Emersyn remained silent as she collected the monster's huge remains into her inventory. She saw a few treasures and gold coins.
"... master..." Flora called as soon as Emersyn finished looting.
"Yes?" Emersyn responded, looking back at Flora.
"You… you're not going to deny it?"
"Of course I won't. Besides, I am not really hiding it."
Before Emersyn knew it, she was embraced tightly. Her head was on Flora's bosom as the female squeezed her tight. Emersyn settled her hand on Flora's back, patting it.
"I surrender!"
"Master..." Flora cried.
"..."
"I thought I wouldn't be able to see you again..." she said as she broke off her embrace and cupped Emersyn's cheeks. She gently caressed it and Emersyn could see the fondness in her eyes. It… it was too warm. Thinking that she wouldn't be able to bear it, it was already too late when she was brought into another tight hug.
"Flora..."
"Tell me how have you been in another world. Please?"
"..."
"Master?"
"When I woke up, I was in a prison cell... I was part of the mafia there, a criminal organization. I got promoted in ranks, I succeeded in a mission, and… got the eyes of the Blanche. They searched high and low for me, and I ended up here when matters got tight. I am merely escaping… and now, I have to get stronger. Stronger than ever and fight back."
"What will they do to you, Master?"
"I don't know, Flora… maybe isolated. I am already a criminal."
"Master did nothing wrong, right? You saved us and gave us a reason to live. If it's the matter of killing those people that helped us five years ago, then it is of no matter. You saved us there, Master."
"... you have a point, but my crime is bone deep, it seems."
"Bone deep?"
"The Blanche told me that my parents are both heinous criminals. I don't know what they did, but it seemed deep rooted in the universe's history. I was killed once too, when I was on Earth. I was living peacefully there though, so I was confused first. Then, one day, this person from the Blanche came and killed me. Even after I died here, they still showed hostility. What can I do but fight back?"
"... they killed you without you knowing?" Flora said through gritted teeth.
"So it would seem."
"Fight back! I can't let my master die again before my eyes! So, what is your plan, master?!"
"... Flora, calm down. I was thinking of fighting Calamity rank monsters again in huge numbers."
"To seek enlightenment?"
"... to deplete my energy and gain back my oceanic Life Energy. Then, in three days, I will go to Elodiaren's location."
"I will come too, master."
"No."
"Wha-"
"Flora, I don't want you to be involved in my mess."
"I don't care!"
Emersyn flinched. "Flora?!"
"I don't care at all, master! I don't want to lose you again to those people!"
"... Flora, I am more afraid of losing you."
Flora's mouth immediately shut, her eyes gazing at Emersyn.
"I still have a lot of lives. How about you? It is not certain if you will live again once you die. Flora, can you stay in the ChangHao firm to wait for me? I want a place where I can return to. In your arms."
"..."
Did she buy it?
"... okay..." Flora mumbled. "I will, no, we will protect your home until our last breath."
"Good," Emersyn said as she patted Flora's head gently. Flora's tail flicked then swayed. She was clearly happy, and Emersyn liked it. She had to protect this bundle of happiness despite the harsh journey she would take. Her hand suddenly stopped as her eyes stared at the sky.
"...ter! Master!"
"Ah. Yes? What's the matter?"
"You're spacing out!" Flora pouted. "Did you even hear me?"
"Sorry, sorry," Emersyn awkwardly smiled then smoothed out Flora's hair. "Let's get going."
Emersyn ceased hunting for the day and just decided to meditate and feel the energy in her body. She spent hours deep in meditation as Flora protected her from outside harm. When she opened her eyes, Flora smiled at her and offered her cream soup.
"How many days has it been?"
"Four days."
"..."
"... ah. You have a prior engagement, master!"
"Damn it… Flora, are you coming with me?"
Flora's eyes twinkled then she nodded vigorously. "I'll go! I'll go!!!"
Without further delay, Emersyn opened up the portal to the only unfamiliar name in the list of coordinates. They entered and once they stepped on Eucarro, the portal closed on its own.
