Chapter 15: Personal Request

     In the distance, Soru was still standing on his spot without moving an inch. 

     Seeing the children playing with their friends, the men busy with helping the dwarves finish the houses, and the women tidying their belongings inside their new homes, he couldn't help but observe them in silence.

     Suddenly, he felt a tap behind him. He looked back and found Reika. 

     "You good?" Reika asked him.

     Soru nodded his head and looked back at the busy people. Reika stood beside and joined him in observing the people around them.

     Reika saw the happy faces of the children, running around and giggling in their new settlement.

     "Look how happy they were. Even after such terrible misfortunes, their happiness and youthful innocence outshones all their fears..."

     Although Soru heard her clearly, he didn't utter any words and kept his mouth shut. Reika didn't mind it, knowing that Soru wouldn't simply answer her anyway. And even if she nags about it, Soru might answer with a boorish response that would irritate her instead.

     Right when she was about to say something again, Reika paused when she saw a family gathering together. In her eyes, she saw a mother hugging her young girl and her husband smiling at them while carrying heavy stuff. 

     Even though they suffered such terrible encounters before, their happiness still shone brighter than their fear and sadness. In that moment, Reika remembered her parents once more.

     Mom... Dad...

     Soru noticed the sudden change in Reika's expression and understood what her face was showing based on his observation alone. Seeing Reika's eyes, which were filled with sadness and longing, he approached her casually.

     Reika was surprised when she felt someone's hands at the top of her head. She immediately looked to her left and saw Soru standing beside her.

     "Hey! What are you-"

     "When I was young, the one who took care of me would always do this on my head before going outside."

     Soru began to pat Reika's head and gently caress it. Reika tried to move away, but she felt a calming sensation as Soru gently patted her head.

     "I don't know the reason why, but every time she does it on me, my thoughts become clear and organized. Perhaps it would work on you too, seeing that you seemed troubled just now."

     Reika glanced at Soru and saw him staring at the children playing with others. Reika smiled and turned her head, staring at the joyful children playing happily.

     Hmm. This isn't bad at all...

     While Soru was still patting her head, Reika thought something and asked Soru without moving her head.

     "Soru. I want to ask you something..."

     Soru didn't respond to her and continued to pat her head.

     "I noticed earlier that you can converse well with the locals now. Did you manage to learn how to communicate with them using the Hyumanican dialect? Right after we came into this world, you can only speak Japanese, right?"

     Soru, as usual, didn't say anything at all and kept his mouth shut. Reika continued talking to him.

     "I mean, I only spoke Japanese- and English before too. But after I got some convenient ability from the Wildfire Dragon, I can talk to the locals of this world easily despite having a language barrier thanks to that ability..."

     Reika glanced back at him while locking her look into his eyes.

     "But in your case, I don't understand how you could also do the same. Is... there a specific explanation for that?"

     Soru breathed while his hand rested on her head, still patting it without the intent of stopping soon.

     "I extracted the memories of their dialect from a dying assassin that we fought hours ago and transferred them to mine. That's why I can now speak the same tongue as the people of this world."

     Reika was surprised and fell silent upon hearing such absurd methods. She began to wonder and held her chin while sorting out her thoughts.

      If that's the case, just how versatile were his powers? Not only can he transfer damage and attacks, but he can also transfer knowledge and memory. That's insane!

     While Reika was busy wondering about his power, she started to feel annoyed at Soru for patting her head for some time now. She grabbed his hand and shoved it away from her head.

     "Alright, stop! You messed up my hair real good, you know that?" Reika exclaimed while fixing her hair.

     Soru rested his right arm and looked back at the crowd of children playing tag, as if nothing had happened. While Reika was tending her messy hair, she stared at him with curiosity.

     "Soru, who are you, really..." Reika murmured.

     Soru immediately looked on her eyes after hearing her murmur.

     "Did you say something?"

     Reika averted her eyes quickly and fixed her hair quickly.

     "U-Uh... Nothing. Nothing at all..."

     Reika felt awkward and tried to fix her composure back. On the other hand, Soru didn't noticed the atmosphere between them, as if he didn't cared at all.

     "I hate to break your quality time together, but the king wishes to seek an audience with you, Miss Reika."

     Reika jolted upon hearing the mysterious voice.

     "Q-Quality time..? What are you talking about...!"

     Reika was surprised when she saw who spoke such nonsense to her. It was Aeden who approached her without her knowing.

