AN: Thanks for your usual support DragonConquer1 and SparkleEyeMole! And to the new readers thank you for picking up this book!
PS: Have guys saw the livestream for Genshin's Lunar III? All I can say seeing Alice is truly nice~ And finally a new story staring our Mondstadt friends is something I'm really excited about!
That's all for me! Please enjoy this chapter!
===== << START >> ======
Somewhere near Seiryuu City, DesuMachi Planet…
Ignoring the growing dread in his chest, Hachiman slowly stood up and turned his attention toward the mage girl he had just saved. She looked to be around his age, long light-blonde hair woven into a neat braid, fair skin, and a kind of charming that could only be described as "plainly cute."
'Great. The classic isekai heroine just fell into my arms… just my luck,' Hachiman thought dryly.
The girl stirred, her eyelids slowly open. "Nn… where…?"
"Hey there," Hachiman said lightly, giving her a small stiff smile. The girl blinked in confusion at his tone. "Are you alright? Nothing is hurting?"
"Oh… right, I was fighting the Wyvern and then…" Her words trailed off as her mind caught up to her surroundings then froze as she realized she was being carried bridal style. "Eh? …Kyaa!"
'I know she doesn't mean it like that,' Hachiman sighed inwardly, 'but that "kyaa" still stings a little.'
"S-sorry! Th-thank you for saving me!" she stammered, cheeks pink as she smiled at him. "W-would you mind… telling me your name?"
'Such a powerful smile. If it was me before, I'd probably confess and get rejected on the spot,' he thought with a sigh before smiling back. "You're welcome. My name's Hachiman, a traveler passing through."
"I–I–I'm Zena Marienteil, serving as a magic soldier under the Seiryuu Earldom troops!" the girl—Zena—stammered out quickly, introducing herself to him. Her cheeks turned a faint pink. "I've served in the army for two years! I'm seventeen, unmarried, and s-single!"
"...Yes?" Hachiman blinked, tilting his head slightly before gently setting her down so she could stand on her own.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, Zena winced in pain, stumbling forward. Hachiman moved instinctively, catching her before she fell. "Hey, what happened? Are you hurt?"
"S-sorry, I think I sprained my ankle…" Zena murmured, embarrassed.
Before Hachiman could respond, someone suddenly rushed past him and pulled Zena into a tight embrace. "Zena! Are you okay?!" a worried voice exclaimed.
Startled, Hachiman barely had time to register what was happening before a flash of silver metal touch near his throat. A cold blade pressed lightly against his neck.
"Would you mind telling us who you are, stranger?" a firm female voice demanded. Turning his head slowly, Hachiman found himself facing a woman wielding a massive greatsword, her eyes sharp and unyielding.
"Please wait—!" Zena cried out, panicking in her tone as she reached toward the woman. "He's not the enemy!"
But suddenly, a sharp, tingling and electrifying split the air.
'Oh no… she's here.' The dread that Hachiman had been trying to ignore finally arrived.
"I could ask the same thing," came Mei's soft yet dangerous voice. Her eyes glowing in hot pink as sparks of electro element danced along her skin, with clear signs of her Herrscher powers in use. "What do you think you're doing?"
Her katana was already drawn, its blade at a dangerous distance to the woman holding the greatsword. The air thickened, heavy with her intimidating aura. Zena, the other girl, and the woman froze under the pressure of it.
"C-can we maybe calm down for a minute?" Hachiman quickly interjected, raising both hands in surrender. "Let's… lower our weapons and talk this out like civilized people, okay?" He turned to Mei with a pleading look. "Please?"
"T-that's right, Iona-san! Hachiman-san just saved my life!" Zena blurted out, her voice still slightly tense from Mei's domineering aura.
Mei and the woman, whom Zena had called Iona, locked eyes. A silent tension passed between them before both finally lowered their weapons returning them back to its sheaths. The pressure in the air slightly eased, and Hachiman let out a small relieved sigh as he turned toward Mei.
"Thanks for the save," he said with a faint smile.
Mei only spared him a quick glance, her expression still cold but softening just slightly. "Don't mention it," she murmured before turning her attention back to the three girls ahead. Seeing her try to look composed even after that display made Hachiman chuckle.