"... why can't I feel any mana, master?"
"It exists. Just a small amount though."
"I see..."
"Let's go. Elodiaren is in the castle."
"Yes, master."
"Grab my hand," Emersyn tersed. As soon as she finished talking, Flora immediately clutched Emersyn's hand and they entered the shadows. They passed through a bunch of people chatting with their loved ones before they departed for the mission. Finally, they arrived in the room where she sensed Elodiaren was. When she saw how jittery he was, she felt sorry for some reason. She emerged from the shadow, along with Flora, and lightly greeted, "Aren, I'm sorry I am late."
"My Lady!" He jumped and when he was approaching to hug Emersyn, he saw a tail behind her. He looked at Emersyn's questioning eye and then peeked behind her. He was holding his breath in anticipation, but when he saw that it was a different person, he sighed. "It's not yours..."
Emersyn gently kicked his shin.
"Why are you late, My Lady?"
"It's not like I am really late for the mission, right?"
"Well… yes, I know, but… I want to spend more time with you..."
"Forget that, Aren."
"But-"
Suddenly, there was a series of knocks.
"Hero Cone? It is time."
"I'm coming!"
"Pfft. Cone. Hahaha."
"... don't laugh."
"I'm sorry, Hero Cone."
"... now, I regret that."
"Anyway, go. We will be there shortly."
"Alright, My Lady."
***
A lot of people were seeing them off outside the walls as it even extended into the gates. They were waving and cheering them on. Knights, adventurers and mercenaries alike. Emersyn stared at those people with cold and calculating eyes. They were especially cheering for the heroes even though it was just four days since they lost their king and got replaced by their crowned princess, Camellia. It was a hard period, but they never really mind. As long as there was someone who would lead them, they were content. In any case, the Queen, Camellia, was also seeing them off with a bunch of knights surrounding her. Suddenly, she caught sight of a white haired woman. Her smile widened and she immediately approached her.
"Miss Emersyn!"
"... hello."
"Please take care!" She said as she clasped Emersyn's hand.
"I will. Thank you. You have to take care too."
"I will! Come back here, okay?"
"Of course. I might even have to take care of those kids."
Camellia smiled then let go of Emersyn's hand. "I wish you a safe journey."
"Now, move!" The commander yelled from the front and they boarded carriages then waved at their families. Emersyn sat in a luxury carriage with the heroes along with Flora. They chatted while Emersyn was looking outside the window. She closed her eyes and indulged in the crisp air.
One week was all it took to arrive in their destination. The Loork Mountains. This was one of the few places where the demi-dragons were as they hog all the important minerals to themselves. It included the ores, minerals, metals and even mana. They left their carriages with a few mercenaries and entered the vicinity where mana was quite dense and it was becoming colder. They were donned in winter suits, thick enough to hold against the harsh environment. However, they felt their bodies become lighter. Of course, they were never strengthened, but merely filled with mana in their maximum capacity, which was meager. It didn't make them crestfallen, rather, it made them more motivated to fight head on with demi-dragons. When they were close in the territory of the demi-dragons, they felt the atmosphere become heavy.
"This is it… there's no turning back…" Reno said as his hot breath condensed in the cold.
Meanwhile, Emersyn just stood beside the commander and spread out mana to survey the surrounding. A few days ago, her ability to sense monsters or living beings was known and they used her to scout.
"There are two at 3 o'clock, 250 meters ahead."
"Unit 1, prepare for battle! There are two approaching!" The commander, Lance, shouted.
When they unsheathed and readied their weapons, the ground shook. Once they saw a huge dinosaur-like monster with green scales, that stood almost 4 meters, they cried and advanced. Their unit was mainly composed of seasoned veterans as they fought the huge monster as they anticipated for another monster's attack. Their attacks weren't even touching the monster and Lance took a glance at Korbin.
"Hmm… okay. I'll join," he said then took off.