The quest was quite simple. It asked the quest taker to go and chop down Mahorka trees. A tough but common tree growing in the forest surrounding Purwa. The request asked for sixty meters of wood, chopped in ten parts.
“So this world uses the metric system as well?” Remy asked, holding the quest paper in his hands as they stood before the guild building.
“Originally, there’s no unified measurement system, but your people brought it here.”
“Ah, I see… That will make things easier.”
“That’s just one of the things people brought. Calendar, technology, stuff like that. Even before them, these kinds of things existed here, but each region had its own style. Now, they’re all mixed together.”
Remy wondered if this counted as colonization. It was similar to how Europe conquered the world, bringing their culture with them. While it was an interesting line of thought, he reminded himself of the quest on hand. They were facing an entirely different problem. The quest didn’t list any details. No map, no instructions, nothing. Just logs. Lots of them. Remy had no experience of cutting down trees outside games. He assumed that the trees here wouldn’t float in the air once he cut their branches down. He needed to cut them according to the request. Heck, he needed to find them in the first place. He didn’t even understand how to use the silver key.
“Any ideas on where to start?” he asked. Atilia brought her hand to her chin. “How about getting some equipment?”
“Neither of us have any money, though?” Even back on Earth, Remy kept most of his money in his bank account. Had he been transported with his wallet, there wouldn’t be much inside. What was inside would be worthless, being in a different currency.
“Oh, right… Guess we’ll just have to wing it.” Atilia began walking, heading toward the gate. Most of the trees that he passed on his way into the city were located next to the walls. The farther it went, the less dense the tree cover became. He wasn’t sure, but he felt that those trees weren’t the ones mentioned. They were simply too close to the city, too easy in a way.
“Maybe we can ask the city guards?” Remy said.
“That can work… or…” Atilia averted her gaze, looking down.
“Atilia?”
“I… I may have another solution for this.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“I…”
Seeing Atilia doubt herself, Remy shook her head.
“If you don’t want to say it, don’t force yourself.”
“You… Nah… it’s just… I’m being egotistical.”
“We’ll just ask the guards, that will lead us in the right direction, hopefully. Since this world has magic, maybe we can use it to cut the trees down, or maybe borrow an ax from someone,” Remy began mumbling his thoughts. Atilia looked up at him.
“But that would take a while. The… method… I could use… would point us to our destination immediately.”
“But you’re clearly uncomfortable with it.”
“I… Come with me.” She pulled Remy away from the guild. They followed the main road, Atilia searching for a smaller road. She managed to find a secluded place and guided Remy there.
“Where are we heading?” Remy asked, but Atilia remained silent. She brought him deeper, making sure there was no one nearby before she let go.
“What are we doing here?”
“Keep your voice down.”
“... Alright.”
“The truth is… I still have a connection with the heavens. I can use it to ask for help,” Atilia looked down. “But… I don’t like relying on them. Other angels couldn’t mess with this world too much, and I just… dislike the idea. It’s egotistical, I know-”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Huh?” Atilia looked up.
“We can deal with this on our own. If you’re uncomfortable with asking for help, you don’t need to force yourself. I mean, it’s not like we’re in a life-and-death situation, right? And we can still ask others for help as well.”
Atilia nodded. She turned back toward the main road, but before she took her steps, her eyes widened.
“You can ask for help any time, Atilia!” came a cheerful voice, sounding a bit childish. Remy turned around, curious.
Standing behind him was a girl wearing the same white dress as Atilia. She had shoulder-level golden hair and silver eyes, the opposite of Atilia’s hair and eye color. Her looks felt oddly reminiscent of Atilia. Despite that, she looked threatening for whatever reason. She turned her head toward Remy and grinned. Remy took a step back.
“Kathy, what are you-” Atilia asked, but before she could say anything else, the girl leaped forward and scooped Remy up into her arms.
“Huh!?”
“Kathy! Wait!” Atilia yelled behind her. The girl kicked her foot, leaping up to the sky, Remy carried along with her.
