busy right now, can it wait?"

I didn't mean to come out as rude but I was in a hurry. The party will be over in a few hours and I need to say my goodbyes to friends and family as well as taking care of some last minute trade deals. As for clothes and stuff like that, I keep most of my stuff in my storage so I don't have to worry about packing.

"I would like to talk now."

I sighed a little out loud. I just wasn't looking forward to this conversation. I just grabbed an empty seat and she sat across from me. I had my hands in my pockets while I leaned back in my chair.

Alora didn't know what to say about my lax attitude. She just looked at me and sighed before grabbing a seat.

"How are you? We haven't spoken that much after you canceled our engagement." 

I just gave a curt reply, "It's fine. Just living life."

Alora bit her lips in frustration, "I heard you're going to Rosary tomorrow. Are you going alone?"

"Yeah."

I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say, I'm just staring at her with a blank expression. I don't feel like I'm being rude, I just don't know what to say to a stranger.

"Are you sure you want to do that? The borderlands are dangerous, they have people just as strong as the king and stronger. Why don't I go with you?"

I didn't know what to say about that, I didn't feel comfortable bringing her with me. I'm not in the mood for this conversation. I get up from my chair and give her my answer.

"I don't think this is an appropriate conversation to be having. My decision is final."

I walk away from that conversation and head over to my mother while looking at Alora at the corner of my eye.

She looked depressed and hurt. She sat on the table with her hands on her face. I think I might've gone too far but I didn't know what to say. I felt like what I said was fairly professional. What else should I have said?

I walked over to my mother to tell her the situation. I didn't get into the war talk because I thought this wasn't the time for it, so I just told her that I was leaving tonight. She didn't seem that shocked but she didn't seem like she was happy either.

I thought we were going to talk more about me leaving but strangely she wanted to ask about Alora. I was confused as to why she would want to talk about this since she's never shown much interest in my love life.

"What about her?

"You talk about her like she's a stranger. You've known her for years. I thought you had a crush on her, I even supported you two getting married."

I smiled a little in embarrassment. She sees right through me.

"It just didn't work out. She wasn't interested in me and I wasn't interested in someone who isn't interested in me."

My mother looked at me shocked and then regretful, "This is my fault, I should've taught you more about women. Jess, she was definitely interested."

I was about to argue back until I saw Sir Makoto a few feet away dining on some food, so I just decided to call him over and ask him.

"Hey old man, was Alora interested in me?"

He looked at me confused that I would even ask him that.

"Was? More like she is."

I look at him like he's crazy, there's no way that's true. 

I sighed in frustration, I just didn't want to think about this right now. Alora's destiny is here on the island. There was nothing I could do to change that.

"Kid, why don't you talk to her. I get it, you're over her. But could you think about bringing her with you at least? Figure things out from there?"

I looked back at these two wondering if I should just listen to them. I know it sounds crazy but I've always told myself to never look back. A decision is a decision, but I can try just this once.

"Fine, I'll talk to her."

They looked at me in relief, I know they were worried about my future but this isn't that big of a deal.

I waved at them before heading off. After I told them that I was leaving I went out in search of other guests and childhood friends. I spoke to a couple people and nobles as well as a few merchants that I had made a few deals with along the way.

I had spent a while talking to people, and after 4 years of negotiating I had even started trading with my grandfather's ambassadors and even a few royals. I tried to include the noblemen of our country but grandfather did not allow it for some reason. He wanted to 'keep it in the family.' 

I don't know why he phrased it like that but apparently he wanted me and him to have a monopoly over the [DEMON SHOP] rather than including it among his people. It had something to do with not wanting to waste resources on non talented idiots.

Strangely enough my grandfather has a major hoarding problem. I asked him if he ever wanted to trade with me but he always just responded back with the typical 'Who knows when you might need this someday?' Fitting for a hoarder.

After talking with a few guests and some of my trading partners I noticed something in the corner of my eye. It was a tall, red skin demon girl with two cute little horns on her head standing by a corner alone with her foot on the wall.

She's the very definition of a 'wallflower.' I stayed seated for a while contemplating on if I actually wanted to get up and talk to her until I just said to myself, 'Screw this shit.'

