Chapter 7: Trouble After Separation

I couldn’t help but feel at bliss. Why? It’s because I’m currently lying down as Iridia patted my fur. You know, it’s a very comfortable feeling. Getting your fur stroked as you lie down with the soft wind on your cheek. It was a very comfortable atmosphere.

“Like I said, I’m not giving you Fer!”

“But you lost to me in that drinking game. A deals a deal!”

“I never even agreed to that!”

“Yet you participated and lost. As a noble, shouldn’t you keep your promises?”

“Grrrr”

“Grrrr”

I lazily watched the two bicker as Iridia kept pampering me. It really was an amusing sight to see and had been the center of entertainment for the group for the past two days. After the bandit incident, the two mercenaries had requested that they join our group. At first, Iridia was about to decline them, but…

Just let them join. It’s not like they will impede our travel any more than they’ve already done

… She immediately conceded after hearing my opinion. OF course, I didn’t miss her muttering about the noble girl being dangerous to my atmosphere, but she still complied and guided our carriage through the forest. As for the noble girl, we learned some fascinating things from her after it was decided that she will stay with us in the carriage. First of all, her origins. She wouldn’t tell us her name, but she did tell us that they came from the Romanov kingdom of the human continent. She also seemed to show a personality similar to that of a princess. She didn't say anything on this part though so we didn't push her. As for her two guards, one being a dwarf and the other a human, they have known the girl ever since she was small.

Seeing as they are knights though, they didn’t look the part. Instead, their presence seemed to scream mercenary rather than being knights of one of the most powerful human kingdom known to this world. They were great company though as Das gave out small stories of his adventures and Dale gave out entertaining stories about the women he’s met in his lifetime. Such a dynamic duo, the adventurer and the womanizer.

Of course, once Rina and Iridia listened to Dale’s stories, they were immediately on guard. It also didn’t help that he kept flirting around with the two girls who can only grit their teeth. I felt them wanting to beat up the man, but I told them strictly not to hurt him. If they did, he might not live a long life. Another reason I didn’t want him hurt is because he’s an excellent tracker. Actually, both Daz and him were excellent traveling companions to have. Not only do they make excellent looking guards, but they had skills in leading us towards safer and comfier paths. Because of that, we've avoided fighting against monsters and other bandits.

That’s why, for the sake of a comfier and safer ride, please be patient. Now, as for our surroundings, it’s been nothing but desert for the past few days. Now though, it was changing. The air was becoming humid and the ground around us were beginning to change into soil. Soon, it changed completely as we were now travelling through what looked to be an open plain with a grassy fields.

“Ah, Ojou Sama, Rina chan. If you guys want to see you should come out of the carriage for a bit. We are nearing the Fortress City of Glagur”

Following his cheerful voice, the two immediately joined Iridia in the driver seat. They both stared at the city with wide eyes filled with excitement. In front of us, a huge mountain could be seen. Near the middle of the mountain though, huge citadel like structures could be seen. They were embedded deep into the mountains forming an impenetrable looking fortress, but the huge dwarven looking structure wasn’t what impressed me. It was the steam-punk looking design that did. With my sharpened eyes, I saw gear looking things rotating from many different places inside the castle. Not only that, white smoke could be seen evaporating into the sky.

I couldn’t help but also feel excited as I stared at the city in front of us. All of a sudden, I felt my entire body lift up. The noble girl had caught me and placed me above her head.

“Neh, Fer. Don’t you think it’s an amazing city?”

I couldn’t help but bark excitedly in reply. Seeming to feel my excitement, the girl began to giggle and laugh, while Iridia sat quietly leading our carriage towards the city.

“If only I’m not driving this thing… then I too could have fun with master”

She whispered those words to no in particular, but Iridia… you do know I could hear what you say no matter how much you whisper it right? Because I’m a wolf, I have a keen hearing that can hear a person whispering from a mile away. That’s why, I’m very sorry. I’ll make sure to spend time with you later ok. I’ll make sure not to make you lonely later, ok!

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“This sure is a long line”

“Yeah, I didn’t expect it to be this long”

I stared at the huge line in front of us. There were a lot of caravan looking carts. Each looked different from one another. It truly is fascinating to see different looking cultures from this long line of carts. But aside from my interest, I was actually starting to get bored. Not only that, I was also starting to become impatient. Why? It’s because I finally saw the shrine I was looking for. It was located at the very top of this mountain. It had huge wide pillars and was coated in, what can only be described as, holy light. Not only that, an image of the goddess was sculpted and placed on a pedestal. If that’s how she really looked, then she was a very beautiful goddess.

Anyway, after looking for my target, I couldn’t help but ask Iridia to ask the mercenaries if it were possible to cut through the line.

“Ah… I believe it’s impossible. The only one to have access to the fast lane are royalty and high officials. For normal nobles and mercenaries like us, even we have to wait in this boring line”

Daz could only sigh as he too felt fed up with the waiting. Wait, royalty or high officials.

Hey, Iridia. Just go ahead and cut to the fast lane

Seemingly understanding my intention, she went ahead and began to go to the fast lane.