“WOAH!” Remy screamed, not daring to look down. The girl landed on a roof and began hopping around from one ceiling to the next. Like a squirrel, she showed little struggle as she flew, leaping without fear.
“So you’re the vessel, huh?” Kathy asked, her eyes on her next footing.
“Vessel? What do you mean!?”
Kathy didn’t answer. Instead, she continued hopping from one place to the next, leaving Atilia behind in the dust. Eventually, her eyes spotted a good place. She made a perfect landing, touching down above someone’s roof. After she stopped, she let Remy down. Remy looked toward the ground and immediately shrunk. He pulled himself back to the center of the roof, sitting down, his body shivering.
“... Who are you?” he asked while trying to forget about the fact that he was several meters off the ground. He wouldn’t die if he fell, probably, but he would rather not get some broken bones because of it. Healing magic may exist, but he wasn't sure. He wouldn't be able to handle the pain during the wait anyway. The thoughts caused him to shiver some more, wishing inside for a way to get off this roof. The angel, meanwhile, looked unaffected by this height.
“I’m Kathy, an angel like Atilia.” Kathy gave him a wide grin. “And you’re Remy Artinia, the boy that took Atilia away,” she said, not giving him any chance for introductions.
“... Can I know why you are here?” Remy asked.
“Of course, not like it’s a secret,” she waltzed to one end of the roof. “I monitor this world. One of my jobs is giving the Goddess daily reports.”
“So you saw Atilia and decided to come?”
“Yeah. I heard about her coming into this world and decided to check on her. Also to see who kidnapped her here.” She poked on Remy's forehead with a grin.
“I didn’t kidnap her, though… I mean, she agreed.”
“I know, I know.” Kathy looked toward the mountains in the distance. Her eyes navigated downward. Atilia sprinted toward them, going past the crowd of people.
“I don’t have much time, so let me reveal a little secret to you.” She brought her finger in front of her mouth and did a sinister-looking wink. “Her main reason for marrying you is because she wanted to come here.”
“... Huh?”
“She’s a guide angel. Her role is to guide people to the afterlife. I’m a guard angel, and I’m supposed to fight demons, although I need to be careful. In other words, I can go wherever I need to go, but she’s stuck in heaven.”
Atilia looked up, spotting the two of them, and searched for a way to climb. Kathy looked at her and let out a little giggle.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“I’m still an angel, so I can fly freely. She’s an ex-angel. She can probably use magic, but she lost most of her powers.” Kathy said while Atilia struggled to climb up a building in the distance. Remy couldn’t help but be worried.
“Will she be alright?”
“She will, don’t worry.”
Atilia managed to find a footing on someone’s window, using it to climb farther up.
“So, still willing to take her as your wife?”
“I…” He didn’t know. The question wasn’t about him. To be honest, he didn’t care. He wanted her, and he would be happy as long as she stayed by his side. Yet, he didn’t want to hold her behind, either. He knew that as a normal human, he wouldn’t be able to offer much to the angel he took as his wife.
“I couldn’t force her to be with me, though.”
“What if you can’t receive any other cheat as a replacement?”
“As long as Atilia can do the thing she wants, I’ll be fine. She can go around this world without being stuck to me, right?”
Kathy let out a long breath.
“Yeah. She can. Don’t need to worry about that.” Kathy let out a softer smile. “Oh, she’s here. Here you go, a little guidebook for you. See ya.” Kathy waved and disappeared. Not long after, Atilia arrived on the roof. She stopped and took a quick breather, wiping the sweat off her forehead.
“Where… where did she go?” Atilia asked, looking for her fellow angel who had disappeared as quickly as she appeared.
“... Umm… Atilia?”
“... She said something, didn’t she?”
“About me being your vessel? That’s a weird word to use, though.”
“Technically, I’m here because I’m riding on your reincarnation.”
“As in… a boat?”
“Mind if I sit here?” Atilia pointed toward the roof section next to him.
