As our embrace ends, we instinctively reach for our weapons, but alas, my Bastard Sword bears the scars of countless battles, its condition dire. A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I sheathe the sword. Concern fills Ruby's gaze as she tilts her head, "Rai, is everything all right?"

I pause for a moment, considering my response. "I fear my sword will no longer be on use," I admit. "And I think I can’t return to the capital at this moment to get a new one."

A hint of guilt flickers across Ruby's features, perhaps thinking that her recent encounter with the city folks has left me hesitant to revisit the very place I'm supposed to call home.

I offer a reassuring smile and gently place my hand on her head, tenderly petting her. "Don't blame yourself," I say softly. "I've already made up my mind about what to do."

A faint blush graces Ruby's cheeks as she nods in understanding.

I rise from my seat and make my way toward the adjoining room. Concern laces her voice as she asks, "W-Where are you going?"

With a faint smile, I turn back to her, trying to alleviate her worries. "Don't worry, I won't be long," I assure her.

She reluctantly releases her grip on my hand, her expression marked by a pout as she wraps her arm around mine. "Noo... I want to go with you!"

Her adorable plea tugs at my heartstrings, and I find myself unable to resist her. I shake my head playfully while sharing a warm smile, leaning my head against hers. "All right, then. We'll go together," I concede.

Hand in hand, we venture into the two adjoining rooms.

...

We proceed into the second room, which houses a clutch of Kobold eggs. However, something seems amiss this time around. The pungent odor in this room has intensified since our last visit. The foul amalgamation of rotten eggs and seared Kobold scales assails our senses, gradually numbing our noses.

I give Ruby a hand signal, urging her to wait in the corridor, and hastily venture into the room. My memory serves me well as I recall spotting a rack of spears along one side of the chamber, several of them suspended from it. Without hesitation, I select a spear that appears to be in pristine condition, then dash back to Ruby's side.

“Whew… That almost making me throw up…”

Chuckles, Ruby tap my shoulder lightly.

I take hold of her hand, and together, we steer clear of the noxious room, opting to make our way into the Shaman's chamber.

I examine the Iron Spear I've acquired, a weapon that appears to be in surprisingly good shape. Its handle is crafted from dark wood, ending in a sharp iron tip. Though it might seem unassuming, I recall its sturdiness from our earlier skirmish with the Kobolds, making it a nice choice.

Ruby catches on to my intent, nodding in understanding. "I see. You were willing to brave that room for a weapon like this, huh?"

I can't help but chuckle at her response. "What did you think I was doing in there? Gathering those corpses for emergency rations?" I jest, teasingly.

Her reaction is priceless as she wrinkles her nose in mild disgust. "Uh... gross," she remarks.

I laugh affectionately at her adorable pout and offer a soothing stroke to her head. "Let's press on."

A faint blush colors her cheeks as she holds my hand over her head, and together, we make our way toward the final room. Beyond its door lies a cavern, shrouded in darkness, waiting to be explored.

I gesture towards the dark expanse of the cave. "I believe that's our way out," I suggest.

As we move forward, the gentle sound of flowing water gradually grows louder. Eventually, we emerge from the cave's depths, finding ourselves near a river just beneath the capital. It's situated beneath a towering cliff, with a vast river flowing before us, illuminated by the night sky that now blankets us.

I let out a relieved breath as I settle at the cave's entrance. Ruby glances at my backpack, which I've carried with me throughout our journey. She reaches for an empty pouch on the side of it and makes her way to the river. There, she fills the pouch with water, taking a sip for herself before refilling it and returning to me.

"Thank you," I express my gratitude, gulping down the cool, refreshing water from the pouch. A blush colors Ruby's cheeks as she gazes at the pouch, her thoughts perhaps wandering elsewhere.

...

“Uh…”

We sit in silence for a while, enjoying our modest meal. Thanks to the remaining supplies in my backpack, we have enough to satisfy our hunger.

As I gaze at my hand, memories flood back of the moments when I lost myself while being with Alpha and Josh. I used to be utterly reliant on them, feeling utterly useless. However, everything changed after I witnessed Amy's death for the second time. It was a wake-up call, and the moment I reclaimed my own identity after Josh's confrontation and Galvana's comforting, I started to find my footing. With the newfound feeling of determination and Josh's departure for his business, I went on a solo journey into the wilderness, though it often seemed like a useless attempt because I found nothing there back then.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Yet, I don't mind the challenges. I'm grateful for the opportunity to prove to myself that I can stand on my own, unlike the loser I once was back in the village, but not when it was getting raided.

Then there's Ruby. She's made me realize that I can protect someone, that I have the power to do so. I wish I had possessed such strength back then, so I could have protected Amy. However...

I can't help but curse myself for my past choices, for staying in the village without seeking opportunities beyond its borders. I berate myself for being a coward.

"Hmm?"

