The maids deftly clear the table and spread the large map of the continent. Liza wipes a remnant laughter tear from her eye, "I assume were going to look for more comrades. There are multiple Commanders, so we need more numbers than there are of them in our party". Elza locks eyes with Ren before she begins to explain the map's intricacies, "this is a map of Ryzenguard. It has all the topography that the Dark Elves know of, from the Human Kingdom all the way down to the Vampire Lands. However, we only have a rough estimate of what area each Commander governs within Demon territory. Whether we look for comrades or choose to pick a fight, this is the most accurate map I have to help us decide. We can get more finer details of the Dark Elves' Forest if need be".
Ren rubs his chin as he peers at the map, his eyes darting all over it, "hm...I see. Each commander governs their own area like lords or something. I assume this area is the capital where the Demon King is?", as he points to an area that is emphasized more than the others. Elza, "yes, and just beyond that is the lands that are home to the Vampires". Ren, "so he's close to the border. We have to go a long way to get to him...who governs this area, next to the border of this part of the forest? It's area is much smaller than the rest".
Elza looks to where Ren is pointing, "that would be Cairon's domain. He's said to be the top most ranking member among the Commanders in terms of strength. It's commonly known that he uses unrivalled martial arts called the 'bursting flame style'. In terms of close quarters combat, it's not unrealistic to say that nobody even comes close to him, not even the Giant King of the Badlands, Dunlop". Lorilay, "it's hard to imagine a giant losing in terms of physical strength". Liza, "it just goes to show how much of a threat Cairon poses"
Ren ponders for a second while staring intently at the area, "hm...then, lets head to Cairon". Liza and Lorilay look at him in complete disbelief, questioning themselves if they'd just heard that right. Ren says it so completely carefree that they find themselves unable to speak at its absurdity. Elza, on the other hand, has the opposite reaction. An amused, but also excited, smile spreads across her lips as her eyes focus on Ren, a certain desire pooling within them, "aiming for the top straight away? I like it, no, I love it".
Lorilay starts to panic, and rightfully so, "wait a second! Why would we go for the strongest Commander first???". Liza, equally as panicked, "what she said! Shouldn't we get more comrades first, train up, and then go from there? I feel like we're skipping a few steps...namely all of them!". Ren, completely nonchalant despite their panic, "defeating Commanders would put the other Commanders on guard, making it harder to reach them. It hasn't been long since we defeated Vall, so Cairon couldn't have made too many countermeasures yet. It would be best to remove the strongest one from the possible threats we'll face in the future while we can, right?", at least, that's the logic that tracks in my head. And my instincts aren't saying it's wrong.
Elza is ecstatic, "couldn't have said it better myself! Ren's name is still largely unknown, so much so that even I hadn't heard of him. And a no-name comes out of nowhere and defeats a Commander? Everyone will doubt it, leading to delays in their response to the unbelievable news. However, the truth is the truth, and it will eventually become widespread knowledge. We have a short opportunity to capitalize on this before it becomes too difficult to do so. We are lucky the strongest Commander is the closest one to us right now. We can't let this chance slip by".
Liza and Lorilay, who seemed whole heartily opposed, can't voice any opposition in response. Ren agrees with Elza completely, "very sound logic. My instincts that are telling me to head to Cairon...and soon. We should leave in the morning". Liza protests further at the rapid departure, "the morning??? But...our armour isn't even ready yet! Yes, we need our armour, right, Lorilay?". even though I'm wearing some right now. Lorilay agrees with Liza like her life depends on it, "that's right! Armour is essential to protect oneself from dangerous situations! We can't fight without armour!", even though I'm wearing some right now.
Ren, "my weapon isn't ready yet either, but this is what my instincts are telling me to do", as he shrugs. Elza matches Ren's nonchalant energy, "are you forgetting that there is pre-made stuff we can buy...not that we need to". Elza gives the two a knowing smirk, did you two think I wouldn't recognize the materials you two are wearing? The two feel their hearts sink to their stomach at her smirk, like it just cut off their only lifeline.
