Chapter 16: The long way home

„Six skill orbs… that never happened in any boss class fight in any dungeon in the kingdom… Most boss fights gave three at the very best,“ Kiira analyzed the situation calmly, but her hands were shaking with excitement.

„What skills are there Leo?“ Ruzu asked while cleaning her sword.

„Seems like Auto-heal, Create wings, Light step, Air walk, Shadow walk and Invisibility. They are all Supreme or Extra rare class skills.“

„What will we do with them?“ Alette asked.

„We can’t bring them up, they are way too powerfull. If the kingdom found out about them, we would get into some serious trouble,“ Goli added.

We were all thinking silently about this problem. We could take them in my Item box, but the Questioner who is on quard up there would not overlook it.

„Why we don’t have Leo use them all?“ Taru said all of the sudden.

„Why’s that?“ Ruzu asked.

„Leo have skill that allows him to use any skill he wants, that’s why I’m sugessting it. Also, you can let us borrow it through Loyalty right?“ Taru continued.

„Yeah, I should be—“

„Wait, loyalty? What’s that?“ Alette asked.

„It’s one of my unique skills. I took it from Cockatrice that lived inside the forest near Roseburg,“ I explained flatly.

„And it allows you to give those loyal to you your skills I presume?“

„That’s preaty much it, yes.“ I nodded and continued: „Even if I took all those skills, I can’t take the Auto-heal skill, becouse I already have it. Would you be mad if I gave it to Lulu? She doesn't have any healing type skills.“

„I expected you to do that,“ Kiira smiled, "But I suppose you will have to take me on a date to compensate for it. Can't we have you spoiling just one wife right?"

For some reason, Kiira didn’t oppose Lulu joining my wives, unlike with the other noble girls. Is it becouse she know her for a long time?

Well, that’s irrelevant right now. Let’s absorb those skill orbs while I still can. I put Auto-heal skill in my item box and after that we left the boss room.

The frozen servant monsters turned to dust when the boss was killed so we simply collected dropped cores and left. We registered our badges with thirty third floors teleportation crystal and left for the exit.

As we left the room with the crystal, a wide variety of adventurers was standing there giving us an ovation. Our new magical items were shining briliantly and we walked there like celebrities from my previous world. But how did they learned about this?

„Welcome back lord Leo from your victorious battle. Guildmaster is awaiting you in his office,“ Rinana greeted us, her tail wagging happily.

„Okay, I will see him right away.“

„Please do, but could you leave your badges with me? I will covert them into Silver badges.“

„Sure.“

We left the ground floor and went upstairs where grandpa was waiting. When I entered the room, it was filled with rich aroma of herbal tea.

„Good work out there, Leo,“ grandpa said while sipping his tea.

He seemed calm on the outside, but that was just a farce. I could tell that he was happy I returned practically unharmed.

„Thank you grandpa, we have defeated the Hell beetle and brought the core with us. As for treasure chest, you can tell right?“ I gave him reassuring smile.

„Yes, Gunner’s Ace huh? That’s a Mithril grade coat, you better treasure it. Also here, a letter from your father.“ Grandpa said with small smile.

I opened the letter…

„Wait the child’s birth is about to happen in trimoon? How’s that possible? I was gone only six months!“

Trimoon is time measuring unit. One moon is equal to six days and month is equal to four moons, which means twenty four days per month. But the year is long sixteen months so in the end one year is equal to 384 days, which is longer then it was on earth.

„As you probably know already, Majin’s body work slightly differently from regular humans. All Majins have problem with getting pregnant or to impregnate woman with someone who isn’t higher magical species like them. On another hand, their pregnancy is shorter compared to regular humans.“

„I see, I will have my troops ready for departure in three days, Sorry Alette, but your Warrior’s blessing ceremony will have to wait,“ I apologized to Alette right away.

„Oh, so young lady is ready for blessing ceremony eh? Then leave it to me. I will contact that old guy in Roseburg’s catedhral to prepare it for you,“ grandpa smiled broadly.

„Thanks grandpa.“ I bowed slightly and we left the cores with him.

After that we got our silver badges and returned to our base. One of the servant monster’s core was big enought for battle doll’s heart so I kept it and finished my secret mission without a hitch.

