First Encounter
...So I just pick one of these, huh.
Following the path behind Candle Square, as Lisa mentioned, I eventually found a group of wild bike hogs grazing in a wide-open field.
Among them, I saddled one whose mane was especially dark and mottled with brown patches and climbed onto its back.
It's pretty calm for a wild beast.
Just as I kicked off to start moving...
Oink!!
?!
*Thud thud thud!!*
With a shriek, the bike hog suddenly burst into a full sprint at tremendous speed.
While I was waiting for my new Journey member at the square, Lisa suddenly contacted me through a communication spell.
Yes. The tracker shows she's near the Monastir border, and she's not responding to the communication spell.
I'm not exactly sure what happened... but it looks like she lost her way.
She crossed into NOA without taking the train and still managed to get lost near the border...
Looks like I have a scatterbrain in my hands.
But I heard rumors there are wild bike hogs running around in the open field just past Candle Square.
Maybe not all the way to the center of the Duchy of Monastir, but getting to the border and back should be easy enough on a bike hog.
So you're telling me to...
Hehe, that's right.
Why not borrow one, and return it afterward?
Looks like I made it to the Monastir border...
After galloping at full speed for several hours, the bike hog dropped me off and knelt beside a large tree as if exhausted.
Leaving the hog behind, I followed the forest path, searching for the Journey member who had likely gotten lost...
*Rumble...*
The ground around me suddenly began to tremble. I cast my eyes ahead.
Kraaawr!
!!
A massive monster suddenly charged at me, and I instinctively raised my weapon into a defensive stance.
Krgh!
Its sharp claws scraped against my weapon with a chilling screech.
As it pressed down with its full weight, I was gradually forced backward.
Just as I realized I couldn't keep this up much longer, I heard wind slicing through the air somewhere above me, and a dark shadow fell overhead.
Kraaawr!
Shut your filthy trap.
*Crash!*
With a single powerful beat of its wings, the shadow slammed the ground with overwhelming force, and the massive monster collapsed with a scream.
*Tap*
I turned toward the sound of a light landing to see...
*Sigh...* What a nuisance.
At the rugged Monastir borderlands...
Beyond the sandstorm stirred by the fallen monster...
That was my favorite carriage.
There stood a girl with glowing red eyes, holding a greatsword.
...Th-thanks for helping me...
...Mm? I didn't notice you.
No need to thank me. I was just venting some frustration—
...
As the sand slowly settled, her silhouette became clearer.
She stood there, eyes wide in surprise, staring at me without moving.
You're...
The moment our eyes met, a cold chill ran down my spine.
As she tightened her grip on her greatsword, her gaze fixed on me grew sharper, those two red eyes burning with killing intent.
It felt like that stare might pierce straight through me, and before I knew it, I had tightened my grip on my sword and clenched my teeth.
Even the slightest lapse in attention felt like it might trigger her to lunge at me as the standoff continued—
...No. Not worth the trouble.
Doesn't look like you even remember. I almost got dragged into a major inconvenience for nothing.
She slowly blinked as if the tension drained away, then sheathed her sword and stepped back.
The murderous intent in her eyes, seemingly ready to disembowel me at any given moment, was gone.
...What do you mean?
...No, don't worry about it. It's nothing.
Then what were you doing out here...?
Oh well, you know, I was on my way somewhere so I took my favorite carriage for the first time in a while. But some monsters popped out of nowhere and gave me trouble.
The carriage is beyond repair, and the horses ran off... I guess I ended up venting my frustration without realizing it.
Now that I think about it, she mentioned earlier she was "venting frustration."
...That monster was fairly powerful when I fought it, but it seemed like nothing more than a stress outlet for her.
Yes. These are nothing but small fry.
More importantly, you should start heading back.
I don't know how you ended up here, but this is the border. Monsters like this show up often around here.
Mm? Journey member?
If this area was really that dangerous, then all the more reason I needed to find the lost Journey member and return to NOA together.
Then that means... You're...
The Journey Captain.
At my answer, the girl's eyes widened in surprise before she clicked her tongue in disbelief and frowned.
...YOU are MY Journey Captain?
...It appeared the Journey member I was looking for turned out to be her.
...
*...Sigh*
Honestly, that witch... Nothing she does ever sits right with me.
And of all people, why him...?
...?
...No. It's nothing.
She turned her head aside and took a deep breath.
She closed her eyes as if trying to calm herself, but her red pupils trembled ever so slightly.
...Fine. I know there's no choice. I just have to accept it.
Accept it... and that's that.
Muttering to herself like that as if trying to steady her thoughts, she finally—
...Ergh, damn it! I can't accept this!
Who do you think you're making a fool of, you hag!
You and your taste, you degenerate ■■■■■! I'm a ■■■■■■■ idiot for falling for it!
■■■■!!
...Feeling better now?
*Sigh...* Yeah. I know this doesn't change anything.
She dragged me into this, but if I just get through this one-year Journey, it won't be a loss for me either.
...Though there is one downside.
Then she shot me a sideways glance.
...I don't like it.
Introduce ourselves? Are you here for fun?
I'm not interested in your name.
Calling each other by name would just be tiring for both of us, so I'd rather avoid giving ourselves reasons to do that.
After answering curtly, she turned and walked away without hesitation.
Hey, wait a second!
I hurriedly called out to suggest we return together on the bike hog I rode here.
*Sigh...* I already don't like the idea of going to NOA.
And now what? Go back together?
You've got some nerve. Why would I ever travel with you?
I'll go on my own, so how about you stop bothering me?
I never asked you to come get me. You simply acted on your own.
O-okay...
Struck by her sharp retort, I was watching her walk away when...
...Tyria.
Huh...?
Tyria. That's my name.
Don't forget it. I don't like having to say things thrice.
*...Sigh* You're clueless...
...With that, Tyria turned her back again and stalked off.
A single black feather lay on the ground.
As I picked it up, I had to suppress the strange feeling that our Journey wouldn't be an easy one...