The Book Of Flowers
Natasha (1)
-- A few moments later ----
...
In essence, this girl suddenly approached our carriage because she happened to see Veskal while he was driving around
Then Veskal welcomed him with pleasure...
"I didn't think you had a friend before us..." Verdea said again
"You think I'm trying to not be able to have friends" Veskal replied
"Your armpits stink. Your mouth's rough. Even you're so stiff before we're framed"
"OKAY. Want me to hit?"
Verdea only smiled mockingly at the response of Veskal, as I shook my head
"Then, what are you doing here, ma'am..."
"-- Natasha"
"Yes right. Madame Natasha"
"No need to use mistress. I am also not a noble at this time"
If I'm not wrong, he says he's traveling, right?
By himself? Isn't that heavy? (Talk from life experience)
"I'm sure you're strong enough to travel alone"
"Ah not really. I have a group that comes with me. There are four of them including me"
Ooh~
"It's nice to meet you. In this day and age I can barely meet a fellow traveler. My name is Vainzel Alpensia"
Well, although Uncle Zer can also be said to be a traveler anyway...
"Natasha Epsilon's. Nice to meet you"
"Epsilon?"
It's the name of one of the Crux noble families. But I heard that the family was completely wiped out when Eloy took office and crushed the rebellion
Well, that family was also a rebel. It is a pity that they were unable to remove Eloy from the throne and ended up being executed
And I better not bring that up to Natasha
"Then, what's your purpose for traveling?" Verdea asked this time
"Just to help people. When Blood Sabbath happened, my three friends and I happened to meet. We decided to go around the world to see the state of all human beings"
"Good answer
Then, my name is Verdea Hortensia. Sorry for not introducing yourself first"
"Oh?? I didn't think I'd meet the fifth prince of Hortensia who was being talked about so much. And that means, this Mr. Vainzel..."
He looked at me, but I immediately shook my head
"No. There's no need to call me master if you don't allow me to call you madam"
"But you are the Oberon! Although your reputation is still debated, I'm sure that you're very helpful to everyone at Vitario!"
Uh. It's nice to hear people other than my friend appreciate our efforts after remembering that painful 5-year journey
Ivor suddenly patted me on the shoulder from behind, drawing my attention to him
"Vainzel's. We should go. All the drivers were ready to leave" he said
Is correct. We have to hurry
"Get on the train, you two. We need to hurry"
Then to our unexpected guest
"And for Natasha, we all have to say goodbye first" I said to her
"Did? Is it okay to leave him here?" Veskal saw protests
"His friends are not far, are they? What train do you want to take her?"
Veskal was silent to my response, throwing his face huffed
It certainly invited Natasha's little laugh
"It's okay. I don't mind being left here by you guys"
Good though. We have to be quick
I'd better get on, too
"But I know you want to find out about the devil worshipers"
...
...
...
My steps stopped hearing that word. One step I put my foot on the carriage, but I pulled it back to the ground and turned towards Natasha
It was also done by Veskal, while Verdea and Remina were equally surprised but inside it just looked out of the window of our train
"... You knew?" I asked him
"Of course, if such information had already spread throughout Hortensia" Natasha replied casually
Ugh. I still have to accept the fact that this news is already widespread. I mean, even a traveler knows
...
"Then, what does this have to do with you?" I asked
"Not much. Just assume...
Me and my friends are hunting them?"
...
Hunting, Huh...?
"You're really sure you can hunt them?"
"certain. Me and my friends have even killed some"
"How much?"
"A lot of it's on your fingers, but it's pretty much it isn't?"
I have to admit that there are many
"But you never considered that there was a half demon among them?"
My question made Natasha flinch
His silence made me realize that he was just messing with low-level members of the devil worshipers
"Don't do that to you yourself, Miss Natasha. If you don't know the greatest danger your enemy can bring, don't go forward" I said to him
"I know"
"... Pardon?"
"I know very well that there are half demons among them"
...
"But you don't know how dangerous they are"
"I know"
"You don't know"
...
"You don't know, Oberon"
"No. I understand very well that all devil worshipers are human beings who drink demonic blood to gain power"
He can't deny it anymore
The argument is final, indicating that my words are the most correct
Reading the historical records of my kingdom and fighting Jael directly turned out to be useful in an argument huh...?
"... But I still want to come"
...
Heh?
"Eh?"
"Huh?"
"Can it hurry??"
"Put your head in there and sit quietly Ivor!"
The three of us just shook our heads looking at Ivor who was slowly putting his head back in
"... Just up. But it doesn't matter if you're going to drop some distance from this village after we've had a little chat?"
Natasha agreed. "My friends will also know where I am going" he said
"alright. I'll give you 30 minutes to talk inside later"
After that you will get off our car even if you do not agree to it
He nodded once again
That way, Veskal offers his hand to help Natasha ride, but is immediately rejected as he climbs by himself
We both followed from behind. I told Remina to sit next to Natasha as we men sat opposite them
The carriage began to slowly walk after I gave the coachman a request, indicating that the time for Natasha began to run
......................