"Yep… as expected from the Queen of Thunder," he murmured under his breath.
"Ahh!!! There they are!! Hachi-nii!! Mei-nee!!"
The familiar voice made both turn just in time to see Sora and Patricia hurrying toward them. Sora waved her and Kagura's hands while Patricia followed, visibly relieved. Kagura, now awake, let out a happy coo as her eyes found her parents.
"Are you okay, Hachi-nii?! Mei-nee suddenly went buzzing and ran off after you!!" Sora said, worry and exasperation mixing in her tone.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Hachiman assured with a grin. "Just a little misunderstanding, but everything's sorted out." He reached for Kagura, who was wriggling in Sora's arms, her tiny hands stretching toward him.
"You being safe is the best news we could hope for, Lord Hachiman," Patricia said softly, bowing slightly.
Hachiman nodded appreciatively, smiling as Kagura started patting his cheek with her small hands, giggling each time. "Heh… I get it, I get it. It's my fault for worrying everyone," he said, earning another laugh from Kagura.
The playful sight let a faint smile from Mei, her earlier tension completely melting away. Her eyes softened, her cold Herrscher presence faded and returned to her usual warm sister and mother figure the others knew so well.
Back with the trio who had been watching everything unfold, Zena was left speechless. Her eyes followed Hachiman, now holding a baby who looked suspiciously like a mix of him and Mei. Meanwhile, Iona narrowed her eyes, catching snippets of their conversation.
"Lord?" Iona murmured under her breath, studying the group carefully. There was undeniably grace in the way Hachiman and Mei moved, disciplined, refined. Their clothes, too, were far from ordinary, and Patricia's maid uniform hidden by her travel robes only added to the impression. 'Runaway nobles? Or maybe an eloping couple…?' she mused, as various scenarios played in her mind.
"Zenacchi, you okay? Oiii! Wake up!" the other girl beside her panicked, shaking Zena who had gone stiff like a statue.
A short while later, after Hachiman had managed to calm the energetic Kagura, the group approached the trio. Mei walked close beside him, with Sora and Patricia following in gentle steps.
"Sorry for the wait," Hachiman said with a light chuckle. "This little one woke up and decided to get spoiled." He pinched Kagura's soft cheek, earning a tiny indignant squeak before the baby bit his finger in revenge. "Oi—hey! No biting! That's cheating."
The sight made Iona's usual stoic expression soften into a faint, almost invisible smile. "Please, don't worry about it. I understand—a child's moods change faster than the wind."
"Thank you for understanding," Hachiman replied with a polite nod. "Anyway, let's start over. My name's Hachiman, just a traveler passing through."
"Just a traveler, huh? I see…" Iona's expression softened slightly, her guarded demeanor easing at Hachiman's words.
'I'm not sure what kind of misunderstanding she's having, but… I'll take it,' Hachiman thought dryly. 'Better than trying to explain something I'll just mess up later.'
"I am Rai—ehhhh, Mei. Just call me Mei, please," Mei said, offering a small bow. "My apologies for earlier. I thought Hachiman was in danger, so I acted rashly."
"It's alright, Miss Mei. I understand the feeling of wanting to protect your family." Iona gave her a faint, sincere smile before glancing toward Hachiman. "And I also apologize for my earlier behavior, Sir Hachiman."
"Don't worry about it," Hachiman replied easily. "Like you said—I get what it's like to want to protect someone close."
"Thank you," Iona said softly, genuine gratitude in her tone.
"Geez, everyone's too stiff!" Sora suddenly jumped in, grinning brightly as she stepped between them.
"Hello, big sisters! My name's Sora! Hachi-nii and Mei-nee's little sister!" She introduced herself with enough energy that would make Elysia proud.
Her enthusiasm was contagious. The girl beside Zena perked up and waved cheerfully. "Hello! I'm Lilio! Just like Zenacchi, I'm a soldier with the Seiryuu Earldom's territorial army, the scout of our squad!"
"And I am Iona, knight of the Seiryuu Earldom," Iona said, offering a polite nod and a faint smile.
