Volume 1 Chapter 16 Continuing The Journey
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”That Ade-Ade… What is this…”
John had said he was going out. But he still hadn’t returned.
If it had just been a late night, it wouldn’t have been strange. But when two days passed with no sign of him, worry began to creep in. Even if he had left without a word, it didn’t make sense that he would abandon his little sister, Adelina.
Something must have happened.
With that fear weighing heavily on them, Deena and Elide sat in silence, holding their heads in their hands.
They had no way to search for him, no leads to follow. So, all they could do was wait—hoping he’d come walking through the door and laugh it off like some misunderstanding. But days passed like drifting clouds, and nothing changed.
Adelina stood quietly by the window, eyes always turned to the path he’d taken.
Though she couldn’t speak, it wasn’t in them to turn her away. She wasn’t a burden—thanks to their supplies, they had enough food, and Adelina always tried to help however she could. Despite being a stranger, she had become part of their home.
Still, even without words, it was clear she was worried about her brother.
Four days had passed.
Deena and Elide made a decision. They would talk to her. It wasn’t right to hide it any longer. They had to tell her that John had gone missing—and that she was welcome to stay with them as long as she wanted.
But Adelina surprised them.
”…I want to help. Can I borrow a horse?”
She had written the words down on a sheet of paper from their late father’s study.
Elide blinked, confused. “What… do you mean?”
Adelina began writing again, her pen swift and graceful. It was clear—this wasn’t something she picked up from watching others. She had been formally educated.
Deena read the new message aloud:
’I have a unique skill. I saw him being imprisoned. Please lend me a horse.’
Deena and Elide froze in disbelief.
⋯
”What…?!”
Klock was stunned.
Ignoring the collapsed Tiet, Adelina grabbed his hand and dashed outside. They sprinted through the meadow, and he could hear something massive stomping behind them.
Heavy, shaking footsteps.
”…Is that a golem?!”
A towering stone figure burst into view behind them. Just one, but it stood over three meters tall, moving with surprising speed.
”Dammit, I’m out of shape!”
Panting hard, Klock trailed behind Adelina. He’d spent the last four days barely eating and lying around indoors. His stamina had dropped hard.
…And if he was honest with himself, he was still feeling the aftereffects of some, uh, private activity from earlier.
Embarrassing. Absolutely not something he could ever admit out loud.
Adelina pointed ahead. Horses.
Someone had tied them near the treeline—perfect for escape.
But—
”We’re not gonna make it before it catches us!”
The golem was gaining. Its footsteps thundered behind them, growing louder with every second. They wouldn’t reach the horses in time.
They needed a plan. Either slow it down… or risk everything in a dash.
Klock made a split-second choice.
”Adelina! I’ll take this thing down. You get to the horses and wait for me!”
It was unexpected—for a small-time thief like him to make a stand.
He turned to face the golem, crouching low into a stance.
No weapons. They’d been taken from him at some point. He had one move left.
Strangely, the golem slowed. It stared at him, unmoving.
This one wasn’t a dumb automaton. It had intent. Controlled, perhaps—remotely operated.
And behind that glowing red gem in its head… someone was watching.
Possibly one of the other members of the Hero’s Party. Maybe even Zol.
”If it swings sideways, I dodge back! Come on, just attack me from the front…”
He narrowed the gap, waiting for a head-on strike. That was his only chance.
They stared each other down. Sweat ran down Klock’s face, stinging his eyes.
He shifted slightly—then stumbled.
His foot caught on a rock. A total rookie mistake.
Crap.
The golem seized the chance.
It crouched and lunged, the ground splitting beneath its feet. A massive hand reached toward him.
It wasn’t swinging. It was going to grab him.
Maybe to crush him. Maybe to capture him.
But against Klock… that was the wrong move.
Sitting awkwardly on the ground, he still smirked.
”Bandit (Plunder) — Activate.”
Just before the hand reached him, Klock’s fingers brushed the golem’s surface.
A flash of red.
The golem froze mid-motion.
In Klock’s palm: a glowing red gemstone. Its core.
”…Whew. That was way too close.”
He stood, tossing the core aside. The golem’s massive body trembled—and went still.
”Sorry, pal. I’m kinda good against golems.”
His skill didn’t work on living things. And it wasn’t all-powerful—he could only use it about once a day, and only if the enemy had an item or core that counted as “possessed.”
But this time, it had paid off.
Klock rushed back to Adelina. She was safe, standing silently beside the horse, her face as unreadable as ever.
Oddly, her expression brought him a strange sense of peace.
”Alright. I’ll take the reins.”
She nodded.
Klock mounted behind her and, recalling how to ride, steered the horse straight forward.
”…Nnh.”
”Huh? You want me to go that way?”
She gave another small sound, and pointed toward the forest.
Normally, he’d have refused. But after all this? She’d saved his life. He wasn’t about to ignore her.
Besides, she probably knew where to go. He sure didn’t.
He had no way of knowing that the direction she pointed led into the Sekrei Forest—deep in the Federation territory, a place swarming with monsters.
He followed without question.
They rode into the woods. Soon, Adelina tapped his knee lightly.
”What is it?” he asked.
She pointed downward, to the ground.
A signal to stop?
The forest floor was uneven, tangled with roots and wild grass—not the best terrain for a horse.
Still, Klock brought them to a halt and climbed down, confused.
”…You need a break? Or is it the bathroom?”
In reply, Adelina gently tapped the horse’s rear three times.
Notes:
• John – A pseudonym used by Klock.
• Adelina – The slave girl.
• Deena – A 21-year-old unmarried woman. Her appearance is that of a beautiful woman wearing black mourning attire. She is grieving the recent loss of her father in a maritime accident. Deena is the older sister of Elide and is initially mistaken by Klock for a widow.
• Elide – A 19-year-old woman, Deena’s younger sister. Her appearance is described as cute with a youthful, innocent face. She is engaged to a man who is currently away on a long-term fishing expedition and is expected to return in three months.
• Tiet – A companion and friend of Anna. A holy knight from the royal capital. She wears light armor and carries a shield adorned with a dragon holding a sword, indicating her affiliation with the National Military Police. She is concerned about Anna’s well-being and tries to support her emotionally.
• Zol – An adventurer and drinking buddy of Klock. He appears with Heysl to intervene in the confrontation between Klock and Sylvia.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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