Ember packed her second change of clothes, plus some stuff Sylphy needed for this trip like her makeup case and valuable things she couldn't leave in this place.
Then, we went through a wide door made from stone that opened like supermarket's automatic doors do and found ourselves in the forest we were in before.
From what I know, its mechanism is probably powered by using magic cores.
Also, as I had thought, her house, or more like "hideout" was hidden inside a hill.
"The dwelling of a dungeon master is normally made this way. With a door going to the outside and another one that connects it to the inside of the dungeon. Naturally, both are hidden as it would be a problem if people found them." (Sylphy)
Sylphy, who is both good at knowing what intrigues me and at explaining things, told me.
"As for not having windows ... if one can see the outside through it, other people can see the inside in the same way. At least, that's why simple dungeons like mine don't have any. Better dungeons' houses tend to have enchanted windows that are hard to see from the outside though." (Sylphy)
I could look for this kind of information in my "database", but it would take longer and might not be as easy to understand as Sylphy explanations.
Gasp! "I forgot! Hand me over that bag. Unlike your clothes and armor, it actually doesn't have the ability to adjust. If we are going to the nearby town, using your wolf form will be faster and that bag's strap will tear if you do." (Sylphy)
Nod. "Yes! Big Sister!" (Ember)
Sylphy used her shapeshifting skill again to become similar to an Elf ... or so I thought at first.
This time she didn't only change her size and appearance, but that of her clothes too.
Her previously bare feet and legs were now covered with brown shoes and knee-high black socks.
Her dress made of leaves was transformed into a white ruffled short-sleeved blouse and a brown leather skirt.
Her hairpin was the one that changed the most to become a fashionable brown leather cap.
As for her pointed ears, they became increasingly smoother ...
She now looked exactly like a pretty human girl ...
"Well then, let's go!" (Sylphy)
. . .
Ember turned back into a wolf after giving the shoulder bag to Sylphy.
Similar to when Sylphy shapeshifts, a dark red aura surrounded Ember as she transformed.
Black fur grew on her skin as her limbs lengthened and her hands became paws with sharp claws.
Her clothes briefly turned into particles of light before transforming into a black scarf around her neck.
Finally, her black steel breastplate adjusted to her new shape.
Once the dark red aura disappeared, her new form could be seen. Surprisingly, all this process took less than ten seconds.
Her appearance as a wolf was pretty much the one she had when I met her although her red mane and lines became darker in color.
As for her size, she was around three meters tall when standing and five meters long. If she didn't crouch, Sylphy wouldn't be able to ride her without flying.
She has become much bigger than before ...
We were all greatly surprised and had our mouths wide open (I don't have a mouth though) ...
"Get on my back, Big Sister!" (Ember)
" ... Sure." (Sylphy)
' ... ' (Usagi)
So now she can speak in human language while in wolf form ... her tone is a bit more low-pitched though.
Sylphy meekly sat on Ember's back and led us to the nearest town. We tried to chat while we were on our way, but it was hard.
That's when I remembered that I had recently acquired a skill that could help us communicate more easily. Soul Link!
I told Ember to stop running for a moment and went inside Sylphy.
As if she saw that coming, Sylphy didn't struggle or asked me why I did this.
'Testing, testing ... one, two, three ... ' (Usagi)
' ... Master?' (Ember)
' ... Interesting.' (Sylphy)
After a few tries, I managed to send my thoughts to Ember and Sylphy at the same time. We should be able to talk comfortably this way.
"Your strange powers always intrigue me, Little Rabbit ... " (Sylphy)
She was honestly surprised at my abilities. If I had a face, I would have a smug smile in it right now.
Sylphy continued talking about what we were trying to discuss just now.
"The closest town is called White Town. Little Rabbit, you should have at least heard of it, right?" (Sylphy)
'Yeah ... The noble family governing it is conformed by Richard White, Ellen White, and their daughter, Mary White.' (Usagi)
"Heh! You are more informed that what I thought. Your words are correct." (Sylphy)
So that's where we are going ... I wonder if I can find Mary there. Even if I cannot get close to her, I want to at least see her from a distance ...
No ... I am not a stalker, I swear.
"Also, I am pretty sure you are curious about my current appearance. You see, usually, faeries of any species don't come to the south and west regions of this country." (Sylphy)
'Why? ... Is it dangerous?' (Usagi)
What could be in this region that makes them unable to come here? Don't tell me ...
"Yes, you should be close to the answer. The influence the previous king had over this kingdom hasn't disappeared. He made the trade of slaves, which was a very prospering 'business', a legal activity at the time, and that is what spelled his demise." (Sylphy)
'I see ... It was like that ... ' (Usagi)
Even if the current king prohibited it, the remains of the past still exist. That means ... kidnapping people and selling them as slaves is something that happens even now.
"The demihuman tribes of the south and even a small army of faeries from the north retaliated when their people started to 'disappear'. Eventually, they dwindled the forces of the past king and the new king finished him off by putting together a revolution." (Sylphy)
'Wow ... ' (Usagi)
Mary's information about this was pretty incomplete as she only knew about the invasion made by the demihumans of the south.
However, her mother also told her about the black market for slaves, probably in an effort to warn her of the dangers of the world.
"The conclusion is ... it's better if my identity as a fairy is hidden. Also ... thanks to my work, I have discovered that walls have eyes and ears. It means that there are spies everywhere. Not just our appearances, but what we say or do should be kept in a low profile." (Sylphy)
'I understand ... Did you hear that Ember? Let's try to avoid as much attention as possible!' (Usagi)
"Yes, Master!" (Ember)
. . .
