Once again, he wanders—oh surely, at this rate, he won't be able to find that 'guy' any sooner if he relies on these tiny feet of his, so for now, it'd be better to follow up with these humans.'
Dressed in unusual clothing, having traveled as much as him and undertook on any tasks' that one normal person may not have achieved—they were those people who called themselves 'adventurers' and, as they' say, it'll be best to roam about with them near—and to the feline in desperate need of a nap, he'd gladly agree to receive them anytime, even as of now.
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Wandering Cat: Late
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During current times, adventurers' have become a rise for where the tragedy is still reminiscent—they were those who cleaned up the mess' 'he' had left behind.
Once 'it' had concluded and to 'them' not any more being needed—it had significantly fallen for the meantime but, all at once, different parties established overnight when 'his' disappearance had taken a toll on the people's lifestyle—demons' hadn't been the problem, but occurrences other than that showed up all of a sudden, if not for monsters'—humans too would be included in the many troubles they'd experience.
...
Following forth, Adam—a red-haired man—in his forties was the leader of such a party; after finishing through the day by cleaning up that horde of monsters' asked upon by a chief of a village in Viridis, they'd close down for the day; they weren't popular in the slightest, but to him, it was enough at least.
In contrast to others—their party was as small as three people, composed of a mage, swordsmen, and a tank—lacking in anything else perfectly enough, they balanced well.
Seeing that creature hop on to their caravan, surely—this time they'd have another member added to the party.
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"How cute!" In the approach of the unknown feline—the mage—Lilly, curly ginger hair—a tad older than the boy he'd met in Milrose is someone of bubbly personality.
Putting a stop on her advances—"You shouldn't get too close, no matter its appearance—it is still a beast." The tank—in spite of having alike years' to hers' he might as well be regarded as the mature and strict fellow of the group—Kylo, despite his statement; surely he too finds this feline adorable.
"You really are no fun—"I don't want to hear that from someone who can't even do her job right."—"What!" And the one breaking off the tension between them—the third member, and lastly, "Now, now shouldn't we welcome the new member? "Their leader—and based on what he stated, Adam—fits his role quite well.
...
"Are you really going to listen to that airhead again?" stated Kylo, his finger directed towards' the mage—"Mind you, we were supposed to clean up, not bring them back!"
"I told you it was a mistake!"
As a recap of what happened—she had unintentionally released an excessive amount of mana in the operation of supporting them in their clearing and to that—monsters' had engaged in the approach of them—in a sigh, kneading his forehead, as usual, he'd finish it off with his usual comments'—"A mistake that could've gotten us killed—having enough for the day, he turned his attention back to the red-haired man—"Ugh, nevermind that, it is your call, boss."
And to the leader in question, without hesitation, as another active airhead—the man asked upon would've had, "Hmm~ it wouldn't hurt~" as an answer.
...
Thus was the group at this party—overall, the feline would've deemed them to be a lively bunch—"Ahh! You sure do love me, boss!" The girl, a while in downcast—responded, now, spinning around with said 'danger,'—"Ah, I told you so, captain—now, look at her!"—and perhaps the feline doesn't mind it now for he could have the rest he had hopelessly desired.
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Quest piled up; somewhat those were the normal for those known—and as for the rest of them, they'd take on any duty available—this time, a man had asked them to clear that bridge of bandits.'
What the man had proposed to them was basically to put out the offer of a living quarter and, of course, food in the package as an exchange for payment; needless to say, they too would be paid for their service—a'straightforward request' and a reward 'worth gaining'—that's what the man had informed them.
...
"Isn't it a good offer? Right, fluffy?" Soothing the cat on her lap, the feline known for his cold image' hadn't mind it for he was at sleep—and to the young girl, she too had found the order to be rather appealing—despite that proposal, Adam himself has been at a loss—pacing back and forth for quite a while now—and, unexpectedly, the dark-haired boy has also been fazed since. "Even Kylo, huh—so, what's wrong with it?"
In her heedless concern—both in corresponding, the two who'd been quiet had spoken—"That's what's wrong!"—"It's too good to be true!"
Howbeit—shortly after their counter, the girl hadn't even perceived it to be meant as danger. "What?—that's all?
"That's all—you really are—however," positioned outside at the peak of night; without anything but the clothes on themselves' and the weapon of their classes'—having kicked out of their sole transport, the boy himself had thought up his mind—"Ehm—at any rate, wouldn't this be a good comeback boss?" In spite of his earlier defiance, he had taken their situation into consideration and anyhow had submitted into the best option possible.
