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Chapter 41

"What did you just said?" Dereia asked with stern look on her face. Unsure on what the Vielaratas said but she's also intrigued.

"I don't know what you're story is but the fact that you are full of our God's presence speaks that you're an ally."

Dereia thinks for a moment, trying to remember anything that might give clue on the so called "God" that the horned beings spoke to her. Yet, she can only see glimpse of darkness between her transition between Earth and the world she inhabiting now.

"I don't know anything about your God."

The Vielaratas looked at each other with confused expression on their faces.

"I'm confused." The female says.

"Me too... There's no way a scholar like you don't have knowledge about our God."

"I don't know and I don't care." Dereia shrugs.

The male Vielarata scratch his temple in a eerie manner with his long finger. Unsure on how to process the situation, he decides to just ignore what Dereia said.

"Let's forget about that andl return on our offer. Dereia, do you want to join our side?"

"And what I can gain for serving your kind?"

"We can provide you with anything. Resources, places, manpower. Anything. As long as you remained loyal to our cause, we will guaranteed your safety. Afterall, there's no way you can survive now that every city is in for your head." The female Vielarata explains.

"The cause you talking about being?"

"The extinction of humans in this world."

Dereia's eyes widen a bit after hearing such bold statement. Then she ponders.

"You don't need to decide right now. We can wait for your decision."

The two Vielaratas starts to walk away.

"Think about it. No need to rush."

The Vielaratas already few feet away as they leave Dereia alone.

.

.

.

BANG!

The male Vielarata fall face down on the ground. On his head, a sizable hole is visible as he makes a small puddle of black blood.

Yet, the female Vielarata is disturbingly unfazed on the sudden death of her companion as she looks at him with cold, emotionless expression. She looks back to Dereia.

"So thats a no?" She asked.

Dereia nods slowly, her invisible pistol still pointing to the female Vielarata who just sigh in dissapointment.

"It's sad that things end in this way. But it's nice to meet you."

Dereia expected the Vielarata to wield its weapons yet the Vielarata is showing no intention for combat nor revenge.

"You not gonna fight me?"

"It's just a waste of time. Besides, our mission is just tell you our offer of allegiance and not kill you."

Feeling that the female Vielarata harbor no ill intent to her, Dereia is surprisingly loose herself and return her pistol back.

The female Vielarata meanwhile grabs the leg of her dead comrade and starts to drag it away. The ink-like blood creates a long black line as she drags the corpse.

"May our God bless you with his divine protection."

Dereia watch the Vielarata continues to drag her friend with disregard until both dissapears in the woods. Only leaving a trail of black blood behind.

"Weird...." Dereia's single word after the surreal moment. Only for her to snap back to reality as she look on a specific thick bush.

She walks behind it only to see a bundle of small logs.

"Fuck."

She was planning to kill whoever is spying on her in order to hide her presence but because of the appearance of so called Vielaratas, she lost focus thus letting the gawker to escape.

With no way to track the one that can potentially reveal her location, Dereia's course of action is to leave the area as soon as possible. With no idea where to go, Dereia walks away on the forest that provides for her during few days of hiding.

Meanwhile, in the depth of the Savagery Forest. The female Vielarata just throw her dead comrade in front of another Vielarata with 4 horns.

"She didn't join us and even killed him." The female Vielarata talks as she looks on the corpse of the dead Vielarata. The four horned Vielarata sighs out of dissapointment.

"What a shame." He said as he starts to poke the dead Vielarata with a stick.

"I believe we should just kill her. She's proven herself that she can murder any of us out cold as we're not humans."

"We can't do that. Depsite her refusal. Her rampaging on the kingdoms is still useful for us. Besides, we will never reveal our existence, yet."

"Understood." The lady agrees calmly.

The 4 horned looks behind the lady and see a trail of black blood.

"You should do something about that." He points on the evidence of their existence. The lady nods.

"Yes."

The lady use water magic to wash out the black blood to dilute it until it's dissappears. The four horned opens a deep hole on the ground and toss their dead comrade there. He waits for the lady and after confirming there's no evidence left. The two leaps down on the same hole.

