Kagu-tsuchi vigorously nodded, as his face went pale. Shinatobe then turned to Suijin. “The same warning goes to you, pile of muscles!”
Suijin spoke without changing his expression, “I came here because I wanted to. I suppose you forced Kagu-tsuchi, and that’s probably why he looks so angry.”
Shinatobe looked at the young boy that was sitting on his chair again. “That was only because he was acting like a spoiled brat, delaying his answer to my invitation. I never had any patience with him, and he knew that very well, and still, he pushed his luck. So, where were we…”
Shinatobe looked around the table and faced the dumbfounded looks upon her. She frowned as James Macdonald spoke, “You were not kidding when you said to me you trusted your life to her, Mister Alex… I never saw anyone moving at this speed and kicking someone with such strength, and a little girl nonetheless…”
Alex spoke while glancing at Shinatobe, who felt a little uncomfortable with his gaze, “Yes, but I prefer when she remains quiet and does not attract attention. I am also surprised by seeing Okami at this table, actually, considering that Shinatobe told me a Party of Adventurers wanted to hire me.”
“Indeed, but she told me you would bring backup. I was not counting on such a beautiful woman, a big man, and a young boy.”
Shinatobe spoke while staring at Kagu-tsuchi, “This brat won’t go, he will stay near me, so I can keep an eye on him. My Master’s backup is only those two. Given the danger the Quest could pose for my master, I prefer he has someone who would give their lives to save him in the event of danger, and that big-breasted woman is the only one I trust to do so, aside from me.”
Sarutahiko Okami frowned and answered that provocation, sounding a little annoyed. “Thanks for the vote of confidence disguised as an insult, you midget. Sorry, everyone, but our little Shinatobe tends to overreact sometimes, and now she is in a terrible mood. She normally is a sweet kid, but I think Kagu-tsuchi pushed her patience a little too far. With that being said, can someone explain to me a little more about our Quest? Like, why the need for a marriage between the second Princess of ‘The Republic of Beliersia’ and the Prince of this tiny Kingdom?”
James Macdonald cleared his throat to call for attention. “Aham… Well, I suppose you know that ‘Beliersia’ has a long-lasting alliance with the ‘Imamah of Sanstan’ and this Kingdom, and it is because of it that the ‘Galtian Khaganat’ in the south was stopped from increasing its territory many years ago. This marriage is to strengthen that alliance.”
Sarutahiko Okami nodded with a serious look towards Kagu-tsuchi that averted his eyes. “Yes, I am well aware, but I also know that the ‘Khaganat’ slowed down its greed after the death of their most powerful Mage Summoner that had a contract with a Spirit of Fire. Our previous Hero defeated that crazy Mage woman at a great expense. The remorse for having to kill her was too much for him to bear because he was a gentle soul, and he disappeared forever. His actions inspired the other countries to forge an alliance, not only to keep the ‘Khaganat’ under watch, but also to be sure no other country tried anything like that ever again. We have a lot of trouble with the Monsters that fall from the sky to waste our time, energy and life battling against each other.”
The fearful stare that Sarutahiko Okami was giving to Kagu-tsuchi, together with her words full of anger and resentfulness, was making him curl up in his chair.
Kagu-tsuchi knew well that Sarutahiko Okami was resented because he made a contract with that beautiful Mage and assisted her in starting a war that resulted in the deaths of thousands of beings. He knew he should have stopped her, but he loved her too much to go against her. He still remembered the pain he felt when she died when he tried to help her fight the previous Hero. Not even with all his Magic, he could defeat Sarutahiko Okami’s Magic, and Shinatobe was even more powerful. He knew he and his loved Mage Summoner wouldn’t stand a chance against that pair and the Hero, but love blinded him.
He swore to never make a contract with another Human again, and then that new Hero appeared, side by side with Shinatobe. Sarutahiko Okami was the second Spirit to make a contract with the new Hero, and Kagu-tsuchi knew that those two would be after him now that they had another Hero to protect, and to their eyes, Kagu-tsuchi was not trustworthy. Especially because the new Hero was the son of the previous one.
Kagu-tsuchi tried to avoid meeting the new Hero, and he would flee at the mere sight of Shinatobe or Sarutahiko Okami, but they were incessantly after him. It was only a matter of time until they caught him, and now he was at that table, surrounded by the three most powerful Spirits in the World who, together with him, represented the elements that ruled over everything. The strangest thing was that the Hero didn’t seem angry at him, he only looked puzzled.
Kagu-tsuchi raised his eyes a little at the sound of another voice. The Elfian woman was speaking, and she also sounded puzzled. “You are well informed, Miss Sarutahiko Okami. Judging by the amount of Earth Magic I sense around you, I could think that you are also an Elfian, minus the pointy ears, that is.”
