Chapter 41: Kaede's smile
1768 Words
"Cheers! Today is really awesome."
Said Hikaru who is really overjoyed for his achievement for today's expedition. I can't say just Hikaru, because everyone seems to be really lively about the happening today.
Everyone level up and gain skill point to gain new skills.
We also got loots and defeated lots of monsters in the forest part of the Island.
The monsters living in the forest are weak but they give decent experience for us to level up, maybe it's because this area is called the high magic zone.
We then do clink our glasses and then say cheers.
"Cheers!"
Of course, the glass contains nothing like alcohol. Our glass just contains an Iced tea-like beverage. It's a bit different from the Ice in the real world, but the taste is pretty the same.
Mashiro and Yoshiaki started a fire camp near the ship and everyone started enjoying the night on the beautiful beach in World tree Island.
We did another barbeque because Hikaru insisted because he did not join the fun earlier. He wanted to have lots of fun tonight.
No one really rejects his idea and joins the fun.
I mean who doesn't like having fun.
Kaede wears her swimsuit again and this time it's a cute frilly swimsuit that suits her cute looks. Nana also looks amazing with her two-piece, It's a bit different from earlier and her slender body was really alluring.
Mashiro was stunned by Nana's appearance and forget the barbeque in the grill. The grill started to release black smoke and the vegetable and meat started to became black in color.
"Mashiro! The barbeque!"
Noticing Mashiro's actions. Nana simply blushed and turn her head away. She then put her index finger to her cheeks and whispered something like "Don't just stare, say something." It's so low tone that almost no one heard it.
Looking at them having fun from afar. I think I didn't really suit this team.
That's why I behave myself and sit down in the big log of wood-eating barbeque and drinking some juice.
Mashiro then turns his glance toward me and said:
"Well, Mayu is good at using magic. I think she can teach Kaede some elemental magic to support use in both magic and healing."
"That's right, Mayu is using too much healing earlier and she seems to be not running out of MP. She can also cast magic. Kaede is cue but a little like a scaredy-cat with monsters."
Yoshiaki said and pat Kaede's head.
"Don't belittle me, I can use some attack magic in the future, I'm one of the heroes you know."
"Well, you're running away after that mantis appeared."
"I'm a girl you know! Of course, I hate bugs!"
"Then does that mean Nana is not a girl?"
"Hey!"
"Hahahahahaha."
Everyone laughs after that. They then continue to talk about the fun and funny things that happened earlier in our first expedition.
"You're being so silent in the sit Mayu. We forgot to tell you this but we are all in the same club. Our club also includes Yuko but apparently, she is with another team."
"What kind of club are you all in?"
After I asked that, they then look up in the sky. They all dumbfoundedly smile toward me.
"It's literature club, but we never did anything related to literature, we just do what we want to do in the club and hand out. I think Yuko is the only one interested in books."
Nana said.
"Anyway, we're all a team on this island feel free to join us. After this expedition, we're all planning in making a party that will include Yuko. We don't really like being with the castle. We want to be stronger in our own power and save this world. If you want we can let you join us."
They are all looking to be expecting to answer "Yes".
But...
"I will think about it."
I said.
"Then take your time... Tomorrow we will finish exploring the forest part of the Island."
After that, everyone packs up and cleans the mess. Then everyone goes to sleep. the ship is pretty big and consists of rooms for each crew.
I was laying in my bed and looking up in the ceiling thinking of many things.
Of course, I'm still thinking about how I can defeat the demon king and Eriko. And the other thing is how I'm to become stronger. If it's becoming stronger the normal way is to train hard and grind.
I was very lucky that I'm here in this expedition. Meaning I can accumulate more experience. With the help of Pride ability, I can level up faster than anyone.
The night is getting deeper and I prepare myself to go out from the ship.
I decided to train secretly and so that I can become stronger in no time.
I explore the forest part with many weak monsters that gives huge experience points, but when I get there I found out that insect monster is only active in the day time. At night time, the monster in the forest is Orc lords ranging from level 50 to 60.