"Ah! I-I'm Zena—Magic Soldier for the Earldom, like everyone else!" Snapping out of her trance, Zena straightened up and gave a sharp salute, much to everyone's amusement.
"Greetings to all of you, Lilio-sama, Iona-sama, and Zena-sama. My name is Patricia, caretaker of Miss Sora and Miss Kagura," Patricia said with a graceful curtsy.
"Fueee?! Sama?! Ahh, please, no need to add 'sama' to my name!" Zena flailed her hands in embarrassment. "I may come from a noble family, but we're from the lowest rank!"
"Especially me! I'm of common birth! Just call me Lilio, no honorifics needed!" Lilio added quickly, waving her hands in protest.
Patricia blinked, then smiled softly, amusement flickering in her eyes. "If you say so, Miss Zena. Miss Lilio."
"It's fine if you drop the 'Miss,' really," Lilio said, scratching her cheek with an awkward grin. Zena nodded eagerly beside her.
"That would be quite futile, Lilio," Iona said with a wry smile. "For the profession of someone like Patricia, honorifics are practically second nature."
Patricia simply offered a composed smile in response.
—---
"...So everyone here is part of the Reconnaissance Platoon sent by the Earl to investigate the 'Star Fall' incident three days ago," Hachiman summarized, keeping his voice even as Mei, Sora, and Patricia continued to stare holes into his soul. He kept his expression flat, but inwardly he could already feel the judgment.
They sat in a wagon rumbling back toward the city, loaded with wounded soldiers and the massive carcass of the slain Wyvern. The air was heavy with the scent of dust, blood, and victory.
"Yes," Iona said with a weary sigh, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Though we didn't expect to encounter a Wyvern along the way. It nearly wiped out half our platoon."
"I-I see..." Hachiman replied, voice dry as the gazes from his companions grew even drier.
'I'm sorry!!!' he screamed internally. 'How was I supposed to know that meteor shower and that Wyvern scare would escalate like this?!'
"A-anyway," he coughed, desperate to change the subject, "what do you plan to do with the Wyvern's body?"
Beside him, little Kagura sat happily on his lap, pulling at his fingers and occasionally biting on them, drooling all over with innocent glee.
"We'll sell the outer skin," Lilio said with a grin, her eyes twinkling as if seeing gold coins float before her. "Mantles and leather goods made from Wyvern hide fetch a very high price."
"Though everyone in the army will probably be suspicious of their meals for a while—just in case someone tries slipping in Wyvern meat again," Iona added dryly.
"Huh? Why? Is it that bad?" Sora tilted her head curiously.
"It's terrible," Lilio groaned, visibly shuddering. "It smells awful, tastes worse, and has this slimy, sticky texture that clings to your tongue."
"Ahaha… although from what I've heard, it's actually quite popular in the western district and among the slaves," Zena said, half-laughing, half-sheepish. "They'll probably line up outside the dismantler's shop once we bring it in."
The expressions of Hachiman, Mei, Sora, and Patricia stiffen for a moment, their gazes meeting silently. 'So there are slaves in this world…'
Sensing the slight tension, Zena quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Hachiman-san, Mei-san, do you know anyone in Seiryuu City?"
"We don't, actually," Hachiman replied. "We're planning to stay at an inn for now."
"If that's the case, may I suggest the one near the gate?" Iona said. "It's a little pricey since it's close to the main entrance, but it's well known for its good food and cleanliness."
"That sounds good to me," Hachiman agreed before glancing at Mei, silently asking her opinion.
"I think it's fine as well," Mei replied, touched by how he always included her in decisions. "If it's known for being clean, I'd feel more at ease for Kagura-chan."
"Then Hachiman-san, Mei-san, please make sure to stay at that inn, okay?!" Zena said with bright determination. "I'll definitely visit and properly thank you, Hachiman-san, for saving me!"
"You really don't have to, Zena-san," Hachiman replied, scratching his cheek awkwardly. "I just did what anyone else would've done."
"That won't do!" Zena said firmly, startling everyone including little Kagura, who blinked in surprise. "I swear on the Marientail name, I will properly give you my thanks!"
"...Okay…" Hachiman said weakly, clearly outmatched by her conviction.