Having no other options, the two start to accept their fate, but Lorilay voices her hesitation as a last -ditch attempt, "your instincts haven't been wrong yet, and I can't refute what you said, so I think we maybe we could go...", I really don't want to! We just finished a fight with one Commander, so why do we have to fight another one so soon?I got lucky I was able to send him flying so high up into the air, but that won't work on all the Commanders...most likely.
In contrast to Liza and Lorilay's despair, Elza is visibly exited, completely ignoring Lorilay's unspoken plea to not go, "I've been waiting to go on this journey for too long! The quicker the better!". Liza can't help but resign herself to her fate, "alright, alright, I got it. We'll leave in the morning. We better go get ready then", how did things turn out this way? Liza trudges towards the door, shoulders slumped, but before the others start following her, Ren speaks up, "wait a second. There's something important I need to say".
They turn and see Ren now rummaging through his pockets as he whispers to himself, "now that I'm about to do this, it's really embarrassing!". He grabs the three boxes in his pockets, "I'm not sure how you do this in this world, but this is how my dad did it for my mom in my world". As he gets down on one knee, he looks at them, which causes his face to become as red as can be, "w-w-would the thre-e-e-e of y-y-you m-m-m-m-m-marry me?", HOW DOES ANYONE DO THIS??? IT'S SO EMBARRASSING!!! I WANT TO CRAWL INTO A HOLE!!!
Ren is so bright red as he opens the boxes that he may as well be a tomato, but the three women look down at the boxes instead of his face. The contents are practically sparkling like stars to them. Inside the each of the boxes is a ring. Ren can't help looking to the side once he finishes asking the question from the sheer embarrassment. He is unable to look up at them at all, I MESSED UP! THEY'RE GONNA LAUGH! THAT'S HOW BAD IT WAS! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
While Ren in in complete inner turmoil, Lorilay steps forward and takes her green ring box, admiring the ring inside. It's a silver coloured band encrusted with a single green gemstone, Elves don't use rings, but I'll happily take it. I can see why they're popular with human...it's a mysterious feeling receiving one. But I'll have to tell him about our customs in the near future. Ren looks up and sees a peaceful smile on Lorilay's face, calming his racing heart. Lorilay then gives him the biggest smile once they lock eyes, "I'd be honoured".
Liza also takes her gold ring box with a subtle smile, the golden coloured wedding band with its single transparent gemstone drawing her in, "I'd be happy too", I'm glad he took the initiative and is thinking about our relationship properly...who knows what my parents would've said if he didn't give me a ring. Especially my dad...thinking about it makes me cringe at what he might do.
Elza takes her purple ring box last, the purple coloured wedding band similar to Lorilay's, but encrusted with many smaller purple gemstones along its circumference, "it's a bit pointless to ask since we're already married, but I appreciate the gesture dear, thank you", Dark Elves only see jewellery as a nice gesture, so it's not needed, but they've been very popular lately. I can see why, it makes me feel very...warm. This, plus the upcoming fight...I really want to drag him to the bedroom. If only we didn't need to preserve our strength.
While the girls look at and try on their rings, Ren breathes a sigh of relief, thank God that went ok. An image of Adam posing in front of a mirror appears in his head, not you, it was a figure of speech! Liza looks at the ring on her finger before she takes the cushion the ring was on out of the box, oh, no chain...well, I can't expect human traditions in this country. Actually, I can't expect human customs from Ren either. I'm just glad our worlds shared a similar custom. I'll be sure to get a chain later. Lorilay holds up the ring to examine it before putting it on her finger, just doing this makes me far happier and more excited than I thought it would. The Elves should definitely have something like this.
Elza, looking at her ring in detail, it's perfect...Sebastian must have given him my ring size. How does he even know it in the first place? That crafty man, "do these marks mean something?". Liza and Lorilay look at Elza's ring and then their own upon seeing the strange symbols carved into the ring. Lorilay, "you're right, there are strange markings on your wedding ring. There's nothing on our engagement rings though".
