A New Adventure

A new day dawns as the Giora Festival has come to an end. Kaito and Rina are at the guild hall discussing their plans for obtaining the three relics. With one of the three having been obtained by Mauld, they needed to make sure to get one of the other two.

“What do you mean you don’t know where the other two dungeons are!?” Kaito confronted Rina in worry.

“I’m not some world traveller. I’ve only been to dungeons near towns and cities.” Rina retaliated.

The two were stuck in a stalemate. Both of them wanted to try to obtain another one of the relics, but neither of them could recognize the location of the dungeons explained on the scroll they obtained from the private study in Nakamura.

As the two bickered in frustration of possibly not being able to continue their conquest, Khrom noticed and approached them. He and Evona were still in town despite the festival having concluded.

“What’s all the noise about you two?” greeted Khrom as he tried to calm them down.

The two, noticing Khrom, became more civilized as Rina started to explain. “We’re looking for a dungeon, but we don’t know its location.”

Kaito then proceeded to hold the scroll describing the dungeon’s location to Khrom to see if he knew anything.

“A hidden dungeon in a northwestern forest near a large tree,” Khrom read the scroll’s description out loud. “Sorry, can’t say I know of that place.”

Kaito and Rina’s frustration was visible. Kaito just wanted to search the area themselves, but Rina was opposed to the idea, wanting a more solid game plan.

“I’m telling you, we can just search the area,” Kaito started arguing. “How hard can it be to find a large tree?”

“You don’t understand. There’s no human civilization out in the northwest, and we can get lost or stranded,” Rina argued back. “Plus, what if that tree isn’t as big as you think!?”

As Khrom sheepishly tried to calm the two down, Evona popped out from her spot underneath Khrom’s shield on his back. While everyone was energetic, Evona looked at the scroll and read it.

“That’s the Nekana Tree!” Evona yelled from Khrom’s back, recognizing the location.

“Oh, Evona, you recognize this place?” Khrom asked, directing everyone’s attention towards her.

“Yep, it’s near my home village,” Evona informed the group. “I can show you the way if you want.”

“Please do,” Kaito pleaded, putting his hands in a praying pose.

“That’d be much appreciated,” Rina also responded.

“We’d be glad to help you guys,” Khrom said, solidifying their group trip. “Though I guess Evona will be leading the way.”

With everyone in agreement, the group made plans to set out in two days. They would be travelling to Nekana Village, Evona’s home, and then would take on the hidden dungeon together. In the meantime, everyone took time to prepare. Rina, in particular, wanted to address something specific with Kaito.

Khrom and Evona left to deal with other business, and just before Kaito left as well, Rina addressed her issue to him.

“Hey, Kaito, what are you planning on doing with the dragon egg for the trip?” Rina asked. “Actually, you have been taking care of it, right?”

“Of course I’ve been taking care of it,” Kaito felt offended. “I was going to take it on the trip with us.”

“What!? That’s way too reckless,” Rina protested against Kaito bringing the egg.

“Then how am I supposed to take care of it?” Kaito complained. “I can’t just keep it in my inventory for the whole trip.”

“Come with me, I have an idea regarding this,” Rina instructed Kaito.

Kaito followed Rina from the guild hall to Giora’s library. Giroa’s library was much smaller than the one in Nakamura, in that the whole library was one room. Kaito, following Rina, walked up to a girl sitting at the front counter.

“We’re going to ask my friend here to babysit the egg while we’re gone,” said Rina, explaining her plan.

Kaito looked at the girl working at the front counter, egotistically judging if she was worthy of taking care of Kaito’s ‘child’. As the two looked at each other, they were shocked.

“R-RACAEL!?” Kaito yelled, recognizing Rachael despite her different hairstyle and glasses.

Upon Kaito yelling, another woman in the background, being the library head, uncannily turned towards Kaito, as if she were going to kill Kaito with her stare alone. Rachael got up from her seat and reached over the counter to swiftly cover Kaito’s mouth.

“Be quiet, you idiot,” Rachael demanded of Kaito. “We’ll all get in trouble if you yell while Clarise is on duty.”

Clarise is the head of the library and is very strict about her job. She will not tolerate anyone making any noise, even attacking some people who dare to be rambunctious. It doesn’t help that she has a keen sense of hearing. Kaito only got off the hook because Rachael was there to step in.

“Do you two know each other?” Rina asked, not expecting the two to be familiar.

“It’s a long story…” exasperated Rachael.

“Enough said,” concluded Rina, knowing how weird Kaito can be.

“What’s that supposed to mean!?” Kaito yelled once again, but luckily, it was muffled due to Rachael’s hand still over his mouth.