And the hole on the ground close down creepily. Leaving the area like nothing happened.

~~~~~~°~~~~~~

After a very long walk, Dereia finds himself in one of the farmlands of Zelestre's west wing. She's very starved but the only thing she can see is a sea of unsually tall and golden wheat plants that dances on gentle breeze.

"I wish all of these are just bread." Dereia says to herself with a visible annoyance on her face.

Only following the path, Dereia wishes to find any house or anything at all that can provide her with food and water. Until she finally find something, Dereia smiles looking what lies in the end of the road.

"Bingo."

A small home with mix of brick, wood and straws. Surrounded by the same tall wheat. It seems that it's the home of a farmer the tend the fields.

A man in his 50's is comfortably sitting on the rocking chair facing the road and the field. Slowly eating the unusual candies with different colors and unique flavors. A gift his daughter give to him and her sister.

"Pa! Food is ready!" A voice of a girl coming inside the house.

"Wait!"

The man struggles to stand up due to the injury on her leg which he get as an adventurer in the past. He almost prepare to walk inside for the meal when he notice something"

"Hmmm?"

Despite his old age, his eyes are still sharp due to it being trained during his adventurer days. He notices a girl with a tattered clothing and visibly starving.

"What happened to her? Is she a vic-"

With his long time as an adventurer, he mastered the ability on recognizing threat just by feelings alone. From both monsters and humans alike.

And the man didn't even manage to finish his sentence as he felt an intense murderous aura... Coming from the same girl who looks like a victim of the bandits.

"Misha!" The man call his daughter.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Yes pa?" Misha appears on the door, still holding a wooden laddle.

"Misha. Listen carefully, go to the soldiers and tell them that they need to go here as soon as possible."

"Why?" Misha is still confused.

"Just do it. This is an emergency."

Misha looks at her father. Despite him trying to not scare his daughter, Misha can clearly see the panic on his face as her father are now sweating beads looking at the direction of the road. Misha's face turn pale as she understand the situation.

"Are we in... danger?"

The man looked at her with a slight surprise but he have no choice but to admit.

"Yes Misha. That's why we need the soldier's help. I can trust you right?"

Misha at first tries to protest.

"We should go together!"

"No Misha! I need to protect our farm." The man realized he just raised his voice making Misha startled.

"Sorry." He pat the head of her daughter.

Misha starts to tear up and hug her father tightly.

"Please dad... Be safe..."

"Yes I will."

Misha strenghtens her will as she breaks the hug and starts to run opposite to the direction of the threat, to the city of Zelestre. Not before giving a look on what her father is concerned off.

Due to it's distance, Misha can only see few details of a girl, with her long crimson red hair flailing due to the winds as a huge contrast on the surrounding. But she have an uncanny feeling seeing the intruder like she seen it before somewhere.

Insuring that his daughter is far away and safe, the man enters the home and sits on the table where the freshly cooked food are placed. He waits for the intruder.

And waits... He heared the footsteps on the wooden floor of his home.

The intruder enters the home, she have a staredown with the patriarch who looks like waiting on her arrival.

"Hello Mister. I'm a lone traveller and I traveled a long time with no food nor water. I humbly ask for some." Dereia smiles. She looks genuinely a kind hearted and gentle girl outside.

But the man already knows. After seeing the girl closer, her description matches the ones in the wanted posters scattered in the city.

But that's the extent of his knowledge before. Just the wanted poster and the absurd bounty for such young lady. But after feeling her sinister aura, the man already knew

That the girl in front of her is a monster.

The man decides to hide his defensive intent and act kindly.

"You must be starving young lady. How about you sit and eat with me?"

"Thanks."

Dereia sits on the chair next to the man, the chair where Misha commonly sits.

"How you even end up on such state?" The man asked.

"I'm an adventurer that got stranded in the Savagery Forest. I barely even managed to escape and now I end up here." Dereia answers with a sad expression on her face.

The man is impressed. The lie Dereia spouted looks convincing that anyone surely fall on it.

"You must be new on the gold rank if you don't know how to traverse that forest?"

"Yes sir. Just two weeks ago."

The man just watch as Dereia continues to eat the bread and soup. Her undignified eating clearly shows that despite her mask, Dereia is truly hungry.

"Are you not gonna eat sir?"

"Later. I want to see my guest feels satisfied with the food."

The two clearly feel the tension rising in the air but decides to not address it. Dereia just wants to eat her food at peace and the man observing the danger, and afraid that suddenly showing aggression might lead to his disadvantage especially not knowing what Dereia is capable of. He looks on the table and see an opportunity.

"Ah... I forgot to bring water. Let me get a some."

"Thanks sir."

The man walks to the kitchen, Dereia observes his unsual walking and then observes the table in front of her.

She see that there's a food for the old man. But when she enters the home, she also saw another set of bread and soup already prepared in the front of the chair she's sitting right now.

And another set of food in front of her. A three set of meal for three people.

"Hmmmm...." Dereia is intrigued.

She hears the man walking back so she asked the question.

"Sir... I wonder. Why there's so many food here?"

"Oh... It's just I'm a heavy eater. You know, I need energy to tend the fields." The man chuckle but deep inside, he knows tha danger is rising up even further.

"Valid point. But it's just unusual that the food is set like it was prepared for more people."

The man stay silent for a while. Then he sigh.

"I don't know what your circumstances is but... I'm sorry lass."

The sound of the shattering clay pitcher and splashing water surprised Dereia. She looks behind her and see the man already swinged her sword on her.

