Land of Hot and Cold

“I must admit I’m impressed. Not only that you possess a power of theurgist, but you either managed to befriend a slime and retrieved a diary of the legendary alchemist, Pearlpine Yeon. I’m flabbergasted.”

“Best not to underestimate me, Philomena. I’m a man of talent after all.”

“Unfortunately, we’re destitute of individuals with a decent alchemy knowledge. Perhaps-why don’t you hold on to it. There may be someone who could help you in Havsgard. Speaking of which, I might know someone that could help.”

Philomena passed a card to me. 

The card said: Izulu Tsukino, Detective for hire.

“Mr Tsukino is an acquaintance of mine-I’m certain of his expertise shall prove to be beneficial to you.”

“This means there’s no shortcut to Meness Darzs then. What a pain…”

“I merely can’t hazard my dear nephew’s live for your quest, boy. Shortest path is to embark a traghetto from Havsskum for Merevaikne. Also do remind yourself to visit Mr Tsukino in Arheimar. Send him my regards too, shall you not. And one last thing, an advice for your little friend, levelling him up pronto to hasten the evolution. Believe me, humanoid form shall be much of use to your party. Now, off you go. You should be reaching Askaland before dawn. Luck be with you.”

So without further ado, we’re off to Havsgard. Yay………

And as usual, Koyanagi and Vilnis are accompanying me. Our ride is also prepared-ready to journey.

“You ready?” Asked, Koyanagi.

“I’m always ready. Let’s go.”

Out of the woods, It’s a sea of sand. It should be warm or scorching but instead, I can feel an icy touch wafting along the breeze. I can taste snowflakes in the air. Pretty baltic-remind me of home.

Thank god for the road, the way-pointing signs and every fruits that make us survive a day and also make a lucrative profit. Never thought a satchel full of berries, coconuts, dates and pitayas would give me a furtune. And yes, there’s a berry growing in the desert.

Now, we have 2725G , two friends and a shelter for a night at this austere inn here in Askaland. Off from a good start, aren’t we? At least, no one tried to kill Vilnis on sight. That’s decent enough. Let’s just rest now. I hope we could reach the detective’s by tomorrow.

“What’s that?!” I hear a sound-like a shattered glass. Is it a break-in? Wait, is it my room? 

“Princess! Get your blade.” 

I quickly grab my dagger as Koyanagi said then I go for Vilnis.

“Vilnis! Come here! Vilnis! Where are you?!!”

I hear his voice-sound like he’s crying for help but the room is too dark. I can’t find him anywhere. And for god sake, there’s only a candle that was burnt to ashes longs time ago. Don’t you know a thing called ‘Lamp’?

“Princess, I sense another living in our room. Be careful.” 

I sneak to the door, lock it up in case they might try absconding. Sneaky thief.

“Show yourself, thief! I know you’re there!”

The moonlight aligns in our favour. It slightly reveals the hidden intruder. 

It’s a he and he’s taking Vilnis! 

“You won’t escape! Hanafubuki!” 

I use ‘Hanafubuki’ move to stop him but it merely grazes him and there he goes, disappears without a trace. 

I didn’t have a chance to get a good look at him. The moonlight vaguely showed a masculine build, pointy hair. However, thanks to the moon god, there was one thing I did clearly see-a scar on his face.

“We’ll get you back, Vilnis. We’ll get you back.”

Now that we both can’t even bear to sleep anymore, we continue our journey onwards. We agreed that in order to find Vilnis and our scarred abductor, we need the detective. So, Arheimar, it is.

The night street is lonelier than ever since we’ve lost Vilnis. Koyanagi hardly ever uttered a word. He must still be in shock. 

It took not a very long time, 3 hours more or less, until we’ve arrived in Arheimar. 

This town is reminding me of those Viking villages in Denmark. A longhouse and a triangular hut building kinda take me back.  

Time to find the detective!

……And how am I supposed to find him? Yeah, the card. Might there be an address on the back?

“Arheimar, Kingdom of Havsgard…… Useless piece of paper!!”

“Now, now, Princess. Don’t be upset…...” 

“How am I supposed to find him-that detective your aunt mentioned? Blast it! We don’t have time for this! Poor Vilnis. We must find him.” 

