My life was a comedy where I always ended up taking the worst fall. The new debt of 10 coins to Torvald, because of the fiasco at the Tower of Mages, was another weight on my shoulders, and Melina's song about "the strippers of runes" was already echoing all the way to Vaelor, making the elves laugh as if it were a legend. My head was a whirlwind. Elara, Vespera, and Liriel messed with my feelings in ways I couldn't understand. Elara's shy glances made my heart race like a wild horse. Vespera's teasing, with that knowing smile, made me blush like a bonfire. And Liriel's jealousy, hidden behind sharp sarcasm, left me more confused than ever. Vespera's kiss at the Moon Festival, even drunk and accidental, still lingered like a mist, with her avoiding my gaze while Elara and Liriel threw daggers of innuendo. I wanted to understand what I felt, but with this group, it was like trying to read a map during an earthquake. The amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, diadem, key, cord, ring, stone, necklace, bracelet, ring, bracelet, and medallion in my backpack all glowed together, and Elowen said the Demon King's ritual was drawing closer. The danger rumbled like distant thunder, but today, I just wanted to pay off my debt to Torvald and return to Vaelor without more humiliation.
After weeks causing havoc in the Elf Kingdom — plaza, forest, library, banquet, tower — it was time to return. As we left the elven city, Queen Aeloria and Princess Elowyn met us. Aeloria, with her serene aura, said, "Try to cause less destruction in Vaelor." Elowyn, with a mischievous smile, handed us a map for the journey, warning of bandits along the road. Liriel grumbled, "Back to Vaelor? Unworthy of a goddess!" Elara, clutching her staff, promised, "I'll use magic carefully, I swear!" Vespera, with her bow slung over her shoulder, smiled but still avoided my eyes. "New adventures? I'm in!" I tried to sound firm: "No crazy spells, no crooked arrows, no succubus charm. Just arrive in one piece." They laughed as if I were telling a joke. Melina appeared, strumming her lute. "New verse ready!" she announced as elves watched us. Aeloria introduced Astrid, an elf guide with braided hair and sharp eyes. "The strippers? Don't destroy my cart!" she said with a tone that mixed seriousness and sarcasm. The atmosphere between Vespera and me was still tense, with Elara and Liriel watching every step.
The trip back to Vaelor was a disaster waiting to happen. On the road, bandits ambushed us, probably attracted by the glowing items in my backpack. Elara tried a barrier spell. "Just for protection!" she said. The spell shone for a few seconds before she collapsed, panting. "Mana... gone," she groaned, falling into my arms. Her face was so close that my heart almost burst. "Takumi, I... I wanted to...," she began, with a look that almost made me forget the bandits, but arrows flew and the barrier failed. Vespera used her succubus charm, distracting the bandits. "Just trying to help!" she said. But her crooked arrow hit Astrid's cart, breaking a wheel. "What a delicious mess!" she shouted as a bandit shoved her, and she seemed to enjoy it. "Liriel, do something!" I yelled. She raised her wine cup. "Divine Purification Magic!" The light burst forth but set the vegetation on fire, spreading smoke. I tried to strike a bandit with my borrowed sword but slipped on a rock, hitting the ground hard and knocking over a bag. Astrid, precise as ever, defeated the bandits, but the cart was in pieces. She found a ring with the same markings as the items in my backpack, lying among the wreckage. "Curious," she said, handing it to me. As I touched the ring, it vibrated, knocking over more bags. Melina sang, "On the road, they strip the carts, the strippers fall in confusion!" Astrid huffed, "You're a plague!"
We arrived in Vaelor exhausted, with the cart destroyed and our reputation worse than ever. At the guild, a familiar building of wood and stone, we submitted the report for the merchant escort mission (Chapter 32). Eldrin, the elven merchant, was there, charging for the damaged goods. The guild paid us 100 coins but deducted 80 for all the destruction in the Elf Kingdom — plaza, forest, library, banquet, tower, cart. That left us with 20 coins, barely enough for food and a cheap inn. Astrid, with narrowed eyes, charged 10 coins for the broken cart. Elara and Vespera argued over who "messed up less." "I just used one barrier!" said Elara, her cheeks red. "And I only shot one arrow!" retorted Vespera, looking away from me. Liriel, sipping wine, snorted. "You're pathetic. I did everything." Elowen, who had followed us to Vaelor, examined the ring and said, "Another clue to the Demon King's ritual. Be careful, strippers." She left without further explanation. The tension between Vespera and me lingered, with Elara and Liriel casting suspicious looks. "What's going on, Takumi?" asked Elara, her jealousy so sharp it could be cut with a knife. Vespera muttered, "Nothing, just the road."
At the Vaelor inn, I sat exhausted, reflecting on our little money, the new debt to Astrid, and our infamy, now legendary even among merchants. While Elara and Vespera went to buy bread, I pulled Liriel aside. "If you're a goddess, who's on your throne now?" She shrugged, wearing a lazy smile. "Celine, my assistant. She's annoying but handles things." She took a sip. "Why? Planning to send me back, mortal?" She smiled, her gaze leaving me confused. I looked at the glowing items — amulet, scepter, sphere, tome, orb, crystal, scroll, ring, cube, medallion, bracelet, necklace, royal scepter, cord, orb, diadem, key, cord, ring, stone, necklace, bracelet, ring, bracelet, medallion, ring. Vespera's kiss, Elara and Liriel's jealousy, the new debt with Astrid — my life was a nightmare, and I just wanted one day without being called a pervert.