The heroes are in their level 30 plus. If they face these orcs alone, it will be dangerous for them.
I change my weapon from my want to my sword. I killed them and gain experience. I did this night, after night, and after night.
But when I reached level 153. My leveling started to slow down. For some reason, evolution is not appearing anymore. I wonder why.
The 5th day of the expedition ended and everyone has a satisfied look on their face. They all just reached level 50 and gain lots of skill points.
That day everyone goes to sleep early. I then decided to train early. But after I finished training outside.
I found out that everyone is awake and seems to be searching one someone.
"Mayu? We thought you're also gone. Where did you go?"
Nana asked.
"I just train I wanted to become strong, sorry I didn't tell you guys."
"It's okay, but Kaede is missing and we can't see her."
"What happened?"
"Well, we happened to have some fight. Kaede doesn't like to travel and defeat the demon king. We do our best to tell her that we should do this because it's our responsibility as heroes. But Kaede doesn't like it anymore and started crying. Maybe it's because she suddenly misses her home."
I can't blame Kaede, being suddenly summoned here and told that you will fight the demon with your life is already shocking.
Kaede seems to be cheerful but looks like some stress is building up in her mind.
"Don't worry I will find her for sure."
I said and run away.
I then activated my mapping skill to check the geography in the area and then followed by my area detection skill to find where is Kaede.
After a few seconds of searching, I find a green doy on my map. The location seems to be underneath the giant tree.
I power up my speed with my wind magic and quickly go to that place. I'm hurried because I don't know what might happen to Kaede if I don't get hurry.
This place is dangerous at night.
I reached the place and then meet up with Kaede.
"Kaede?"
She is sobbing in sitting on the ground underneath the giant roots of the giant tree.
"It's Mayu..."
"I heard everything."
"Stay away!"
She seems very angry. I then sit down on the ground 20 meters away from her. I then just look at her crying face.
"I can't blame you it's really scary fighting monsters. I also feel the same when I was reincarnated here."
She then speaks in a sad emotional tone. while she is looking at the ground with her eyes shedding tears.
"Why I'm summoned here? Why I'm going to fight for a kingdom I don't know? Why I'm chosen as a hero? What's the meaning of all of this?"
I can't really answer because even I don't have a clear motivation in living in this world. I'm just surviving and as I travel I met up with people and help people.
My motivations keep changing and started to confuse my own.
I don't know why I'm here I'm just like a normal person, trying to find purpose in life.
"If I kill myself maybe my body will be back on the earth."
"Eh? That's impossible, you can't kill yourself. You're summoned in this world not reincarnated."
"Sorry, it's a joke... I can't kill myself. If I can I already kill myself a long time ago."
"Use your home as a motivation, if the demon king was defeated you might go home."
"That's a lie, I don't really have a home. I live alone, my parents are garbage. I'm always alone. Look at these scars on my wrist. I already attempted to commit suicide before. I just hide it using my long sleeves. But I'm a coward I can't make a deeper cut in my wrist to kill myself. I honestly, afraid of dying... Dying alone is really sad, but I'm also afraid if people find out about myself."
She seems really depressed and sad. I feel so guilty that I can't even comfort a girl like her.
"Then, just find happiness... It's your life, you should just go and find happiness. After this expedition, run away and retire being a hero. Leave the city and live in a small peaceful town."
I just muttered those words to move her.
She then whips her tears and smiled. Her face and expression were different from before. The moonlight then brightens her face and her smile appeared to be more attractive.
After that, Kaede stood up, and together we walked back to the ship.
Everyone says their apology to Kaede and then all back to sleep.
Someone knocked on my door and as I open it I saw Kaede in her pajamas. She has a pillow in her hand and then said:
"Can I sleep here?"
"Well, you can."
We lay down in the same bed and she looks toward my face. She is still smiling and I can tell that she is really cute.
"I wish you we're a boy. It will be romantic if you're a boy. If Mayu is a boy are you going to fell in love with me?"
She asked.
"I will quickly fell in love with you."
"I'm happy to hear that."
She then closes her eyes slowly.
Good night Kaede.
- Writer
