After a few hours of running through the forest, we've finally arrived at Baunov.
The village is really small, especially if I were to compare it to Pedrell.
Wooden fence surrounds this small village, instead of high wall made from bricks like in Pedrell.
But when I step inside the village, I realize even though this village is small, it's brimming with people.
I can see people with all kind of builds chattering together of having a debate with a merchant regarding their goods.
"We've arrived~ First thing first, we will need to drop William in the stable. Ren-chan remember to never let go of my hand or it will be hard for me to find you in this crowd~"
"Certainly the chance of me getting lost is pretty high. This place is more crowded than I expected. Are all of these people here for subjugation quest too?"
Chris-san gently help me to get down from William and he immediately clasp our hand together.
We held hand together back when we were shopping so I don't really mind if we do it again.
"Yup~ Not just adventurer, the merchants also gathered here during the subjugation quest period. If I'm not wrong, the population of this village is about 200 people and judging from the crowds, I think there's about 70-80 adventurers here and if you include the traveling merchants, there's maybe about 100-200 outsiders here."
"I see, wherever there's people, the merchants will also flock together for better profits but.. 80 adventurers huh.. That's a lot.."
If there's no subjugation quest, this village would be doomed for sure.
I heard that the influx of monster during the subjugation period is incredible. Thankfully there's a lot of adventurer gathered every year to wipe the monsters.
But..80 people.. If all of them already have a party, I doubt I can make myself useful here.
"Yeah, but as you can see there's also a lot of solo adventurer like me. I think the other two that Malik mentioned also works solo most of the time since they're a magic swordsman too."
"Ah that's right..! Even though Malik-san told me to meet up with them, I still don't know how to find them."
Since they're Malik-san's acquaintances they must be really strong too so it's no wonder for them to work solo.
But…How do I find them in this crowd..?
"You don't need to worry about that~ I'm sure we will find them eventually, afterall those two stands out a lot."
"Stands out..like Chris-san then."
Chris-san, you need to take a better look at yourself before you start talking about other people.
I can practically see glittering aura around you.
"Eh?! Me?! How mean~ Rather than me, I think Ren-chan attracts even more attention than me."
"That's for sure. Being the shortest person in here will make me sticks out like sore thumb. Ah.. Saying it myself makes me sad.. I know I'm short but to have the fact slammed in front of my face still hurts me.."
I've never met any adventurer shorter than me.
When I were in Pedrell, I don't really stands out because people often mistake me as a child but in this village, no matter where I see there's only adventurers here.
I can't find any children so of course I will stick out like a sore thumb, even more than Chris-san.
"That's wrong, Ren-chan!~ All of these people looking are thinking 'who's this cute kid?' It's not because how small you are but because of how cute you are!~"
Chris-san reminds me of Malik-san. He also always saying that I'm cute and stuff but that's just Malik-san being the doting parent.
There's no way a 21 years old man like me can be considered as cute.
"Geez Chris-san,you need to get your eyesight checked. Ah is that the stable? You can keep William there, right?", I point at the building that looks like a rental stable.
"Ah that's right, that's a rental stable. You know Ren-chan there's a possibility that we might not get to rent William again. That rental stable belongs to the same company as the one in Pedrell City. There might be someone else that will rent William so we might have to get back home with other horse. You can't take a claim on a horse because adventurer is a dangerous job. There's a chance you won't be able to return alive afterall."
"I see, so the company has branch all over the city. It's pretty convenient for other adventurers then since you won't have to return the horse in the same place that you first rented it. But, I hope we can get to rent William and return to Pedrell together.."
"Of course~ If William still available we will rent him for sure~"
Realistically speaking, adventurer is a dangerous job.
It'd be bad for the company to put the staked horse on hold when you won't know for sure whether the client will return alive to rent the staked horse or not.
"Then, I will store William. Ren-chan wait here, okay?"
"Yes. William, I will see you later then." I stroke William's fur one last time before Chris-san proceeds to get inside and store William.
Patiently, I wait in front of the entrance of the building while Chris-san finish the paperwork.
"Oi, you. Aren't you the otherworlder that Malik-san took under his wing? Why are you here together with Chris?"
I heard someone calling for me so i turn my head around to see a beautiful woman scowling at me.
"Eh?"
Most of the female in Alsar is taller than me but this woman in front of me, easily towered over me.
Her crimson red hair also makes her look even more intimidating.
I don't know why she's mad at me but I guess I will just reply to her question properly.
"Err.. That's right and you are..?"
"My name is Zhanna. So? Why are you with Chris?" She asks with a hand on her waist and the visible irritated look on her face.
Is she Chris-san's acquaintances?
If she is, then why is she suddenly picking a fight with me..?
"We travelled together here from Pedrell."
"Huhhh?! He refused me and decided to come with this brat instead?! Don't tell me that you already formed a party together with Chris too??"
What a rude person!
I can't believe that Chris-san is a friend with this kind of people!
"We haven't formed a party together yet…"
"I see, well that's to be expected. Since he refused me, there's no way he would want to party together with someone like you."
What?!
She just keep saying whatever she wants!
And what's with that look? I can see her literally eyeing me from top to bottom!
