NOVEL ONLINE FREE Ch67 - Departure
Chapter 67: Departure
With the Spirit Festival successfully concluded, Rena and her party decide to leave Rachelle two days later.
The reason for the two-day delay? Rena, overly excited by the festival stalls, indulged in a bit too much food, leading to an upset stomach and a day spent in bed.
A pale Rena coined the unfortunate phrase, “Excessive appetite leads to ruin.”
▽This profound saying was spread by the Red Missionary!
Their plan is to leave the Aneese Kingdom, cross the natural reserve grasslands, and reach the port city where the large ship bound for the Jeanie Continent is anchored.
The port city is said to be a vast and lively place, jointly funded by several countries.
Several countries from the Mirei Continent, including the Aneese Kingdom, and the Demon Kingdom each have large commercial establishments there, handling their own specialty products.
Needless to say, Rena and her familiars’ eyes sparkle at this news.
Excited by the prospect of delicious food and cute children’s clothes, Queen Rena promptly forgets her own wise words.
They decide to leave Rachelle early in the morning.
This is a preemptive measure to avoid being seen off with grand salutes by the Red Followers.
Rena wears a large light brown robe over her red one to avoid standing out.
Kureha and Izumi are hidden inside the robe’s hood. With the shrunken Hamaru on her shoulder, the vanished Lily, and the inconspicuous Luca, they stealthily walk through the streets.
They pass through the still-dark, deserted streets and reach the city gate.
They see a familiar gatekeeper near the small gate.
When he says, “Please come visit again. We await your return, Red Queen,” Rena bursts into tears and laughter… It seems she has grown attached to Rachelle after their long stay.
Looking back at the city, they see Nessie and Fine somersaulting in the sky, enveloped in shining wind. They wave with smiles, and Rena and her party wave back.
No matter how many times it happens, parting with friends is sad.
Promising to definitely visit again, Rena speaks cheerfully to her companions, managing to maintain a smile as she sniffles.
She turns and quietly leaves the city. A cool exit.
“Have a safe journey! Red Queen!”
…Such an exit was not to be.
As if planned, followers emerge from their homes and side streets, all performing a synchronized salute they’ve somehow practiced.
Snap! Their waists are bent at a perfect 90-degree angle!
It’s a spectacular surprise farewell.
Rena’s eyes widen. Furthermore, the spirit sisters sing a farewell song.
The plants react to the song, growing rapidly and blooming large flowers as if to celebrate the departure of the spirits’ friends.
It’s a noisy departure, typical of Rena and her party.
The Red Missionary, who cultivated this follower power, looks satisfied. Let’s pinch him.
Although she wanted to avoid attention, Rena seems happy to be told “Have a safe journey.”
She knows that those words also carry the gentle meaning of “Come back again.”
Someday.
She’ll surely return to Rachelle, cheerfully announcing, “I’m home!”
Waving until their arms ache, Rena and her party finally leave Rachelle.
＊＊＊
As a side note, let’s describe the state of the Aneese Kingdom’s cheerful residents after Rena’s departure.
The city of Rachelle, now devoid of adventurers enthusiastically saluting, is a little quieter than before.
Thanks to the renovated labyrinth and the Great Spirit, it’s bustling with tourists… but the Red Followers sometimes look up at the sky with melancholic eyes.
Amidst the voices lamenting Rena’s departure, the news that everyone’s idols, Nessie and Fine, have started wearing red ribbons becomes a hot topic.
This is it…！
The combination of the labyrinth’s blue and the queen’s red has somehow become recognized as Rachelle’s symbol colors. Oh dear.
The followers are overjoyed by this dream collaboration.
Thus, Rena’s dark history is passed down through generations in Rachelle.
▽Rena acquires the title [Great Person]!
How are her friends in Toyria doing?
First,
On business days, long lines of customers, unusual for a new flower shop, form, and flowers are sold one after another.
The most popular item is the relatively safe [Super-Speed Slime Gummy Flower] seeds.
The Super-Speed series seeds have become Patricia’s signature product.
Although there were concerns about being targeted by established flower shops due to her popularity… those seeking ordinary flowers go to other shops, so she’s not monopolizing the customers.
