The Fleeting Group

A/N: You'd think there was a point in all those chapters? I'm pretty half-assed with the story, only writing whatever the hell went through my head into words. While I think I've thought far enough, I highly doubt I can follow them as they are consistently. I won't be surprised that along the way, I've thought of another idea and changed course right after that one arc ended. I mean, I honestly thought for an instant that the very first chapter's opening, when in Deadhead Watching Keep, shouldn't be added at all because I had a sudden change of heart. But, yeah, I won't change it, and I don't think it'll affect the story negatively or whatever.

***

The two of us leave for the southern district of Alterna after the first bell at 6 am tolls. It was the signal for the residents to embark on a new day of activity.

Suzune invited me somewhere. Where, I don't know.

"What's your opinion about the lodge?" She inquired.

"There weren't many issues," I responded. "Kanji complained a bit about the poor condition, but I wouldn't have said he'd make a big deal out of it. Ken and Yousuke don't seem to give much of a fuss. If we plan on sticking with the place for a while, though, I would think we'll have to incur a few extra expenses. Things like padlocks, bathroom sanitizer, cookware, and others. It will depend on our remaining comrades as well."

Suzune agreed with a nod. "I thought along the same lines. The expenditures are only initially. Once that's done, our living conditions will drastically improve from then on."

"And I doubt the innkeeper would care either. With some discussion, it isn't impossible to pull off."

Suzune sighed. "It would be nice if that's all we had to do..."

"True enough." Whether the landlord cared or not wasn't the only issue.

Suzune led us to the northern district. It was the residential and lodging quarter. She scanned the area for something, and her gaze eventually settled on a party of volunteer soldiers.

The party consisted of five people, with three women and two men. A male warrior and paladin. A mage, priest, and thief. It was pretty balanced. The party leader was either the girl with pink hair or the man with violet hair. They gave off contrasting vibes.

"Sorry to interrupt your time," Suzune took charge. The twin-tail thief noticed her first. "...I'd like to ask you a few questions." The thief diverted her attention. The other party members quickly became aware of Suzune.

"Oh? What is it?" The party's warrior asked.

Suzune introced herself. "My name is Suzune. A trainee volunteer soldier."

"Trainee volunteer soldier...? Ah, I'm Sou."

"—and here's Mako!" The priest brightly followed. Compared to most volunteer soldiers, and the residents of the town, she is pretty cheery.

"I'm Ryuji," said the paladin, bowing slightly.

"Yuki," the thief curtly responded.

The last member, the mage, smiled benevolently. "My name is Honami. I'll be happy to answer your questions if I can. But who is the man's name over there?"

"My name is Kiyotaka. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too," she kept staring at me for quite a while, then tilting her head. "...Have we ever met before?"

"Eh?"

She awkwardly laughed. "I'm sorry, I feel like I have known you before this. I know we never met before, but, long before that, though, who knows? You get what I'm trying to say?"

Suzune's countenance twitched. 

"—Anyway, what do you wanna ask?"

Suzune exhaled. "It's regarding the Old City of Damuro."

"That goblin nest, eh?" Sou interjected, reminiscing. "It's getting nostalgic. Well, it only happened a few months ago, though. Or less? I forgot."

"We're currently hunting in that place," Suzune ignored Sou. "I'm wondering about the next hunting grounds recommendation."

"I heard a group of eight people came just a week ago. It was you people, no?" Ryuji chimed in. Their party equipment wasn't that great, but they were better than ours. They hadn't recently become volunteer soldiers, according to Sou's testimony. 

"They're too weak." Suzune flatly remarked. "Slaughtering them will take a needlessly long time. Are there other appropriate enemy strongholds to hunt besides that?"

Ryuji sharpened his gaze. "Baseless confidence will knock you down."

Suzune was unfazed. "Thanks for the warning, but I had grounds for saying that. And of course, I have no intention of switching places immediately."

Honami briefly glanced at me before refocusing on Suzune. "Did you form a group of eight?"

"We did, yes."

"Hmm," she pondered for a moment. "Cyrene Mines is the secondary choice, but you'll have to be on constant guard for the Death Spots. It'll keep you guys on edge at all times. Well, the Deadhead Watching Keep is no different. Buut, with eight of you, and the enemy lineup surrounding the keep, I'd say it is an ideal hunting ground. Orcs are smarter than kobolds, and they'll be a worthy foe."

Orcs are humanoid creatures that not only possess human-like intelligence but are physically superior to us. Kobolds, conversely, were canine-looking creatures that stood on two legs similar to humans. 

