This chapter is sponsored by Kelly Hughes and anon (for next 3 chapters).I sincerely thank you for supporting me!! I will post the chapters ASAP

Im sorry for late chapter, I TLed it really slowly because I was dealing with my, no every students nemesis, that is homework!!!!. That nasty thing was not in my life for a few days and I forgot that life can be severe. Dayyum, I will upload the rest of sponsored chapters after defeating my nemesis.

Chapter 30 Girls Talk on the Riverside

Few hours after going with Suura-san and the guards,

We were able to find theTrader Group, our goal, quite quickly.

Well, just like Suura-san thought, they were on the woodland path, moreover, I too was using my enhanced hearing ability to search.

Then, after searching for an hour, I heard some sounds seeming like a quarrel, we went there and bingo, we found them.

Incidentally, the traders we secured were together with adventurers they had hired in Volca as escorts, and those adventurers are

Well, it is a coincidence. For being able to meet you two again after tomorrow and in this place

err, Zari-san, right? Well, youre right in a sense

Dont addsan, just call me Zari without any honorifics. Its not like we dont know each other, right?

No, I seriously think if that conversation which didnt even last more than some minutes is enough to put me in theAcquaintancecategory.

Yeah. TheEscortswere Zari and other two delinquent adventurer who made a fuss near theBoardin the guild yesterday.

Just when I thought I have secured the Trader Group, something strange came as free productthat really surprised me, seriously.

Among them, this flashy guy, Zari came in the same as our carriage saying the more the merrier.

As for the remaining twothe obese guy and gorilla-macho-man who were aiming for Elk yesterday.

Like I said, this is da necessary expenses, right? So dont be stingy about it, mister richy trader

If we dont use our power, we wont be able to protect ya treasure, right?

Stop f.u.c.king around! Where do you see escorts who lays hand on the commodities they are required to protect!!

Good grief, theyre still at it.

Apparently, the two were hired as escorts, but their behaviour was exactly like delinquents.

From what I heard, before we rescued them, these two laid hands on the commodity the trader was carryingno, arent I repeating what they just said.

Aww, at that rate we would be getting complained upon reaching the city. We dont even have accomplished the request, now we would have to give penalty, fine

Didnt you had wrong people to work with?

Ahaha, youre strict~

Hearing the p.r.i.c.kly lines of Elk, the flashy man laughs it off without paying attention to it.

Apparently they really met some days earlier and tried to take up on a request together. Though it might be wrong to say itbut this guy got the losing lottery ticket.

However, upon talking like this, the air around this Zari, surely is frivolousbut not irritating unlike those two.

At the very least, he isnt someone one would want to avoid based on his appearance. I dont feel indecent stares toward Elk or Suura-san, but neither does he keep much distance between them and him.

As if he noticed, he suddenly looked towards me,

Ah, thats right. Hey, boyfriend-kun

And said something like that to me.

At that time, hearingBoyfriend, Elk turned red in an instant, but because it was really cute, so I didnt retort.

I forgot to ask yesterday, butyoure that, right? The adventurer in black, the one who defeatedNaga

AHyou can tell? Really?

Well yeah, thats your appearance after all. When I first saw you, I thought you were a crow

Dont you have good examples other than that.

But well how to put it, he is unexpectedly fun guy to talk with, so along with Zari and other three adventurers too, our travel went comparatively happily.

Leaving the moving to coachman and horse, we just relaxed and talked.

Only sometimes did demons attack, it was alright to just handle them suitably.

Perhaps due to more people, the demons who attacked became low.

Then that time continued for some while, now it was time for sun to set down.

Normally thinking it was dangerous to move forward in night, so we decided to put up a camp near this area, and we all begin preparing the camping ground.

The night of that day, we had a barbeque party with the dry preserved foods brought by the Knights and the edible animals (demons too) we hunted for procuring more food.

Due to the situation, they had only brought simple plain foods, so when I brought two bears, everyone got delighted.

I was holding one in each hand, so I thought they would be taken aback, but on the contrary I was praised and even got my back struck violently. It sure is great, the people who are straightforward and dont make fuss about everything. Though, it is indeed stifling.

At that time, I encountered some slimes and red lizards, so I hunted them down and gave them to Alva.

That night,

I woke up, moreover wide-awake and couldnt go back to sleep.

I couldnt sleep at all, so I thought to wash my face for relaxing, and I headed to the river we found in the vicinity.

I speak with the guards on duty for night and left the camping grounds.

