Ch.11 Quest of the noble

The carriage rocked over the stone-paved streets, but it couldn't be felt inside the carriage due to the suspension.

"The carriages nobles use sure are comfy," Mika smiled in pure bliss as she rested her head on my shoulder.

"It really is nice," I nodded in agreement.

"Um, guys can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"When we arrive at my home... could you beat up my father?"

"Come again?" me and Mika asked at the same time.

"You see, my father have crest of Warrior king. He values strenght above all else so he will probably ask you to fight him."

'Hey, Full assisst, tell me about the Warrior king crest.'

<[Warrior king] is a crest that gives it's wielder ability increase so high that the user can split iron with his bare hands. The ability increase does not include magic strenght and deffence which means that attacking with magic is the most recommended action.>

'Is warrior king simmilar to my Summoner king?'

<Yes. Warrior king and summoner king are members of same [King] category. There are three other crests with same title. They are [Mage king], [Archer king] and [Hero king].>

"I see... is he strong?"

"Yes... father once challanged a red dragon to one on one fight and won. In less then two minutes."

Mika and I started to sweat profusely. Red dragon is one of the evolution paths Aku can choose and it's an S rank monster. And this man apparently beat it in two minutes alone.

Soon the mansion got into view. It was a classical three floors high mansion with neatly arranged statues.

"Flake... those statues..."

"Yeah, they are stone golems. I never saw them in such a perfect state. I mean, how could you even make this?"

"Ah, this is work of my little sister," Aika smiled, "She have the [Golem user] crest and she's an amazing earth mage on top of that."

"With such a combat ability, she would normaly be considered the heir no?"

"That is indeed the truth. The kingdom only cares about strenght, but my sister can't fight. She can't even walk..."

"Ah, I'm sorry. That was rude of me," I bowed to Aika.

"No, there's no way you could knew about this! Please sir Flake, rise your head."

I looked up and saw that Aika had little sad, but warm smile.

"It's true my sister can't walk, but to be honest she's... little extreeme..." Aika made a wry smile.

Soon the carriage came to a halt and we stepped out.

"Sisterrrrr!" a scream came from behind a corner of the building.

As we looked over to where the sound came from, we saw a girl with same crimson hair as Aika. The only difference was that unlike Aika who had straight hairs, this girl had them in ringlets. She was sitting in a wheelchair and had a belt holding her in place. That was when I realized it. She was going fast. Too fast. I bet she was even faster then chariots in the Fall festival.

Suddenly the belt came of and the wheelchair came to a stop, which made the girl flew into the air and tackle Aika down.

"Sister! It's been too long! I missed you sooooo much!" the girl was beeming a happy smile while rubbing her cheek against her sister. 'Is she really same age as us?'

"Filla! We have guests! Act like a lady once in a while!"

"Geez, big sis' no fun!" the girl pouted as she placed both of her hands on the ground. In that moment two pillars rose from the ground, helping her to rise to the air. At the same time, the wheelchair rode under her and she sit on it. As she did, the two pillars fell back to the ground.

'She didn't even use a spell, that means she can manipulate magic with just her thoughts... the highest level of magic proficiency there is, magic manipulation... and she can do it even without a supporting crest. This girl is really powerful.'

"My name is Filla El Mayleen. Younger sister of Aika and second daughter of the household. It's a pleasure," she pinched her skirt at knees and by a simple movement she showed a textbook courtesy.

"My name is Flake Flameburst, a summoner," I gave her a deep bow.

"I'm Mika Flameburst, a Sacred archer. It's a pleasure," Mika followed my example while openly using my family name.

"Oh, a couple! So sweet," Filla smiled and turned around her wheelchair, "Please follow me. Father is already waiting at the training field."

"Figures," Aika shrugged, "Sir Flake, please show him at least a little of your power. It will make him easier to accept your sponsorship."

'Honestly, I'm still a low ranked so if I recieve a sponsorship, I will have a target on my back. And I can do without that!'

"By the way, why did you use my name?" I whispered to Mika walking by my side.

"You did propose me last night didn't you?" Mika smiled confidently.

'Wait, I just said I love her. Does that even count as proposal?'

While thinking back on my actions last night, we arrived at the training field. What welcomed us was a sight of a half-naked man and about fifty or so soldiers lying on the ground, beaten to the pulp.

"Ah! There they are! I was waiting for the main dish!" The half-naked man with mustache that looked almost like a flexing arms.

"Good day sir, my name is-"

"We will speak later! Now come and fight me! I want to see the strenght of a one who defeated the Death spirit!"

"Actually it wasn't just me, but my companions as well."

"It's fine! Even if you call for dozen of people it will not change a thing!" the mustached man laughed again as we made our way to the field.

"Ah, alright... Summon Ricca."

"Wuh? Are we in Almarion already? Huh? Who's that half-naked guy?"

"He summoned a wolfkin? How is that possible?" the soldiers started to mutter among each other.

"Calm down Ricca. Right now, if we beat that guy, we will recieve a sponsorship."

"Understood." Ricca instantly went into a battle-ready stance with her sword and shield.

"Ooooh! Such an amazing killing intent! I may just have to get serious!" The mustached man laughed again.

"Mika!"

"On it!"

On my signal Mika testfired an arrow, but it deflected from the old man's skin.

"Oh, come on!" the man smiled.

"Summon! Aku, Void, Valcha, Tarou, Vikith!"

"He summoned five at once?" the soldiers got worked up again.

"Vikith and Taru restrain! Void confuse! Valcha help Ricca! Aku we will do the usual!"

"Kuu!" "Cacaw!" "Blurp!" "Rup!" "Under...stood sir!"

"Did that Scale Kobold just talked?!" the knights and the sisters behind us got surprised again.