“Oye, what do you think you’re doing!”

Ignoring both Daz and Dale who were telling them to stop, Iridia kept up our pace and soon made it to the front.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Halt! What in blazes do you think you’re doing?”

A sturdy looking soldier appeared. Unlike from the city before, he was a dwarven soldier clad in black metal armor. He looked formidable, as well as his fellow soldiers, who held a pike in their hands. I could also see scabbards that had what seemed to be a dwarven made sword and a hexagonal shield that kept it’s box looking shape.

“Return back to your line! This line is only for…”

Iridia came up to him and gave him her card. The look from the soldiers face turned several shades of colors. From red, to pink, to green then to black. It was highly amusing to see.

“Those two guards and that noble are entering this city with us”

“Ah… just in case, can I please see their cards”

I could feel the surrounding people staring at us. Why? It’s because the normally uptight soldiers of Glagur had become weak looking in the presence of a girl. Of course, neither I nor the girls knew anything about how strict the soldiers were in this city. We really just want to get inside. The guard immediately went over to the two guards. Of course, they handed him normal card which made the man sigh in relief. The same went with the noble girl. But, once looking at Rina’s card, he began sweating once again.

Just why are two powerful nobles visiting a city like this? We didn’t even get any information about them visiting!

The dwarven soldier thought to himself. Of course, I didn’t know what he was thinking as I calmly looked at the scene in front of us. He then turned to his companions and whistled a slight tune. In reply, a whistle came back to him and a huge gate began to open.

“Please guide your cart through there madams. I do wish for your safe stay in our most humble city”

The man took a knee, something that is only shown towards highly important people comparable to that of royalty. I could hear murmurs from the surrounding people, but I didn’t care. Neither did Rina and Iridia who calmly guided the cart through the city. Also, Daz and Dale seemed to be uncomfortable as they guided their horses with a strange look on their face. Same goes for the noble girl. Like that, we finally reached the city of Glagur.

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“”We’re very sorry for showing a shameful side of ourselves madams””

Both Daz and Dale were kneeling towards both Iridia and Rina.

“Like I said, you don’t need to be forgiven”

“Yeah, it was us who didn’t tell you anything so there is nothing to forgive”

Although they’ve repeated the same lines over and over again, the two knights seemed adamant to ask for their forgiveness. I could feel a rumor starting from this as I listened on our surroundings.

“Neh, those two girls seem important”

“I heard they were royalty that was travelling incognito”

“Eh… then wouldn’t those two get punished?”

“Yeah, a horrible punishment too…”

“Hey, don’t you think those two girls are pretty fine?”

“Yeah… what do you think?”

“The boss will probably take an interest sooner or later”

I immediately put tabs on the people around us. Of the general gossiping, some of them were pretty normal conversations. A couple of them kind of hinted at a possible underworld in this city. In other words, we have to make sure to stay clear from shady looking characters. But for now, my objective is to reach the shrine.

Iridia, Rina. Let’s go. The shrine is just above us so it’s better if we part ways with them here

Hai

“Listen you two, you don’t have to apologize ok. Just make sure you take care of the girl alright and all will be forgiven”

“”HAI””

The two began nodding enthusiastically as they stood from their place. Seeing as how anticlimactic the scene just ended, the surrounding people began to disperse throughout the various streets. I then felt myself being turned around.

“Well, I guess this is goodbye for now Fer. I promise though that someday, maybe even later, we can reunite again and play around alright”

I nodded my head. Seeing that, she giggled and to my surprise, gave me a kiss in the forehead. I had a warm feeling spread throughout my body. Am I happy? Yeah I am… but I’m kind of sad that we were actually separating. She was a nice girl who seemed to have a proper mind. That’s why, I really hope she can live a long life. She then passed me over to Iridia.

“Someday, I’ll come back to take Fer from you”

“I’d like to see you try!”

Both gave each other a long hard look… but by the end of it, both were smiling confidently at one another.

“Anna Morozov”

“Iridia Lowell”

The two then grasped each other’s hand.

“Then, I hope to meet you again Lowell”

“Maybe one day, but don’t push yourself too much Morozov”

With that, we watched her, Dale and Daz disappear into the crowd. They were pretty fun companions to have in our journey. I know for a fact that without them, it would have been a whole lot more boring. That’s why, someday. Let’s meet again and journey once more to a different place. With that thought, we started our long trek to the top of this mountain.

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[Stranger POV]

“They’re separating now huh. It seems like the two guards have left. What should we do boss?”

The boss stared at the two girls with the wolf. In my eyes, I only saw one thing. Dangerous cold eyes that were filled with nothing but lust. Slowly exhaling the smoke he was smoking, he smiled.

“What we do best. Steal, take and break”

With those words, the boss stood from the shadows and began to follow the two ladies. I also followed after them alongside ten other people. With this, there’s not a doubt in our hearts. Tonight is going to be a fun night. Never would I thought that in this one day, the name of the Black heart gang would disappear in a single night.

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Author Notes:

Hey, guys. I do hope you enjoy this chapter and expect great things in the next :D