10'o clock in the morning, near the East Entrance of the Capital.
The cursed forest is in the Eastern part of the Arcadian Empire. While south of the empire is situated near the Demon Territory. On the western side there is the Holy Kingdom and on the Northern side is situated the Mithras Empire.
Elves are totally isolated by the cursed forest, while among the three largest Human empires, the Arcadian empire is slightly bigger than the other two.
Demon Empire is the biggest of everyone with an area even larger than whole human territory combined. But it's divided into many types of demons. It's 1/3 of the area which is near the Mithras Empire is completely occupied by Dragon Valley.
Dragons rarely come outside of their habitat. Demons dare not to cross dragon valley so if they have to infiltrate the Mithras Empire they first have to occupy Arcadian Empire and the Holy Kingdom.
This is why Mithras Empire is the safest place and its capital is also known as the Trade city.
I was at the Eastern entrance waiting for Ellen.
She has gone with Lena to introduce her to Yves. As for why I didn't follow them as well, it is because of Yves.
I need to give her proper time to think.
If I went today with Ellen, Yves must have already planned to put an ice-cold attitude towards me to distance herself.
However, if she didn't see me today it will make her plans failed. Making her surprised and curious at the same time. The longer I delay more uncomfortable she will feel.
...curiosity kills the cat hehe.
Five members of the party have already arrived excluding me. Two of them are SS-rank adventures and the remaining three are S-rank. Only Ellen and one other adventurer is left, both are demigods.
So we got a total of 5 demigods and three other tenth level adventures i.e S-rank. My ranking is also S but I am included in demigods.
It's precisely one of the strongest parties for a mission...let's see how many of us are going to make it out alive.
Out of all, a blad and brawny looking man with an imposing aura approached me, he has a blonde-haired beard and a moustache and blue eyes, he look like someone in his 30s. Carrying a greatsword on his back completely matching his imposing personality.
"Hello, are you the new adventurer joining us?"
"Mm"
I raised an eyebrow. What's with that superior tone dude? Did I finally found someone to face slap?
"Welcome to the Party, I would be the leader of this expedition, my name is James also know as Bonecrusher, nice to meet you." James stretched his hand.
"Pleased to meet you, just call me Leon." After greetings, I observed him carefully.
Hm...Bonecrusher. if I remind correctly he should be the famous adventurer, he was the one who killed most demons in the Boread region attack around 50 years ago.
" Hey, Leon I ain't late? Right" Ellen enthusiastic voice sounded beside me.
"You look excited."
"What did you assume, I won't just develop trauma from one incident."
I smiled at her."It's good then."
"Haha isn't that Ellen's rumoured boyfriend we got here." A man precisely dwarf beside Ellen spoke.
Ellen blushed slightly but didn't shy away like a little girl, calmly introduced him "This is Edgar an SS-rank adventurer which will be joining us today as well, I met him on the way."
This is the main difference between Yves and Ellen.
Ellen is a decisive girl, someone who once decided will see through its end. I am sure she wouldn't even shy aways kissing in public.
On the other hand, Yves, though she looks much mature outside, inside she is just a young girl, she would have a hard time showing her affection for someone openly.
Is she a Tsundere? Nope, regardless of behaviour, she is nonetheless a woman of 60+ years old. She isn't just used to men's. Should take her some time and she will be just fine.
Both of them have their traits and are equally beautiful.
A rough voice interrupted by thoughts from behind.
"Edger and Ellen, you both are late."
"Yo Arthur, meet him, Ellen's rumoured boyfriend."
Then, Arthur put a hand in his chin and observed me carefully and nodded. "Seems like the rumours were true, dude you sure got a fortune but be careful now you should be the common enemy of all Ellen's admirers."
I smiled wryly at him, a girl as beautiful as Ellen must have countless suitors from nobilities.
Ellen retorted. "What admirers they were just some weaklings."
Edgar spoke, "Haha...weakling, they would die vomiting blood if they heard you girl."
"By the way, I forgot to introduce myself, just call me Arthur" Arthur spoke casually.
"Hello Edgar and Arthur, I am Leon. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Haha boy, you shouldn't need these formalities between us men." Edgar laughed.
