Author’s corner: HELLO HELLO! One last embarrassing moment before leaving for good!
ANYWAY, with this I can say that I finally finished the first part of the Arc and enters into the first intermission, I guess? Will it even be an intermission? I actually have no idea what will happen next chapter…
ALSO, it’s about time for me to fulfill a certain promise I made to a certain person a certain time ago. What promise it is? Who knows? (Spoiler: I do) Evil laughter ensues!
Have a good read!
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Hello there, people! It’s me, your favorite Golem Wargon! AkA Gondorrer Womanizersbane! As you all know, I was preparing to travel away to a capital far away, but have been a bit stuck recently with solving a few unresolved situations, like talking with my teachers and giving my goodbyes to others who I know!
But, you see, just recently I think I might have bitten a bit more than what I could chew, so now I’m stuck in a slightly embarrassing situation!
You see, some time ago, I met a couple of persons here in Eldor whom I kept teasing until they became a… Well… Couple. And even today I keep teasing them about it every time we meet.
But, I was a bit unlucky this time, so it seems that our roles are a bit reversed.
Well, before saying what is happening right now, it would be better to explain how we got here, right? Well, going back into time, at around half an hour to fifteen minutes ago. I couldn’t be bothered by remembering the exact time, sorry, me, Yuu, Aura and Crys were arriving at the capital.
Having sent Lieutenant and Rioreia ahead, we weren’t with them, but thanks to the map, we could find tout where they were, as well as where Hanbei and Yami were. Since I confirmed the time of departure with Argento some time ago, I knew that we still had a small leeway, so I sent Crys and Aura to go and call the duo who were away while Yuu and I made our way towards the girls.
But, in the middle of the way, we met a certain Clockwork and a certain Construct, who were happily walking besides each other while linking hands.
Unable to help but feel the mischievous spirit surging within me, I smirked as I approached the distracted couple who had a pink atmosphere between them. Making a motion to Yuu so that she should wait a bit, I went ahead alone and approached them from behind.
“HELLO MY FAVORITE LOVEBIRDS!!” I said loudly as I put my arms across both of their shoulders.
Caught unaware by my prank, the couple jumped up in surprise, and for a moment I could have sworn that their heads would hit the ceiling if they had put a bit more strength on it.
Turning to me with an angry look in their faces, Rusty Blackjoint and Nova… Wait, do I know her surname? No matter, both of them turned to me with an annoyed look in their faces as they stared daggers at me, even making me feel a bit worried at what they would do.
After taking a long sigh, and by sigh I meant that he blew a lot of steam from his exhausts pipes, Rusty finally calmed down and looked at me with a mix of surprise and confusion.
“Gon. Angry at shock. But. Good to see. Still angry.?” Cygnasdammit, don’t you just love his weird phrasing?
“I’m starting to wonder whether I should be grateful for getting us togehter, or annoyed by how you treat us.” Nova added in a slightly confused tone.
Smirking secretly to myself, I put on a confused face the best I could while staring at them and tilting my head.
“What are you talking about. It’s not like I’m hiding myself on purpose or anything?” I said in a fake confused tone. The two looked at me with a slightly annoyed expression before sighing deeply, as if saying that they gave up trying to discuss logic with me.
Smiling awkwardly, they elooked at each other and shrugged, before putting on a slightly more serious expression.
“Then. What brings? Looking for us?” Rusty asked with a slightly curious tone.
I blinked for a moment before shaking my head in a slightly awkward manner.
“Actually, no. But this is still a happy coincidence!” I said while nodding. “You see, I’m leaving Eldor today, so It’s good that I got to see you two before leaving.”
“Oh! And where are you going to?” Nova asked curious.
Well, here would be where I go on and tell you guys on how I told them that I was going to Sandroze. Then they say that I should be cautious and so on, but sincerely, I’ve already made this scene so many times that even I’m starting to get tired of telling them, so I’ll take it that I can skip this one.
But, if something that happened that is worth noticing is that in this meantime Yuu approached us and kept listening as I talked with the couple. This also means that Rusty and Nova noticed her, and I swear that for a moment, Rusty’s eyes seemed to shine mischievously.
However, it took me a bit too long for me to get the meaning behind them, so before I had the chance to wonder why it was that, the clockwork turned to me and said in the mostly friendly manner I had ever seen him speak.
“Then. You two. Honeymoon?”
Here is where I would usually cue in the loading joke, but I don’t think I need to add…
(Loading…)
Cygnasdammit!