I let out a sound of surprise as I realize that both Ruby's gaze and mine are locked onto each other.

I quickly avert my eyes, a touch flustered. "I-It's nothing!" I stammer, hoping to change the subject.

"Ehh, tell me! What are you hiding?" Ruby pleads, offering me a bite of the slice of meat.

I chuckle softly and accept the ration she's sharing. "Thank you. I was just feeling grateful, that's all."

Her adorable smile dispels any lingering doubts in my mind as I shift my focus to our plans for tomorrow. We need to return to the cave by the beach and see if Ruby's magical abilities can elicit any response from it. To be honest, it's more of a hunch than a concrete plan, but it's better than doing nothing.

"It's getting late," I remark. "I think we should rest here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow. How does that sound?"

Her face reddens even more at my words, and she stammers, "S-sleep together, h-here?"

I'm caught off guard by her reaction, and my own cheeks flush with embarrassment in an instant. "S-Shut up! Wh-what I meant was, we'll rest here and c-continue tomorrow! Don't get any s-strange ideas!" I hastily clarify.

She sighs softly, a hint of disappointment on her face, and we fall into a momentary silence.

"A-anyway! I'm going to sleep. Goodnight!" I declare, attempting to hide my embarrassment as I lie down, facing the wall and using my leather backpack as a makeshift pillow.

Before long, I hear rustling behind me.

...

I feel a gentle tug on my shirt, prompting me to turn to the other side.

"What is it?"

To my surprise, I find Ruby lying beside me, her cheeks flushed as she gazes in the other direction. "It's cold... Besides... I don't have a pillow to lay on..."

I sigh softly and pull her into an embrace as I lie down. A warm smile spreads across her face, and she closes her eyes.

I'm doing my utmost to keep my thoughts in check. Her soft, rhythmic breaths send shivers down my spine, but oddly enough, I find solace and relaxation in this shared warmth within the chilly cave.

Without realizing it, I press my lips gently against her forehead. She responds with a soft giggle. "...Naughty," she murmurs.

I chuckle softly while getting embarrased. "Shut up."

...

The next morning arrives, and I slowly open my eyes to find Ruby staring at me from up close. "Good morning."

I can't help but tease her. "Have you been awake for a while, staring at me like this?" I playfully pinch her nose.

"N-no... I just woke up," she replies, although her reddened face tells otherwise.

I offer a wry smile, sit up, and rub my eyes, stretching my arms. Ruby extends her hands towards me, and I gladly pull her into a gentle hug.

"Let's have breakfast, and then we'll head toward the cave. Fortunately, I have a few supplies here, although they won't last the whole day. But we can hunt boars for their meat on our way, so we won't starve."

She nods in agreement as I retrieve some food from my pouch, and we enjoy our meal while gazing at the river.

After a few minutes, we're ready to go on our journey into the mystical cave to the east.

"Let's hunt some boars along the way to replenish our supplies," I suggest.

Ruby nods firmly, and hand in hand, we continue our journey, heading eastward.

...

We spend hours traversing the landscape, effortlessly hunting boars and collecting their raw meat as we go. Our combo attacks are getting more and more better as we are gradually adjusting ourselves on these joined battles.

"Good work."

Occasionally, we pause for short breaks, engaging in conversations about my past. We reminisce about the time before Alpha and Josh embarked on their journey.

"That must have been lonely," Ruby comments sympathetically.

I nod in agreement, my gaze distant. "Indeed, it was. However..."

I go on to tell her about my encounter with Amy not long after, and how I lost her. It was a turning point that fueled my desire for vengeance against those who had destroyed my village. Ruby listens with a hint of unease.

"That... must have been hard," she remarks, lowering her head.

I decide not to share any more details for now, sensing her discomfort. There will be a time for that conversation, but it's not today.

When we talk about Ruby, her responses are often brief. She mentions her constant amnesia, how she frequently finds herself in different places, and the day she unexpectedly ended up inside the capital.

What a mysterious girl.

I decide not to press the topic any further, not wanting to put Ruby in any discomfort. Together, we continue our journey, occasionally walking hand in hand and sharing silly jokes when there are no enemies in sight.

Finally, as the following evening arrives, the magnificent ocean comes into view. The same vast ocean that I’ve been days ago.

"We've arrived," I announce.

Ruby gasps, her senses tingling as she detects an overwhelming amount of energy emanating from the surroundings. "This is..."

I can't help but be curious. "Is something wrong?" I inquire.

She shakes her head. "No, it's just... I sense some familiar energy signatures here. It's definitely magic."

My hunch was right. Ruby's ability to sense magic is proving to be invaluable, considering my lack of knowledge and magical abilities.

"The cave will be revealed after sunset. Let's take a short rest for now."

I guide Ruby towards a spot near the ocean, where we can relax and enjoy the tranquil scenery. The sky takes on a faint red glow as we prepare to rest.

#

End of Chapter 31