~~~~~~°~~~~~~

Grand Ecstasy, after their recovery decides to visit Zelestre to resupply...

And cleanse their mind. Relax a little bit in order to prepare themselves for their hunt mentally.

"Now what?" Beltrand asked.

"Can we visit the bathhouse first?" Sophia's suggestion as she smells herself, she grimace a bit.

Everyone nods in agreement, feeling their body sitcky after days of walking

Zelestre is one of the small city of Grimael well known for its ports and usual geography. As Zelsestre was built above the transitional line between Savagery Forest and Humilean Desert.

Because of the transition, Zelestre city is divided into two side which also have their unique atmosphere to them.

The West Wing of Zelestre is where most of the farmlands are located as it is more habitable for plants and crops. Noticeable due to how green the surroudings here.

The East Wing meanwhile is the start of the Humilian desert. Arrid and devoid of vegetstion, but due to its close proximity to the Gulf of Bhikal and lots of mining resources. The East Wing of Zelestre is knows for its shipyards and metalurgy.

Despite this, the people of Zelestre are diverse with both Humilean people and Others lives in benefits to each other.

After the refreshing bath, Grand Ecstasy decides to visit the East Wing t find weapons and supplies after buying food on the West Wing. There, they surprised to see a familiar face.

"Helyna?"

The young adventurer hears her name and find who said it. When she saw Grand Ecstasy, she becomes so excited.

"Oh my goshhh! Hello guys!!"

Helyna run towards the group with a cheerful smile on her face.

"I didn't expected I meet you here!"

Sophia hugs Helyna out of excitement.

"We also say the same thing to you Helyna." Sophia says.

"Only you Sophia. You forgot that she lives in Zelestre." Beltrand blunt correction.

"Ah... Hehe sorry." Sophia breaks the hug and scratch the back of her head out of embarassment.

"No worries. Besides, what you guys doing here?"

Helyna watch as the happy expressions of Grand Ecstasy turns sad.

"Perhaps we can talk about it somewhere else." Mateo's invitation.

Grand Ecstasy and Helyna are now sitting in front of a cafe in West Wing. Helyna have a shocked and concerned reaction after hearing Grand Ectasy's story.

"I'm glad you guys are safe."

"Thanks Helyna."

"Dereia really lives up to her name huh? I just heared the news yesterday, about what happened to Horic. And her infamy in Nattunia and Bolaire are already a widespread news." Helyna's concerned explanation.

"How the news affected Zelestre." Mateo asked.

"You see the soldiers constantly exploring the city right. Every cart that enters the city are thoroughly examined. They don't want a repeat of the events in other cities. Especially when the criminal is in this caliber."

Helyna shows a wanted poster of Dereia, unlike the previous time. The posters are clearly changed.

........

WANTED

DEAD OR ALIVE

(FOR PLATINUM RANK ADVENTURERS ONLY! THE GUILD ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DEATH FOR TAKING A JOB OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE!)

[A well sketched picture of Dereia with color]

Dereia Morningdew

Reward: 50,000 Alz

........

"Damn. They really gatekeep it for Platinum ranks." Beltrand's surprise.

"From what happened to Horic. It's understandable really." Mateo's answer.

"Helyna, is there any rumors regarding Dereia in Zelestre?"

"Hmmm... Of course many. Some says she's some sort of revolutionary for what she did in Bolaire. Many people even think that the noble kids deserve it, the result of nobility culture in Bolaire I guess? Others view her as some psychopath whe enjoys killing." Helyna explains seriously as she slowly eats the pancake in front of her.