——Ah, at any rate, we'd need to find something else shortly anyway.
But to Adam—still, in a glued state, he could only respond in a manner: "...perhaps that is so."
——Well, I'll tell them of it later—that was what the man had pondered all over.
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——I should've told them earlier.
And surely, those were the biggest mistakes he could've made—'it isn't supposed to be like this,' presently, the only 'thing' that wrapped in his head—cornered at each side of the surroundings, the three people had no way of escaping.
"To think this'll be easy—drop all your belongings' and maybe~ we'll let you end it painlessly," brandishing his dagger, one of the bandits had spoken and, in a matter, leapt ahead of them.
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——There had been too many of them to handle.
...
As a child—dreams' were those paths' that would've shown them how to start—but to Adam, since he was but a kid—it was already set in stone to what he would've become; it isn't unusual for families as such—what they'd known for will continue; and for him, where his family was in that line of work in the past—easily as that, he too would be next in line.
Hence, he trained—just enough, and as soon as he became of age, he joined up with such—that was how it was; he earned the right amount for he was at a known party; inserted enough energy and it would've been the same no matter what would've happened—that's how his life was led—not until he had met 'him.'
...
——For someone in that state, how could one eat in such a manner?
Adam had found him laying about in the ground—he hadn't imagined someone would've been starving to the point where they would've been better off like 'that.' With that, all he had to do was bring him to an inn. He had looked in his direction for a moment—and to what he had foreseen.
Never have he seen a person draw a favorable amount of attention—by a lift of cutlery at that—he appeared to have enjoyed it, in which, when the boy had concluded—he brought about a pouch of gold, as to ask what it was for—he replied, while he tilted his head a little—"Something wrong?" as if he was the one not in the right mind to ask a silly question.
Yes, it was his 'payment' for food.
...
The young man, a character that described a person of innocence—at least that's what he observed from following him around—mostly because he lacked knowledge on the value of coins and had been throwing out 'that' pouch for a few days' now—be it a meal, some clothes, or the stay at the inn—every problem of his had been solved by money.
——What is he, a young master?
Definitely, he couldn't leave someone of such status alone—he hadn't been aware of himself at all, but—"Hey, want to join up with my party?" A 'in the moment' decision—regardless, he knew despite his troublesome self, he couldn't have a civilian at risk, let alone someone like 'that'—and for all that, he couldn't let him wander around even more.
——He could get hurt—nevertheless, what if he gets mugged out in the street?
That was what bothered him and kept him from trailing him—truth be told, it was a sudden proposal, and he hadn't planned ahead; and today was the last he could've tailed him—nonetheless, he would've back down if he was interrogated.
...
In the end, "Then—I'll be in your care." without time of thought, the young man accepted it in an instant, as if he had been waiting for an occasion like that.
...
——Civilian, huh? Of course, again, I was mistaken—the fallen men couldn't even keep up with the fight in front—and all of a sudden, all the monsters' that were around them were placed to the ground by the young man who'd stood there unharmed.
It had been twenty years now'
——I wonder, what happened to that 'guy?
He had saved him—despite this, being a young man at the time of this happening, Adam, who appeared to be at his last—was dazed from having experienced this the first time; 'he was weak—' wasn't that why he ended up in a mess?—bathed in red of the people' who'd he'd known to be comrade's, and yet, what bothered him most—'adventurers,' aren't those guys supposed to be crazy strong?
Slightly, that's what his father would've told him; his grandfather would've also—and the father of his would've told them too if he'd been able to—therefore, why was he here in the first place?—he wasn't in criticism of the ones' who'd lay there; rather, his issue would've been for the one who was in view of the whole incident—why has someone like 'him' been an 'adventurer'—remove from the field in a flick of a finger—he hadn't done anything even if he was the same as 'them'—namely, that guy there; he had honed his skills' in magic while he was the one who's in short of it—or this girl close to him; she was the youngest and yet, she had been the one to encourage him—'they' were all'strong' that's what he had believed, and so, what about him?
Had he not done anything—anything at all?
...
Perhaps if his ending would've been here, he should've turned 'them' down in those years,' even if it'll result in him without a roof over his head—how much everything will change then—he had it in him for as long as he'd recollected; if he'd been able to, he should've gone with it; nonetheless, he knew—it was already too late—even now, reached out by the one in front of him.
—ah, and whispered in a voice that mixed in the air, with only him being able to hear it, 'had I even tried once to change it?"
Wasn't that what he should've pulled off and not dwelled on something he couldn't have done—he had come to it and perceived—"was he in the wrong all this time?"