Ren, "I'll have everyone's wedding rings engraved like Elza. Just a little thing from me to make it more personal. It's the language of the country I was born in. Those markings are your name in my language", probably, I tried the best I could. Elza starts look at it every which way trying to make sense of it. Lorilay can't help but comment, "that's wonderful! It's so romantic".
Elza gives up on trying to understand it and walks over to Ren, kissing him sweetly on the cheek, "you sure know how to play with more than just a woman's body, *kiss*, making my heart flutter, you". Her smile after the kiss makes Ren's heart skip a beat...or seven. Liza has been deep in thought since Ren mentioned his language, "but if that is your language, how come we can understand you?".
This snaps Ren out of his trance, "hm...oh...you're right. Hm...there's two things that come to mind that could explain it, but don't assume these are definite. One is that the God I met put some sort of auto-translate magic on me. That, or our spoken language is the same but our written language is different. But he said he'd make it so I can understand this language, so it's probably the first option...maybe?".
Liza, "I see...it could be the second one though. The spoken language for each country is the same but each country has it's own written language. It would be difficult to figure out which, but I'm not one to doubt a God". Ren, "is that so? Good to know. But it hasn't been that big a deal so far. The fact that I can understand you girls is the most important thing".
Elza, "I'm sure we'd all love to celebrate, and I'd fucking love to celebrate in the bedroom, but we have to get ready to depart. We need to be in tip-top shape for the upcoming battle". Ren ignores her comment in the middle, doing his best to not let it bother him, "you're right, let's get to it", still can't believe I'm married...and trying to get my other girlfriends...fiancés...pregnant. What about Elza? Does she want a baby too? Should I ask her? But that seems really awkward to ask. I'll let her tell me what she wants to do as we're... But really, how did this happen? Never once in a million years would I have thought that I'd have to think about these things.What has happened to my life?
Because they have to get up early in the morning, they all leave to prepare. After they finish, they will all go to bed. Everything proceeds smoothly until Ren realises he doesn't have his own room. In a hallway addressing Ren, Sphinx, "as you're are the King of this nation, it is a given you would sleep with the Queen". Ren, troubled, "I feel like it's better to sleep separate in times like these". Sphinx, "I won't go against your wishes. If that's the case, would you like to come to my room instead?".
Ren is genuinely confused by the remark, "I'm not impatient enough to take over a maid's room. If no guest rooms are prepared, I'll just wait until one is. You don't have to make it look fancy or anything, it just has to be sufficient enough to sleep in. I'll be here...em, meditating till it's done. Please come get me once the rooms set up". Without further ado, Ren crosses his legs on a chair and starts practicing his field.
Sphinx blinks a few times before turning around to walk away, did I just get rejected? Me? I invited him to my room, didn't I? Did he just not get it? I thought I was being direct, but it feels like it went completely over his head. But how could I be more direct than that? 'come back to my room, we'll have sex' makes me seem like a loose and desperate women. I mean, I am desperate, but I have my pride. Saying stuff like that is reserved for after you are in that type of relationship, right? I'd say that anytime if we were, but we're not, and I won't stoop to that level.
Sphinx enters a fully furbished and maintained guest room. She sits on a chair and continues her internal debate, did he actually understand and reject me? It can't be. He wouldn't need to exert his energy because I'd do all the work. I'm not going with them tomorrow, so he shouldn't have to worry. And if he likes how Elza looks, I should also match his preferences. There's no reason he should reject me...it really must have gone over his head. I'm going to have to do something more direct next time. Not today though, I'm not in the mood anymore. I'll just pretend like I prepared this room just now. Having him realise he unintentionally rejected me would be humiliating.
At first light the next morning, Ren and Elza are the first ones to gather at the breakfast table. It's still early, but the maids have prepared breakfast for them, Sphinx carrying on as if yesterday's rejection never happened. However, Liza and Lorilay aren't showing up even though Ren and Elza are about to finish their meal. Elza turns to Sphinx, "where are Liza and Lorilay? They should have been here by now".
