The Great Sword is not the Main Body!
Chapter 5 – Special Request (4)

“Here’s the money from selling all your items. We were lucky to find buyers who needed them. Don’t make this mistake again, okay, Miss Noah?”

“Sigh… You’re right. We really got lucky this time.”

“Th-thank you, Miss Hermilla… And thank you too, Miss Aileen…!”

Aileen had taken charge of selling my supplies, compensating for my utter lack of social skills. When Hermilla heard about the situation, she stepped in to help as well.

Thanks to them, I managed to sell everything except the essentials!

I didn’t get back what I spent, but it’s better than nothing!

“Now that we’ve got the horses, let’s really get going, Miss Noah.”

“Y-yes…!”

Oh, right. We also managed to get horses at an incredibly low price.

Hermilla arranged that too!

Hermilla is the best!

“Um… so…”

I tucked the now much heavier coin purse into my robe and bowed deeply to Hermilla.

“When your journey is over, make sure you come back here to Alrba. Got it?”

Yes, I’ll be back, Hermilla. Maybe I should bring a souvenir when I return…

“Y-yes, yes…! Sniff… I’ll… hic… I’ll be b-back…”

Damn it.

I’m not even sad. Really, I’m not sad at all. It’s this body that’s crying. Seriously. It’s not me.

“Yes, come back safe, Miss Noah. I’ll be waiting for you, okay?”

“U-uh… sniff… hic… I’ll… I’ll…”

My throat was so tight I could barely speak…

“Hey… Miss Noah? We’re not marching to our deaths, you know. Can you hurry up a bit?”

Aileen, already six steps ahead, called out impatiently.

What the hell?! Have some empathy!

I’m just trying to say goodbye to Hermilla, who’s basically saved my life!

“Pff… Ahem! Come on, Miss Noah. It’s not like we’re saying goodbye forever. No more tears, okay?”

As always, Hermilla’s warm hand gently patted my head.

“Sniff… Okay…!”

I bowed deeply one more time, then turned around, trying to look cool.

“L-let’s go, Miss Aileen.”

“Sigh… Alright, let’s go.”

Aileen glanced back at me, shaking her head slightly before stepping out of the guild.

I followed her, taking in the bustling sounds of the guild one last time—sounds I wouldn’t hear again for a while.

I hadn’t made any friends here, but I’d grown attached to Alrba village.

This was where I first woke up in this female body, so in a way, it was like my hometown.

I’ll definitely come back.

“Miss Noah, what are you doing just standing there? Come on, the sun’s going to set.”

Oh, come on.

“Y-yes…!”

I silently grumbled about Aileen’s complete lack of sentiment as I hurried to catch up with her.

***

Clip-clop. Clip-clop. The horses came to a halt.

“The sun’s starting to set. We should make camp.”

“We’re sleeping here tonight…?”

I used my Heightened Senses to scan the area.

Trees. Trees. More trees.

We were deep in a forest, surrounded by towering trees.

We’d encountered snakes and giant dragonflies on the way here… and now we’re supposed to sleep here?!

Not even in a cave or anything—just on the bare ground?

What happened to my romantic notions of adventure…

“Yes. Someone made an unfortunate mistake, so we’re behind schedule. We were supposed to camp outside the forest, but… this is what we’ve got.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Miss Noah? What did I say about apologizing?”

“Eep…! I’m sor—I mean, my bad…!”

Aileen’s sigh brushed past my ear. It tickled.

“Seriously, do you think there’s a difference between ‘sorry’ and ‘my bad’? Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Th-then what should I say…?”

“Are you talking back to me?”

“Ugh… uuugh…!”

What do you want from me?! You just told me it was my fault! Fine! I admit it! But things happen sometimes!

You never mentioned we’d be riding horses! Then again, you didn’t say we wouldn’t either, but still…!

Anyway!

“Pfft… I’m joking. Instead of apologizing, you can say thank you. Like ‘thanks for helping sell the goods’ or ‘thanks for understanding.’ You know, something like that?”

Aileen’s light laugh softened her words, her tone gentle.