"Fufufu~ Actually we're about to form a party together~"
"Chris?!(-san)" Both me and Zhanna exclaims.
Suddenly Chris-san pulls me from behind into his embrace.
Zhanna looks visible surprised as well.
"What do you mean?! You're going to form a party together with this brat?!"
"I mean exactly what I said before. Since this is a subjugation quest, isn't normal for fellow adventurer to form up a party and complete the quest together?" Chris-san asks in nonchalant voice.
"Then party with me ! Why would you party together with such low ranked brat like him?!"
U-ugh.
She's right.
I don't know about her ability as adventurer but I'm pretty sure forming a party with me would be nothing but a burden.
"Eh?~ Are you looking down on Ren-chan because he's F rank? For your information, Ren-chan's support magic is far superior than most people that I know. The reason behind his low rank is because Malik-san is waaay too over protective over him. Anyway, who are you exactly? I don't want to party up with someone I don't know, so why would I party up with you?~"
"W-what did you say?!"
Oh so she's not Chris-san's acquaintances.
But Chris-san, why are you spreading the fact about Malik-san being overprotective?! So embarrassing!
"What are you talking about?! We were drinking together and then you invited me to your room back in Pedrell! We even had sex together!"
C-chris-san.. If what she said is the truth then you can't just cast her aside like she was nobody like that..
Ah but, Chris-san personality is exactly like that so there's nothing I can say..
"Hmmm… Ah! You're that noisy girl from before! Ah, so what? You still want me to form a party with me you so you can boss me around?"
"N-noisy?! A-anyway, partying with me will benefit you more since my party rank is pretty high! Chris you also think so, right??"
Well, I personally also think you're really noisy too. You yelled at me out of the blue like that..
"Oh yeah? But the truth is, you didn't actually contribute anything to your party, right? The reason behind your party achievement is thanks to the other member, right?~"
As Chris-san and Zhanna-san talks, I see someone appeared behind Zhanna-san. Judging from his muscular body, I think he's one of the member of Zhanna's party.
Had he been standing there from the start? I didn't notice him at all..
"Those thing are unrelated! You're handsome and strong, having you will increase my party value! Just shut up and join my party quietly!!"
"Really,there's something wrong with your brain or what? I can't even understand your line of thinking." Chris-san sighs.
This..Zhanna-san..
How should I say it..
She's actually amazing, to speak so shamelessly like that..
Does she think of Chris-san as an accessory ? The better accessory she has, the better she will look to other people. Is that it?
But I can't help to be amazed by her persistence, even though Chris-san already rejected her, she still keeps on trying.
"Excuse, sorry for interrupting but you're being very disrespectful to Chris-san. Correct me if I'm wrong but the purpose of a party is to support each other, right? From what I've heard, you only want Chris-san because of his look,you don't even consider his opinion at all." I say calmly.
She's so horrible that I unconsciously speak my mind out loud.
"Shut up!! I don't care about your opinion!!"
Err..
I can visibly see her blood rising to her head..
Even though she's so beautiful, but when she get angry like this, she looks so scary.
Now that I look closely, there's two more people standing behind her with a displeased look on their face.
I guess those two must be her party member, along with the first muscular guy over there.
"Hmmhmm~ Precisely!~ Just as Ren-chan said, a party purpose is to support each other together not to be ordered around by spoiled princess like you. Oh, perhaps a spoiled queen will suit you better? I refuse to become one of your ..manservant. Ah but if it's Ren-chan, I will gladly let myself be ordered around~"
Queen and princess..
Hmm, I also think that being a prideful queen suits Zhanna-san better.
But, Chris-san keeps talking about forming a party together with me.
I wonder if he seriously want to party together with me?
Not that I will decline but..!
"Chris-san! What are you saying?! Are you serious? Anyway,even if we are to form a party together, there's no way I will order you around like that!"
"I know~ I said back then in the inn, right? 'Let's form a party together~' If it's Ren-chan, I'm sure we can work well together. Really, even though I already drop a hint there and there, Ren-chan won't notice if I don't bluntly say it~"
"Really? You meant it? But my combat ability is practically zero, you know!"
"It'll be alright~ I won't let any monster get near Ren-chan~ And even if some monsters slip by, Ren-chan can just use [Root] to bind them, right? Your healing magic is also top-notch!~"
The truth is, imagining myself face to face with a monsters still scares me but somehow.. I feel even more anxious if I were to be separated from Chris-san.
I guess the only way to calm my heart is to gather my courage and step on the battlefield properly?
"Stop talking by yourselves as if I'm not here!!"
Ah, I was too focused on talking with Chris-san that I almost forgot Zhanna-san is still here.
"Oh you're still here?~ So persistent.. I told you that I won't form a party with you so just take those people standing behind you away and leave me alone please." Chris-san swats his hand at the air to shoo Zhanna-san and her party member away.
True, true.
Her persistence is incredible, if only she can direct it into a more positive way instead of forcing people to join her party..
"No way! I won't leave you until you agreed to join my party!"
"You guys, can you stop causing such a ruckus in front of the store? You're disrupting other people, you know."
Suddenly, another unknown voice calls out to us.