"As I said just now. Me and my friends want to join you" Natasha explained
"But why all of a sudden? I don't even remember that you have any skill in battle techniques" Veskal interrupted
"That's because I'm not an expert at fighting"
He waved his hand in the air in a circular shape. A blue light suddenly appeared before all of us, right in the middle of the carriage room
Then one question came out of his mouth to confirm what he had just done to me
"You can see it?"
"May" Verdea and Remina answered
We both turned to Verdea in shock, as she looked confused by my reaction
"I can see it. Indeed why?"
"How's it?" Remina turned the question around, responded with a shoulder force from Verdea
Uh...
No. gabe. Of course he can see it
I was too slow to think...
"Vescals. Can you see it?"
Veskal who looked focused trying to figure it out then shook his head in confusion
"That's because your Mana is too weak. The thing, or rather the creature that Natasha was pointing at right now was a spirit"
Remina could see it because her magic ability was indeed beyond doubt. The candidate of the new higher-ups should not be underestimated
As for Verdea, despite having a weak Mana, the reason why she could see the spirit was because of the seal of hers. If he could see Marcellus who was a very strong spirit, this somewhat weak spirit of course he could see
"Spirit usually covered their existence in order not to burden other beings with weaker Mana. Their existence alone could put pressure on the approaching person, let alone when contracting with him"
"That means, I'm strong enough to contract with a spirit?" Verdea asked curiously, followed by Remina who nodded at me out of curiosity
"Yes. But I wouldn't suggest that to you guys" I interrupted
"Why?"
"The way it works is like slavery, but it cannot be broken"
Natasha simply nodded to confirm my statement
"I am a spirit contractor. I could at least contract a high-tier spirit, but I did so with an intermediate level just so that I could use its strength continuously without fatigue"
He's good at making plans. His words are also correct
I have never contracted spirits, but all beings born in Miralius live to follow my orders
Animals, plants, passive monsters, even Elves, they live as if they were living for me. They are bound like a spirit to their contractor
And honestly, I hate that. No need to explain why, especially when looking back at my work for 5 years
"Then, why do you think you can be so helpful?"
"Because we know very well where their hideout is"
!!!
Something we didn't expect we'd just heard. Something that might be very helpful
"Where?"
"But you have to agree first that we can come"
...
"depends. Besides, that kind of information we might be able to get through a meeting in Orion later"
"You will only know that it is located on the western island of Goeitias. Even your question just confirmed that you yourself, the ruler of the continent, simply cannot mark their existence"
Urgh...!
...
Why does he have to be right...?
He didn't miss shooting my mind at all. I also thought that the meeting would not be too useful for the progress of this process other than with some small information
The three kingdoms never even entered the Goeitias area. The reason was obvious: Because of the many monsters there
They also did not dare to invite the anger of the Beasts or Dwarves who settled there by trying to take the land
Huh...!!!!
"You can join this mission. But we will not pay or allow you to be around Miralius"
"Why is that?" Veskal protested
"Because Seren's not being able to keep the place is stupid. I don't want to harm Miralius by bringing in people I don't know"
"A good coin. I also didn't really expect you'd believe me that fast" Natasha said
"Just because you suddenly appeared and said that you knew the existence of the devil worshipers..."
He just smiled, not responding afterwards
Back to the next business
"You better stay in Hortensia for a while. If the time is right, I'll give you a message"
A seed I pulled out of my hand, then I threw it at Natasha who didn't have to bother to catch it
"And I'd like to see the form of your traveling companion as well. Can you tell me?"
"certain. You can see them directly"
Natasha also ordered her spirit to bring up an object like a mirror floating in front of her. Even Veskal could see it too, visible from his shocked face
Ah, so that's his spirit power. Mirror message
That means his spirit has the power of wind and can move the wind grooves to inform
"Ronald. Luca. Ruvia. You guys there?" He also called
"Tasha?? That you??" A voice asked from inside the mirror
Tasia? It seemed that calling Natasha by that name was pretty good as well to be shorter
"Yes, it's me. I just met a person you wouldn't be able to guess" Natasha replied enthusiastically
"Who, who??" A male voice answered
Natasha turned the mirror to face me and Veskal
"Oh!!"
"Geez?"
"Is he the person I think he is?"
While I was trying to examine the three people seen inside the mirror, Veskal waved his hand with a familiar snob
"... I think I've seen enough of them" I said
Natasha turned the mirror back even though her friends started protesting because they still wanted to see me
The four of them. 2 men, 2 women
And I have to say, those three friends are really very strong. It was only natural that they could defend against the devil worshipers
They were so strong that I could feel the pressure of their existence even through the magic mirror
"Come Tasya! Let us talk to Oberon! Not every day we can do it!"