Also, people think she’s blessed with good fortune because her shop is favored by the spirits. It’s wonderful that Toyria has a shop connected to the spirits! This positive perception has allowed her to build good relationships with other flower shops.
Patricia finally expresses her heartfelt gratitude to the Maiden of Wind and Water.
As for the genius child buyer, Alice, she easily passes the commerce exam.
She, of course, answers all the difficult written exam questions correctly, and in the oral examination, she impresses the examiners with her eloquent speaking skills, surpassing even seasoned veterans.
The rumor of a terrifying newcomer quickly spreads among merchants, leading to a flood of inquiries and a busy schedule filled with meetings.
She seems to be working hard to acquire new clients.
Mosura accompanies his small master, flawlessly handling the work of ten people as a butler.
His excellence as a butler is evident to everyone, and he receives many recruitment offers, but he rejects them all, further enhancing Alice Stuart’s reputation. People think that Alice must be an exceptional merchant to have such a capable butler.
Thus, the foundation for the legendary merchant, Alice Stuart, is laid.
Nessie and Fine’s spirit live performances are always a hit!
The Blue Stage, held daily in the Labyrinth
Faith in the spirit idols continues to surge.
Rachelle’s inns and souvenir shops are booming.
And, although it’s debatable whether she should be called a friend… let’s report on the ikemen-loving newbie guild receptionist, who everyone seems to be curious about.
Surprisingly, she’s no longer a guild receptionist.
Why? She met a very handsome businessman who was visiting as a tourist, fell in love within five minutes, secured a marriage proposal, and retired from her job.
Her former colleagues happily sent her off to the capital, while adventurers expressed their disappointment.
She moved into a luxurious mansion and was expected to live a rosy life as the wife of a handsome man, but… she couldn’t overcome her love for handsome men and continued to flirt with various ikemen.
And her husband, who decided to marry a beautiful woman after only five minutes of knowing her, is easily swayed by appearances.
The path of these two similar individuals is anything but smooth, and although they are married, they seem to have lived a tumultuous life.
Well, the details aren’t worth writing about, so let’s end it here.
＊＊＊
Back to Rena’s story.
After crossing the border of the Aneese Kingdom, it takes about seven days to reach the port city by carriage.
Of course, it can be reached faster, so geographically speaking, it’s not that far in Ranache.
And, riding a sprinting sheep, they can arrive with astonishing speed.
Hamaru has been running across the grasslands at considerable speed during the day for several days.
As they approach the port city, they deviate from the shortest route to procure food, nimbly knocking aside monsters.
Although they can buy meat since the city is close, Rena decides to gather raw meat to save money.
The Star Jewel Slimes, now the size of melons, have become even more voracious, and if she buys food at shops every time, her wallet will be empty in no time.
Although she possesses considerable latent wealth in the form of jewels and other valuables in her magic bag, she needs Alice to convert them into cash.
Yes, that Alice Stuart, who is currently a raging child… terrifying… saving money is important.
…Incidentally, Rena has already been scolded once by Alice.
After nervously calling Alice after the commerce exam, Alice cheerfully said, “Thank you for the congratulations and Star Jewels!”, and then proceeded to give her a lengthy lecture.
Apparently, another lecture awaits when she reunites with Alice and Mosura.
Rena, torn between looking forward to the reunion and dreading it, makes a strange face.
Let’s forget about that for now.
She’ll face the music eventually, but not now. Let’s praise the familiars for their hard work.
“You defeated so many. Har-kun, you’re so strong!”
“Ehehe, leave it to me. I’ll do my best so as not to embarrass you as your ride, Rena-sama.”
Behind the giant sheep, who has stopped to chat with his master, lie more than ten defeated monsters.
He targeted monsters with tasty meat.
Lily and Luca, the magic eye duo’s guidance is impeccable.
“Woohoo!”
Kureha and Izumi jump off Hamaru’s head and glide across the ground towards the food.
They prioritize the stunned, dizzy monsters, pouncing on them and absorbing them into their jelly bodies.