Anyway, jokes aside, it did take me some time to sink in the meaning of his words, and by the time it did, Yuu had already reached a new shade of red. Luckily, I’m quite literally thick skinned, so I somehow managed to look quite calm even though I was as embarrassed as the kitsune.
“No… Not exactly.” I said with a wry smile while shaking my head. “We are actually…”
“Oh, then you are going off to marry?” Nova said with a surprised tone.
“N…No.” I said with an awkward tone, and just as I was about to explain, they interrupted me once again.
“Then. Eloping?”
GAAAH! I’ve been completely taken in by their pace! For a trickster like myself, this is the worst! Not only am I unable to insert my own teases, I’m even unable to stop them with their jokes!
And the two didn’t seem to miss this small fact, because they kept bombarding us with teasing questions as before. While feeling completely embarrassed myself, Yuu had already overheated and was simply muttering some random words.
The fact that I had no right to stop their teasing was bad enough for me.
After feeling somewhat satisfied with teasing us to the point that I was completely unable to speak anything to myself.
“Lovebirds. Embarrassed. Revenge is sweet.” Rusty said with a clear satisfied tone.
“Rusty!” Nova said while nudging him with her elbow. “Leave them alone! Can’t you see they are embarrassed for having been found on their date?”
“Yeah, yeah. Very funny. I got it, okay?” I said while motioning for them to stop. “I was being annoying with all the teasing. Now can you please stop before she ends up melting in shame here?” I said while pointing at Yuu who kept her head low.
The couple smiled teasingly at us while I used my hand to cover my head in embarrassment. It really is something else when you are the one on the receiving end of the teases. Seeing my situation, they nodded and put on a slightly victorious smile that left me mildly annoyed.
“Anyway, since you are going to Sandroze, do you plan on passing through Ezoria Argus?” Nova asked me in a slightly more serious tone.
“Well, yeah. But why would… Oh yeah!” I suddenly remembered. “Your uncle or something lives there, right?” I asked her, and she nodded. “If I remember something, you said that he might have an idea about crystal tinkerer, right?”
“Yes. He may be able to point you to a direction or something.” She nodded. “So, when you end up meeting him, could you tell him that I am alright here?”
“Hmm… I guess I could do that.” I nodded. “He stays at an academy or something, you said?” She nodded to my question. “Then leave it to me. I guess I owe you this much after teasing you two for too long.”
“Thanks.” She said with a nod.
“Anyway, now that you two already had your share of teasing me and this innocent little kitsune.” I petted Yuu when I mentioned her. “I think that it may be better for us to take our leave because from what I know, our blimp shouldn’t take much longer to leave.” I said.
The two of them nodded slightly while wearing wry smiles, so I quickly gave my goodbyes and made sure to also say it in behalf of Yuu, who was still too embarrassed to say anything.
Since we were each taking a different direction, we quickly separated and took our ways, but before they were out of earshot I turned to them and shouted.
“OH! BE CAREFUL, OKAY? YOU DON’T WANT TO HAVE KIDS TOO SOON!” I shouted.
“WHA! WE DON’T… IT’S NOT…” I heard nova saying atop the raging steam-vents.
After that I quickly pulled Yuu out of the area while smiling proudly to myself of my swift revenge. Not that I really knew how clockworks and constructs actually reproduced, but this was enough to leave them embarrassed, so I could say that I am happy with the results.
Anyway, it didn’t take us much longer for us to reach Yami and Han-chan, who were strolling peacefully around the market area, probably looking for accessories or something of the kind. Approaching them, I quickly raised my arm in a greeting and saw as they turned to me with curious eyes.
“Argento sent one of his clerks earlier, saying that the boat leaves in about three hours.” Hanbei said once we approached.
“I know, he PMed me.” I replied briefly. “But he also said that it would be better if we arrived earlier.”
“Is that so?” Hanbei said before shrugging. “Anyway, I guess it’s better that we get going then.” She said while looking at the main elevator. I nodded at her and prepared to leave, but we were stopped by a certain slime, who was looking at Yuu curiously.
“Oi, you male.” I think that’s me. “What were you and Yuki-dono doing while out there? She looks really embarrassed.” She turned to me with a mischievous smile. “Were you flirting or something?”
I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could even make a sound, a confused Yuu said.
“Eloping… Shishou… And I… Eloping…” Her voice was extremely low and soft.
It still didn’t escape the other two, who eyed the girl with shock before turning to me, disbelief painted in their eyes. The fact that I was also shocked by Yuu’s words also didn’t really help with my case.
As I said earlier, I am in a slightly embarrassing situation.
So, how do I explain this?
…
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA” Hanbei’s laughter echoed loudly while we walked down the cold streets of the upper parts of the city.