“Of course. This isn’t even my roof.”
She rested her body on the tiles, careful to not slide down. “Did she tell you about everything?” Atilia asked after she settled into place.
“... What’s everything?”
“Would you rather hear it from my mouth?”
Remy nodded, although he truly didn’t get what she meant. Atilia wanting to come here didn’t sound like ‘everything’.
“What she said is… true. I was bored from being in heaven all the time, so when given the chance, I immediately took it. I was too excited to offer you the extra ability you deserved. And, if you want, you can still replace me with an ability.”
“And send you back to heaven?”
“Ye-”
“Not doing it.”
"-s." Atilia blinked at his response. She leaned in closer. “Why, though? You sure you can survive this world without a cheat?”
“I mean… the people that lived here could.”
“They learned magic from a young age.”
“I’ll just have to start learning.” He let out a nervous chuckle. He knew it wouldn’t be as easy as a video game. He couldn’t be able to press a button and somehow send fire arrows, nor could he drink some potion and have improved eyesight. He wouldn't be able to suddenly be an expert swordsman or a strong vanguard. Without a cheat or an ability, he must start from zero. It would be tough, for sure, but he committed to finding a way. He could use his outworlder status as leverage, for example. He wouldn't be able to provide proof, but based on their interaction with Mimiyat, he didn't need one.
“If you don’t want to be with me, then that’s alright,” Remy said, trying to hold the pain deep in his chest. He should have expected this. No matter how he looked at himself, he simply wasn’t good enough for an angel. The fact that this angel was willing to hold his hand, even for a short while, was already much.
“You can go on your own. You’ll help this world fight the demons, while I’ll find a way to survive. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way. Maybe we’ll find ourselves on the front lines together one day.”
Atilia looked toward him. “Remy…”
Remy lived most of his life on his own. His parents, both of whom worked outside the country, left him with his grandpa who didn’t bother caring for him. He learned to live alone, to rely on himself. The last few years he spent alone in his apartment, with minimum contact with the outside world. Now wouldn’t be any different.
And maybe, this was his chance to try living a more fulfilling life. Without money, he would be forced to work. Without digital media, he would be forced to find entertainment in other forms. It gave him the drive he lacked back on Earth.
“Thank you for the chance, though.”
“...” Atilia looked at him, speechless.
“Oh, can you take me down, please?”
Atilia stood up, and the two climbed down from the rooftops. Luckily, the occupants of the building didn’t seem to notice, and they managed to arrive back on the ground without much issue.
“Oh, Kathy gave me a guidebook. You want it?”
Atilia shook her head in silence. "Remy... are you sure?"
“Of course. I'll get going. See you around.” With a smile, Remy waved and left. Atilia reached out her hand, before retracting it and standing in place. Remy looked at her one more time, before walking away.
* ••
Remy checked the guidebook Kathy gave him. The Mahorka trees needed for the quest grew on the southern side of the city. Remy followed the map, walking with a heavy heart. He only spent a few hours with her, but now that she was gone, he felt empty. Something was missing from his life. Even when he walked in the middle of the crowd, he found himself feeling lonely. It didn’t make sense. It had been no more than a few hours since he met her, parting ways shouldn’t be this hard. He tried his best to fight the sadness. Atilia was an angel, she had her own feelings much like him. He didn’t want to force her against her will.
He tried thinking about other things, something that would get his mind away from her. Yet, in the few hours since he met her, she had captured his heart and mind. Shouldn’t be surprising, since she used to be a genuine angel. It made sense that she wouldn’t want to come with him, it made a lot of sense. He was a nobody, the difference between them was heaven and earth. For a moment, he considered what would have happened had he not let her go. He immediately brushed the thought away. If Atilia walked with him just because she was forced to, the cracks would appear at one point. It would be a much worse ordeal compared to now.