Sarutahiko Okami made a gentle smile at the curious look of Pearl Pearson. “I am not an Elfian, daughter of the forest, but you could say I am a long-time friend. I am also surprised by seeing an Elfian, a Mermaid, and a Fairy in a Party of Human Adventurers. That’s something I don’t see very often. Does anyone care to tell me what happened for such powerful beings to join forces with these Humans? I am not even asking why you are working as Adventurers!”
Pearl Pearson shrugged. “All of us have our own circumstances to work as Adventurers. In my case, I want to see the World and kill as many Monsters as I can. As for the Fairy and the Mermaid, I don’t know, and I really don’t care. It’s none of my business. I met these Humans by chance, and I was told they were looking for an archer to join their Party. The Fairy joined us afterwards because she thought it was better to join a Party with another long-life like her. The Mermaid, well, she had a huge fight with the Fairy during one of our travels that led us to the ocean at East, and she joined us to annoy her as much as she could. They are sometimes friends, other times they are enemies, but most of the time they tolerate one another enough not to kill each other. Our voyages became a lot funnier with them around, that’s for sure!”
Sarutahiko Okami looked at the knocked-out Fairy, and Alex interrupted, “Mister James, I was told the voyage was extremely dangerous, and the King was having difficulties finding Adventurers to apply to it. Why do you and your Party want to do such a dangerous Quest?”
“Well, I could say it was our sense of duty, but I would be lying. It’s because of money and fame. If we bring the Princess safe and sound, we will not only earn a ton of money, but our Party will be well known. With fame comes trust in our Party, and instead of doing only Quests that require fighting with powerful Monsters, we could be hired for more escort Quests and security Quests, and those are very profitable without so much danger. We would all feel safer if you joined us because if you refuse, we might not do it. ”
Alex nodded and looked at the other members. They all seemed to wait for his answer, and Alex spoke after feeling Shinatobe squeezing his leg as a signal to accept, “We need to agree on my terms. For this long and dangerous voyage, I want ten gold coins and four Magic Orbs of my choosing. Considering the rumours of Monsters across the path we will take to get to the ‘Republic of Beliersia’ and back, I bet we will have plenty of opportunities to gather Orbs. You may keep all the Orbs we get from the Monsters we kill and divide them among yourselves as you deem fit. Okami and Suijin are my responsibility, so you don’t need to worry about their share.”
James Macdonald narrowed his eyes and asked, “Mister Alex, if they are joining, I would say they would have every right to a share of the Orbs. Not that I am complaining, but still…”
“No, I am the one up for hire. They will only come with us because Shinatobe is worried that I might be killed. Not that I believe a Monster could kill me if I was all alone, but I don’t want to see her worried. As for supplies for them, like horses and food, I think Shinatobe or Okami can take care of that.”
Suijin raised his right hand. “I can also hunt or do some fishing along the way, for us and everyone else. I may not be as skilled with a bow and arrow like this beautiful daughter of the sea, but my Water Spears are more than enough to grant us fresh meat or fish every day. As for rides, I don’t like horses. I prefer to use the bear that brought me here.”
James Macdonald gulped, “Your… ride is a bear? Like, a real bear?”
“Yes, a grizzly bear. If you think that’s too much, you should see the ride that Okami uses. I bet you never saw a deer so big!”
Pearl Pearson faced Okami with a puzzled look. “You ride a deer? Why would you use something like that? Their meat is delicious, and I never considered a deer good for anything else, except to be eaten or guard the forests!”
“Better if he doesn’t hear you say that, or you might be in trouble. I also have an Armoured Boar as my bodyguard, and if you try to hunt him, you will surely face your demise.”
James Macdonald made a big smile. “I think we have everything settled. Perhaps we can celebrate over a jar of wine after we sign the contract. Do you agree, Mister Alex?”
Alex nodded towards Shinatobe, and she quickly took an already prepared contract from her left sleeve and signalled a waiter to bring a feather and paint. Alex then looked at James Macdonald with a slight smile. “I prefer a cup of juice, if you don’t mind. I still need to talk in private with my friends and check our supplies list with Shinatobe and I can’t do that if I am drunk. Perhaps we can meet again tomorrow after lunch, to begin our voyage? This afternoon and tomorrow morning can be used to prepare the horses and the supplies.”
James Macdonald nodded and looked around at his companions. “Any questions before we sign?”
Bethany Matthews timidly raised her hand. “I… have a question… Not that I am afraid, but… Mister Alex… Do you think we will all return safe and sound?”
Alex saw Okami and Suijin nodding at him, and he faced Bethany with a serious look. “If it was only with me, it would be difficult if we faced a big group of Monsters, but with these two and their rides, we will for sure succeed. If by any chance we are cornered, we can always use the bear, the boar, and the deer as a distraction, and while the Monsters are fighting or eating them, we run to safety.”