- First Camp -
I answered Grim's call and head forward to the bonfire. I sit on the log which has been prepared and arranged by Grim. Infront of me, Grim sits there while putting on his shirt. In the middle, between me and Grim is the bonfire. A little bit to the left from me, there's Fuyoumi checking on the soup that he cook, periodically. The bonfire gives off a warm feeling to my whole body who sit on the log silently looking at them while using [appraisal] on them to lookup some informations.
"Fuyoumi"
Lv. 72
Occupation: Peddlar
Class: ???
???
HP: 100% (indicated by red bar, and annotation on the bar)
MP: 92% (blue bar)
STA: 43% (yellow bar)
"Grimjack"
Lv. 58
Occupation: -
Class: ???
???
HP: 100%
MP: 100%
STA: 21%
I saw so many '?' mark. I think the '?' mark informations will be revealed if we have more knowledge regarding the subject. I do see Grim's stamina is low enough but I don't see any expression like being tired or such.
"So, Irumi-chan.", Fuyoumi turns his head facing towards me while smiling gently. "Where were you from? and where are you heading up to?", Fuyoumi asked while stirring the soup in the pot.
"Umm..", I mumbled. Trying to make up a story in an instant. "I actually raised afar, within the mountain range with my Master whose like a Grandfather to me. He taugh me many things, but he recently passed away, leaving me a suggestion to learn about the wide world outside our mountain and forest. So.. I basically don't know where to go..", I made up the story to reply them.
"We apologize we brought up such topic, Irumi-chan.", Grim said, intended showing respect for the grandfather who passed away from my made up story. He's representing Fuyoumi as well.
"Ah.. It's okay.", I shaked my head in an eased manner. "I have a feeling Grandpa is smiling on me from the heaven.", I implied.
"Mountains, hmm?", Fuyoumi wondered. "Do you have any relatives known to you, Irumi-chan?", Fuyoumi asked.
"As I recall.. I only lived alone with Grandpa. I guess, no?", I answered.
"I see..", Fuyoumi said while wiping the wooden bowls and spoons with a blanket.
"How old are you Irumi-chan?", Grim asked with Gallantly pose while sitting there on the log.
"Umm.. Around 14 I guess?", I replied to Grim. Basically I don't know. I'm just guessing by the looks of my character.
"I see..", he nodded slowly. "What is your current level? If I may?", Grim followed with another question.
"My level? Um.. 1?", I replied with the concealed information info.
"Hmm.. I see, Level 1.", He nodded again. No wond-..", Grim stopped midway as if he was choked on something.
Fuyoumi who heard my answer suddenly stopped stirring his soup, his facial expression looked gloomy with shock combined together while his hand still holding on the soup ladder.
"LEVEL 1?!!", They yelled out loud from shock and suddenly looked at me with shocked expression, like their eyes almost poped out. I am quite panicked, don't know how to get out from this awkward situatiin.
"Um..Pe-perhaps it is because of My age that my level did not raise up properly?", I implied, trying to get out from the situation.
They flinched a second. Making gestures showing like thinking 'is that possible?' from their body and pose. That's that, with their own style.
"Ah.. haha..ha, I.. well.. yeah it maybe", Fuyoumi said while shaking his head. Then he pours down the soup to the wooden bowls, put a spoon in each of them and offered the first bowl to me afterward.
"Gah! My brain blown. I bet you trained sooo hard with your grandpops which make you as strong as now. But still, where did that strength come from with thay tiny body of yours, Irumi-chan?", Grim whined while scratching his head with both hands before asking me.
"Umu.. Grandpa was a strict person.", I answered, ignoring the other question I don't have to answer.
Fuyoumi offered the next bowl to Grim, he took it with his both hands with such a respect attitude toward fuyoumi.
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"Please enjoy the meal.", Fuyoumi said.
"Thank you for the food.", Me and grim said.
And then we ate our dinner, talking, laughing, and hearing the past stories of Fuyoumi's from Grim when he was still an active adventurer. Fuyoumi didn't mind, laughing together with us with his stories being told by his closest friend. And from there, I know why Grim addresses Fuyoumi as his Master which is actually there are no contracted bond such Master and Slave nor Servant nor apprentice kind of bond.
The night was lovely, Grim san going straight to the tent to get some rest. The tent is quite wide. Fuyoumi still sit there infront of the bonfire and I excuse myself to him for taking a short bath in the river.
Time passes by as I took the bath. I dried myself with wind magic, and start tying up my hair while walking toward Fuyoumi whose still sit there infront of the bonfire.
I pat her shoulder gently so that I won't scared him. He turns aways his head to my direction as soon as my hand touched his shoulder.
"Oh, You're done?", Fuyoumi said as he closed his book, with the pen sandwiched between the pages.