...
Coughing in blood, "Even now, it piqued me. What do you mean by that—whom do you mean, and what did you imply?
'Help'
That's what the young man murmured before going on without having said anything else—you were strong—so, you could've done it yourself, anyhow, that's what I reckon—not until you'd vanish all of a sudden—be that as it may, I should've listened carefully.
From that point, the man who had done the bare minimum had been busy training himself to the fullest—having a path that he himself had chosen—finding out what 'he' had set for him—hence, at present, similar to a dream having been broken or he wasn't in the greatest condition he could've been—he held his head down low,
——Presently—I probably wouldn't get the answers' that I've looked for.
Having to handle a good deal of bandits'—he did pretty well, if he did say so himself, and the person he is—should've been gone earlier than this if he hadn't held on to these lingering attachments.'
"Even so, I hope I'm correct on this one—after all."
——Would I be able to face you again if I didn't?
"What are you all doing!—"Get him!"
With not having to conclude the endless battle of parrying swords,' the bandits who were left had turned enraged and rushed forward to him—now, in his final moments, the memories that had been all too vivid had come back to him, and it was of the young man who'd ramble on and on about that certain someone.'
"Ah—haha,"
——Surely I wasn't mistaken again!"
...
The man—acknowledged for his talent as a swordsman, the man that was part of that 'incident,' as a member of the recognized group that had been exterminated in the middle of a dungeon outbreak—survived although he was the 'weakest' of them—howbeit, it hadn't gone through him in the slightest and the man himself, at present, had put together his own party—though at his age, one should've considered retirement already. "Ah, I forgot to—and with a stab in the chest—when the two in the party had been no more; the last of its said members have breathed their last breath.
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"The capital, huh? What'll it be~"
Lilly had been in that state—given that she'd learned of their approval—and had been over the place, "as expected of a locked-up young lady." Jokingly, that's what the boy could and would've retaliated with.
Yesterday—they had managed to pull through the cold night; hence, when morning arrived—they'd with ease hopped on to another caravan in sight.
"Hey! You haven't gone there either, you know?"
And to the two youth who had done nothing but bicker—in moments such, they would've been the closest the feline had seen—either way, him and the 'guy' wouldn't have lost to them in terms of this.
...
A girl in confinement—and a boy with too much freedom to handle—this was how it used to be, and somewhat it is what the feline had also discerned as their individuality.
...
"This old man is so cool!—the girl who gave voice to such words' was but, yet young—having been the only person he could rescue from the fire that burned her house down—Adam believes her to be in ruin; having said that, she wasn't in the least bit of it, and as it happens, in complete opposite to what he'd imagine—the young girl, had exhibit nothing but praises.'
——'Cool,' huh?
Though that was where his single concern went—sure, he wasn't by any means' bad looking, and though he had aged, his face hadn't accompanied him at the slightest—thus, he would've looked younger than he originally was—and, as that, he doesn't mind being called 'cool' from time to time—and in contrast to this lively young lady that stuck to him—the boy right over there had glared at him as many times' as he could've counted—captured in the middle of stealing—the boy who had reached deep within his pockets' had too been brought over.
——Haa, what should I do?
And the man who took on the hurdle had been in a worried shape; he had fought monsters,' he had been in charge of protection, and he had too taught knights'—and others', and if he'd include the many odd jobs he'd experience, he'd master it all; now he wonders—wouldn't a mercenary—or rather, someone as him—have any occurrence where he'd have to babysit children?
——For sure, not.
At his age—for certain, he was at that point where he should've had one—from a distance, he could spot the two opposites of one another—"Hey, hey! Why are you here?" Strike up the conversation in the midst of all it; the girl had been the one to do so—"Shut up." At any rate, it was a futile conclusion, 'well, I'm sure someday' they'll be the ones to complement each other~'
——And maybe this is what 'he' also meant by that.?
'Still and all, this will be its own little fun thing.'
...
Having his mind settled, thus, was how it started: 'babysiting'; that's what he let play out and—come what may, he'd as well have raised them as his own—thus, a 'party' wouldn't be sufficient to describe them, for they were the same as family members from the start—more so, here and now; they'd have finished it off together as how they'd originally started out.
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The cat, having woken up from his deep sleep, hadn't seen it happening to these people—he'd just been lazing from that time he'd come here; hadn't he taken it too easy by them—they'd welcome him warmly, and perhaps he could've done something to return it, but then again, he wasn't but a cat in the wilderness, hence again he'd continue searching for him—and maybe he'll have that 'guy' pay them back then.