Watching the exchange, Sora tilted her head. "Hmm… what is it that Noah-nii and Hajime-nii always say at times like this?"
Patricia answered without missing a beat, "It's 'another one, huh,' Miss Sora."
Their not-so-quiet whispering earned an exasperated sigh from Mei, who rubbed her temples. "You two… really can't help yourselves, can you?"
Sora rubs her head with a sheepish smile, while Patricia tries and fails to hide her giggle behind a hand.
By the time they reached the city gates, Hachiman's group parted ways with Zena and her squad. Zena made them promise one last time that they'd stay at the inn near the gate, waving enthusiastically until they disappeared from view.
Iona then turned to them with her usual composed demeanor. "Come, I'll guide you to the guard's office. We'll handle your entry procedures there."
As they walked down the hallway, Iona glanced back at them. "Hachiman-san, you and the others don't have your identity papers, correct?"
"...Yeah, we don't," Hachiman replied with a dry smile. "We'd really appreciate it if we could, you know… 'reissue' them."
Iona nodded knowingly. "Please don't worry, we can 'reissue' your papers safely here."
'Yep, she definitely has some wild scenario running in her head,' Hachiman thought with a sigh. 'And whatever it is, I'm just going to roll with it… even though I know it's going to bite me later.'
When they entered the office, Iona looked around and called out, "Is Knight Thorne here?"
A burly old man in heavy armor turned toward them with a hearty laugh. "Ohya? If it ain't the young Iona! What brings you to this dusty old office, lass?"
"Could you help these people reissue their identification papers?" Iona asked, gesturing toward Hachiman and his group. "They seem to have… run into trouble, being the young couple they are."
Thorne raised his brows and turned to look at Hachiman, then Mei, then to Kagura, huddled snugly in Hachiman's arms, tilting her head curiously at the sudden attention. His gaze swept next to Patricia, whose refined maid attire stood out even under her travel cloak, and finally to Sora, who waved brightly as if greeting an old friend. All of them wore clothes of fine make, subtly reinforcing the image Iona had painted with her earlier words.
"Hahaha! Young folks these days sure are passionate!" Thorne boomed, his laughter can be heard through the hall as he slapped Hachiman's shoulder hard enough to rattle his bones. "You've got yourself a stunning beauty, lad! Looks like there's more to you than meets the eye!"
"Ow… yeah… ow… sure… ow…" Hachiman winced, rubbing his aching shoulder. 'This old man! Is he human or part gorilla?!' he screamed internally.
"Ahahaha! You should eat more, lad! Build some muscle—trust me, you'll need it from now on!" Thorne said with a grin, clearly enjoying Hachiman's suffering. "Come on then, kiddos! The Yamato Stone's this way!"
The group followed the cheerful knight into another room, where a stone plate etched with intricate magic circles and glowing runes on top of a desk.
"Place your hands on it and state your name," Thorne instructed, stepping aside to make room for them.
Hachiman glanced at Mei, Sora, and Patricia. Mei gave a small nod, and he moved to hand Kagura over—but the baby stubbornly clung tighter to him, letting out a sharp cry of protest.
"Uhhwaaa!!!"
"Hey, hey, what's with you today?" Hachiman asked softly, looking down at the pouting bundle in his arms.
"Kagura-chan, you don't want to be with Mama?" Mei asked in a gently wounded tone.
Kagura peeked at her with a conflicted look, clearly torn between her parents. Iona and Thorne both chuckled under their breath at the sight, the warmth of amusement lighting their faces.
"Sora,"
Without them noticing, another small voice rang through the room. They turned toward the Yamato Stone and there was Sora, standing on tiptoe, reaching for the glowing surface as it began to evaluate her.
"?!" Hachiman quickly turned, his mouth agape at Sora.
"Sora-chan?!" Mei exclaimed, startled. "What are you doing?!"
Sora blinked innocently. "Hmm? Is something wrong, Hachi-nii, Mei-nee?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion as the stone's light reflected in her eyes.
"!! Apologies, Lord Hachiman, Lady Mei! I allowed Miss Sora to slip past me!!" Patricia cried, bowing so deeply her voice shook.
"...Please don't worry about it, Patricia-san," Hachiman sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sora's good at evading people. It's basically her hidden skill."