"How about rumors about her appearance?" Claustrine continues to ask.

"Hmm... I don't remember clearly but I think a lumberman reported that he saw Dereia in Savagery Forest's safe zone. That's what I know."

"I see."

"Anyway, why you asking such info on me?"

But before Helyna even recieve the answer, she realizes why Grand Ecstasy is asking about Dereia. She become horrified.

"You guys... Are planning on hunting Dereia?"

Grand Ecstasy nods.

"B-but she's so dangerous that her bounty is now reserved for Platinum ranks. And she already defeated all of you.", Helyna is clearly worried.

"I'm sorry Helyna but this is personal for us." Mateo's only answer.

Everyone went silent for a while. Helyna just looking at her friends while Grand Ecstasy have a dedicated expression on their face.

Helyna sigh then smile.

"Fine. I guess you really want to settle the score with her. I wish you guys good luck. If you survive an encounter with her, I believe you can take her down the second time."

"Actually, what's next is the third time." Claustrine says abruptly. Helyna is surprised.

"You guys are really something."

Grand Ecstasy and Helyna are surprised to hear a familiar voice. They look on their surroundings but find nothing.

"Hehe. We're here."

Everyone finally pin points the voice and they look on the the huge window covered by curtain on their side.

The curtain opens, revealing three familiar faces.

"Yo! Long time no see."

Behind the glass window are Fleur, Norm and Roland. They also eating their assortment of food they ordered.

.

.

.

The reunion find themselves in one single round table.

"What you guys doing here?" Beltrand asked.

"You know. Just usual adventurer stuffs." Fleur answers non-chalantly.

"Base on what we heared, your party must be hunting Dereia right?" Roland asked. Mateo nods.

"Yeah about that. Don't get me wrong, you guys are strong but. That bounty mission is out of our league now. Just give that to the pros." Norm's suggestion which make Helyna nods aggressively in agreement.

"Between us and Dereia, who do you think is gonna win?" Claustrine asked.

"Dereia." Helyna, Fleur and Norm's quick answer.

"Wow. Not even a single hint of hesistation." Claustrine chuckle.

"Come on guys... Have a little faith on us." Sophia is slightly dissapointed.

"They put that mission in Platinum for a reason." Norm stay firm on her answer.

"How about you Mr. Roland. Do you believe we gonna win against Dereia?" Sophia asked with pleading eyes, hoping for Roland to support them.

But Roland just sigh.

"Dereia."

"It hurts." Sophia frowns.

"Sorry." -Roland.

"I understand your concerns but we have a score to settle on Dereia." Mateo also stay strong on his desire.

"It's really that personal?"

Mateo nods, answering Roland's question.

"Very well then, just be sure to be careful. That girl is an anomaly." Roland's warning.

"We already knew all of the tricks on her sleeve." Shirna's confident answer.

"Geez. I guess there's no stopping you guys. I pray Vivvilly for your success." Fleur's approval. Norm also agree on her girlfriend.

Helyna sigh.

"I wish you guys good luck. May Vivvilly guide you into victory."

Helyna stand up.

"Leaving now?" Claustrine asked, Helyna smiles.

"Yeah. I promise to have dinner at home."

But before she even walks away, Helyna saw figure running coming from the entrance of the West Wing.

Helyna squints to identify the figure who slowly turne out to be a girl.

"Misha?"

Helyna is surprised to see the close to exhaustion Misha running on the road.

"Who?"

"My little sister. But what she's doing here?"

Helyna calls Misha loudly. After hearing her big sister's voice, Misha run towards Helyna and give her a tight hug.

"B-big sis... H-help..."

"What's wrong Misha?

"D-dad... I-is in d-danger!"

Everyone is shocked on the sudden news.

"W-wait calm down Misha! what do you mean dad is in danger?!" despite asking for Misha to calm down, Helyna also starts panicking.

Misha continues to catch her breath but as she do it. She saw a paper on the table. She walk closer on the table and points her finger on the wanted poster.

"S-she... S-she looks like this! T-the intruder!"

With just a single sentence, Grand Ecstasy, Fleur, Norm and Fleur feels the dread that suddenly looms in the atmosphere.

Helyna meanwhile feels like the weight of the world put on her shoulder. She slumped back on her chair. With horror on her eyes, she looks on everyone.

"Please help us."

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