"Um......"
"That...... Could you be Master Charkin?"
At that moment, Alicia suddenly spoke up.
"Hm?"
Charkin turned to look at her.
"Some people do call me that. Young lady, judging by your appearance, are you a member of the royal family?"
"Yes! So you really are Master Charkin! Please forgive my rudeness! I am Alicia Serion, the Ninth Princess of the Parasara Empire."
"Oh? Alicia...... I think I’ve heard that name."
"Hey hey...... Alicia, do you know this uncle?"
Miko whispered beside her.
"No, I’ve never met Master Charkin in person. I’ve only heard of his reputation."
"？？ Is he famous?"
Miko looked confused.
"Uh......" Alicia hesitated, not sure where to start. "Master Charkin isn’t just famous—he’s......"
"Hey, how long are you two going to whisper? Hulim’s ready to leave~!"
Hearing Irus’s reminder, Miko stopped listening to Alicia and ran straight toward Hulim.
"......"
Alicia sighed helplessly.
"Sigh, never mind......"
As Hulim exchanged final goodbyes with Miko and Alicia,
Irus pulled Charkin aside.
She stared at him with a playful smile.
"Hey~, Charkin. You remember what I told you before, right? Take good care of her. If Hulim doesn’t get the results she wants in Myrnabyss, or if something happens to her on the way back......"
As she spoke, Irus made a fist.
"......You know what’ll happen."
"Uh......"
Sweat dripped down Charkin’s forehead.
He nodded repeatedly.
"I know, I know! Don’t worry—nothing will go wrong!"
"Hmph~, I’ll take your word for it......"
Jingle~!
Hulim climbed onto the Shieldhorn Beast behind Charkin.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"All set? We’ll leave as soon as you’re ready."
Charkin reminded her.
Hulim nodded, turned to Irus, Miko, and Alicia, and waved.
"Irus, Miko, Alicia—I’m off."
"Goodbye, Hulim!"
"Farewell, Hulim!"
Watched by the three behind them, Hulim and Charkin officially embarked on their journey to the Holy Mountain Myrnabyss.
......
"Dear Father and Mother,
I apologize that I cannot return home for the annual leave this year due to certain reasons.
Please do not worry about my whereabouts. Although this will be a distant and long journey, I have reliable people helping me and many friends blessing me. The road may be rough, but everything will turn out well in the end.
I look forward to seeing unseen scenery and hearing unheard-of ancient legends during this trip.
When I come back, please allow me to share the stories of my journey with you slowly.
Also, please pass my regards to Fran, Ander, Teacher Colette, and Instructor Kunon.
May the blessings of the Six Gods be with you.
—Hulim"
......
Mente Town.
The Heyerar Residence.
"Master Rezelian, you have a letter."
"Oh, thank you. Where is it from?"
Rezelian took the letter and asked casually.
"It’s from Langard, Master. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now."
After the messenger left, Rezelian took the letter back into the residence.
"From Langard? It must be Hulim. Why would she send a letter suddenly?"
"Lilia, Hulim sent a letter—come take a look!"
"Hulim? Alright, I’ll be right there!"
In the courtyard, the two opened the letter and read it......
"This child...... Has she finally found her own path in life, just like her elder brothers and sisters......"
Lilia held the letter, feeling a mix of sadness and relief.
"Don’t worry, Lilia...... Hulim has grown up. Instead of worrying, let’s wish her a safe journey......"
"Yes...... You’re right."
Lilia stood up, gazing at the distant sky.
"May the Six Gods watch over our child......"
......
In the desolate wilderness,
two Shieldhorn Beasts wandered across the wasteland.
Boom, boom......
Suddenly, a huge commotion rapidly approached from afar.
Jingle! Jingle!
Sensing the approaching aura, the two Shieldhorn Beasts panicked instantly.
However, the two people riding on their backs showed little emotion, only silently watching the fast-approaching sandstorm.
Before long,
the sandstorm reached them.
"Roar——!!!"
A massive figure burst out of the ground, letting out a thunderous roar at them.
The shadow cast by its body completely covered the area where the two stood.
Its giant maw, filled with curved, sharp fangs, could easily swallow both of them—along with the ground beneath their feet—in one bite.
A stench of rot blew toward them with its roar.
Hulim instinctively covered her nose and mouth with her mage’s robe.
"Hmph, what a stinking mouth."
On the other side, Charkin complained, then reached for a warhammer hanging on the right side of the Shieldhorn Beast......
"Roar!"
After letting out an intimidating roar, the creature’s giant maw dove straight toward the two.
"Get......"
Boom——!
"Back where you came from!"
After a deafening crash,
the creature’s head snapped backward. Under the immense force, its dozens-of-meters-long body—hidden underground—was completely flung out.
Thud——!!!
The ground shook violently as the attacker slammed into some weathered stone pillars.
Before long,
"......Roar——!!"
The creature raised its head again, roaring in their direction. Contrary to its massive size, its pitifully simple intelligence prevented it from recognizing the gap in strength between them.
"Oh...... Still moving?"
Charkin raised an eyebrow.
"Very well......"
He lifted his warhammer again, slinging it over his shoulder.
Whoosh——!
In the next instant, his figure disappeared from the Shieldhorn Beast’s back.
When he reappeared, he was right in front of the creature.
Then, he raised the warhammer high and slammed it forward.
Boom——!!!
In an instant, a huge flame torrent engulfed everything in front of him.
When the flames dissipated,
there was no sign of the creature left in front of Charkin—only a lava-covered area spreading hundreds of meters. Even the weathered stone pillars that had been on the ground were gone without a trace.
Whoosh!
With a flash, Charkin returned to the Shieldhorn Beast’s back.
"Let’s go. The thing blocking our way is gone—we’ll keep moving."
Hulim: "......"
That was an Earth Worm—infamously tough even among Rank B monsters.
He took it down in one hit......