Mei pinched the bridge of her nose with a tired nod. "That's… one way to put it."
"I will make sure this won't happen again!" Patricia declared, flustered. "I'll keep an extra eye on her from now on!"
"Muu… am I a problem child or something?" Sora pouted, puffing her cheeks.
Hachiman deadpanned, "Define 'something.'"
"Kahahaha! You sure are an energetic one, young lass!" Thorne roared with laughter, stepping forward to jot down what appeared on the glowing stone.
[Name: Sora]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 9]
[Class: (!)]
[Affiliation: (!)]
[Job: Alchemist in Training]
[Title: Little Miss Genius]
[Skill: Analysis Level 2, Compounding Level 2, Refining Level 2, Appraisal Level 1, Arithmetic Level 3, Engraving Level 1, Carving Level 1, Etiquette Level 3, Social Level 3]
[Reward and Punishment: None].
Thorne let out a long whistle as the glowing words on the Yamato Stone appeared. "Aren't you quite talented, little one."
"Of course!" Sora puffed her chest proudly, placing her hands on her hips with a grin. "After all, I'll be the best big sister in the whole universe!"
Thorne chuckled, shaking his head as he jotted down the results. "Confident and ambitious—good traits for someone your age."
After finishing, he looked up at the group. "Alright, since the young Miss is done, let's move on to the next."
Without hesitation, Patricia gracefully stepped forward, straightening her posture. "Patricia," she said calmly, placing her hand on the stone.
Like before, the plate lit up, illuminating her refined expression as the glowing text appeared.
[Name: Patricia]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 15]
[Class: (!)]
[Affiliation: (!)]
[Job: Maid]
[Title: None]
[Skill: Fighting Level 4, Parry Level 4, Life Magic Level 4, Etiquette Level 4, Cooking Level 4, Social Level 4, Education Level 4, Appraisal Level 4, Arithmetic Level 4]
[Reward and Punishment: None]
Thorne gave an approving nod. "Hmm, all good. Next!"
Mei stepped forward next, her steps were confident towards the Yamato Stone. Seeing her mother walk away, Kagura squirmed in Hachiman's arms, reaching out with tiny hands and calling softly for her.
"It's okay, Mom will be right back," Hachiman said gently, patting her back in an attempt to soothe her. "She's just doing something important, okay?"
Kagura blinked up at him, her pout easing slightly though her fingers still clung to his sleeve.
At the table, Mei placed both hands on the glowing surface and spoke clearly. "Mei."
Light shone across the plate as her information appeared in glowing lines of text.
[Name: Mei]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 27]
[Class: (!)]
[Affiliation: (!)]
[Job: Valkyrie]
[Title: Maiden of Thunder]
[Skill: Kenjutsu Level 5, Fighting Level 4, Parry Level 4, Evasion Level 4, Kicking Level 4, Sword Art Level 5, Mind's Eye Level 4, Flash Step Level 5, Magic Perception Level 4, Lightning Magic Level 5, Etiquette Level 5, Cooking Level 5, Social Level 5, Education Level 4]
[Reward and Punishment: None]
Thorne raised an impressed brow. "Hmm… now that's something you don't see every day," he said with a chuckle. "Alright, done! Your turn, lad."
Nodding at Thorne's cue, Hachiman stepped forward and gently passed Kagura to Mei, who smiled softly as their daughter reached for her with tiny hands.
"Go on, I've got her," Mei said, giving him a reassuring nod.
"Right," Hachiman replied, exhaling. He rolled his shoulders, then placed both hands on the glowing table just as the others had done. "Hachiman."
The screen shimmered to life, displaying his status for all to see.
[Name: Hachiman]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 30]
[Class: (!)]
[Affiliation: (!)]
[Job: Summoner]
[Title: Joker]
[Skill: Shooting Level 3, Dagger Level 3, One-Handed Stick Level 3, Fighting Level 4, Parry Level 4, Evasion Level 4, Mind's Eye Level 4, Magic Perception Level 4, Earth Magic Level 4, Summoning Magic Level 4, Etiquette Level 4, Social Level 1, Education Level 4]
[Reward and Punishment: None]
Thorne nodded several times, clearly impressed. "All good, everyone!" he said with a grin. "Just like they often say, never judge a book by its cover."