“I got this. We could try the mayor or local taverns. They might know something.”

“Urgh, fine. I’ll take a tavern. You get the mayor.”

“Somebody called for a detective?”

When we were about to split up, we were stopped by a man whose back leaning against the wall-acting like he was expecting us of sort.

“Mr Tsukino?”

“How’s going, Ko? The last time I saw you-you were just a little bat. And look at you, all grown-up now and handsome too.” He gave Koyanagi a pat on his head.

“Stop! You’re embarrassing me.”

“So you’re the detective, huh?”

“Izulu Tsukino, at your service, Gelynas Laukaitis.” He kneeled in front of me then gently kiss my hand. “Please to make you acquaintance.”

“Mr Tsukino, this is an urgent matter. we’re in desperation-our friend has been captured by a scar face.”

“Where’s the crime scene? Askaland?”

“Yes!”

“Give me whole details on the way. Let’s skedaddle.“

We went back to Askaland to that austere place once again to investigate this tragic incident. The detective analysed the scenes and took a statement from everyone within the area. I could say the detective’s proficiency is doubtless. He’s fast and meticulous.  

“Oi, folks, have a look at this.”

The detective showed us a very sketch of a recognisable man.

“This… Umm…. Pointy hair checked, Masculine build checked, The scar……  I think this is it, it’s him. Penny for your thought?”

“I suppose so-looking pretty much like him.”

“Rejoice, folks. Consider this case solved. I know where our culprit is.”

Wow, impressive work-I could kiss him now. But let’s not until we find my Vilnis.

Ahh~~~ this is becoming such a pain. We have to go through Arheimar to the place where the culprit is. At least it’s halfway to Yglingheim, our next stop though.

“Monster Infirmary?”

This place seems to be a veterinarian’s, judging by the name. But why built a clinic in a middle of nowhere?

“Good day.” The detective greeted the receptionist.”We’re here to see Nightshade.”

Nightshade? Isn’t that a poisonous family?

“When the Queen is dead and opened.”

“You shall find the foundation of our nation lying in her heart.”

After they exchanged some kinda password. The floor’s quaking! Don’t tell me…..

“Let’s go in.”

There’s a secret stairway below the storage room. Of course, there is. I shouldn’t be surprised.

This must be some sort of illegal operation. 

As far as my eyes can see, I can see slimes and children scattered around in this whitey hidden room. 

“Oi, Doc Night! You have a guest.” 

“Dicky!” Some random little girl jumped on him. “Here to see Phonos?”

“Ah! Luzia! How’ve you been, bird?”

“Couldn’t have been better. Thanks for asking. Phonos is now dealing with the new lad, would you like me to show you the way?”

“That would be lovely, bird.”

The new lad? Could she mean Vilnis by any chance?

“Eat it…”

“Won’t eat!”

“Eat it.”

“I won’t.”

What’s the commotion there? Lemme guess some child doesn’t wanna have their medicine.

And….. I’m right! Perhaps I should be a detective myself. Detective Gelynas Laukaitis, report for duty! Haha…. Who am I kidding? I prefer flowers to bloodshed.

“Excuse us, Doc! We need a word.”

“All ear. Be quick. Come in.”

His tone is unlikely to pay attention. It sounds cold as a silent artic tundra.

“So recently have you been kidnapping a slime by the name of Vilnis?”

“The second, Vilnis the second.” I whispered to the detective.

“Vilnis the second.”

“Or Vilnis2, that’s how I called him.” Koyanagi whispered to the detective.

“Or AKA Vilnis2.” He asked then paused.”Oookay?”

Before us is a doctor who’s trying to feed something to a child who was tied to a doctor’s chair.

“He.” The doctor pointed to the boy. 

“Gely! Kogi! I know you come for me.”

“Vilnis? You’re Vilnis? My sweet adorable Vilnis?”

“If you’re real Vilnis, tell me something only you and I know.”

“You always said that you wished it was you who got a hug from Gely instead of me.”

“Heaven forbid, Koyanagi?”

“He also said…”

“Alright, that’s enough! I believe you now.”

“Koooo…..?”

“Please let us not talk about this.”

