1717 Journey to the West
"Hm? It's a… pleasant surprise, I must say. What brings you here, Kayara?"
Eren greeted an unexpected visitor in his carriage. The guest turned out to be Kayara, with whom he had collaborated to eliminate demonic threats in the regions around Brol.
Kayara's presence caught Eren off guard, considering they were no longer in Ishgaar's temple territory. Moreover, Archpriest Jivem, Akel, or Kayara herself hadn't hinted at her joining Eren on his travels.
A week had passed since Eren departed from Brol, heading west towards the Aksar Kingdom, where the Kaaysaayan's Demon Slayer Corps headquarters awaited. He was only a few days away from entering the borders of Aksar Kingdom
He was in a remote region far from Brol. The nearest town was a few miles ahead where he along with his fellow travelers would rest before continuing their journey ahead.
Unlike Anfang, Labh Salem's world had fewer areas claimed by wild mana beasts, making travel between states relatively less perilous compared to Anfang. However, it didn't mean Labh Salem's journeys were trouble-free. The risks often involved encounters with demonic cults or followers of bloodthirsty gods seeking sacrifices.
People in Labh Salem preferred group travel with merchant and mercenary caravans to ensure safety. Eren, too, was part of a caravan heading to the Aksar kingdom.
Safety was paramount, and he didn't want to attract unnecessary trouble by traveling alone, having learned firsthand the challenges of solo travel in Anfang. He had no intention of inviting Labh Salem's version of troubles to seek him out.
"Hehe. Remember what you said the last time we met? Well, I decided to join you, Eren."
Kayara remarked with a smile as she boarded Eren's carriage. The carriage started moving again as she boarded and the journey to the nearest town was resumed. It seemed that Kayara was able to join the caravan easily without many hurdles after she let her association with the Ishgaar's temple be known.
Claiming a seat opposite him, she continued.
"I'm also trying my luck with the Kaaysaayan's Demon Slayer Corps. Who knows, it might have something more to offer someone like me."
Perplexed, Eren turned to Reen in his mind and asked, 'Um… what did I say to her last time?' Despite his smile and welcome, the details of their conversation during their last encounter on a co-op mission to eradicate demonic entities in Brol eluded him.
'Don't ask me. I don't pay attention to every conversation you have with sleazy girls.'
Reen replied honestly. It seemed that she was not particularly a fan of Kayara. Even though she was not a demon beast anymore, the animal instincts Reen had as one were still with her. And the same animal instincts told Reen that Kayara was not completely honest with Eren whenever the two met.
Still, Kayara hadn't done anything wrong to Eren. So there was no need for her to take action. As much protective of Eren she was, Reen trusted Eren and his judgment.
As a special Elder Seed artifact, Reen could switch her consciousness on and off at will, which was kinda similar to sleeping but not quite so. She opted to disengage, leaving Eren to handle his unexpected guest on his own.
With auburn hair flowing like a burnished copper river down her shoulders and captivating red eyes holding the warmth of flickering embers, Kayara exuded an air of allure.
Her olive skin, flawless and radiant, accentuated her attractive features, framed by a sharp nose that added elegance to her countenance. Dressed in practical light leather armor and dark brown trousers, she maintained her perfect feminine curves while boasting a tall stature. Ready for travel, this ensemble added an air of practicality to her grace.
"After leaving Brol, I took some time to mull over my future," Kayara shared with Eren, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside the carriage window, her voice carrying a sense of contemplation.
"It felt like Brol lost its charm without you, Eren. So, I sought permission from Archpriest Jivem and temporarily set aside my services to the temple. Instead, I've decided to pursue becoming a genuine Demon Slayer," she explained, turning her charming eyes towards Eren.
Both Eren and Kayara, being A-Ranked entities, weren't required to engage in frontline combat for unexpected hurdles faced by the caravan. Reserved for situations beyond the capabilities of lower-ranked entities, Eren, Kayara, and their powerful counterparts were free to converse without concern for travel-related issues.
As A-Ranked entities, Eren and Kayara could leisurely recline in their luxurious, magically enhanced carriages, serving as formidable deterrents to potential threats. With a mere snap of his fingers, he could transform the carriage's interior into a premium suite.
Interestingly, he didn't need to tap into his own space-element attainments or spells for this feat. The carriage itself boasted a magical feature, an item-specific Skill inherent to the carriage, accessible through Menaka's Mesh. Eren could access this feature through his Spectral Screen.
Throughout his more than a week of travel, Eren had stepped out of the carriage only once to confront an A-Ranked demonic entity. Unfortunately, a few lower-ranked entities from his caravan perished in the ensuing conflict.
Nevertheless, Eren effortlessly handled the situation, emerging practically unscathed. He swiftly neutralized the threat, leaving the aftermath for his companions to manage.
Even in Labh Salem, Eren was no longer a small fry contending with D-Ranked entities and their lesser counterparts. He didn't need to personally engage with fanatical followers, highly motivated by their faith or substance abuse, or both.
"Yeah? Well… I'm glad you decided to join me."
Eren replied, a smile gracing his face. His initial attempts to win over Kayara had been part of his quest for companionship in Labh Salem. However, their paths diverged as they became entangled in their individual assignments over the past five months.
Eren never anticipated that his earlier unsuccessful endeavors would yield unexpected results after he had resigned to moving forward. Yet, a surprising revelation flashed across his spectral screen, leaving him genuinely taken aback.
[ Kayara holds feelings of anger towards you. You have earned 20 Origin Force Points ]