The night watch is being done by Knights in s.h.i.+fts.

At first I suggested that I should too go night watch, but Suura-san said me to rest in night, I had helped her fight and also brought wonderful food.

She kindly told me and I accepted her words. To cover up for it, I would work hard in morning.

After reaching the river, I washed my face by splas.h.i.+ng the water which felt cold because there was no sunlight unlike daytime. And it feels really good on this body which hasnt gone in bath for last two days.

But, now I feel that Im more awake than before for no reason at all.

In my case, after was.h.i.+ng my face like this, I would be able to sleep after a while even if Im not feeling sleepy right now.

Looking at the position of the moon and all, I finally realised it was going to be dawn pretty soon.

At this rate, it would be good to be awake. And I dont feel any lack of sleep.

Its like this, should I also catch some ingredients to add in the breakfast.

It was some minutes later, Elk arrived.

I wascatchingbig fishes, because I had many small ones, at that time, I heard footsteps of someone approaching from behind the brushwoods.

I turn back and Elk came out of there holding a large towel.

Breakfast?

Yeah. Meat will be too much heavy in the morning, and I also ate that yesterday, so I thought fish would be good. Well it is only secondary job after was.h.i.+ng my face

I get it, butyou catch fish in quite an interesting way

Interesting, is it?

Surely. From what I know, the only ones who catch fish that way are you and bears

Ah, well, I also think that this way does seem like the way bears hunt salmon in Hokkaido, by slapping the swimming fish and throwing it to the riverside.

But, I hate luring them with fis.h.i.+ng pole. Because I hate waiting and being patient.

This way is more quick and reliable.

And, for not letting the fishes get injured, Im scooping them out gently, so their condition too is good.

And how are you able to stand on water? Magic?

No, this is thatsurface tension, never heard of it? Like gerridae

[ET: Gerridae is the family of insects like water striders or pond skaters. Basically, they have the power to play freely on water without any magic, chakra, or ninja water slippers]

[AK: is only me or reminds me of Naruto]

[ET: Even I wonder why I used that s.h.i.+t here and why Minato used something similar]

The technique to activate surface tension on the bottom of feet by using water magic. This too was developed during training.

Right now I can walk on the water surface and stand just like gerridae Mom told me they exist in this world too -, and like that I can play on water.

Upon running fast the magical power on the bottom on feet would scatter, but at that time I can just run at full speed, so problem.

When I told her, a sigh came back. Sorry for being a freak.

By the way, why are you here?

I amfor bathing. I hadnt entered bath for past two days

Saying that while hesitating, she started to undress, without even paying attention to the fact that I am in front of her.

Ah, then I should go to other side

Its fine. Im not concerned on letting my body being seen by you after all this timewe are doing even bigger things than this after all

Ah, well, shes right.

Since that night, I became more close with Elk, and not only stayed with her in day but also night.

Several days later,

It started when Elk said for us to be in the same room, as it would save money and we have entered a deep relations.h.i.+p too.

Surely she wasnt wrong. Elk came to my room many times for sorting the raw materials I hunted, or for discussing the plans for next day, sometimes, she came but didnt go back too.

The bed of the room too is pretty big for two peoplelike that, it went tothat sort of thingtoo.

So it became to the talk of us living in same room, when we told Tanya-chan, I was made fun of with a face as though she were having fun, moreover a room with double bed was also prepared.

No, wellshes doing her work fine, so no problem.

Anyhow, everything went that way, and our distance also closed up quite a bit, more precisely, at least to the level we wont feel embarra.s.sed on having our naked body seen by each other.

Thats why, seeing Elk undressing in front of methough not completely, but yeah, Im not startled as much I used to before. The places I havent seen on Elks body, are now non-existent.

The same goes for Elk. She doesnt feel embarra.s.sed upon having me seeing her, her recently it has gotten to pointYou can stay here and keep guarding, just like she said before.

Im happy and unsatisfied as a man, but I can feel trust in those words, so Im happy.

While I was thinking all that stuff, Elk has already finished undressing and started to wipe her body with a small wet towel.

The scene of Elk was.h.i.+ng her body under the moonlight is truly fascinating, to the extent that I have already started to staring at her without blinking.

I watched her too much, so she askedWant to enter in water together?, but that I refused.

Though it is a fascinating invitationbut there is high possibility that I will feel remorseful later. The mental strength of boy in p.u.b.erty is not strong. And it will be even weak during camping.

I even got askedYou dont want to wipe off you sweat, but in that area, I have a trick though it wont make you feel refreshed.

