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Section 1
This post was last edited by s7715810 on 2012-8-28 23:36
Table of Contents
Chapter One Going Home
Chapter Two Clan Annihilation
Chapter Three Training
Chapter Four The Long Journey
Chapter Five Joining the Guild
Chapter Six Jedo
Chapter Six Jedo
A hush fell over the Silver Lion Guild. Every eye was on Amisilia, the beautiful girl who had just joined.
When she finished speaking, Amisilia walked straight to the counter and, ignoring the stares, searched the quest ledger. Reis could clearly see her looking through four-star quests, and the sight startled him. She was a newcomer too. She ought to have been a one-star member, the same as he was.
A moment later she had found what she wanted. She gave Reis one cold glance and left.
Only after she was gone did the hall grow noisy again.
Reis immediately flipped to the quest Amisilia had taken. One look left him stunned. It was an investigation into why the dragonkin had vanished, deep in the Forgotten Forest. The goal was useful intelligence. There was no pay, only a reward of one thousand merit points.
"This… what kind of quest is this?"
"Brother, you know her?"
Roya had suddenly taken an interest and struck up a conversation with Reis.
"An old classmate, I guess… it's just…"
"Oh. Looks like the two of you aren't on good terms. She insulted someone in front of everyone. Really not the kind of girl you'd expect."
Reis had no interest in chatting with him, but a question was burning in his mind and he had to ask it.
"Mr. Roya, how can Amisilia take a four-star quest?"
"Just call me Roya. As for her… she's a newcomer the guild master personally recommended. Different from the two of you. I was shocked myself when I read that letter of recommendation. The master specified a four-star rank for her, and her strength shows in the quests she's done. You know our guild's quests are all rated A-class by the state. Basically no one finishes them alone. You need at least a warrior and a priest working together. But she completes four-star quests by herself. She's a genuinely frightening girl."
Reis was not surprised. He only smiled faintly, half at himself, half as if mocking someone else.
"All right. Have the two of you picked a quest?"
By then Reis had no heart left for the ledger. Leah, beside him, was another matter. Amisilia's presence did not seem to have shaken her at all. She was searching the one-star quests in earnest.
"All right. We'll take this one."
"Oh? Wiping out the Bibbird King. Not bad at all. The little lady has a good eye. It isn't very dangerous, and it's close by. The trip won't take long. Three people ought to finish it in three days."
"Three people? But there are only two of us."
"Heh. Give me a kiss and I'll lend you two a hand. How about it?"
"Ah… I…"
"Hehe, don't count me in on that."
Leah hesitated a moment, then darted in and kissed Roya on the cheek. Her face burned as she ducked her head, shy and sweet.
"Haha. You really know how to make a man happy, little lady. I was all set to have you kiss me on the mouth, and you went for the cheek."
"That wouldn't be right. A kiss on the mouth is only for someone you like."
"Heh. I'll let you off this time. Next time, no such luck."
"So how do you plan to help us?"
"Hmm… timing's about right. That person should be back around now."
No sooner had Roya spoken than the doors were pushed open. A girl with black hair spiked up like a hedgehog stepped in. An orange headband patterned with triangles circled her forehead, and her large eyes were clear and lively. She looked bright as sunlight. She wore a woman's light armor, so it was hard to tell whether her figure was full. She was very petite, about seventeen.
A greatsword on her back, she strode up to Roya in a grand sweep, ignored Reis and Leah entirely, and launched straight into a loud conversation with him.
"Uncle Roya, I finished the Lulu Boar extermination. Here's the proof. Take it. Hurry up and tally my pay and merit points."
Uncle Roya…
Reis and Leah both went blank. Wasn't this girl a bit rude? No sense of seniority at all. Not a scrap of respect.
"Yes, yes. You little brat really don't stand on ceremony. Not cute in the slightest. Rare to see a face that pretty, and what a waste."
"Hmph. All you do is flirt with pretty girls. That slick mouth of yours never stops, but it doesn't work on me."
"Hey, I'm saying this for your own good. Don't wear that plain light armor every day. Put a little effort into how you look. Otherwise how are you ever going to get married?"
"Enough, enough. Save the nonsense. Hand over the pay. I've got the next quest to take."
"In that much of a hurry? There's no dealing with you. Here, here."