"Mmhmm.", I replied back as I took a seat on the wooden log I used when I was eating dinner together with them.
"Ah.. so, what is your class Irumi-chan", He asked.
"I suppose I am a [Blade class Warrior]?", I replied.
"Hmm.. I see. Your strength is truly absurd for a level 1 honestly. But we do respect your privacy on that matters. People tend to have their own circumtances anyway. hahaha", He implied some worry behavious as he said the words.
I remained in silence while poking on the bonfire with a wooden stick.
"Back before I retired.", Fuyoumi began telling his story while looking at the bonfire with his fingers connected making both palm clenched together. "Then, I chose to join the Merchant guild. Grim and me, and the other members thay are not present today, were adventurers in a party of 5. We were a D ranked party back then. while Invidually, Grim was a C rank [Fighter] Class, and I was a B rank [Spear Class warrior]. But then, things happened and I have no longer the resolve to wield my Spear high.", He continued his story.
"I see..", I replied with attentive looks, and not knowing what to reply or ask.
"The wolves, should not be a trouble for us, if it was not caused by my condition. And again, I am really grateful that you were there, Irumi-chan. As I am afraid if you didn't, I might drag Grim san with me, if we're looking at the moment and my inability. So, again, I thank you for saving our lives.", He said and thanked me afterward while bending his body a little bit to the front from his seat. Bowed his head at me showing his sincere gratitute.
"Ah.. I am happy that I could help, Fuyoumi-san.", I bowed back. Showing that I accepted his gratitude.
"The night is peaceful. You don't need to standguard in this forest which called [Undine Forest]. This whole forest is the territory of the spirits race. A neutral race which loves and loved by the nature. As long as we don't have any ill intentions toward them nor the natures around us, we will be safe. And there are no monsters as well, instead of wild neutral animals.", Fuyoumi explained.
"Ah I see, so that's why you were so calmly writing books without weapons around you.", I said.
"Yes, indeed. The spirits, some people say they are a beautiful race with a presence that glows in the night with the mana surrounds them. But it is very rare for one to spot them, even if they camped here the whole year, there won't be an exact chance that one will see them. Despite their beauty, they are quite scary when they're angry. As a spirit, their tendency to mana is undoubtedly high. They can use and manipulate the mana itself, like their own body parts.", Fuyoumi told.
"Hmm.. I see. [Spirits race]. [Undine forest]. Umu. I got it.", I reply with attentive manner. Showing an interested attitude. "By the way, is there any library in the town we're heading to, Fuyoumi-san?", I asked.
"Books, eh? Hmm..", He lifted his head a little higher. Frowning his forehead while closing his eyes. Showing the gesture of trying to think or rememberring something. "Next stop, we should be arriving to a small city like village, Luna, by noon if we march in the morning. But, for a library, there should be one in Major city. It took 4 days of travel by carriage from here. And, it is also on the same route road.", He said.
"Ah I see. Is there an adventurer guild branch in Luna Village?", I asked.
"Oh yes, There is one. Maybe you should be registering your Adventurer license there while you're at it.", He replied.
"Yes! That would be wonderful.", I implied.
Then, we talked some more to kill some time and went to bed in the tent afterward. Fuyoumi killed the fire and we went to sleep on each of our futon beds made from animal skins which prepared and arranged by Grim. Such a great one, for my first camping in this world. I am glad that I met with some trusted travellers. I guess I am indeed lucky.
Then, the next morning comes. I had quite a good night sleep last night. As I woke up, I see both of them are not in the tent. I gets up and walk out from the tent.
I see Grim is cleaning up the spot where the bonfire was and to the right afar, I see Fuyoumi washing the dishes near the riverside.
I walk toward the river wanting to get some water to wash my face. I greeted Grim while walking by waving my hand at him, he waved back.
I sit neear the riverside next to Fuyoumi against the river flow. I washed my face with the cool and fresh water hitting and refreshing every spot on my face's skin.
"Fwahh!!! Cold!!!", I shivered as the water touched my face. "But Refreshing.", I implied.
"Indeed, Irumi-chan. good morning.", He said while he turns his head toward me and greeted me.
"Good morning too, Fuyoumi-san!", I greeted him back in a spirited manner.
We prepared ourselves for the journey. As usual, Fuyoumi make some simple breakfast and warm drinks from the reserved hot water which they boiled when I was still soudly asleep. We talked a little, and had some light jokes while having it. Then, I helped fuyoumi washing the dishes. Grim disassembling the tent back to the carriage. I helped him as well once I'm done with the dishes. Fuyoumi taking the horse by the river to let it drinks and have some meals.
Afterward, We continue our travel to Luna Village. As I could not wait to see, the residents of this fantasy world.