What is it? It is really simple, but dangerous.

It is ignite my own body with fire, then become a fire ghost dolland just like that burn and exhaust all the dirt and sweat. If in fire for 1 minute, all the dirt and old cuticles too fall down.

And my clothes and equipments cant be burned with flames, so laundry also is done together. The only fault is, I cant do that while indoors.

Hearing that Elk, shows a fed up, amazed and perplexed expressionand just after, while showing an expression as she remembered something,

Hey, Minato?

What?

If I asked then would to teach me thosethe convenient magics? Well, its only after I become more good at magic by practising

She asked me that while hesitating a bit.

Seeing me use various types of insane but interesting original magic I am using various others during exploration and training , Elk too mustve thought to use some of them.

Hearing that, I didnt get very fl.u.s.tered.

Frankly, I had known she was going to ask me that at some point.

From what I conclude, the answer is half Yes, and half No.

Elk is my partner whom I can trust in both public and private matters, so If can help her grow, then Ive got no hesitation at all.

The convenience magics I am using right now, I would tell her while being happy.

Of course, just like Elk said, only after her magic has started to take form.

Due to her having the talent which I dont, she might be able to use them more greatly than me, so Im looking forward to that.

But this only the Yes part. The No part is different.

Among the magics I have, there are those who have been referred asTaboo,Not for teaching peopleorDont use it, which let alone teaching, even I cannot use.

There are also types which are completely banned and some are allowed with conditions attached, there are many reasons, for example the 18th oneElemental Bloodwould be dangerous largely if it is leaked to outside carelessly, so I have no intention of teaching it to any person, no matter who it is.

So, for them, though it is unfortunate, but I cant teach it to Elk either.

Of course, if Elk, after completing her training reached that realm, then at that time, if I was able to trust her completely thenyeah I dont know what I would do.

But when I told her that, Elk didnt show an expression of sadness, but revealed a smile filled with fighting spirit.

She might have gotten in high spirits thinking that she too would be able to use these interesting magic, aside forbidden ones. Well, its good to be motivated, so no problem there.

Even Im excited to see her use magic like me.

Some minutes later,

The time when Elk almost washed her body, and I too collected too many fishes,

Hm?

I sensed several presences in surrounding, immediately after, a black shadow appeared above me.

But, due to sound of wings flapping which mostly didnt make sounds I noticed it, and not got scared when it perched on my shoulders.

Alva, you are awake too? Oh, right youre a nocturnal animal

Well, I dont know if it is friend of owls or not.

It has grown a lot from morning, it looks more like owl and falcon mixed in onewhat the h.e.l.l Im thinking about right now.

The problem is the other presencestwo, moreover both are coming from downwind.

one of them has really weak presence. As if a professional spyto the extent I can somehow sense it due to my enhanced hearing ability and smelling sense.

But, the other one, the one without any intention to hide, appears from behind the brushwoods the moment laterah, what.

Oh, so there were previous guests. Minato-dono and Elk-dono

It was Suura-san letting her blue hair flutter in morning breeze, it seemed a lot refres.h.i.+ng.

She isnt wearing armor, but sure is carrying her favorite set of bow and arrow.

In her other hand is a simple yet soft to touch, somewhat big towel.

Looking at her hand luggage, it seems like she too came for same work Elk did.

And Suura-san perceived it. She realizes that Elk just now finished the work she herself was going to start.

And looking at the situation more clearly, I too am at that place.

Fumujust like I expected, you both are not simply adventurer partners, but have more intimate relations.h.i.+p. It doesnt seem like you both did that here

Well right

HahahaI somehow beared it

I see. Fufu, thats sincere of you though being young

I see, Suura-san says that and puts her hand on clothes to undress.

Ah, wait, this is going to be that, right.

E-Elk, well then, Im going back before

Oh, Minato-dono, are you going back? I dont mind if you stand there, though

Then, Suura-san said that in manner I dont know if I should categorize it into serious or joke.

Huh, is Suura-san, more of frank type of personliking these sort of jokes?

Well, she is living in an army of men, so maybe she isnt feeling anything upon being seen by othersso I cant possibly sayI will take that offer, so lets get our a.s.s out of here.

I will keep guarding from somewhere far, and Suura-san can use bow and magic so problem in safety department.

Thats why,

The place, Alva is pointing and trying to get my attention towards by poking my headthe place with the other persons presence, I decide to go there.

Then, have fun

Saying just that, I kicked the ground.