"You can do it every day"
Without thinking, Natasha suddenly threw the seed I gave her. However, the seed did not land on the floor of this space at all
It seemed like the mirror also functioned like a fragment of space. Very practical
"What is this?" A friend asked
"You can talk through that seed with Oberon. I'll stay here with them and follow this journey"
"HUH???"
Me, Verdea and all her friends were in unison
"Listen, Natasha..." I said
"We agree that you're coming, but not on this trip..." Verdea followed with an awkward face
"I don't have a problem. Just drop me off at Goeitias, and I'll make my own place to stay"
For what???
"Well, I want a vacation"
That's the dumbest excuse I've ever heard
...
No. gabe. The reason is not just that
"I know you have other thoughts" I'm frank with him
He was silent for a moment not answering
"Trush-"
But his friend had not finished talking, Natasha had already wiped the magic mirror from before us
...
"Why did you do that?" Verdea asked
"Because I don't want my friends to listen of course" Natasha replied
"Why?"
...
Natasha sighed tiredly listening to Verdea's question. But once the boy asked, he wouldn't back down, and Natasha immediately came to a realization about it
"... I'm not gonna let them come"
"..."
...
"You don't want to harm them?" I asked
"... Yep. They've been through too much. I'm just doing my job as a chief
Also, we will face a bunch of humans who are very thick in black magic. The existence of a victim will definitely be guaranteed, and I don't want any of them to be one of them"
...
"Natasha..."
"No need to pity me, Veskal. I'm tired of hearing someone like yours pity..."
Veskal kept his mouth shut, even though his anxiety was mounting
He was worried about his old friend
"But you put everything on your own shoulders" Verdea said
"I live in a world of harsh princes. Very hard, from childhood until now"
So do we, Natasha
But I didn't say that directly to him. A person's difficulties can only be judged by the person himself. And I don't want to suppress it by instilling our view in his judgment
"Then what are you going to do in Goeitias alone? You think you can?"
"There's a Dwarf town and a Beast village on its western island isn't it? Just drop me there"
...
No. gabe. He will not be allowed into the Beast's village. And I don't know anyone who lives in the Dwarven city there
"If it were you, I might be able to let you into Goeitias"
"Really??"
No need to be enthusiastic either...
"Can. But agree to my words"
"Please"
...
Just as I prepared myself, Natasha immediately felt a great pressure until she coughed and left the other three people shocked. A suffocating sensation enveloped his neck as I began this preparation
Even so, I continued what I was going to tell him
A deal with an Elf
"Don't, and I'm serious about saying NO, never once did anything suspicious or dangerous in the area of Miralius or the Forest Gate. I can tell you what you've been doing there, but I'm gonna limit you very strictly"
The look in my eyes shone sharply at him, making him still feel the pressure
And the one answer I wanted came out in a stammering tone from his mouth
"I... Promise...!"
The pressure soon disappeared, so Natasha could cough more easily while calming down
"It's okay?" Veskal asked worriedly
Remina had even been on standby with a handkerchief in case Natasha needed that thing. But he was immediately rejected with a small push until his outstretched hand with a handkerchief was pulled back
"It's okay... It just... Small problem" Natasha tried to convince
I was worried about his perspective on a big little problem. I mean, he just choked up to the point of almost dying...
I also purposely did that to make him feel compelled. At least the terms of the agreement were not too difficult either
"Well...! You can make that promise to all of us, but you won't let us into Miralius"
"It's a little complicated to explain, but a promise with an Elf can harm you if you break it in the least. And I don't want to burden too many people with using it"
The entire Miralius is also bowing under me. I don't want more people like them...
"Your moral existence is confusing. You're too loving for a cruel world, really"
"I hope that's not how you call me naive. I just don't really like hurting people, that's all"
Except one guy. I really wish Lily's or Rose's castle was on fire with Rosalia in it right now...
So the point is like that
"You can stay in Miralius. But it's just you
And according to what you want, I won't let your friend join. At least that's all I can do for you"
Natasha slowly nodded with a listless face
"They're all too precious to me Oberon"
I know your heart, really
...
"Well, there's at least Veskal to accompany you later" I said to lighten the mood
"No thank you. Even when she was little, she was annoying" Natasha said a beat
"I got curious how Veskal was when he was a kid" Verdea followed
"Nothing great. He's really boring. Worse he was my only friend at the time"
"Oh come. After all my good deeds to you, Tasya" Veskal finally interjected
"I can tell you a little. You guys wanna hear?" Natasha then offers
"No!! Never!!"
Ahaha!
From the look on his face I could tell that there was something embarrassing in the story
"That's it. Next time the story"
Verdea and Remina immediately pouted
The relieved-breathing Veskal gave me a thumbs up, while Natasha just laughed
