My life was a comedy where I always tripped on the same step. The debt of 10 coins to Zev, because of the fiasco in the Ancient Ruins, weighed like a sack of potatoes, and Melina's song about "the ruin strippers" now echoed even in the taverns of Vaelor. My head was a mess. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel affected me in ways I couldn't explain. Elara's shy glances made my chest tighten, Vespera's teasing made me blush, and Liriel's jealousy, disguised as sarcasm, confused me even more. Vespera's kiss at the Moon Festival, even drunk, still hung over me like a shadow, with her avoiding my gaze and Elara and Liriel sending pointed remarks. I wanted to understand these feelings, but with this group, it was like trying to solve a puzzle during an earthquake. The amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, tiara, and key in my backpack glowed together, and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was getting closer and closer. The danger seemed like a distant thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay the debt and avoid being called a pervert.
At the guild, I found a mission that could save our wallets: "Escort merchants with valuable goods to the Elven Kingdom. Reward: 100 silver coins." Perfect to pay Zev. Dragging Liriel from the inn was the usual drama. "A long journey? Unworthy of a goddess!" she complained, holding her wine glass like it was a relic. Elara, gripping her staff, seemed nervous. "I'll use magic only if necessary," she said, with a look that asked for trust. Vespera, with her bow, smiled but averted her gaze from me. "New places, new emotions!" I tried to be firm: "No crazy magic, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just escort." They nodded, but their smiles said I was dreaming.
The caravan formed at Vaelor's gates, with carts full of shining fabrics, jewels, and magical vials. Selene, the merchant from past chapters, was there, adjusting a cart. "You again?" she sighed before introducing Eldrin, an elven merchant with narrow eyes and polite speech. "Take care of my goods," he said, with a tone that seemed to doubt us. Beside him, Thorne, a high-level adventurer with gleaming armor and a sword that looked more expensive than my life, laughed. "The strippers? This will be fun." Melina appeared, strumming her lute. "My new verse is ready!" she announced, and I already felt the embarrassment coming. The tension between Vespera and me was palpable, with Elara and Liriel watching us like hawks. Selene mentioned that the goods could attract bandits, possibly linked to the Demon King, but gave no details. The caravan departed, and I just wanted to reach the destination without disasters.
The road to the Elven Kingdom was surrounded by dense forests, with sunlight filtering through the leaves. The silence was broken by shouts and the sound of arrows. Bandits! A group of hooded figures leapt from the trees, wielding swords and bows. "Hand over the goods!" shouted the leader. Thorne drew his sword, cutting down two bandits as if they were paper. "You, help!" he ordered. Elara tried a barrier spell. "Just to protect!" she said. The spell glowed for two seconds before she collapsed, gasping. "Mana… gone," she groaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close I felt my heart race. "Takumi, I… I wanted to…," she began, but a bandit shot an arrow, and I pulled her to the ground.
Vespera, trying to redeem herself from the festival, used her succubus charm. "Come, you idiots!" she shouted, attracting half the bandits, who dropped their weapons and ran toward her with foolish expressions. But her crooked arrows hit a cart, breaking a chest of jewels. "What a delightful chaos!" she laughed, as a bandit pushed her, and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I shouted. She raised her glass. "Divine purification magic!" The light exploded, incinerating some bandits, but also burning a cart. "Oops," she said, shrugging. I tried to strike the leader with my borrowed sword but tripped on a root, falling with a thud. Thorne, with a sigh, cut the leader in half, and the remaining bandits fled.
Amid the debris, Elara murmured, "Takumi, I just wanted to say that…," but Liriel interrupted her, narrowing her eyes. "Focus, mortal!" Vespera, still avoiding my gaze, teased: "Relax, Liriel, he's just clumsy." Liriel huffed, jealous: "Mortals and their silly crushes!" Thorne laughed while Eldrin shouted, "My jewels! You're a disaster!" Miraculously, Melina appeared, singing: "On the road, they strip the gold, the strippers fall in the mess!" The crowd of merchants pointed and laughed, and I wanted to dig a hole. Among the bandits' items, I found a cord with markings identical to the amulet, scepter, and other items. When I touched it, it vibrated, knocking more jewels from the broken cart. Selene huffed: "You are a plague."
We arrived at the Elven Kingdom exhausted, with the goods half-destroyed. The city was a spectacle: giant trees with carved houses, vine bridges, and floating magical lights. Eldrin delivered what remained of the goods, and the local guild paid us 80 coins, deducted for damages. We paid Zev's debt, but Eldrin charged 10 coins for the lost jewels. At the Elven inn, I sat exhausted while Elara and Vespera argued over who "saved" the mission. "My barrier helped!" said Elara. "And my charm distracted them!" retorted Vespera. Liriel, drinking wine, huffed. "You're pathetic. I did everything." Elowen appeared, looked at the cord, and said: "Another clue about the Demon King's ritual. Be careful, strippers." She left without further explanation.
The tension between Vespera and me was still awkward, with Elara and Liriel casting suspicious glances. "What's going on, Takumi?" asked Elara, jealousy obvious. Vespera averted her gaze, murmuring: "Nothing." When they went out to get food, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess, who's on your throne now?" She shrugged. "Celine, my assistant. She's annoying, but she takes care of the rest." She took a sip. "Why? Planning to send me away?" She smiled, with a look that left me confused. I looked at the glowing items — amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, tiara, key, cord. Vespera's kiss, Elara and Liriel's jealousy, the new debt with Eldrin — my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted a day without being called a pervert.