Sphinx, "I received a report, but it would be better to show you than to explain. I will escort you after you finish your meals, your Majesties". Ren and Liza follow Sphinx not long after, and Sphinx escorts them to Liza and Lorilay's shared room (their request), "they're inside". Elza knocks on the door, "Liza, Lorilay, is everything ok? Can we come in?". They hear Lorilay's voice muffled through the door, "yes, come in".
Once they enter, they are greeted by Lorilay holding Liza's hair back as she's over the toilet, throwing up. Elza is of course concerned at the sight of this, "is she ok?". Liza scarfing down food at yesterdays dinner flashes through Ren's mind, "she ate way too much yesterday. It's probably that". Lorilay, "she said she doesn't feel like she's ill but just feels sick, so she needs to get it out", Iguess human bodies really are different, or she's just sick. She doesn't have a fever, and it can't be that...right? It can't be, it's way too early. It has to be that human bodies work differently. I'll have to ask about the details at some point...and when we're alone.I should have asked for a doctor before I forgot about it.
Elza turns to Ren, "it doesn't look like we can set off immediately...what should we do?". Ren, "hm...we'll have to wait a bit. Is there anything that needs doing that we can do in the meantime? Hm...oh yeah, I forgot about giving them their share of the bounty. Lorilay, where are your Association cards?". Lorilay, "mine is it the front of my bag". Liza, as feebly as she can, "mine too".
Ren goes and gets their cards From their bags. He taps his against them like he was instructed, transferring their share of the money, "alright, that should do it. Elza, why don't we go and register you joining our party at the Adventures Association and see how Liza is when we get back? Actually, will they be open this early?".
Elza, "the Association is open 25/9, so we can go immediately". Ren can't help but do a double take at her statement, his confusion evident, "did you just say '25/9' by any chance?". Elza returns his look of confusion, unsure why he's confused, but then it clicks that he probably doesn't know. That it's something different from the world he was in before, "sorry, it's something everyone knows. It stands for 25 hours, 9 days a week".
Ren, his face going blank from the revelation before he starts spitting information like a robot, "...oh, I see...25 hours...9 days in a week...I see...I see. In my world, it was 24 hours, 7 days a week. And just to clear up any further assumption I might have on the subject, 365 days made up a year In my world. Each year was split into 12 months. How about here?". Elza, a little off-put, "there is 351 days in a year. 13 months in a year. 3 weeks in a month. And 27 days in each month".
Ren absentmindedly stares at the ceiling with an empty smile as he processes the information, this is probably the reason I felt I was getting more sleep than back in my world, "I see. I guess I'll have to learn everything at some point. First the sky, now this". Elza raises an eyebrow at the unusual comment, "what about the sky?". Ren, "it's completely different from my world". Elza, her interest piqued, "how so?".
Ren, his words lacking emotion as he thinks of how different the sky here is, "everything is an abrupt shift in visuals here. Back in my world, it gradually changes. Like the sky fades from blue to orange gradually at dusk, not an instant change. It's so freaky every time I see it here". Elza, easily seeing that he's overwhelmed, decides not to pry further, especially at this 'dusk' she's never heard of before, "hmm...interesting, must be pretty", getting thrown into another world, and not even the sky can be source of comfort...how unsettling it must be for him, yet he doesn't show it. He's a true man through and through. I need to be more considerate.
Speaking about the sky makes Ren naturally let out some of his other observations that's been on his mind, "I've also noticed that light streams in from every window at the exact same angle, even if there are four windows in a square room. Shadows are also just a blob at your feet that don't move when outside in natural light. It works like normal with a candle in though, even if the blob is still there, so I've given up thinking about it".
Elza, doesn't know what to say, and this makes her feel uncomfortable, "I don't really get it, but it sounds interesting", I can't even imagine how else shadows would work. Ren, sensing he's gone too far, "never mind. You won't believe anything unless you see it yourself. Let's just move on and head to the Adventure's Association", as he starts walking towards the door, "we'll see you two when we get back", as he waves goodbye to them.