Some passersby eyed us in curiosity, only to see a scene of a golem being followed by three beautiful girls, one floating crystal elemental that wore a maid costume, a cat in a military outfit riding a large blue armored fox and with a wyvern resting atop his head.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
I could feel a mix of confusion, shock and jealously coming from the gazes around me as players and NPC’s alike stared daggers at me.
The fact that Hanbei was laughing loudly, Yami was holding herself to not go into a similar state, and Yuu walked with her head hanging while fiddling embarrassedly with her fingers wasn’t exactly helping my case either.
Knowing how people think, I kind of wonder what kind of thoughts people were having about what had happened, but in the end I decided that I was probably better left not knowing it.
Basically, what had happened was that I started explaining to the girls my encounter earlier with Rusty and Nova and how they ended up taking the upper hand in the teasing early on. This by itself was enough to make Hanbei started trembling slightly while holding her laughter. But when Yuu finally said that she still had her mind on what they were speaking, she burst out completely.
At least the misunderstanding had somehow solved itself.
It seems that words like eloping might be a tad bit too much for someone as pure-hearted as Yuu.
Anyway, since we were already on the floor that Argento had passed me, it took us only some time to find the gnome who was accompanied by a certain undine carrying a large backpack. The girl was bouncing on her feet excitedly, while the gnome simply was looking at some papers that I am almost one hundred percent sure that it’s somehow related to money.
Still, seeing me approaching, the Undine, much to my dismay, started getting cheerful, so the Gnome raised his gaze from the paper and stared at me for a moment before waving cheerfully.
We approached him quickly and he gave a quick look at the group before smiling proudly to himself. He probably tried to hide it, but his eyes had pretty much become a pair of gold-coins as he thought of ways to take advantage of the girl’s looks.
I’d bet ten silver that he will ask for their help once he sets up the shop. While thinking so I quickly greeted him.
“Yo Supplies! How do you do?”
“Hello money-bag!” He replied in kind. “Anyway, this is quite the party we got here. I can already smell the profit coming!” He said with a wide smile.
I smiled at his words before turning to look at the blimps.
“So, which one is ours?” I asked curious while admiring the view.
This place somehow looked like a dock you would find on coastal cities, but instead of sea and ships, we had sky and blimps. Not that there was that much difference between the ships and the blimps, as they were mostly a ship tied to huge gas balloons and with propellers instead of rudders.
Nodding at my words, Argento quickly motioned for us to follow him as he started walking towards a nearby boat.
While we walked, I couldn’t help but notice that Lily kept eyeing us curiously.
“Teacher and friends really don’t use bags, huh?” She said with her voice in wonder.
“Well… We do have the inventories.” Hanbei said, catching her attention. This made the girl pout lightly.
“That’s sooo convenient! I wish I also could use a spell like that. It would make my life so much easier!” She said with a lightly annoyed tone.
“So, you don’t have a skill like this?” I asked surprised and she shook her head.
“Nope. It seems that the skill is reserved to only the chosen and their closest followers.”
I nodded in an understanding manner. This basically means that NPCs do not have access to inventory under normal circumstances. Still, Lieutenant and Co. earned inventory slots once they equipped their gear, so does this mean that once you become a pet you are automatically allowed to use it? What about followers NPCs? Can they also use it?
While making these questions to myself, I saw as we walked through the docks towards a fairly large blimp. Being easily the size of a medium-sized ship, it had its balloons deflated besides it while being held by a pair of huge cranes and what seemed like a metal net beneath.
Metal piers extended outwards through the use of piston made way all the way to beyond the front of the galleon. Steam leaked through some nearby pipes as the sounds of gears grinding echoed. The ship was slowly lowered to a level near to the metal pier, and a walking board quickly dropped from the blimp, making passage.
Nearby, a tall and ferocious looking Gargoile approached the walking board and raised a list he had brought with him. Taking a quick glance at it, he motioned for the nearby people to approach and said in a loud voice.
“Greetings all. My name is Skarr Tornclaw, the captain of the Wailing Songstress, your very own vessel ship.” He said while pointing towards the ship. “I came here to give you a few pointers before you embark. Firstly, I can usually be found either at the captain’s cabin or heading the rudder, so any doubt you might have, just come and ask.” As he said it, he gave a quick look to the ship, seeing as a few other walking boards came down. “Second, and this is the most important rule. The top decks and the living deck are free access, but anywhere else you either will need MY explicit permission or are downright prohibited from accessing. You wil receive better information later, but know that this is for the safety of all of you.”
