In the first place, don't bandits know how to evaluate their weapons or in general, any weapons they come across? I mean, I'm no master in this kinda blacksmith talk but, if they were going to rob people, shouldn't they know how to evaluate valuable items? It's as if they purposely got conned. Or really were that dumb. It can't be the cliche situation that occurs just because the plot wills it to, right?
As the carriage came to an abrupt halt, I bumped my head against the carriage seat while Delia fell onto me. In that moment, I heard the sound of people talking and fighting outside the carriage before the world turned dark.
***
"Wha... Ugh... My head..." I groaned as I rubbed the throbbing part of head before flinching from the pain. "Ow! What the... B... blood..." I whispered beneath my breath as I stared at the blood on my fingertips. Must have been when the carriage stopped abruptly... Oh... right... Where's Delia?
I ripped off the hem of my shirt as I pressed the cloth against the back of my head, wincing at the sting. I then glanced around to gain my bearing as I noticed the state of the carriage which was obviously in shambles. Delia... is nowhere in sight... and...it seems a long way from where I last remembered...
I stared upwards at the cliff the carriage assumingly fell off from, straining my neck as I estimated the distance it fell from. How... am I still alive? It... doesn't make any sense... "Tell me about it." a familiar voice stated, giving me a mini heart attack.
"WHA?! W-WHO?!" I instinctively turned before groaning at the throbbing pain. "Don't strain yourself. It's just my voice for now. I just didn't expect you to meet the heroine so soon... And practically jumble up the whole story right from the get go. Colour me intrigued... It's just that... for you to already be in trouble because of... ahh... nevermind. What I meant to say was... I gave you a cheat in this life.... Many cheats... in fact... you'd be dead if not for it." "Wait... What... What do you mean? What cheat? You don't mean... erm..." "I blessed you with the gift of God's favor. Well, basically you're pretty much invincible... Except you do feel the pain and all, it's just that you won't die that easily."
"Well... okay? That's a pretty painful flaw..." "But the real reason I'm talking to you right now is for your mission. I think I didn't finish my sentence properly earlier. In this world... the demon lord does exist... just... not in the way you expect... I need you to help that person... to make sure they don't awaken that side of them... You'll know who it is when it is time. I just hope you do achieve it..."
The voice faded and before I knew it, the throbbing stopped. I touched the back of my head and found the wound to have stopped bleeding; in fact, it was as if it had never even happened. Well, that's weird... And what's even weirder is that it is night time when it was basically day just moments ago...
I crawled out of the wrecked carriage as I paced about in the endless forest of trees. I noticed a dirt path and followed it, leading me to a fork in the road. Did Delia get kidnapped? I can't exactly get sidetracked by what 'God' said so I might as well find her first...
I noticed a light and soft whispers in the wind as I neared a cave. It was obscured from plain sight but I noticed it straight away from my affinity with the earth. Magic certainly is useful.
"... the boss... that girl... sold as a slave..." was what I could pick up as I hid behind a bush, trying to figure out a way to enter without being seen. Ugh... this seems like a bad idea but... if what I think they're saying and who I think they're talking about... I'd better act fast! How do I evade their sight... wait... the cheat...
***
"You'll regret this. The lord I was with... " Delia growled through gritted teeth as she was abruptly stopped with a gag tied around her mouth. "Tsk tsk tsk. We got rid of that 'lord' of yours while you were out cold. So you can forget about him and escaping. It's not really a bad deal after all... Selling you into nobility. You get an easy life with no hardships... the only thing is... you listen to my every order. Isn't it great?" a man said as he paced around Delia, increasing her discomfort.
Delia glared at him as a prick of guilt stabbed her heart and tears threaten to fall from her eyes. No way... How can I... I barely knew him... And he died for me? A mere stranger... How... upsetting...
"What's that look? No worries about your father. He's as good as dead anyways... Its only a matter of time." the man said as he grinned whilst playing with his hunting dagger. "Mmf mmf mghh?!" Delia yelled, muffled with the gag as she struggled against her restraints.
In that moment, a swirl of pitch black mist unfurled and started to pursue the man; inching closer and closer. As the mist grew wider as if to enshroud the man, he was suddenly slammed against the cave wall by an unknown force.
"... S.. Sorry I'm late." I said as I appeared out of thin air. "Mmpghhh?! Mff Woo?" Delia muffled as her expression relaxed and she breathed in a sigh of relief. "I'll explain later... Are you alright?" I said as I undid her restraints.
"My lord! I... Eh?" Delia exclaimed enthusiastically only to drop her tone in an obvious manner when she noticed something different about me. "You... are a girl... my lord... ... IS A GIRL?!" Delia exclaimed as she shoved me away before dashing towards the cave entrance.
I stared at her back, running off towards the cave entrance as I scratched my head, cocking it to the side as I thought of what had just happened. She couldn't have possibly believed I was a guy right? She clung onto me so ferociously I was certain she already knew. But still... that black mist... was it...? It can't be... right?