     "Ah... I-Its just you, Miss Aeden," Reika said shyly.

     Aeden stopped and bowed her head on Reika slowly. Reika also bowed to her.

     "Uh, by the way, may I know the reason why the king wants to see me?" Reika asked in confusion as she lifted her head.

     Aeden also lifted her head and shook her head slowly in response.

     "I apologize, but I don't know the specific reason why the king wants to see you in private; I am simply relaying his orders."

     Without knowing the details of her sudden summons in front of the former ruler of the Dwarven Kingdom, Reika agreed without hesitation.

     "Fine, I'll go with you." Reika told her.

     They were about to head to Alguis when Aeden noticed Soru was following them. Aeden stopped him from going further.

     "I'm sorry, kid. But only Miss Reika was allowed to talk to the king in private."

     Soru paused for a moment and nodded quietly. He simply looks back in the direction of the village men, busy with their work. Aeden guided Reika to where Alguis was currently working, and she followed quietly while glancing back at him.

     Moments after that, Reika and Aeden reached the said area and saw Silas talking to Alguis.

     "After those men were finished building the second house, let them rest for a bit. I knew they were working without any sleep, so they must rest to replenish their energy." Alguis told Silas.

     "But, your majesty—err, Mister Alguis. What about our dinner? We were supposed to hunt some wild animals so that we could have our fill this evening..."

     "About that, my subordinates will be the one to hunt animals for our dinner this evening. Let your men take some time to replenish their stamina."

     "Then, what about you? You and your subordinates didn't get enough sleep too..."

     Alguis raised his thumb in the air.

     "Don't worry! We of the dwarven race have higher stamina and endurance compared to you humans!"

     Silas was surprised upon hearing the advantageous features that the dwarven race possessed.

     "No wonder you can keep going for hours..."

     Silas bowed his head to Alguis.

     "If you insist, Mister Alguis, thank you for your hard work!"

     Alguis smiled at him in response. Silas smiled back at him and simply walked away to inform the men, who were still finishing the second house, to take a rest after their work was done. On the other hand, Alguis called Aeden and Völun and ordered them to hunt some wild animals for their dinner tonight.

     "As you wish, our king!" Aeden and Völun exclaimed and left.

     Reika was left alone, along with Alguis, who was still busy placing some finishing touches on the large house.

     "And then... it's done!" Alguis exclaimed.

     Alguis turned around and noticed Reika was waiting for him after all this time. He remembered his orders to bring Reika and have a private conversation with her. He immediately approached her.

     "Oh! My apologies, Miss Reika. I almost forgot you just because I was busy to complete this portion..."

     "It's okay. I only waited a minute or so."

     Though I was so bored that was about to leave without his permission... 

     "Hm... Is that so?"

     Alguis looked around and noticed that the area was quiet.

     "They must be taking a rest now."

     Alguis sat on a log at the side of the large house, and Reika followed him and sat beside him.

     A silence between them emerged as both parties didn't utter any words at all. Seconds later, Alguis was the first one to strike up a conversation.

     "I heard from Aeden that your name is Reika Mitsuha. I thought that you were a woman of high status since you possess a surname, but she told me that having one in your country was common. Is that true?" Alguis asked.

     "Yes, your majesty." Reika said to Alguis.

     Suddenly, Alguis laughed at her.

     "HAHAHAHA! Drop that formality, Miss. I am but an exiled royal now, and my status was long gone..."

     Reika didn't utter any words and listened to him in silence. Alguis stopped laughing and turned serious.

     "Miss Reika, I invited you to have a private conversation with me because I have a very important request for you."

     "What is it, your ma—"

     "Alguis. You can call me Mister Alguis from now on." Alguis said to her.

     "Ah, yes. Mister Alguis, may I know what kind of request it is?" 

     Alguis breathed deeply and stared at the afternoon sky.

     "Seeing that you have some ability to put up a fight like before, I wish to have your assistance..."

     Reika was baffled by Alguis' strange request.

     "Assistance?" Reika asked him.

     "I... I would like you to help me infiltrate the Dwarven Kingdom with three of us and find the truth about my son's sudden change of behavior."

     Reika was surprised by the king's request.

     Infiltrate the dwarven kingdom to know the truth behind his sudden exile? That's impossible!