“Doc, let him go. They’re good folks. They can manage him.”

The detective then described our whole crusade quest to him. He even requested the doctor to lend some manpower. An army of slime would be superb, he said. And as a result….

“Gelyyyy! Can we not bring him along? He’s chilling my skin so bad. Please! Please! Pretty please!”

“Aww! Sorry, Vilnis. We need all the manpower we could get. Especially from an experienced doctor and master burglar, like Doctor Nightshade here.”

The doctor has joined our party as well as the detective. Like they say ‘Strength in unity’.  

Doctor Phonos Nightshade, a qualified veterinarian and a proficient thief. The bloke is like a two-in-one. Worth-having addition to our little group.

And we’ve got Detective Izulu Tsukino who’s already proven to be erudite and competent in mystery solving. Surely in combat too…. Surely… I hope.

Now that I think about it what if we recruit every potential individual that we find during our journey, we could create an army of brilliant people to defeat those ridiculous cultists. Faster and more effective. Ha! Good thinking me.

“Okay, we’re here. Mama Killa’s shrine.”

Oh, right. I almost forgot that I told Koyanagi to stop by the shrine before Ynglingheim. 

Let’s see what the moon goddess has to offer.

“Vilnis, you know the drills.”

“Roger, Gely. I won’t let you down. Everyone, be on guard! Excommunicated every cultist on sight. ”

After I entrusted Vilnis to secure the shrine, I, myself, enter the shrine of the Moon goddess. 

The shrine was marble-made and decorated with silver objects like a vase, a spear, etc. And of course, what’s the must-exist in a shrine, ladies and gentlemen? A representing statue of the deity. This one is a curvy woman wearing a….. um….. something like Inca, Mayan, Native American dress?  

“Welcome child to Mama Killa’s home. I’ve heard of you from Sakuya. Are you here to receive my blessing or is it a guidance you seek?”

“Both, in fact.”

“Of course, child. I’m willing to aid you in any way I can. Now, shut your eyes.”

Alright, another hangover, here I come.

After my eyes were shut, I feel a pressure on my forehead and the back of my head. It was warm, surprisingly relaxing too. Far apart from some certain goddess.

“Now that you received my blessing. The power of which you possess before is temporarily removed.”

“And do I have to like go back to Lady Sakuya’s shrine in the Arthurian woods if I want to regain her power?”

“Not necessarily, you only need to pray to her.”

“Fair lady Sakuya, I beseech your power to blossom the earth.”

Don’t ask how I know it. Zero idea.

“Well done, child. Now back to mine.”

“Moonlight grant me the wisdom and unravel our path.”

“My moonlight could reveal information of either a person, a monster or an inanimate object and detect valuable items.”

“Thank you, goddess.”

“No problem, child. Now, my source is telling me, King Damon IX of Havsgard has sought out for a mercenary band for quite a while now. My advice, an alliance with a king is worth a mountain….”

“What’s that noise?”

A sudden loud noise from the outside gave me a jump. It sounds like a sword clashing. Oh, no….

“Go child! Get away from here! You’re not ready for this. Get your friends and go!”

I ran outside to see what’s happened.

Shaved head, boat’s wheel symbol on orange robes. Don’t tell me……

“By the order of the virtuous Daharuma, this blasphemous site is hereby marked for abolishment.” One of those bald men announced while intensely clashing a sword with Koyanagi.

“Killa Puma! Slay thy enemies!”

I summoned the moon pumas to push back those bald men.

“Everyone, retreat! Retreat!”

“Roger!”

“Gotcha!”

Everyone regrouped again with me as a nucleus. 

“You sure you don’t wanna give them a lesson, Mr Laukaitis?” The detective asked.

“I agree. let’s kick some arse, Princess!”

“Yeah, come on, Gely! Show them who’s boss.”

What should I do? Believe the goddess and retreat or fight these toerags?

Okay, 6 in total. 2 swords, a bow, 2 bare hands and a staff. Doable.

“Alright! Off with their balding heads!”

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Writer’s message

Thanks for reading everyone! I’ve got a little bonus for you on the showcase.

Koyanagi D’oscurita’s portrait. He’s one gorgeous egg, innit?