Inside their translucent, sparkling bodies, the monsters’ bones, muscles, and fat are grotesquely visible…
“Skill [Message], Kureha, Izumi.
I want to use the loin and thigh meat of that giant sheep for cooking later, so can you butcher it and set it aside?
Let’s make tomato stew tomorrow.”
“Okay!”
Although this grotesque scene would horrify ordinary people, Rena is used to it.
She’s resilient. She can now proudly call herself a Ranache resident… She watches her cute children eating happily with a smile.
Luca squints, dazzled by Rena’s pure, cloudless smile.
“Har-kun has evolved into an adult sheep and is easier to ride than before. I don’t have to worry about falling off, so the journey is even more comfortable!”
“That’s great. It would be a disaster if you fell, so I’ll do my best as a backrest.”
“Indeed! Work hard!”
“Thank you, Luca.
I can run faster now that I don’t have to worry about Rena-sama falling off.”
“Sorry for my lack of athletic ability…”
Rena’s eyebrows droop dejectedly.
“If I remember correctly, you used to cling to Hamaru’s fleece to withstand the high speed.
He seemed happy, so I don’t think you need to worry.”
“Hee hee! Har-kun likes a little pain, doesn’t he…?”
Rena thinks Hamaru’s sparkling eyes are dazzling.
It’s a little scary when he twists his neck almost 180 degrees to look at her.
“Yes! It’s a reward!
But it’s not indiscriminate. It’s because it’s given by Rena-sama that I find pain and restraints pleasurable.”
He’s been trained.
“Ahh, the guilt…!”
“You can take responsibility and tie him up and step on him later, Rena.
More importantly, it looks like Kureha and Izumi are done butchering.”
“…Kep. Thank you for the meal!”
Rena’s inner conflict is casually dismissed.
They were discussing S&M, but it seems Kureha and Izumi have finished their meal and butchering at just the right time.
Their bodies several times larger, they approach with a wobbly gait.
Their comical and slow walk makes them seem like easy targets for surrounding monsters, but the monsters, sensing danger instinctively, tremble and stay away.
“Skill [Electrify].”
Meanwhile, Luca deals with the foolish creatures that dare to target the slimes by zapping them with lightning from afar.
Although the [Electrify] skill should only affect those touched, the versatile Luca can use it as a ranged attack.
This time, they’ve obtained mutton, rabbit meat, and wild beef.
Rena stores only the tender and delicious parts in her magic bag for cooking.
She also stores the long-lasting bones in a separate magic bag. These will be snacks for the slimes when they get hungry.
Since Luca joined, they have more magic bags and more storage space.
Their journey is becoming increasingly comfortable.
As they’re about to resume their journey to the port city… Lily speaks up.
“I see a big, black, round rock in the distance. Is that a monster…?”
Professor Lucapedia squints at the black rock.
“A Daidamond Ball.
A rather rare monster.
It can survive on rainwater alone, so it usually just stays in one place and doesn’t attack. It moves by rolling.
The name ‘Daidamond’ comes from the fact that it’s as hard as a diamond but has no value as a gem, so it’s named ‘diamond-like.’
The broken black rock is used as a high-grade abrasive.
It’s a very hard monster, but its surface can be cracked by heating it and then rapidly cooling it.
It has a core called a [Polishing Stone].”
“A Polishing Stone…?”
“It’s an item that, when someone’s reflection is cast upon it, bestows upon them exquisite beauty in one specific aspect for a certain period.
The effect varies depending on the stone. For example, face, body shape, speech, mind, etc. It’s quite specific.”
“Hee. It’s a rare monster… Then let’s defeat it.”
The Daidamond Ball is quite far away and hasn’t noticed them yet.
It’s a troublesome monster to defeat, but… Rena seems motivated.
She immediately uses the [Inspire] skill on her familiars.
“I thought you’d want to avoid it…?”
When Luca tilts his head, Rena shakes hers with a resigned expression and a cynical smile.
“A rare monster. Carrying an item. …There’s no way we’d encounter such a creature and just ignore it, right?
So, we’ll kill it before it kills us.”
“Understood. Yeah, that makes perfect sense. What’s the plan?”