“Third, in the case of an attack from pirates, we ask that all of you unable to hold yourself against an opponent to hide at the living quarters and leave the fighting to the crew or any other courageous souls. We will NOT be held responsible for deaths in battle if you aren’t at your, or someone’s else room.” As he said that, a total of five walking boards had come down from this side of the ship. Nodding satisfied, he turned back to us and said one last line. “Lastly, if any of you brought a good drink. Take it to my cabin so that we can share it.” He said with a smirk before making a motion towards the walking board and opening a way. “For now, that’s all, so come and form your lines because we should be departing soon!”
With that everyone quickly scrambled into a line just as other people from the crew jumped off the blimp and came to the board. Some held a list while others were empty handed.
After making sure that they were ready, they would then start calling the groups to approach so that they could be boarded. There were around thirty people here with us, so I couldn’t help but feel that it looked a bit too little. But then, this is a blimp, so maybe filling it too much isn’t a good idea either?
Anyway, after waiting around for ten minutes, we were called by the captain, who sent a small group in. Looking around us for some time, his eyes widened slightly upon seeing me, and a small smile appeared in his face.
“Hoo! To think that I would get to see a cousin!” He said while looking at me.
“Huh? Cousin?” I asked confused.
“Aye! Aren’t we both made of stone?” He asked just like someone who had made a prank and was showing to a friend. “Anyway, this is quite a large group. The biggest one this time, I guess…” He said going back to a serious tone. “Just to be sure, but your names are…?”
We quickly introduced ourselves, and as we did it he marked down a name on the list. Leaving me for last and after almost messing up my surname (again), he nodded and took a look at Aura and Co. who waited a bit further back.
“I’ll take it that those are the pets said here?” He asked while eyeing me, and I nodded. “We don’t exactly prohibit pets aboard the ship, but just to be sure, tell me what they are.” He said taking the pen and pulling a blank piece of paper.
As before, I quickly introduced Aura, Lieutenant, Crys and Rio, telling him their names and species. Funnily enough, he even asked how I write Lieutenant’s name. But just as he frowned at Crys’ species, it came to Rio…
“…and lastly, is Rioreia, a greater wyvern.”
“Rioreia, Greater wyve….” As he copied me slowly he suddenly froze and stared at the small and adorable dragon sleeping peacefully on my head. “A… GREATER WYVERN?” He asked shocked while pointing the pen towards her.
“Yeah, but she’s a good girl. Really docile.” I said with a smile.
“No no no no. You don’t understand…” Skarr said while covering his face with his hands… Or claws, I guess. “Wyerns are basically the mortal enemies of blimps like these! And a greater one at that! What if its mother decide to come and attack us to get it back?” He asked in shock. “If it was a lesser one… But a Greater?”
“Oh, no need to worry about that.” I said with a chuckle.
“And how can you be so sure?” He asked me with a dubious look.
“Well, her mother left her at my care while she learns how to work a farm in a nearby village.” I said with a proud smile.
Skarr looked at me like he had just seen the biggest idiot to ever live in Insania. Sighing deeply, knowing that he wouldn’t believe me otherwise, I petted the dragon atop of my head until she woke up.
Letting out a cute yawn, Rio woke up and looked around confused before finally setting her gaze down on me.
“What happened, Stone-friend?” She asked groggily.
“Rio, tell the uncle here what your mother is doing.” I told her while motioning towards Skarr.
“Hmm.” Rio nodded. “Mother is training to become a farmer with small friend! She will become the best farmer ever!” She said cutely while stuffing her chest out in pride.
Skarr gaze changed greatly. Instead of seeing the greatest idiot on the face of Insania, he now looked like he saw the greatest aberration of Insania.
“What?” I asked confused.
He gave a dejected sigh and called a nearby crewmate who came running.
“They took the rooms twelve to fourteen. Take them there.” He said with a tone of defeat.
Smiling awkwardly, the crewmate nodded before turning to us. He offered to take on Lily’s backpack, which the Undine gladly accepted. Afterwards he guided us through the ship and upon the lower decks. After going down a couple of stairs, we arrived at a corridor with doors dotting each side.
The crewmate quickly guided us to one of the furthest rooms on the left side. Afterwards he quickly gave us the keys and said for us to not lose them.
We quickly thanked him before turning to the small rooms, opened the doors and went in.
Only around one hour later did the blimp finally leave the docks.
For the first time since I first logged in Insania, I started to leave Eldor’s area of influence.
FORWARD TO NEW ADVENTURES!
AND NEW RARE ORES!
AND NEW LANDS!
AND NEW MONSTERS!
AND NEW... You get what I mean, right?