Hachiman gave a modest shrug. "I just know enough to stay alive."
"Practical and humble, rare combination these days," Thorne said with a hearty laugh, jotting the results down.
"Ah, what about Kagura? Does she need to go through the same process?" Hachiman asked, glancing down at the baby now chewing happily on Mei's finger.
Thorne chuckled. "Nope, no need! We'll issue her identification as she is. Just give me her name, and I'll handle the rest."
After a while he handed a few papers to Hachiman. "Here are your identification documents! Keep them safe, alright? Losing them would be a real headache to replace."
Hachiman let out a small sigh of relief. "Understood. Thank you for the help, Sir Thorne."
"Don't mention it, lad," Thorne said with a big grin. "Always glad to help decent folks."
"Ah, right—how much do we owe you for the whole process?" Hachiman asked, reaching for his pouch.
"Let's see… one silver coin per identity paper, so five silvers—or one gold coin. Then there's the entrance tax: one large copper each, which adds up to five large coppers, or another silver coin," Thorne explained, counting on his fingers.
"Got it," Hachiman nodded, pretending to retrieve the money in his pouch while in reality he was taking out two gold coins directly from their inventory system. "Here, our payment." He placed the coins neatly on the table.
Before Thorne could reach for them, Iona quickly interjected. "Ah, about the entrance tax, our captain already approved their exemption as a reward for saving Zena."
"Oh? Is that so?" Thorne grinned and pushed one coin back toward Hachiman. "Then you only need to pay for the papers. You folks are full of surprises."
"Lucky us," Hachiman replied wryly, accepting the coin back.
Thorne let out a hearty laugh and walked back to his desk to finish the paperwork, humming cheerfully as he prepared their entry permits.
"Here are your entry permits! Don't go losing them now!" Thorne announced cheerfully as he handed each one over. "They're valid for ten days. If you need an extension, you can visit either here or the city hall."
"Got it. Once again, thank you for your help, Miss Iona, Sir Thorne," Hachiman said, bowing politely. Mei, Sora, and Patricia followed his lead.
"Ahahaha! You're welcome, lad! Safe travels!" Thorne laughed heartily, waving them off.
The group left the guard's office and stepped through the gate, greeted by the bustle and color of Seiryuu City. The air buzzed with chatter, merchants calling out, and the aroma of street food drifting through the streets.
"Woooaaahhh!!" Sora's eyes twinkled like stars as she spun around to take everything in. "It's so lively! And look, that shop's selling glowing candy!"
Hachiman smiled faintly at her excitement, gently patting her head. "Careful, Sora. Try not to get lost within the first five minutes."
"Heeey, I can behave!... Probably," she muttered, still peeking around in awe.
Mei chuckled softly while Patricia shook her head with a small amused smile.
"Hachiman-san, Mei-san," Iona spoke up, "my apologies, but I still have a few matters to discuss with Knight Thorne, so I'll be parting ways with you here."
"No, you've already done so much for us, Miss Iona," Mei said with a grateful smile, her tone sincere. "We're truly thankful for all your help."
Iona returned the smile before gesturing ahead. "About that inn we mentioned earlier, it's the one with the yellow signboard just up ahead. You should be able to find it easily."
"As long as Sora doesn't get distracted on the way, we'll be fine," Hachiman replied dryly, patting the girl's head.
"Hey! I won't—" Sora started confidently before her voice turned small. "...I'll try."
Mei sighed lightly. "That's not reassuring, Sora-chan."
"Hehehe…" Sora chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head.
Hachiman shook his head with a faint smile, then reached down to take Sora's hand. "Come on. Let's go before you find something shiny to chase."
"Wha—Hey! That only happened once!" she protested, though the grin on her face betrayed her.
Turning back one last time, Hachiman gave Iona a respectful nod. "Thank you for everything, Miss Iona. Really."
Iona nodded in return, her expression warm. "It was my pleasure. Safe travels." She waved as the group walked off toward the inn.
After four long days since their arrival in this world, the Trailblaze expedition was finally moving toward its next chapter.
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