Lorilay waves back, "have fun". Liza waves as best she can but is unable to say anything for fear of throwing up. Elza, "see you two later, I hope you get better Liza", also waving at the two of them. Ren adds, "I hope it's nothing too serious and you feel better soon", it's probably best to leave her in the care of the local physician. I'm sure the maids already arranged for one to come. Liza can't do anything more than give him a thumbs-up in response.
Once Ren and Elza are in the Hunter Association building, they are greeted by the same receptionist Ren met before, "good morning, your Majesties. Was his Majesty was able to properly split the bounty before the time limit?". Ren can't help but react to the worrisome question, "time limit?". Receptionist, "yes, in order to ensure that you haven't run off with the money, you are given a time limit to complete the transfer. His Majesty was given one day due to the nature of the bounty and the amount of money. All this should have been in the documents I provided your butler".
Ren, hm? Sebastian was given documents? I didn't notice...and he didn't tell me anything about this, which any competent butler would do. Is he actually somewhat incompetent? Was it a good idea to leave things in his hands concerning my weapon? I'm feeling a little worried about Sebastian, and my instincts are telling me I should be worried about him in that sense, "what happens if someone doesn't transfer the money in time?".
Receptionist, with a completely innocent smile, "the Association will hunt them down after conducting an investigation if they run. A wanted poster will be made immediately and spread to all other branches. Things like these ruin it for others, as well as tarnish the Association's reputation, so things like these are dealt with thoroughly and swiftly". Ren gives an awkward chuckle, "good to know", no matter how you look at it, no smile can be innocent with those muscles!
Receptionist, "of course, mistakes happen, so there is only a small penalty if it's concluded that is the case. There is also the option of requesting for an extension due to extenuating circumstances that will prevent the transfer of funds. I hope that clears things up for you". Ren, "well, I did transfer the funds this morning, so there's no need for an extension or anything. We've come to register El- Queen Elza to our party".
Receptionist, as she presents them a pen, "we figured that you would, so we prepared all the paperwork beforehand. All you need to do is sign and everything will be processed swiftly". Elza signs the papers without even looking. The receptionist quickly looks over the documents before giving the two a smile, "congratulations, her Majesty has officially joined the party 'Elemental Busters' as of this moment. Will that be all you need from us today?". Elza, "I don't think we need anything else, so we'll be on our way. Thank you for your help". Receptionist, "understood, have a nice day".
Ren and Elza leave and head back to the palace, not much time passing at all since they left. They find Liza and Lorilay in the dining room just as Lorilay is finishing breakfast. Liza however...has piles of food around her. Ren addresses her, concerned but also in disbelief, "are you ok to be eating?", it's been like 30 minutes since you were puking your guts out.
Liza, as if stating the obvious, "I couldn't head off on an empty stomach, could I?". She pays no mind to everyone's concern and continues eating. Ren just awkwardly nods, not knowing what to say, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells sometimes. I feel like pressing the issue would have just annoyed her and nothing productive would come from it...these instincts save my life in unexpected ways.
Lorilay, "I asked the kitchen staff to prepare something that's easy on the stomach", but something's still weird. I just can't put my finger on it. I feel like I'm not thinking about something so obvious, but the physician said she couldn't find anything wrong, unless it's human specific. Is it really because the bodies of humans are different? Elza, "so we're all prepared then. Let's go", if she's good enough to eat like that, she's good enough to get on a horse.
Ren, "shouldn't we give Liza a bit more time to rest?". Liza, "you're the one who said we need to leave in the morning, so we need to go". Ren can't help but feel concerned, "but-". Liza, a bit annoyed at the overreaction, "I said I'm fine!". After a couple of seconds silence, Ren shows that he gives in, "ok, let's go then", I feel like my head will be ripped off if I protest any more. Why is she so intense? What's happening? Have I done something? Maybe a sickness in this world is causing her to act this way...but I feel mentioning that is the worst thing I could possibly do. I might actually lose my head that way. With everything prepared and ready to go for them by the maids, the group quickly sets off on their journey into Cairon's territory now that Liza is ready to travel...according to the person herself.