“I said be quiet,” complained Rachael. “Rina, can we all talk outside, before he messes up again?”

“Yeah, let’s do that,” agreed Rina.

The three of them head outside as Rina begins to explain the favor she wanted from Rachael. For the dragon egg to grow more effectively while Kaito and Rina are away, Rachael would take care of it.

“I don’t know, Rina. I don’t like stepping in and getting my hands dirty,” Rachael said, indecisive about accepting the favor.

Rina, clasping her hands, pleaded, “Please, Rachael, you know you owe me as well.”

Rachael, reluctantly scratching her head, responds, “Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Thanks, Rachael!” said Rina with a rare smile. “Let’s all head to our place to drop it off, so nobody sees the egg.”

Kaito perked up in hearing that he got to visit Rina’s place. He tried to hide his happiness, but a grin started to peep out.

“Wait, our place,” Rachael sounded alarmed. “You know that’s not a good idea. What if Trinity catches us?” said Rachael, addressing the concern. “Plus, he seems to be up to no good…”

Rachael pointed at Kaito, who was now fully grinning mischievously. It was clear he had some ulterior motive.

“It’ll be fine, I think…” Rina decided, albeit unsure. “If anything, we can sacrifice him to Trinity.”

“Deal,” Rachael agreed, completely ignoring Kaito’s opinion.

“Wait, ladies, what does that mean?” asked the humbled Kaito. He knew he had to do his best to behave.

Trinity is the landlady of the all-girls Inn where Rachael and Rina both live. Just like her sister, Clarise, she is very strict when it comes to her job. She will not allow any men in her inn, kicking them out on sight. Most guys don’t even want to approach the place because of her.

The mission was a go. Kaito would follow Rina and Rachael into the inn, utilizing his Phase skill to sneak by Trinity.

“Hello, Miss Trinity,” Rachael greeted Trinity at the inn’s lobby.

“Hello, ladies,” Trinity greeted back. “Aren’t you off early, Rachael?”

“Oh yeah, I got permission to get off early to do a favor for my friend here,” Rachael alluded to Rina as Rina also greeted Trinity.

“Very well,” Trinity concluded as she continued to clean the lobby.

The group thought that’d be it. Kaito even slightly celebrated, but of course, it wasn’t that easy.

“Hold it,” Trinity sternly demanded. “Why do I smell the scent of a man?”

“You’re probably smelling my adventuring ally’s scent off of me,” Rina smartly lied. “You’re sense of smell has always been good.”

I suppose you’re right,” Trinity agreed, “but you can never be too sure.”

Trinity then began to walk up to the group, sniffing. She was somehow catching on to Kaito’s scent and started moving in his direction despite being invisible. Kaito, in a panic, jerked towards Rina and hugged her to get as close as possible. Rina slightly jumped in surprise, but managed to get out of being noticed by Trinity.

Trinity continued to follow Kaito’s scent until she got to Rina.

As Trinity towered over Rina, she came to her conclusion, “I guess the scent is coming off of you. You can proceed.”

The group was now in the clear. They were able to get to Rachael’s room without any more trouble. Kaito took the dragon egg out of his inventory and laid it on a large cushioned chair Rachael had in her room. As Kaito weirdly said his goodbyes to the egg, Rina and Rachael clarified the plan.

“So how long are you going to be gone for?” asked Rachael.

“We’re heading up northwest, so it’ll probably be a few months,” Rina deduced.

“That long with this guy. I don’t know how you do it…” Rachael consoled Rina.

“We’ll have a few more allies this time, so it won’t be that bad,” Rina joked with Rachael.

Kaito, hearing them mock him, interrupted their girl talk. As he put his arms around each of them and grabbed them inwards, he made his move.

“You ladies don’t have to hide it, I know you’re both madly in love with me,” Kaito said confidently.

In Kaito’s flamboyance, he didn’t realize that he accidentally groped Rachael’s breast, but both Rachael and Rina realized it. While Kaito laughed arrogantly, Rina and Rachael both nodded in agreement.

“MISS TRINITY!!!” Rina yelled.

“A man got into the inn!” Rachael added to Rina’s yell.

Kaito, in panic, realized he had stepped too far and tried to run for the window. Though Trinity was on top of the situation. She got to Rachael’s room in a fraction of a second and busted down the door. Kaito barely got the window open before Trinity grabbed him. Trinity then proceeded to toss Kaito out of the window he had just opened and into a fountain located in the street in front of the inn.

As the passerbys watched Kaito get expunged from the all-girls inn, he lay spread out, floating in the fountain. Kaito had to be a lot more careful if he wanted to make another move during the trip to the Nekana Tree.