"Huh?" we caught the man by surprise as Vikith's vines and Taru's sticky saliva made him unable to move his legs. Meanwhile, Mika mamaged to scrach his shoulder with magic infused arrow.

"(Golden Shine!)" Ricca blinded the man and I used Beast assimilation with Aku.

"Huh?!" the man and the soldiers got surprised.

"Peek-a-boo!" I yelled as I closed in in this devilishly looking form and used flare accel to power up my flame coated fist.

The strenght of my punch made the restraints weaken and and torn apart. The man flew through the air and fell squarely on his back.

A few seconds later he sit up, "What the hell was that?! Since when can summoners do things like this?!"

"You mean beast assimilation? I think I'm the only one who can currently do this." I smiled at the man.

I wanted to say something more, but a clap of hands stoped me. Looking closely at the man's face, I noticed he was sweating.

"Dear."

That single word made the man stand up on his feet while perfectly saluting. I turned around to see who the person who called him out was, and I found out it was a pregnant woman that looked same way as the two sisters. Her cold gaze fell squarely on her husband.

"I belive I told you to interview them properly right?"

"Y-yes..." the man got completly meek.

"Our mom used to be a court magician and back in the days, she was known as the Crimson destroyer."

Crimson destroyer. A mage who turned around a battle for Roast fortress ten years ago with a single spell. The latest war with the Reyan kingdom, had used the fact that she was away on the pregnancy leave to attack and claim the northern region of the Blue kingdom, aka the kingdom we are in right now.

"Tell me dear, do you remember the reason for all of this?"

"Y-yes ma'am!" the man kept saluting.

"Urgh... go clean up. Sir Flake, miss Mika and miss Ricca, please follow me. And Aika. You will give your report to me."

"Y-yes ma'am!" Aika saluted as well.

"Uuu. I forgot about the stairs..." Filla frowned and snaped her fingers.

In the next moment the wheels turned into little legs and started walking up the stairs.

"P-pardon my rudeness, but is that wheelchair actually a golem?"

"Yes it is! One that I created with my earth magic isn't it awsome?" Filla's eyes filled with sparkles.

"It is certainly a one of a kind golem. I do use golems as my summons, but I guess that they are different?"

"Indeed, my golems are called [True construct golems]. That's becouse they are made from my own magic and ideas. Yours are different I presume?"

"Yes, my gollems are summoned through magic so they are put together my their own devices."

"That Vikith is a Vine golem right?"

"Yes, he is as well made by the same princip." At this moment, my union with Aku came undone and Aku rested on my shoulder.

"Ah! A small salamander lizard!" Aika beamed a happy smile. "I remember keeping one when I was little!"

"Ah, yes, Tuuli. That was a good partner for you back then."

"Yes," Aika smiled with cloudy eyes of nostalgia.

'Better not ask what happened to it.'

We moved to a office and were seated across the lady of the house and her two daughters.

"You certainly have a unique abilities for a summoner. And to be accompanied by both Knight and Sacred archer... You are quite a unique party."

"We may be unique but the truth is that our rankings are a real mishmash. I'm E rank and Mika is C rank, while Ricca isn't even registered."

"well, that isn't really something we care about," the lady of the house smiled.

"What we want is secrecy," Aika smiled and placed her index finger infront of her mouth.

"I see. Go on," I nodded.

"The thing we will want from you is to find a cure for a curse."

"Wouldn't holy magic work by itself?" Mika got little suprised by Aika's mothers words.

"It's Filla right? She got some kind of curse on her, right?"

"You are really perceptive sir Flake. Indeed, Filla was put under curse with an [Ancient relic]."

"What?! Ancient relic?" Mika jumped up.

"This is first time I hear about that. What actually is an Ancient relic?"

"You see, Flake, ancient relics are magic items made by ancient civilization on this continent. The magic items are usually not usable anymore, but royal academy pays fortune for possibility to study them so they are considered golden tickets for most of the high ranked adventurers. In rare occurances, you can find even working Ancient relic, you can keep it of course, but there are some people who would even murder each other to get their hands on one."

"And one such relic was used to curse your daughter."

"Yes..." lady of the house said with her voice shaking with rage, "If I knew who did it, I would already burned down all they have as a revenge, bt there is no way we can find out now. That's why I want you to dive into the dungeon and find something that could help."

"So a way to cure her, when holy magic failed... hmm... I can't think of anything that could help. What are the effects of the curse?"

"Complete body weakness and hastened exhaustion. We never tried what would happen if complete exhaustion happened... it's too scary," The woman before us were visibly shaken.

"I see. Well, we will dive into a dungeon anyway, right?"

"Of course!" Mika nodded.

"My masters wish is my wish. Give me order and I will crush every oponent," Ricca said solemmly, but I could see her tail wagging behind her.

"Well, we better go find some-"

"Hold it!"

"Huh?"

"You were about to say you will go find some in right?"

"Well..."

"That's dennied."

"Yes," the lady of the house nodded.

"You're not running away!" Filla smiled happily.

"But..."

"You will be El Mayleen's first sponsored adventurer. That means there will be a lot of eyes on you. Be it nobles or other adventurers. That means, we can't let you sleep in cheep inns in our home town. Here," the lady of the house handed me an envelope.

"What is this?"

"It's map of the town with marked small mansion we own in the city. You are free to use it."

"But!"

"No buts! Just take it!" Aika poited her finger down at me.

"U-undertood."

"Good!" Aika smiled victoriously.

"Well, it's getting pretty late so you will go there tomorrow and for today, you will stay here as our guest. That decision is final so don't even try to talk back."

For some reason, at that time I got a feeling me and Aika's father will become good friends in the future.