Most of our troops were curently inside the dungeon and were scheduled to return by todays evening or tomorrow morning.

The rest of the soldiers who were under level 49 safely made it to the level and were ready for warrior’s blessing ceremony.

We left the city and got on road to return home by morning of the third day. On our road we met the armadillo again, but our soldiers made quick work of it. And few days after that we saw a wyvern near one city on a way between Royal capital and Roseburg city, which collided with road we were on before city named Rosanna. I used long sight and saw a carriage running before the wyvern.

Wyverns are sub-species of dragons, which is far more docile then real dragons and are quite often used as packbeasts for delivery. Unlike dragons they can’t use magic and they are quite smaller. Also regular wyverns are silver to gold ranked monsters, while dragons are in rank of their own. Not even Adamantite class adventurers can fight them unharmed.

Regular wyverns are long from head to tail about three meters and are about meter and half tall. This one on other hand was more then ten times of that.

I apprised it.

Name: None
Race: Wyvern (Demonized)
Level: 48
Skills: Fly (8), Dragon breath (10), Monster lure (8)

Demonized wyvern? Like possesed by demon? Aren’t they locked away in other dimension? I would need holy power to defeat it... ...maybe if I kill it with magic, I would be able to destroy it as well… Wait there are other monsters around it… that must be effect of Monster lure. Their soldiers are quite beaten too. Huh?

„Everyone listen up! There is wyvern that controls group of monsters and are currently attacking a carriage with royal emblem on it! Get ready as we are going to help them! Ruzu make our horses faster! Everyone! It’s time to show how stronger you’ve became!“

„YEAH!“ the soldiers replied and Ruzu used her spirit magic to make our horses faster.

„I’m going as vanguard or we won’t make it! Tsiran lead the troops!“

„Yes sir!“ Sea drangonfolk captain shouted with eyes fixed on monsters around the carriage.

I used Create wings skill for the first time and found how it looked. The skill made semi-transparent bird-like wings under my shoulder blades. Also, it made Fly skill’s mana consumption far cheeper.

In less then twenty seconds I made it to the carriage and saw a pair of familiar faces, but I targeted the wyvern first.

I took some altitude and faint slashed at it and punched it in head with my free arm. The wyvern stubled in the air and with a somersault it returned into it’s original position. But at that time I was already next to it with palm touching it’s head. I stole the Dragon breath skill.

So I can steal skills of monster that are chatacteristic for them. Maybe if I use power of King of wisdom I will get the knowledge about this skill and how to use it.

The wyvern was in shock as it couldn’t understand the situation it was in now. I took the chance and stabbed my mithril short sword inside it’s eye with space magic enhancement on it.

But that wasn’t all it took to kill a sub-species of dragon. It shook me of and I was free-falling from it.

„You dumb lizard, that was what I wanted!“ I shouted as I took out my colt and aim it at wyverns head. By sending mana into the Gunner’s Ace coat, it’s automatic aiming ability was activated. I shot six rows of bullets in it’s head, killing it instantly.

The wyvern fell down dead and I looked over the battlefield. Our soldiers had the battle under their control and Taru was healing injured soldiers of the person inside the carriage. I saw a young girl next to the door to the carriage so I descended next to her.

„Hey there Lulu,“ I said as I landed.

„Good work Leo, you took another step when we were apart didn’t you? You can even fly now?“

„I did. And you did grow too as I can see.Please don't talk about that flying, it was some new wind magic I created. Now if you excuse me.“

„I undestood,“ Lulu nodded and went inside the carriage.

In next moment she returned with sixth princess in tow. I took a knee and reported: „Your Highness, sixth princess Victina Bella Ostilia, the wyvern was slain and monsters it was commanding were destroyed as well.“

„Don’t stay on such formalities with me Leo!“ Princess sounded really angry with me becouse of my work tone. This is something that stays with me since past world... I should do something about it already...

„I can not do as you say your Highness, as I am but a third son of noble family and future adventurer.“

„In that case I order you to speak casually with me! You can’t refuse that now can you?“

„I-I suppose,“ I flinched at unexpected comeback.

„Great. Now I have request for you. Becouse our troops are in quite bad shape, I ask of you to help us reach our destination of Roseburg city.“

What do you want there princess?