I can’t figure her out… Is she bipolar or something? Sheesh.

“Well then, thank you…”

I bowed slightly, showing my gratitude.

Aileen was behind me, but I didn’t turn around because, well… I didn’t want my face smothered in her massive chest again.

“Good job. Now, hop down from the horse.”

There was zero enthusiasm in her praise. Why even bother at that point?

I pouted slightly and flung my greatsword to the ground.

Then I hopped off!

Thud. The sound of my boots sinking into the soft grass felt oddly satisfying.

Thud, thud.

I can’t see anything, but stomping around like this feels pretty good. Hehe.

Thud, thud, thud.

Thwump.

The sound changed slightly, which means Aileen must’ve just dismounted.

I crouched down, feeling around for my sword.

It should be right around here… hmm. Where did it go…?

“Here.”

After watching me fumble for a bit, Aileen slid my greatsword over to me.

“Th-thank you…”

Gripping the hilt, I scanned the area again. This is definitely where I dropped it… Weird.

And why is Aileen crouching down next to me, just watching?

“Wh-what is it…?”

“Nothing. You just look cute, that’s all. Should we start preparing dinner?”

That’s… a strange answer. That can’t be why.

“…Sure.”

I answered half-heartedly as I strapped my greatsword to my waist.

“Since it’s our first night, let’s eat something nice. We should finish off the short-lasting food first.”

“Yeah, that sounds good… What are we eating?”

“This should do.”

Aileen rummaged through the saddlebags and pulled out some neatly wrapped meat.

“How about some barbecue?”

“B-barbecue…!”

I nodded eagerly.

But wait… is it really okay to barbecue in the middle of the forest like this?

My head, which had been nodding so energetically, gradually slowed down.

It doesn’t seem like a good idea… Is she testing me?

If I say yes, she might think I’m a complete idiot and tease me for the rest of the mission…

Ugh… as tempting as it is, I better pass on the barbecue.

“N-no… let’s not. I’ll just have some bread.”

“Why?”

Huh. She’s questioning me? She must be testing me!

This woman is dangerous!

“Because of the smell… It might attract monsters or bandits…”

“Ah, don’t worry about that.”

A warm energy suddenly radiated from Aileen’s body, gently enveloping the area around us.

“W-what’s this? Huh…?”

Some kind of energy surrounded us in a perfect circle.

It’s not magic. But it’s not an artifact, either…?

“I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. But… can you see it?”

I nodded, staring at the shimmering energy.

It feels so familiar, but… I can’t place it.

“What is this? Please tell me…!”

Ugh, it’s so frustrating.

I know I’ve seen this somewhere before, but I can’t quite remember.

It’s like having an itch but not knowing where to scratch! Just tell me already!

“When you grow up, you’ll understand. For now, don’t worry about it. Just eat well and sleep early if you want to grow up, okay?”

“Kids…?!”

What?! No way…

I’m an adult!

I’m 25 years old!

“…Actually, I’m an adult.”

I stared at Aileen, trying to sound firm and confident.

“Miss Noah, an adult? Pfft… wow, is that so?”

Even though I couldn’t see her face, I could feel the smirk in her tone. It was infuriating.

Aileen, are you seriously mocking me right now?! Huh?!

I’m obviously older than you…!

“N-no, really…!”

“Sure, sure. Now sit down. I’ve sealed the smell, so no need to worry.”

“So… what is this thing…”

“Hmm… you’re an ‘adult,’ right? Shouldn’t you know?”

Oh, wow… wow… wow!!!

She’s so annoying!

“Ugh…”

“Close your mouth.”

“…I didn’t even say anything.”

“Hm. Don’t want the barbecue anymore?”

I quickly shut my mouth.

“That’s better.”

“That’s better? Really?”

I grumbled quietly, hoping she didn’t hear me.

“Talking back?”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Ignoring my apology, Aileen continued rummaging through her bag. After a moment, she pulled out a firestone and asked me, “Do you know how to start a fire?”

“…No.”

For some reason, the fire just never lights for me.

