One's Eden: Hanayuki Travel

Chapter 41: Going for the fisrt quest

Before, we headed to the beastmen tribe. We first have to drop into many different cities. The first city we got into was rather harsh. The city was lawless and many thugs roamed around. Knowing that the city won’t do any good for us. We just buy some food and leave. Going ahead to the next city.

Well, I regret my decision…

Before I knew it, it was another tragedy. (I made a huge sigh.)

Draculon continent wasn't called the demon continent for nothing. The continent has many dangerous monsters roaming around in daylight and it's even greater in the nighttime.

The fighting left and right made me exhausted.

Shaymi was all good because I put a powerful barrier on her to protect herself. But I can’t maintain it for a very long time. I defeat demons and monsters swiftly and run toward the next city. It took us overnight and I’m happy to know that the city has tall walls for monster protection and sealed talismans to chase out evil spirits roaming around the city.

“Finally, we made it to the next city. I didn’t even get a wink of sleep.” I murmured.

The same goes for Shaymi, but she doesn’t seem very sleepy. Kids sure have high resistance to drowsiness

“Sorry Hanayuki, if I’m stronger… I could help you out.” She said with fire in her eyes.

She’s into it.

I place my hand on her head and gently pat her.

“You’re thinking so much… Leave the dangerous things to big sister. Kids should take it easy.”

“I don’t want to take it easy. I mean, I want to be in use of Hanayuki. I don’t want to be a freeloader ever. I want to strive and improve myself for the better. Just like Hanayuki, I want to be super strong.”

“I appreciate it… Then, you can also become super cute like me.”

“Hmm, I’m already content with my cuteness.”

“I felt like I was rejected.”

“Hanayuki is very cute.”

I have known that for a very long time. Being praised for my appearance is not a big deal, but hearing it made me happy.

Without further ado, we went walking toward the gate of the city we didn’t know. Stepping into the entrance, the guard immediately stepped in and blocked our way, looking down with a very serious expression on their faces.

Their work is very irritating and boring. Standing here from morning to nighttime. I guess their boring job made them what they are today. I can’t imagine myself being a guard. That’s why I respect them. They can do something that I can’t.

“Ma’am, can we see your identification card?”

I took my adventurer card and handed it over to him. I already have an adventure card for Shaymi. Shaymi's age is not enough to be an adventurer, but I need her to have some documents. Some cities don’t permit anyone who doesn’t have an identification card to go inside their city. It is a huge hustle.

For that reason, I decided to do some shady things. I paid a forger to forge an adventure card for Shaymi. The requirement for being an adventurer is simple. Just some of those at the age of 12 who wanted to die early in life. That’s not how it's established, but that’s how I understand it.

Shaymi did the same and took her adventurer card.

“Umm, you look so young for 12 years old. Also, you look like a kid?”

The guard questioned both of our appearances. Here we go again to explain.

Another guard walked in and said:

“Well, some people don’t age too much. They must be people from the eastern continent. Those people don’t age that much and have longer life spans than we do.”

“Remembering, I heard stories about them. In a country where all people look like children, but in reality they are all people in their late twenties or thirties. I envy them… It must be great to have such a long life span.”

“I can feel you.”

Feeling envious, he handed our adventure card back.

I took a glance at the other guard and in my mind I said, Thank you so much. I don’t have to further explain myself.

That saves me lots of trouble.

“200 silvers for the entrance fee.”

“Sure.”

I took my wallet and found out that I only had 700 silver left in my wallet. Minus 400, meaning we only got 300 left in our stash. In addition, we needed to pay a fee at an Inn and buy some food. The food we bought before we traveled to this city was wasted because of the monsters attacking us last night. The bag of food fell into the raging river water.

There is no way to retrieve it.

I’m guessing that we can get a room for tonight for 200 silvers. 100 for food. That means we don’t have enough money for tomorrow morning.

I took the silver in my wallet and paid the fee. We also put our name and signature on a form.

“Is there an adventurer's guild here?”

I asked the guard to hand out the form.

“Yes, it's located near the plaza. The plaza is only two streets away from here. The biggest structure you’ll see around there is the adventurer guild.”

After getting the information, Shaymi and I immediately walked toward the said plaza and looked for the adventurer guild. As we walked, Shaymi looked worried and said:

“I wanted to improve myself.”