... Are dwarfs always so enthusiastic. Regardless, both of them sure are easygoing, wouldn't be hard to get along. This expedition is going to be fun.
Then I examined both of them, Edgar have light blonde hair and a long beard. As for the weapon a giant hammer, what can I say? As expected of dwarfs.
Arthur got white hair on the other hand with a short beard and a moustache, he looks like someone in his 40s. He carried two swords. Hmm...dual-wielding is he the so-called Swordgod, not like that matters to me.
In this world, ageing slowdowns as someone crosses the fifth layer of cultivation and it completely stops when someone has accomplished the tenth level.
Ellen only looks like 22 years old girl while her sister looks not more than 24. It's because both accomplished the tenth level of cultivation in their 50s.
As for current age, Edgar is the oldest among us with a little more than 300 years old. James and Arthur are of nearly the same age I.e. around 250. Ellen is nearly 70.
Ellen managed to break through into demigod while her sister is still struggling. Achieving demigod is not something everyone can do.
"Sure, ...by the way Edgar what do you mean by rumours."
"Aah... you didn't know, the whole Guild is talking about you and Ellen."
Fuck, how did things escalated like this, did those adventures got nothing to talk about. Not like it's false but still man, not even a day have passed.
(●__●) Ellen literally is a celebrity.
"Did you know about that?" I asked Ellen.
She shrugged her shoulders indifferently as if to say that there was nothing she could do about it.
"Whoa, never underestimate adventurers." shocked me for real this time.
"MUAHAHA....that's adventurers for you boy, spending half of the life drinking booze and talking shit." Edger laughed maniacally.
"gah, you are the only one who spends his half-life drinking," Ellen snorted in disdain.
"tsk-tsk girl, you are still young, see Arthur agrees with me."
"fuff, fuck off boozehound."
"Pfft.. , boozehound good name."
"bah, no one calls me that."
You didn't sound convincing at all Edgar.
Ellen dropped the final bomb. "You are wrong, personally, everyone calls you like that in the guild.
"Hahahaha"
This trip is going to be more fun than thought.
"Listen! Everyone here."
Eh? I glanced at the owner of the voice. James is waving at us calling us over there, the other three adventurers have already gathered we are only one left.
"Ahem, everyone fun time over, seems like our Mr so-called Leader is calling us," Arthur said sarcastically mimicking him.
Well doesn't look like Arthur has a good history with James, as for Edgar he is indifferent the most surprising one is Ellen.
She didn't even greeted him, he was the hero of the Boread region, how could she not know him.
Womens are complicated.
Argh... Whatever I will ask her later for now let's see what Our Mr Leader has to speak.
" Since everyone is here, allow me to introduce myself. I am James a.k.a Bonecrusher. I will temporarily lead this party on this expedition as decided by the guild. If anyone has objection can speak."
Leading a team, Nah that's not my cup of tea.
Huh? I furrowed my eyebrows at unexpected Killing intent. It's disappeared soon but was not able to escape from me.
Following the direction of killing intent, my gaze stopped on one of the adventurers among us. He has black hair and eyes, good-looking and all but that's not the main point.
He is using a tool to hide his true appearance. That is also rather powerful, I can certainly say it's made by one of the gods.
Umm...is he working for a god? Well, that's not enough to hide from me though.
Let's see... what!?
!!!
He is only in his 30s and has reached the tenth layer of cultivation, heck even Ellen one of the best geniuses of the empire was only able to achieve it in her early 50s.
She just achieved a breakthrough year ago entering into the demigod realm. And now she should be close to seventy.
While this guy achieved it twenty years earlier than her. Other than heroes I have never seen someone with this terrifying level of growth. But he is definitely not a hero.
But the most shocking part is not this.
I shifted my gaze at James who was still bullshitting then again looked at the boy and examined him thoroughly.
He has blonde hair same as James and his face...they both look so alike just like father and son. The only difference is James is much muscular while the boy looks like an 18-year-old child.
His eyes.... Is that the reason he hides his appearance. He is a half-demon his one eye is normal deep black color but another is the demonic blue eye like crystal.
Eh? He noticed me, pretty sharp. James has also almost finished his speech.
".... Ok that's it's everyone, Let's go."
...