Rena beams.
Now.
Currently, Hamaru, Rena, and Luca are in the back, and Izumi is waiting on Hamaru’s head.
Lily is struggling to carry Kureha and flies towards the Daidamond Ball.
Just in case, they’ve vanished using [Illusion].
“This is about right above it… Kureha, good luck!”
“Aye aye, sir! Heave-ho!”
Lily releases Kureha from above, and Kureha stretches her body into a large net.
As she falls, she activates her new skill.
“Skill [Flaming Dharma]!”
Her net-like body is engulfed in flames.
Whoosh! The space above the Daidamond Ball is dyed a scorching red. Unable to escape the sudden attack, it’s caught in the net of fire.
It struggles and tries to roll away, but it can’t escape the elastic slime net.
Luca checks the monster’s surface temperature.
“…Okay, it’s good.”
“Skill [Message], Kureha! He says it’s okay!”
At Rena’s signal, Kureha quickly releases the net and scurries away from the monster.
Faint flames still flicker on the monster’s surface, and the smell of burning reaches Rena and her party.
Confused, the monster spins in place.
“…Light Magic [Sanctuary]!”
Luca encloses the Daidamond Ball in a large, holy barrier of light.
This is to prevent the upcoming magic from leaking outside the barrier.
“Alright! I’m fired up! Water Magic [Fountain]!”
And Izumi unleashes the finishing blow!
A rumbling sound, like an earthquake, emanates from the ground…
Although Izumi is trying her best to control her magic power, the ultimate magic seems to have an incredible amount of power.
Oh, this might be bad? Rena thinks, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Luca, peering into the ground, calmly expands the barrier’s range.
…BOOOOOOM!!
Just in time!
The ground within the barrier cracks open, and groundwater erupts with the force of a flash flood!
Rapidly cooled by the cold water, the Daidamond Ball shatters into pieces.
“Gotcha!”
The adults sigh in relief.
Rena reaches out to Izumi, who is stretching tiredly, and gently strokes her, praising her for her hard work.
By the time the geyser subsides, a small, unnatural spring has formed in a corner of the grasslands, and black polishing stones glitter at the bottom.
Rena kneels by the spring, reaches into the water, and retrieves a small white stone.
It’s the Polishing Stone.
She tightly clutches the stone in her palm, careful not to let it reflect her image.
“Should I wrap it in cloth for now?”
“Yeah. There are probably skilled jewelers in the Demon Kingdom, so you can have it made into a locket pendant.
That way, you can use it whenever you want.
Once it’s used, it turns into ordinary crystal, so think carefully about the timing.
Um… this one seems to have the effect of refining one’s [Speech].”
“Eh. Isn’t that a bit plain?”
“Yeah! I thought Rena would attract a Polishing Stone with a more special effect.”
“No, this is fine… I’m not lacking in special items…”
Rather, I don’t need any more. That’s what Rena’s strained expression says.
“Maybe this is fate.
I think there will come a time when you’ll need this Polishing Stone.
I’m sure you’ll choose the right moment, Rena. …Hmm? I can use this in my next sermon.”
“Please restrain yourself, Luca-san.”
“Queen Rena～♪”
That’s enough of this amusing conversation.
Sensing people approaching the geyser, Luca gives the signal, and they stealthily leave.
As they walk along the road, pretending nothing happened, the people they pass are talking about the new spring. “A spring has appeared!” “They say there’s high-grade abrasive at the bottom!”
They left the high-grade abrasive as it was.
Since the extremely hard abrasive is mainly used for cutting gems, it’s not very useful, and although it’s apparently expensive, they’re not short on money.
More importantly, they were worried about being questioned as the first discoverers.
Walking the rest of the way without incident, Rena and her party finally reach the port city.
The vast ocean, visible even from the gate, excites Rena.
She sees many ships, large commercial buildings, and glimpses of food stalls.
The lively voices unique to a port city reach her ears.
She’ll surely see more of Ranache’s beautiful scenery.
Believing that fun things await, Rena smiles faintly and starts thinking about tonight’s dinner menu, featuring seafood.