“And what about pitching a tent?”

“D-don’t know…”

No matter what I do, it always collapses.

“What can you do?”

“Hunting…!”

I’m really good at hunting!

“Wow… you can hunt? That’s impressive. Truly fitting for an adult.”

“N-not like that…!”

“Just watch and learn. Adults know how to start a fire, after all.”

“Stop…”

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you an adult? Child or adult, pick one.”

“Not ‘a-dult,’ it’s ‘adult’…”

“Sure. Be a-dult all you want, Miss A-dult Noah. Now, can you gather some dry grass for the fire? As an ‘adult,’ you can handle that, right?”

Without saying a word, I stomped off to gather grass.

I made sure to make my footsteps extra loud, too. Aileen, you’ve gone too far this time.

Stomp, stomp, stomp.

***

“Heinzel. Did you hear the news?”

“Yeah… I heard.”

“Figured as much.”

A strange silence hung over the normally noisy adventurer’s guild.

“She’s gone.”

“Yup…”

“Sigh… Never even got to say goodbye.”

“She didn’t so much as glance my way.”

“Think about it, Heinzel. With that bald head and face, even grown men would cry if they saw you.”

“Come on, Luchi. You’re no prize either. Your eyes are bloodshot from all that booze. Sometimes at night, you scare even me.”

“That bad, huh…? Haha… explains a lot.”

“Maybe I should’ve grown my hair out, dyed it or something…”

Heinzel, Luchi, and the other rugged adventurers sighed, filling the guild with their melancholy.

Some had bought the girl’s supplies just to help out. Some had sold their best horses at dirt-cheap prices. Some couldn’t forget the sight of her tear-streaked face. And most simply couldn’t let go of the girl who had become something of a mascot for the guild.

“She was cute…”

Luchi thought of his younger sister, who had died in an “accident” years ago.

“Very much so. Reminded me of my daughter.”

Heinzel recalled his own daughter, also lost to a “tragedy.”

“Every time I’d tease her with, ‘Hey Heinzel, did you hear the rumor?’ she’d flinch so adorably.”

“Haha, yeah. She always acted like it wasn’t her, even though the whole world knew. Hilarious!”

“How could anyone not know? She was carrying a sword twice her size. Too innocent for her own good, that one.”

“Exactly. Pure, innocent, clueless about the world, but worked harder than anyone… So, Luchi, what’s your plan?”

“What’s there to think about?”

“Right? Haha!”

Heinzel and Luchi downed the last of their beers, chuckling to themselves.

Just then, Hermilla’s voice cut through their laughter.

“Gentlemen. I assume you’ve confirmed what we discussed earlier?”

“Of course.”

“Still… sneaking around is going to be tricky.”

Heinzel responded, and Luchi muttered in agreement.

“It’s a bit concerning because of Aileen… I mean, the priestess ‘Rubia.’ There haven’t been any issues yet, but…”

Hermilla’s gaze turned toward the direction where Noah had disappeared.

“No idea why such a precious priestess would run off to this backwater. Seems like a case of teenage rebellion.”

Heinzel slung his halberd over his shoulder.

“The people chasing after her weren’t messing around, though.”

Luchi pulled his sword from the floor, inspecting the blade.

“True. Now then, let’s officially begin.”

Amidst the bodies of unconscious imperial knights strewn about the guild, Hermilla’s voice echoed.

“It’s a special request. The assigned adventurers are Heinzel and Luchi, both platinum-ranked.”

The two platinum adventurers took the request forms.

“The mission is to escort Priestess Rubia and Miss Shin Noah. Discretion is critical. It’s a covert operation.”

“As long as we don’t kill any imperial knights, we’re good, right?”

Heinzel lifted one of the unconscious knights by the collar.

“No problem for me, but can you handle it, Heinzel?”

Luchi grabbed the knight from him and tossed him back to the floor.

“Who knows, maybe my hand will slip. Haha!”

“That’s true. It’s a hot day, after all.”

With that, the two adventurers left the guild, bantering as they went.

All that remained in the silent guild was Hermilla’s sigh.