I got up from my seat and walked over to her, she didn't notice me until I got close. When I stood a few feet away from her I just said the first thing that came to mind.

"I could use a body guard. If you're interested." I don't know what made me want to ask that, and I thought she would be angry with the offer but surprisingly she wasn't.

She looked up at me in excitement and replied with a big smile on her face, "I would be honored your highness."

I looked back at her and almost felt a sweet feeling in my heart. Almost. It wasn't that easy to win me over.

I sighed and told her to go pack her things while I waited for her.

"Why? Aren't we leaving tomorrow?"

"No, change of plans. The old man has decided to leave tonight and head to god knows where for who knows how long, so they can have… well you know. And since he's the only one who can portal us several continents away… we don't have any other choice."

Alora found it all very strange, "I haven't been to the borderlands before, I hear they're savage and filled with anarchy. Are you sure you want to do this? We might encounter an S rank…"

Alora was starting to worry now, but there wasn't much I could do to help that.

"Don't worry, Gramps tells me they usually stay cooped up either cultivating underground or just playing around in unknown dimensions."

The odds of us finding one are slim but not impossible. Hopefully they can be reasoned with, and if not then we run. If we can…

Alora didn't like the look on my face so I just brushed it off and told her to go take care of business before the party was over.

I watched Alora walk away and I couldn't help but stare at her swaying tail, as well as the area around it…

"Don't get distracted Jess…" I muttered a few silent mantras in my head until I decided to walk away and commit that image to memory…

…

Two hours passed by and everyone was growing tired. The king made his speech and we all got to see fireworks out over the ocean. It was a pretty exciting day honestly, and it was going to get even more exciting soon.

Everyone started to walk to their designated rooms after everything was over and I just stayed in the ballroom with Alora, Sir Makoto, and my mother. We waited for the king and the queen to show up, and I couldn't help but be excited for the future.

"Where is your mother?" I can't say I was eager to see her or anything but I was slightly surprised she wasn't here to see her daughter off.

"She was tired and I already said my goodbyes."

I was a little worried when I heard that so I asked if she was ok. Normally it wouldn't be that big of a deal but that woman was kind of special. She was actually considered the 3rd best swordsmen in the kingdom and a B rank Super.

It wasn't normal for her to be 'tired,' at least not from a small party like this.

"She's fine, the pregnancy is just a bit hard for her. That's all."

I brushed it off for a second until I realized what he just said.

"Wait, she's pregnant?"

"I didn't mention that?"

"No."

Sir Makoto thought about it for a second and just shrugged his shoulders. Even my own mother was surprised. I guess he didn't tell her either.

"Does the king know?"

"Of course he does. He was the one who sensed the baby's soul in the first place. During the first few weeks."

He can sense souls? I didn't know that.

"Well congratulations."

"Thank you. So… when are you two going to give us some grandbabies?"

I looked at this idiot demon and thought of his lack of tact. The fact that he could get himself a single wife much less a whole harem is just a miracle.

Little did I know, there was a certain demon girl sitting next to me wondering the same thing.

...

Authors Note:

So I'm sure some people might be curious as to why I haven't been posting. the reason is because I think it would be wiser if I just stockpile a bunch of chapters and see where I go from there.

There's also a second reason. the second reason is because I'm having a bit of an issue with what direction I want to take this book, or more like how I want to post it. I've been thinking about doing an audiobook while having WebNovel 'advertise' my book. I'm finding a bit hard to trust their contracts, as I've heard a lot of horror stories from authors. some people don't know this but views don't actually mean money. that's fine with me, I'm mostly writing because I love to write and I aspire to tell the world what goes through my brain without actually telling them.

I just don't like the idea of a big time company telling me that I can have such a high following and not get rewarded for it. In fact they even punish you if you try posting your books anywhere else. 

So from now on I'm going to start posting things on YouTube once I set up my channel and Finnish Volume 2. Hopefully that won't take too long but at the very least you guys probably won't hear from me for a month or two.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience, please be patient, and don't be afraid of giving me recommendations on what direction I should take this book. 

Thank you, DragonMasta.