He forced himself to continue walking, going out of the south gate and onto the dirt road. Trees filled his field of vision. The branches didn’t look like the photos on the guidebook, though, so he continued. The guidebook also gave a top-down view of their general position. The trees occupied a spot deeper in the forest, requiring some hiking.
While he walked, he opened his guidebook again. Since it took him a few more minutes of constant, straight walking, he decided to spend that time reading his guidebook. The roads of this world didn’t see as much vehicle traffic on Earth. It would be ironic if he died from another street accident.
The guidebook featured information like magic spells and how to use them. It also contained essential information like the map of Purwa, along with the locations and explanations of several different wildlife. It had been quite a while since he departed, so he decided to take a break near a tree next to the road. He sat down and continued reading his guidebook.
He opened the part about magic. The first section taught him how to use the magic key the guild gave him, with the rest of the magic spells divided into several classifications. The first and easiest was the beginner spell, Form. Form worked on the basic elements, and in general, dealt with the creation of something. When he said the words ‘Form’ followed by the name of the element he wanted to create, said elements would be created on the tip of his hands. He would need to control them with his mind.
For one, he needed to control the amount of elements created, their power, and where they headed. Their shape, their properties, various things going in one spell. He decided to start with something simple, water.
“Form Water!” He brought his right hand forward, his left holding the book open. A little stream of water appeared, landing on the ground below and splashing onto his feet. It was weak, pretty much like a leaking pipe. This was the first time he used magic, and he found himself quite impressed by it. He tried it again, but the amount of water didn’t change.
Curious, he began trying several other spells. Fire, rock, lightning, wood. They all produce insignificant results. Far too little to do anything while lasting no more than two seconds. The wood spell created a little twig at the end of his finger. It was so small that it felt more like a piece of hair rather than an actual wood. He snapped it in two and threw it away. He decided to try the level above beginner spells next. The intermediate spell ‘Create’ involved taking two beginner spells and combining them. He extended his hand.
“Create, Water Wind!” he shouted. Water did appear, no more than before. The wind messed things up, though, sending the water straight for himself. It did nothing more than annoy him as he made so little water that it had almost no effect. He then tried a different spell.
“Create, Water Rock!”
“Create, Fire Wind!”
The last spell almost burnt him. Form Fire only created a little fire, so he wasn’t expecting to send a spark flying straight at him. Luckily, the spark extinguished itself before it could do any damage. He knew trying out intermediate spells when he couldn’t even use beginner ones was dumb. He stopped for now and stood up, about to continue his trip when he heard incoming footsteps.
“You really made a mess of this place.”
He heard her voice and turned around. Atilia walked straight up to him and rested her head on his chest.
"Your clothes are wet," she mumbled.
“Atilia? You need the guidebook?”
“No, dummy,” she answered, her voice muffled by his clothes. “I’m… sorry.”
“... For what?”
“For using you as a vessel, coming here for my own selfish reasons.”
“It’s alright.” Remy was about to pat her head but stopped his hand.
“To tell you the truth… I don’t have any intentions of parting ways.” She murmured, her voice sounding weak and tired.
“You don’t?”
“Yeah. What Kathy said isn’t wrong, but I don’t actually want to go off on my own.”
“You don’t?” he asked again, partly because he thought he misheard.
“No.” Atilia shook her head. “I wanted to continue traveling with you. We only spent a few hours, but it was a lot of fun. I genuinely enjoy it. It's just... I'm too surprised to react, hence why I fell silent. So… will you accept me?” Atilia inched closer, staring into Remy’s eyes. There was only one thing Remy could think of at that time.
She’s so cute!
Remy smiled, raising his hand. His finger ran through Atilia’s hair. “Of course. I would love to.”
“Thanks.” Atilia opened her arms and hugged him. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
As the two hugged, a distant thunder followed through the air. Water droplets came falling down into the world. Remy let go and looked up, dark clouds right above him.
“We should get back, quick.”
“Yeah, no way we’re cutting down trees in this weather.”
Atilia grabbed Remy’s hand and pulled him back toward Purwa.