Volume 3 Chapter 64 A Toast To A New Start
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Milady Sarah, I’m pouring it for you.”
”Yes. Thank you.”
”It’s been a while since you drank my special juice. I haven’t made it in ages.”
”My juice… Rufna, you…”
”Huh? Did I say something weird?”
”No, it’s nothing. More importantly, please add syrup. Pour about 3-quarters of the concentrate and keep the soda light.”
”…? Oh, got it.”
Rufna made a strange face.
She wore a casual outfit with a shoulder-baring shirt and pink hot pants that showed off her body.
Just thinking about the place where Kian conquered her last night made her face heat up again.
At the same time, seeing the beautiful elf with her hair down made her feel very down inside.
(Of course, he would fall for Rufna instead of that gorilla girl who has nothing inside but looks.)
He had nothing to do with Sarah anymore, and she too had no reason to feel jealous now. But still, seeing the boy she shared precious childhood moments with, who used to smile just for her, now with another girl, hit her hard.
In the end, it was Sarah who betrayed him, but it felt like he had his special memories of her thrown into the sea right in front of her.
Honestly, she felt more hurt by the confession of sleeping with the Witch from Izerland fortress than by yesterday’s events.
(It’s strange that I’m the one who can’t let go of childhood memories. My feelings for Kian are probably not love, but just my own unreasonable attachment. Just like swords and clothes, I just can’t throw them away. It must be that way. It has to be.)
He had grown so much, and showing this childish side to him was something she had to avoid at all costs.
Since they would be spending their days together as party members, she would see their intimate moments a lot.
If she kept these feelings bottled up, it would eventually show.
She had to get rid of them soon──.
A silence was almost about to settle at the breakfast table, but luckily, Kian noticed the awkward mood and quickly changed the subject.
”Natra, Rufna. Like I said before, Sarah will be helping us as a party member for a while. It’s a partnership based on mutual benefit. I want to gather powerful allies and become an advanced-rank Adventurer quickly. Sarah wants to earn a huge amount of money to build a shelter where she can hide her former friends. Our goal is to rise as Adventurers together, and that’s how we’ll succeed.”
”I’ll just follow Sir Kian’s wishes. As long as Lady Sarah cooperates, I’ll do my best too.”
”I don’t have any objections either. Nice to meet you. You probably have your own thoughts about us, but just think of it as business──money’s the priority. We’ll try to keep it formal on our side, too.”
”Thanks for your concern. I understand and accept that Natra and Rufna are no longer the same── dead, even. But… when someone says the girl who looks like my sister is someone different inside…”
”I get that you’re troubled. Sorry about that.”
Kian said this while sipping from his glass.
Sarah gently shook her head.
”They died on a mission failure. Kian made them his familiars to survive. It would be a lie to say I don’t feel that way, but I don’t have any plans to revenge or harm you. I want to cooperate as much as possible within our mutual interests. Thank you for your continued support.”
That was honestly how Sarah felt.
Even if she’s wearing the skin of her sister or a close witch she once knew, inside, there’s no alien monster or complete puppet master ruling them──their personality seems the same.
Their core are still their own.
More than feeling creeped out, she sometimes think they’re freer now, living more on their desires without the chains of religion.
Sometimes she even envy them more than she find them disturbing.
It’s not right to forgive Kian, who killed 2 people and turned them into familiars, but Nakash’s side started it all, so it’s natural that the apostles died in the process.
If she had to say, the real cause is herself, who couldn’t stop her father Shajar from suggesting they launch an attack.
So it’s wrong to blame Kian, Natra, or Rufna now.
”We need a lot of money. Specifically, enough for about 40 people to live for 2 years and to buy land in Dacia. Roughly, once I become an advanced-rank Adventurer and can take high-paying jobs from strong people around the world, it might be possible. I have to do my best for my friends suffering in Azrael.”
”I’ve mostly heard about the plan from Sir Kian. Unlike becoming a true advanced-rank Adventurer, if you stay at just an advanced-rank, I think you can get promoted quickly by continuing to accept requests above Rank 2. Lady Sarah’s real battle will start once she has money and land.”
”Yeah, I don’t think it’s easy to rise to Rank 4 Adventurer, but gathering bandits in Azrael or running farms in the Margrave territory sounds even tougher.”
”Sarah, I’m sorry, but we can help you only as fellow Adventurers. We can lend money or give you some extra gear, but that’s the limit. Please understand.”
”No, I can’t borrow money or gear from you. If I get killed in Azrael, all my investments will be lost. I can’t do such dishonor to those who saved my life.”
Kian closed his eyes and muttered, “I see,” then took a deep breath.
Then he opened his eyes and looked around at the people sitting there.
It was a signal to change the subject.
”For now, let’s aim to become advanced-rank Adventurers and work hard together. We can talk about the details after we’ve advanced. By then, both the world and our situations might have changed a lot. Sarah, get registered at the Izerland fortress’s Adventurer Guild. You’ve killed too many Adventurers in Châtillon, so it’s best not to get too close to their dens. Set your Adventurer home in East End.”
”I shall accompany Lady Sarah. There’s much to learn about being an Adventurer.”
”──That’s what Natra is saying, but what do you think, Sarah? I can accompany you after we’re done at the fortress.”
”I’ll leave it to Natra. Please take care of me.”
”Sure, Lady Sarah. Registration is simple. Just think of a pseudonym to register under. I’m registered as Kitsune, and Rufna is Tengu.”
”Got it.”
”Then,”
Kian stood up with his glass in hand.
Natra and Rufna followed, and Sarah trailed them a moment later.
Kian raised his glass, looking around at everyone.
”A toast to our new companions.”
”Cheers.”
”Cheers! Nice to meet you.”
”Please treat me well. Cheers.”
The sound of glasses clinking together echoed one after another.
Sarah watched Kian’s lips touch the rim of his glass and then took a sip of her own juice.
Suddenly, the sweet taste that spread in her mouth made her raise her eyebrows.
”Mmm…”
”What’s wrong, Milady Sarah? Is it too sweet after all?”
”Well, I put in 3 parts of the concentrate…”
”Lady Sarah, that’s more than half. I only used a quarter of that.”
Kian and Rufna scowled, while Natra pointed it out calmly.
Sarah shook her head slightly and looked at Rufna.
”Syrup, could you add a bit more? I still feel like it’s not thick enough with just 3 parts of the concentrate.”
Though she meant to say something very serious, Rufna turned slightly pale and gasped, “Eh?” upon hearing it.
Kian had a serious expression on his face.
Natra, for some reason, had sparkling eyes.
After a moment of hesitation, Sarah decided to wink playfully at Rufna and Kian.
”My motto is that juice and life should be sweet. My taste is normal, so please don’t hold any weird biases, okay?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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