„Understood.“

„Also, you are going with me in carriage. That’s also an order.“

„Could I took my sister with me then? She’s in the other carriage that I came with.“

„Well, I don’t really mind…“ princess said with slight pout and returned to the carriage.

We packed all soldiers in carriages and get on our way to Roseburg. In the carriage with princess, Lulu and Lady-in-waiting were sitting next to her. I was sitting next to Alette and Lulu was across from me. I couldn’t get the princess to look away from me. She was practicaly staring.

„So Lulu, how did you became guard of the princess?“ I started the conversation.

„You see, when I went to Warrior’s blessing ceremony, I evolven into Majin and the king gave me Hononary baroness title alongside duty to protect the princess.“

He could make her baroness and leave it at that, I’m sure. So why did he also made her Princess’s guard? …wait, is it in order to get closer to me? You sly old fox!

„That’s amazing, you move up in the world,“ I smiled at her.

„Not like you are doing bad for yourself. You became Silver ranked explorer and defeated many dangerous boss class monsters I heard,“ Lulu gave a dignified smile, which suited her very much.

„I’m trying to do my best. Soon we will enroll in royal academy and after that we will be adults right away.“

„Yeah,“ Lulu smiled at me as we were looking into each others eyes.

„Alright, alright I get it! Now, if you could look at this please?“ Princes shove a paper in my hands.

I looked at it little annoyed but I realised something. This was spell for mass teleportation. Something that is seen in manga and anime so often that it’s almost part of the culture nowadays. The spell before me was deffinitely «Gate»

„Hm, this could work… but the mana consumption is far too large… but if I reduce these marks here and reshape the circle into ellipse… I will give it a try.“

I stopped the carriage and steped out while figuring out the exact magic circle and mana consumption using Spell weaver skill. I used the spell and appeared before gates of Roseburg.

I returned happily through the gate I made and told the soldiers to walk through it.

„It’s a good spell, princess Victina. But the consumption is far too great for normal magic user to use.“

„Well, only space magic users in this kingdom are the two of us anyway right?“ she smiled.

We made it to our noble’s quarters and headed to our mansion in the middle of the city. I got off the carriage first and helped the princess, Alette and Lulu down. When Lulu came down, she looked super embarrassed.

„Welcome princess Victina, it’s honor to acomodate you in our humble abode,“ Father bowed and looked at me: „I will hear your report later Leo, but it seems you were successful.“

„Of course father, no-one died and eyeryone made it safely past level fifty.“

„You should rest for now, but please go report to your mother first.“

„Yes,“ I bowed and tried to leave the place but I was stopped by Victina and Lulu. Next thing I know I was in fathers office sitting next to princess on one side and Lulu on the other.

„So, why have the princess came all the way here?“ father asked.

„As you know, there is the promise between my father, the king, and you, Duke Netrose, to marry at least one of your children if they desire to. I will be honest with you, I didn’t really liked that idea of marrying someone I did’t even know.“

„That’s understandible,“ father nodded and I silently approved.

„And then we met. Leo here surpass all magic schollars I know of. Those can’t even think of such creative spells like Leo does. To put it simply, I fell in love with his magic,“ Victina smiled and her cheeks redden, „And now, Leo came to my rescue. When my soldiers were unable to move and my guard was out of magic becouse of enhancing them all, he came flying in with his soldiers and crushed monster and wyvern in amazing aerial fight.“

Father shot me a look. Sorry father! I will explain everything! I signalised back at him.

„For that, I am sure, that father would give him baronet title at the very least. But it’s more likely that he would gave him Viscount title instead.“

„By doing that, he would be head of middle ranked noble family and potentialy could marry with other high ranked nobles,“ father said and looked at me, „son, remember what I told you?“

„Reap what you sow even if dragon sleeps on your crops, right? I understand, but—“

„I know, I came late, you already have Lulu.“ Princess interrupt me.

Lulu and I looked at each other, turning completly red.

What am I doing being so silent me? Do something! I yelled at myself and rise to my feet as eyes of everyone fell on me.

„You are correct, I love Lulu and—“

Tremendus wave of energy hit us in that very moment and fear was on everyones faces. I looked around and tried to locate the source of the energy.

Moments later I did. From the heart of the forest arise a Forest dragon and started rampaging.