For the record? I do not like these elven robes.
They have bigger pockets, that's useful, I guess. But they feel....
I just feel stupid wearing them.
But.
I can't wear my normal clothes, because they've all been burnt to a crisp. So.
The elven robes are the only option.
I sigh.
Maybe I can try to sell that bracelet next town we get to and buy normal clothes.
These are enchanted, but I clearly don't need enchanted clothes.
And if I really can't sell that damn bracelet, I'll go forward with giving it to Meera.
Meera currently seems to be staring up at the sky as we ride out of the forest. "Oh, wow, look at the stars! They're so pretty. Miss Meowkins, are you looking? Look at the stars, Miss Meowkins, ohh..."
The cat, apparently annoyed at being invoked in vain, reaches a paw down from where she's riding atop Meera's head and rapidly smacks the girl in the face with her paw.
"Ow, ow, Miss Meowkins, that's not nice!" Meera whines, while the cat settles back down with an irritated flick of her tail.
I can't help but shake my head.
...At least I'm not the only one with a difficult partner.
Meera and her cat are clearly in the same boat.
...I'm not quire sure if I'm on Meera's side, or the cat's.
But it's amusing to watch, at least.
"Ryo, you've been quiet for a while." Elara says, riding beside me. "Is something wrong?"
"No. I'm just tired."
Am I?
I should be. We've been on the road for days, I've barely slept, and I had a whole battle today with a thing that refused to die.
By all rights I should be exhausted, and the response is automatic from me.
But am I...?
Not that I'm going to think about it.
"You should get some rest, then." Elara replies. "It's not far to the next town, but we can make camp if you need it."
"I'll be fine. I'm not stopping until we're out of this damn forest."
"Elves don't generally go back on their promises." Kael says from my other side. "...But I agree."
I don't trust the elves as far as I can throw them, but.
He's probably right that they won't just change their mind and try to stop us again. And if they do, I'll be fully justified in just fighting all of them at that point, I think.
"The Queen of the Elves is too impressed with you to attack you, Master! She will not dare."
I guess it's a good thing the annoying voice is wasting my mental energy telling me things I already know, rather than spoiling things I don't.
I grit my teeth in annoyance.
What an aggravating life to be living if that's a good thing.
"Hey, Ryo, you sure you're not hurt?" Arin speaks softly as he rides up next to me. "You look pained."
That's because I am!
It's just not from an injury.
Unless Arin has an anti-annoying voice spell in his book.
"Spells from this world can't affect me, Master. That's silly."
...It was a joke.
I was joking.
Why am I even bothering?
I shake my head and focus on the road ahead.
We're almost out of the forest.
Just a few more hours and we'll be free.
Free.
That's not really the right word, is it?
We'll be free of this endless forest, so that's something.
But I'm still trapped in this world. I'm still weighed down by these abilities I didn't ask for. I'm still stuck with a party that just...
Well, I did go looking for them, but that was before I found out about the cruel twist of this world.
And I'm stuck with an annoying voice in my head.
Meera's cat grumbles and smacks her on the face again. Unprovoked this time.
Well, unprovoked except for Meera's long record of existence.
"Waugh! Miss Meowkins, no fair!"
She's not even upset.
Even when her beloved cat chooses to be randomly mean, she just...
Doesn't seem to process it as malicious at all.
It's strange.
But.
It's not really important.
It's not my problem.
I'm not her cat whisperer or anything.
I focus on the road ahead, and eventually, we reach the edge of the forest.
We're back.
Back on the plains, and headed towards the next town.
Finally.
"We did it!" Meera throws her arms open wide. "We made it out!"
The cat flicks her tail.
Which is impressive, because I'd think that's way more disturbing to a cat trying to sleep than her simply talking or existing.
...I really don't get either of them.
"There's a town about two hours from here if we don't drag." Elara says. "We can stop there for the night."
I have a feeling I can just keep going.
Maybe forever?
But...
Either it's adrenaline and I'll crash before long, or it's one of those cheesy powers foisted on me. In either case, I'd rather just go to bed.
So.
"That's fine."
Kael nods. "Let's go, then."
"Yeah, let's do this!" Arin smiles. "It'll be good to have a break."
...It's not a break.
It's a stopover.
But I don't say that.
And it's not really any of my business what they think, anyway.
If they stay too long tomorrow, I'll just leave them behind. It's a perfectly good excuse to do so.
"Master, you're so cold and ruthless. They're your companions! Don't abandon them like that!"
Since when did we have a connection to keep...?
I'd barely even call them companions at this point.
They're just...
People.
Who travel with me because they insist on it.
...Whatever. I'm not putting energy into arguing this point with the annoying voice.
The town we approach is bigger than the one we left before.
It's not a city, but it's more than a village.
And it's well-fortified, with walls and a gate, and guards.
"The town of Greenvale is fortified despite being smaller because it has a key position the demon king's forces might one day want to claim!"
Well, that's a grim thought.
But.
It does mean we're definitely getting closer to the Demon King after all.
Not that I had much doubt, but.
It's good to know.