Roya set a pouch of gold coins on the counter. The spiky-haired girl snatched it up at once and tossed it lightly, looking rather satisfied.
"Miss Leah, you see her? That's the one. Her name is Jedo. She's a warrior."
Leah studied Jedo carefully. Jedo looked back at her without a care.
"Hello. I'm Leah. I'm a priest. Please look after me."
Leah bowed to Jedo and spoke gently.
"Oh. One look and I can tell you're new. Just got here?"
"Mm."
"She and this mage took a quest, and neither of them really understands how these things work. Give them a hand. You just finished one yourself, so don't push too hard. Three of you together will make it easier."
"But the pay goes down too. I'd have to split it with them, and lead them besides. They'll only slow me down."
"Why be like that? Quests are meant to be done as a team. Why insist on carrying it alone?"
"Hmph. I don't need companions. I can do it my… self… ngh?!"
Jedo's face suddenly went bad, and her breathing turned rapid.
"What's wrong?"
Roya asked, worried.
"I'm… fine…"
Jedo turned slowly. She had not taken two steps before she collapsed. Leah rushed to lift her and look her over. Her right hand was bandaged. Leah unwound the bandage and found the wound gone purple. The sign of poison.
"How is Jedo?"
Roya came out from behind the counter to see. People nearby pressed in as well, concerned. They were guild members who usually came here after a quest to drink and trade notes.
"A Lulu Boar's tusks are venomous. Jedo must have been gored. She wrapped it in a hurry and that was that. Making it back on her own was already something. The poison has gone deep. I'm afraid the right hand will have to come off to stop it spreading."
A bearded man said it calmly.
"You're not serious. Cut off her right hand? What would she do after that? She couldn't stay a guild member."
By then Jedo's breathing was growing difficult. Sweat poured off her. She looked to be in extreme danger.
"Don't be afraid. I know how to treat this."
Leah said it with certainty, then murmured a spell. She set both hands on the wound in Jedo's right hand. A faint golden light shone from Leah's palms and slowly sank into the injury. After a while the wound began to fade, the toxin melting away under the gold.
"There. She should be all right. A day's rest and she'll recover."
Leah said it lightly, as if the healing just now had been nothing at all, no strain and no difficulty.
"Incredible. Even the scar faded. That's perfect."
"And more than that. It took less than a minute. A poisoning that bad, cured in so little time. Amazing."
Everyone present was astonished. Leah's ability was acknowledged on the spot.
Reis, who had been staring the whole time, saw all of it. He was more certain than ever that Leah was a powerful priest.
The next day, Reis was up early. Leah was still sleeping soundly.
After washing up, he slipped quietly into Leah's room. For no other reason, of course, than to collect the rent properly.
"Hehe. Rent paid in flesh is still a bargain."
Reis was busy justifying himself.
Asleep, Leah looked like a sleeping beauty. Reis climbed carefully onto the bed and brought his face close to hers. He could see every one of those long lashes. He started at her ear, tongue slipping out for a light lick.
Then he kissed her cheek, and last of all her red lips. Leah had no idea Reis had taken her first kiss. By his own standard, though, it did not count. His tongue had not gone in yet.
After the teasing came the real thing. Reis boldly laid his head against the softness of Leah's chest. Days of exploration had already told him her breasts were by no means small, though they could not be called huge either.
The feel of them was already excellent. He touched both breasts with extreme care. Pajamas lay between his hands and her skin, and the sensation was still good, because this was a sneak attack. The pleasure in his head was complete.
"Mm… no… don't…"
Leah murmured.
Whatever she was dreaming, Reis was sure it was not a nightmare. She really was a treasure in her sleep.
Just as he was about to move on her lower body, heavy knocking came from the front door. Reis nearly jumped out of his skin. Without a word he got off the bed and hurried out of Leah's room.
"Hi."
Reis opened the door. Jedo stood outside, looking awkward.
"It's you. What is it?"
"Actually…"
Jedo scratched lightly at her hair, then flushed to the ears and bowed to Reis.
"Thank you both for saving me."
Reis understood. She had come for Leah.
"Don't thank me. Leah's still asleep. You should thank her properly."
At the same time he cursed her ten thousand times in his heart. Who told you to come and say thank you at a moment like this? You ruined everything.
To be continued.