"The town is about twenty minutes of walking from here. Wolf Girl, turn back to your demihuman form! We can't afford others to see you like that." (Sylphy)
"Yes, Big Sister!" (Ember)
Certainly, people will scream if they suddenly see a wolf this big ...
"Little Rabbit, use the same ability you used on Wolf Girl on me. If I talk to you and Wolf Girl like I normally do, it wouldn't look good ... " (Sylphy)
'You are right ... ' (Usagi)
If I was inside Ember's body and she called me "Little Rabbit" in front of others, it would be bad. Why would a human girl call a wolf-eared demihuman a rabbit?
'But ... are you sure? I am not certain I can undo it.' (Usagi)
"It's okay. I have a feeling we are going to be together for a while, hehe." (Sylphy)
I didn't ask why she felt that way but her smile eased my worries and I activated Soul Link.
We shared a part of our souls and I could feel that I became closer to Sylphy somehow.
'It's done.' (Usagi)
"Excellent. You should return to Wolf Girl's side now. Hehehe, she has been feeling jealous of me for a while now." (Sylphy)
'Are you sure? I can't sense any.' (Usagi)
Although I could see some discomfort in Ember's face.
"We girls are more sensitive to things like that. Just go! You want that too, right, Wolf Girl?" (Sylphy)
" ... Master ... Sniff, sniff ... I want Master to be by my side!" (Ember)
Ember now seemed like she would start crying at any moment ... This girl, I don't know when she became this attached to me ...
I moved towards her as fast as I could. No matter what skills I have gotten, my speed was the same as when I came to this world.
In other words, it was slow, but once I left Sylphy's body, Ember began to smile happily as if she could see me ...
Wait, didn't she have a skill called Spirit Eyes? It is probably thanks to it that her nearly crying face changed so quickly.
"Master!" (Ember)
Ember came running to me with her arms wide open while her skirt fluttered in the wind.
We weren't too far apart from each other, but she probably witnessed my "slow pace" and wanted to accelerate the process.
She was really fast though and not even a second passed since her shout ended and I went inside her body.
'Hehehe ... Master returned ... ' (Ember)
'Yeah ... I am back, Ember.' (Usagi)
The time I spent "with" Sylphy wasn't that long though. However, I couldn't say anything about that when she was this content.
"Have you finished your touching reunion? We still need to walk and keeping this form is slowly exhausting me ... " (Sylphy)
'Let's go, Ember!' (Usagi)
'Yes! Master!' (Ember)
. . .
The road to White Town was unpaved but in a good state without any grass or weeds on it.
I could see a lot of people coming and going.
The majority was conformed of humans, but demihumans with different types of ears and tails similar to those of cats and dogs could be seen.
Their eyes, on the other hand, looked almost like those of humans.
Most used simple, roofless carriages moved by horses for transportation, while the minority walked on their own feet.
From time to time, a roofed carriage moved by strong-looking velociraptors or triceratops could be seen ...
What?! Weren't they extinct?!
Then I remembered. This is not Earth, so there was no meteor to eradicate them from the surface of this world ...
At least, that's what I wanted to think. I would need an Aegis's expert in history to tell me more about this world.
"We are here. Remember, low profile." (Sylphy)
A high gray brick wall about seven meters high surrounded the town.
The only way to enter without jumping or flying over it was through a five-meter high wooden gate protected by iron armored guards on both sides.
One of them asked people for their names and received their entrance fees, while another wrote this information on a sheet of paper placed on a clipboard with a fountain pen.
We waited in line with other people for a few minutes and it quickly became our turn.
"Next! ... Two girls. One human and one demihuman. Are you adventurers?" (Hardworking Guard A)
"Heh. A demihuman without a tail and with beast-like eyes. Those are rarely seen. Haha."(Rude Guard B)
We ignored the rude comment Guard B ... Cough! What the second guard said and Sylphy responded with a graceful smile.
"No." (Sylphy)
"Then, are you citizens of this kingdom?" (Truly Hardworking Guard A)
"I am. My friend here isn't though." (Sylphy)
"Hah. She obviously isn't a merchant either!" (Very Rude Guard B)
We ignored him again and Guard A ... Cough! The first guard told us with an apologetic smile after Sylphy showed him her identification (which she took from her shoulder bag).
"I'm truly sorry for the rude things my partner said to you both, ladies. Welcome to White Town!" (Kind Guard A)
The second guard looked at us with his mouth wide open, but Ember and I just followed Sylphy into the town.
Being ignored (as I don't have a body) and then called a "lady" made me feel complex emotions though ...
. . .
Usagi and his companions had already left when the second guard regained his composure and asked.
"Eh? What?! Don't they need to pay a fee?" (Impolite and Confused Guard B)
Other people waiting in line were also going to complain.
Why didn't they pay a fee and we need to? All of them had similar opinions on this matter.
"Silence! Didn't you see the identification of the green-haired girl? It had the magic stamp of the royal family!" (Wise Guard A)
Normally, one would pay a fee to enter a town.
Adventurers and merchants receive a discount while citizens are exempt, but their friends and family who were born in other kingdoms still had to pay.
"The friends of the royal family are exempt from taxes! Remember that. You could go to jail if they catch you forcing them to pay!" (Knowledgeable Guard A)
His advice almost made the second guard choke and the other people swallowed the words they were about to say.
" ... Thank you, partner. I was too rash there ... It won't happen again." (Pale Faced Guard B)
Usagi became aware of this fact later this day. He was impressed by Sylphy and if he had a jaw at the time, it would be touching the ground ...