    "But Mister Alguis, that's too risky! With just the four of us alone, there's a high chance that we might get caught, considering that your son is now cautious and might be busy strengthening the security around the kingdom!" Reika exclaimed.

     "I know that possibility! That's why I need to gather some allies that I can trust and plan this out thoroughly, even if it could take some time to pull it off."

     Alguis clenched his fist.

     "And the first step starts today! By joining you in our plan, the chances of our success will increase. Even if it is only a little, it's better than nothing..."

     Reika fell silent upon hearing Alguis' determination to know the truth. But even though Reika felt sorry for him, it is too much of a gamble to risk her own life on uncertainties just because she let her empathy reign over her logic.

     Urk... I need to shrug off his idea of joining me on their dangerous plan!

     "I might consider on giving you an aid on such a dangerous mission, bu-but doing it without any sort of merit or condition would be unfair on my part, since it's not my problem in the first place, after all..."

     Alguis paused and fondled his beard for a moment.

     "You're right, Miss Reika. It seems disadvantageous on your part," Alguis murmured.

     Reika gulped as she stared at Alguis.

     I know this might sound greedy, but I just want to pressure him by asking such an impossible request so that he will reconsider recruiting me for that suicide mission of his...!

     Alguis fell silent for a moment. Reika eagerly waited for his decision.

     Please, please, please!

     "Miss Reika, I know this might sound absurd, But I... I am willing to accept any request you could ever think of in exchange for your assistance."

     Reika paused for a moment.

     "Eh?"

          Reika was surprised, as she hadn't expected the outcome of bluffing her way out.

     "Uh... I-I was...!"

     "Yes. It is too absurd to ask someone for that arduous task without gaining something in exchange..."

     Alguis drew closer to her with determination in his eyes.

     "That's why, in order to gain your trust and join us, I am willing to listen to any of your requests without complaints. Would that suffice?"

     Reika's eyes twitched while she sweated profusely.

     Oh shit, why did it turn out like this? I wish I had never said that to him in the first place! 

     "Ehhh..."

     Reika couldn't find any means to refuse him anymore. Now that she has burned the bridge she crossed, she can't escape anymore.

     What a hassle...

     Finally, Reika sighed and gave up.

     "A-Alright, alright. I agree..."

     Upon hearing her answer, Alguis' face shone brightly, and he smiled at her.

     "So... what is it that you want, Miss Reika?" Alguis asked her politely.

     Reika felt anxious and tried to distance herself from him slightly.

     "Urk..."

     I just said it on a whim, but I couldn't think of anything at all! I mean, what could he possibly give to me? They only escaped with their weapons alone, so asking them for money is impossible!

     "Uh, what about p-potions?" Reika asked him.

     Alguis' excitement vanished, and he shook his head.

     "Ah, if you're referring to the potions you saw before while I was tending my subordinates, I apologize for not fulfilling that request. I only bought 4 potions on me, and I used them all during the battles we encountered so far."

     Reika held her chin while thinking.

     Then what could they offer me in exchange? They're super broke now!

     Reika glanced at Alguis' weapon, which was leaning beside the tree.

     What about his weapon?

     Reika immediately shook her head, trying to shrug off her absurd thought of obtaining the weapon in exchange.

     No! First of all, I don't know how to wield a weapon. Second, does taking weapons from others seem disrespectful, no? If that's the case, then it's not happening!

     Alguis noticed Reika's strange behavior and began to wonder.

     "Are you alright, Miss Reika?"

     Reika noticed her actions and immediately calmed herself down.

     "I-I'm fine... ehehehe..."

     While she was confused about what she would request from Alguis, she realized something. With that sudden idea that struck her mind, Reika confronted the former king with a serious look.

     "I think—no. I decided what request I sought in exchange for my aid in your upcoming plan."

     Reika looked around cautiously, as if she were wary of something. Alguis noticed her unusual actions.

     "But first, we need to talk somewhere more private, far from the ears of the village people..."

     Alguis got confused at first, fearing that Reika might have some ulterior motives. But having glanced into her eyes, he knew that this child in front of him wouldn't do something outrageous. In response, he smiled and stood up.

     "Alright. If you want somewhere more private than here, I know a place further here. Let me guide you there..."

     Alguis walks away, heading towards the forest with his weapon behind his back and a torch in his hand.

     "Follow this way, Miss Reika."

     Without hesitation, Reika followed Alguis quietly, wondering where that private place was that the former king mentioned.