Ah, I forgot bringing scarf and fishes. I will come back later~

Immediately after Minato disappeared on the other side of brushwoods.

SheSuura, who came to bath just like Elk, undressed and entered the water holding towel in one hand.

Elk is currently naked, but because other person is also female, there isnt any need to put her guard up.

And Suura has already seen her naked with Minato, so she isnt all that embarra.s.sed at this point.

Before they knew, with natural flow, it started from normal chatting and turned into girls talk.

Like troubles in the places full of men, or about having troublesome partner and subordinatesand some more idle complaints got mixed into the talk.

From that conversation, the two understood more and more about each other.

To Elk, Suura is a sincere, calm and composed, strict at times needed, and is frank person who is easy to talk with.

It seemed like Elk finally understood the reason, the subordinates accompanying them would yearn for Suura and trust her.

On the other hand, Suura too found Elk to be a stern and strong woman but kind at some points.

And also realized that she couldnt be honest to herself when given kindness by others and in turn gets angry.

Also the fact that, that young man might like her this part too.

Though they didnt found the deepest parts of each others heart, but the talk went on causally.

However, Minato-dono hasnt returned yet. Before, it seemed like he found some presence and went to confirm itElk-dono did you sense something?

Nope? But he has really good hearing ability, and judging from his expression before it didnt seem like he made an excuse to run

Elk guessed it because she knows about Minatos super five senses.

But what might it be? If it isnt demon, the thinking normallyit might be someone aiming to peep at our bodies

Like those two delinquents?

Elk recalled the face of two ill-bred adventurers she met in front of board in guild and rescued yesterday, and she knit her eyebrows.

Yesterdays night, in a drunken frenzy they called out to Elk, Suura and other females in guard troop. Naturally, everybody ignored them.

On the other hand, the frivolous Zari, didnt show any signs of that and was doing manly talk with Minato. Just, like Elk and Suura are doing their girls talk.

Well that is probable, but sometimes, during expeditions the males from squadto peek on me and other females when changing the clothes

Eh!? What, is that alright with you!?

Well, Im not alright with it, but men are like that, so I have no intention of scolding them. They too must have the resolution to accept severe punishments upon being found out

Thatcan be interpreted as that there are times they peek without getting found out?

Youre right. But that also means they have good spying abilities, right? At that time, wellI let them see me naked as reward for them training

Elk was surprised on Suuras word filled with all her heart.

Does living in a society of men like army increases the resistance like this?

That is in truth not wrong, most of the females in army or guard squads, dont mind on being seen naked and can easily do indecent talks too. Suura too couldnt get out from that resistance.

Becoming aware of it, Elks eyes looks over Suuras body.

Though in the dim place, the body of Suura seemed fascinating to Elk too, though being the same female.

Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were large, and waist slim. An ideal figure for a woman.

She thought it wasnt strange that all men wanted to see it, even if they had to peep.

But if thatsomeone/somethingis really present, then I can only compliment this level of skill, I didnt sense it at all. I dont think it is them two, thought I would be happy if theyre my subordinates

No, Im not happy about that

Around the time, the two women were having that conversation,

Minato, who went to confirm thatsomeone/something, stood on the top of treeand surveyed the surroundings with a serious looking expression.

Because thatsomeone/somethingwas not the one Suura thought.

The person hiding was really skillfully erasing his presence.

Even after concentrating through eyes, he didnt find any shadow. It was a perfect hiding skill which cant be caught unless someone has the ability to smell magical power scent like Minato.

To thatsomeone/somethingwhich even has vague scent, Minato started talking alone.

Well, I dont feel any hostility, and I have no intention to pick your faults, so Im returning for today, you too go back

He turned back on the branch of tree.

It seemed like he would go immediately, but

You mustve had some goal, but I dont feel good on having my partners body being peeped at. So, if you do something like this, or even more

One beat later,

I will use my hand, and then dont ask for forgiveness

He said that and jumped below.

Some seconds later,

From a tree far from there, a single man appeared.

Smiling in a light smile not different from the daytime,

Not only my presence he even noticed my positioneven though I had confidence in my skills of playing hide-n-seek. Just who is he, really

While having his orange hair s.h.i.+ne with the light of moon who is soon about to disappear, he spoke in voice with no tension.

So, he is one of those sleeping dogs who shouldnt be disturbedIve gotten used to dangers already, but its foolish to disturb a sleeping dog, so I will draw back for now. Though he is interestingbut seems like they have no relation

That manZari says that and without breaking that smile till the end left the place obediently.