“You’re still saying those things. I wouldn’t feel good if a kid did something for me.”

“I already know some little magic. I can fight low-level monsters.”

“Low-leveled monsters don’t exist in this place. This is the demon continent. I’ll leave you in the adventurer guild for adventure. I have to work and earn money for our expenses for the following day.”

“That’s what I’m talking about!”

She yelled.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Normally, kids want it to be easy. Why does this girl want to be in a dangerous position?

“Hanayuki always does something for me. I wanted to do something for Hanayuki too. I don’t want to be a burden ever.”

“I won’t say that you're a burden. You’re someone I took and, as an older one, I have the responsibility to take care of you. Until you can handle yourself.”

“Hanayuki doesn’t understand my feelings at all.”

She pouted her cheeks and averted her eyes away from me.

I can feel that she is upset with me.

In the amusement park, she is always helping the monsters with everything. Looks like she doesn’t feel right when she is not doing anything for the people she cares about.

I understand it. Her intention is good, but a kid going to fight monsters is out of the question. It's so dangerous. There is a side of me that wants her to support her in her decision. A child must grow up responsible and not too reliant on others. The world is dangerous and I’m not always here to protect her.

Deciding me a headache.

“Then, let's play a game instead. If Shaymi wins, I’ll let her go on a quest. If you don’t, then you can’t.”

“Sure.”

She accepted my challenge without any hesitation. Kids sure are careless. As the older one, I know how to win, but I wouldn’t do something so underhanded, anything as defeat a little girl like her.

“What are we doing?”

“ Let's play rock-paper-scissors.”

I’m quite good at rock paper scissors. This game is more like a psychological game after all.

“I guess I’ll use paper.”

I said.

“You’re only using paper? That must be a lie.”

Gotcha! That’s why those words are meant to ruin her focus and overthink. After saying that, that doesn’t mean I’m going to use paper for use. Those words had already ruined her mind, making it easy to read.

Shaymi looks in panic.

Right now her face is telling me that she has doubts. Meaning she doesn’t trust my words and goes for paper. She’s already thinking that I’m going rock.

Wait, there is a possibility that she’s going rock. If I go scissors, then I’m going to be defeated.

What should I do?

(Hanayuki’s head overheats. Her psychological method backfires on her. The serious expression and overthinking face of Hanayuki made Shaymi skeptical.)

“ Let's go… here comes first!”

We both yelled and revealed our hands.

“Really?”

Dumbfounded at the result. I can’t believe that it is going on like this.

Shaymi won by using scissors and I used paper.

“I'm master of rock paper scissors in my home. Grandfather taught me the sure-fire way to win. He said using psychological tricks and reading the reaction of the opponents would help a lot.”

“I see, that’s handed… That’s not counted. Let's play another game.”

“That’s childish.”

“Eh, I never said that we're playing one game.”

“That’s cheating! Hanayuki, I hate you.”

“When you win three times, then you win. Our second game is a guessing game.”

“Promise me. If I win three times, then I’ll go along with your quest.”

“Sure, I promise, I’ll eat a thousand nails if I break the promise.”

After making a pinky promise, we went into our second game. The second game is guessing. Shaymi and I stood still in the dark alley and wondering what the gender of the people are going to pass by. The one who gets the first 10 points will be the winner. Miss Fortune is not on my side today. Shaymi wins the match with a score of 2- 10.

I have to think about another game.

I looked up at the tree and saw a bird looking straight at me. That is when I got the idea.

“ Let's do the third game… Look at that bird. Let's guess how long the bird will be staying on the branch. The one who guesses the closest will be the winner.”

I said.

There is no way she would predict the result.

“Sure.”

Shaymi didn’t hesitate.

“I’ll go first… I think 3 minutes. How about Shaymi?”

“3 seconds… 1… 2... 3.”

Shaymi took a rock and threw it at the branch. The rock hitting the branch made the bird fly away.

“T-That’s cheating!”

“That is not against the rules.”

She is correct, what she just did is not against the rules. Right now, I’m starting to think that Shaymi is quite capable. She is sharp for her age. Being raised by monsters might have its advantages.

I am not feeling good about the result, but I’ll admit my defeat.

“Sure, I’ll let you help me in my next quest.”