After that talk I had with the slanted-eye swordsman of our party, I was left alone once again.
"A dying man's last wish, huh?"
In the first place, there wasn't any information about a man named Ishimoto Akira in the game.
In the game, there were some people with slanted eyes that fit the theme of Samurai. On the map of the world, we weren't able to enter the place where those people live either.
However, of course, there is some information related to where they came from.
I once heard from my father about those.
'In the far east of the world, there is a land called Land of the Reeds. There live warriors who always fight for their honor, always think of their names.'
That was what he said at that time, and aside from that, I don't know anything else.
But considering the parallelism between Earth's Japan and this place, the contents can be understood pretty much.
Anyway, since he offered such a thing on his own, there was no need for me to refuse.
"Let's see how this plays out."
Mumbling like that, I stood on the watch, waiting for others to wake up....
****
Since I was the last one to stay on guard, everyone woke up not long after.
And then the deadly atmosphere from yesterday was lifted as well since everyone had replenished their reserves.
"Now, from the topography of the place, we are very close to the Border of Empire if we go in a straight line."
Laying the map on the ground, Merchant John started talking.
"However, that is not a very good idea. Under this place, there are traces of 5 and 6-star beasts appearing. We don't have enough manpower to deal with such beasts."
"What kind of beast is it?"
"Death Bird."
"A Death Bird, huh?"
"Yes. According to its magic and evolution, it might either be a 5-star or a 6-star monster. Both will be lethal to us."
"Then, which route will we take?"
"I was planning to return to the city and enter the normal route again. However, I just got news from the Merchant Association. They are saying the monsters in the Wilderness are moving, and the territories are changing around the Bledance City."
"So, the route to return is blocked, am I right?"
"Indeed. The after-effects of the fight are still lingering around, according to them."
"Then, we are going to take the western route?"
"Yes. We will circle around the territory of Death Bird."
"Any other monsters we need to be aware of around?"
"The map had already been marked with the general monster population. According to the notice on the adventurer's guild, there was a bandit lair around this place."
Putting his finger on the map, he said.
"We don't need to fight with them or anything, but keeping our eyes open is very important."
"Understood. When are we leaving."
"We will leave around noon. Until then, everyone should take care of their needs."
Saying that he picked the map up and left.
'I guess I should clean myself.'
Leaving the gathering place, I made my way toward the river nearby.
Taking my clothes out, I started cleaning myself in the river thoroughly.
/SWOOSH/ /SWOOSH/
"Hmm?"
Sensing a movement, I turned my head towards the place.
'I didn't feel any animosity. Should be a party member.'
Thinking that I opened my mouth;
"I had already seen you, you know?"
"..."
"Sigh.... Do I really need to come there?"
"Okay, okay...."
Getting out from the back of the tree, a girl with red hair green eyes appeared beside me.
"I-I didn't see anything."
Putting her hand in front of her face, she said with a slight stutter.
"Hmm? Your fingers.... They are open."
"Ah... You got me."
Blooming a smile on her face, she said and then started walking towards me while pulling her clothes out and entering the river with only her underwear left.
"It is okay if I clean myself here, too, right?"
"That certainly won't be a problem for me."
"That's good then~."
With a flirty tone, she entered the river and started cleaning herself too.
"It seems you have sorted your thought out."
"Indeed."
"So?"
"..... I guess I should thank you for that."
"For what?"
"For opening my eyes."
"Did those mere words open your eyes?"
"Well.... Actually, I was already aware of that fact beforehand, and I had been having doubts about my decisions. However, I still couldn't bring myself to say those things to myself."
"And your father being the good father he is, didn't help either."
"....Yes. I needed to see the harsh reality, and I saw it while you were fighting. If I was against that White Wolf or any other type of monsters we have seen, I wouldn't even have been able to raise my head, let alone my sword."
"That's right. You are not that brave."
"Hey! That is rude."
"Being rude is better than being polite and hypocrite."
"...."
"Right?"
"Yes."
"So, what are you going to do now?"
"What am I going to do, huh? As you have said before, I should start with finding my strengths."
"Indeed, you should."
"But, I don't know what I am good at."
"You don't know? Lies."
"....."
"You know what you are good at, and it is pretty simple even."
"....."
"You know, there is a thing we call innate talent in this world. It is special to each person, and it is like only they can understand what they are doing?"
"Innate talent. Like what?"
"For instance, have you ever heard of Archmage Elotorn?"
"Archmage Elotorn? That legendary mage that was said to be reached the pinnacle of Magus rank?"
"Yes. He is the person that was rumored to have seen the door that transcended this world."
"So? What about him?"
"A person I know was friends with him."
"Hah? You are clearly lying right now?"
"Believe it or not."
".... Okay, but what does he matter with this topic?"
"The person I know.... Let's call him my friend."
"So he is a male."
"He is. Anyway, that friend of mine would always talk about Archmage Elotorn. He said Elotorn was a one-time genius that would come to this world. At the age of 15, when he entered the academy, he passed all those lessons and exams without even putting in any effort. Without studying or practicing, just listening or seeing a magic one time, he would be able to understand what that magic was about."
"....."
"And my friend once asked him how he was able to do this fast. What method did he use? And, of course, he got the answer?"
"....."
"......"
"Come on, what was the answer?"
"He didn't understand."
"Huh?"
"He didn't understand the answer he got. No, calling that like that is not true. It is not that he didn't understand; it was that he couldn't. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't understand how that guy was able to do it this fast."
"...."
"And as a response to this, what do you think he said?"
"What?"
"This is the boundary line between a person with innate talent and others."
"I see... But I sti-"
"You have such an innate talent."
"What?"
"Yes, you have."
"Heh? If you want to lift my mood, you don't need to go that far."
"It is not like that...."
"How is it like that, then?"
"Alicia, let me ask you this then. Didn't you analyze the party members the moment you saw them at the beginning?"
".... Yes, I did."
"And were your opinions true?"
"..... They were."
"Then, let me ask another one. Weren't you the one that came up with the route we would use beforehand, seeing the patterns on the map and understanding there was a Death Bird staying there?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
"See, I was right. You were the one that came up with that idea."
"So?"
"Can't you see it now?"
"See what?"
"You have a talent for reading the room, analyzing the people, and analyzing the cartography. And then, another question. How did you do it? How did you analyze Captain Wayne?"
"Hmm? That was pretty easy. When I looked at him, I smelled the slight reek of alcohol. And from the way he made little gestures, it was like he used to be noble, so I decided to be polite to him while talking to make sure he was comfortable around me, making him trust me more.
"Okay, stop for now."
"Ah... Okay."
"Now, do you think it is that easy to see such things?"
"Huh?"
"Can your father see those little details?"
"He can... Probably?"
"But, can he generate a path this fast that he can control Captain Wayne?"
"...."
"He can't, right."
"Yes.
"Now, can you see the difference? You have a talent for managing people, dealing with others, reading the maps, and predicting your enemy's moves. What do you think that means?"
"I have a talent at either being a commander or strategist or being a business manager."
"Indeed. But you don't have enough cruelty to become a commander."
"Yes. And I have this so-called merchant's institution, too. Now I understand what you were saying."
"Right...."
Stopping slightly, she pondered something for a while.
"But, Callius, do you know what my merchant institution tells me?"
"What does it tell?"
"This...."
/SMOOCH/
Saying that, she brought her lips closer to mine, kissing me while putting her arms around my neck.
"It says I should never let go of such a person that could even read what I would think."
"Don't let go of him then...."
"I won't. You can be sure about that."
/SMOOCH/
And just like that, she pushed her lips closer to mine more vigorously this time....