"I see..." Suzune nodded. "Thank you for the answer."

"Don't sweat it. Let's have another chat at Sherry Tavern when there's a chance."

"I'll remember that."

'Seriously, why did you invite me...?' I wondered. Suzune and I went back to the lodge after that. I didn't see myself being useful from the time we got out of the lodge and coming back to it.

***

Whatever that means, the day went on, and we're on Old City again.

As I suggested, Suzune began to map Old City.

We bypassed the sites we visited yesterday and concentrated on expanding our hunting area, slaying specific groups of goblins like before during the process.

"—oof?!" Kanji sidestepped the goblin's small sword strike. He got a gash on his right arm while he did.

"—O Light, may Lumiaris' divine protection be upon you."

Yousuke sprung into action immediately with his light magic. Kanji's wound was deep enough to disrupt his mobility. It had been the right course of action. 'Still, what Kanji did is too careless, even by his standard.'

Kanji wasn't particularly adept at close combat. Though his panic tendencies were now subsiding, his lack of melee training and combat experience was poor. Well, he could perform his archery duties more than adequately.

"Nice assisst, Chiaki!"

Ken brushed aside the two shielded and fully armored goblins. He'd be able to handle them with ease now.

Chiaki had taken out the one goblin restraining Ken in one swift motion. Truthfully, she had always been playing safe. Her defense was minimal, and her skills were insufficient, so one hit could be fatal for her.

Chiaki would usually kick the enemy's legs, or stab them in the back before retreating immediately. Many of them were not so fatal and were more of a distraction. The only time she'll kill is when she is absolutely sure she will win, or at least the possibility is great.

"Mark em Parc."

Kikyou fired a Magic Missile toward one of the goblins I fought. It hit just to the side of its head as it went sprawling. I took that opportunity to impale the hobgoblin's throat, violently kicking it. 

"?!"

The leader goblin fell to its knees. Chiaki tried to slit its throat but wasn't fast enough and "Ugh!" she was forced to jump back. A little too late and her face would've been sliced.

"Kiyotaka-kun!" Suzune called out.

"I know."

I beheaded the goblin leader. Like always, they were weak.

'But with the party steadily stronger, it shouldn't take long before changing place.'

"Kiyotaka, man, do you have a trick for puncturing a bullseye? I tried the same, but ended up having my right hand nearly lost instead."

"It was nowhere near 'that' serious," Kei argued. 

"Oh, shove off. It's a figure of speech. Know that much."

Kanji and Kei didn't appear to be a perfect match. They fought over little things. On the other hand, their exchanges always lightened the mood. That is a positive aspect.

"Kiyotaka-kun is awesome," Kikyou appeared to feel that way genuinely. "He is consistent in his style, efficiently and swiftly slaying enemies with fluid maneuvers."

Suzune took the lid off her water flask, and chugged some of the contents, letting out a soft sigh in its wake. "Still, you're employing thrusting motions at an absurd rate. Well, that's not necessarily a negative point. Given that the enemy's armor gaps compel for it, and it's not like you'd avoid slashing if necessary."

"Well, then? What's the trick? Share it with me!"

I sighed. "There's no such thing. Go ask your instructor."

"Eh, that's a letdown."

It seems that my body still remembered what I'd gone through before coming to Grimgar. The know-how to control them had been the same. With that in mind, of course, I could tell the trouble executing a perfect thrust, a seemingly easy feat.

In some cases, it 'was' easy. In the case of my role and Ken's, or Kanji's, and evidently Chiaki's, it was a struggle. I suspected Suzune to be the same. 

That day, we earned a total of 32 silvers and 47 coopers. That would be 4 silvers and 5 coopers each, saving 7 coopers for Suzune to keep temporarily before sharing them again when the amount is balanced.

Reducing the price of food to 20 coopers in total (morning, afternoon, evening), and being forcibly taken shopping with the girls, costing an additional 1 silver and 5 coopers for a new shirt, pants, and underwear change. That's 40 coopers, 35 coopers, and 30 coopers respectively. Each girl and boy group pooled 50 coopers each for a padlock. The total expenditure for the day was 1 silver and 75 coopers, which left 2 silvers and 30 coopers from the hunt. Combined with yesterday's 4 silvers and 50 coopers, I had 6 silvers and 80 coopers on me.

'Just the other day, I checked the price of a regular head guard. It's 13 silvers,' I held my sigh. 'It looks like it'll take a long time before I can adequately equip myself.'