departure 02

Just like that, the day of our departure arrived. My mother made sure to prepare everything I would need for the journey.

"Never stray from your father," she said as we waited for the rest of the group to gather in front of the adventurer's guild.

"Okay," I replied.

"And never put yourself in danger. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, hide immediately. Do you understand?" she added, her voice firm.

"Okay, Mom," I answered again.

"I've packed everything you might need in these bags. If there's anything else, ask your father or James. And remember, never talk to strangers. Do you hear me? Never talk to strangers," she emphasized, her concern etched on her face.

"Okay, Mom," I said, trying to reassure her.

As my mother adjusted my hat—yes, a hat—I couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Since we were leaving our home and heading into unknown territories with unfamiliar people, my parents insisted I wear it. They didn't want to take any chances with what others might think. Initially, they wanted to dye my hair black for added discretion, but when we tried, the dye wouldn't last more than four hours. It would slide off like clay being washed away, leaving my hair untouched.

The whole situation was baffling, and no one could figure out why. Even Uncle James found it fascinating. So much so that he decided to experiment with other colors, treating my head like a canvas for his whims. Thankfully, Mom and Dad quickly put an end to his antics with a good scolding—and maybe a little more than that.

In the end, we settled on a hat. To be extra cautious, they added a veil that partially concealed my face. It was annoying and cumbersome, but it did the job. This morning, James couldn't stop laughing, calling me a "princess." His teasing stung a little, but I couldn't blame him; my parents' over-the-top preparations were truly one of a kind.

Even so, I couldn't bring myself to refuse them. I knew they were doing it all for my safety. "You're too pretty to leave unprotected," they'd say, chuckling as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

I smiled at the memory, shaking my head lightly.

"No, they're not wrong. You are the prettiest, my dear host! The prettiest ever!" Bobo chimed in, his tiny voice dripping with admiration as he leaped onto my shoulder.

I laughed softly, scratching his head. Bobo's unwavering enthusiasm always managed to brighten my mood.

"Are you listening to me?" Mom's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

It seemed she had been talking the whole time while I was lost in my head.

"Yes, Mom," I replied quickly, though in my mind, I was apologizing. Sorry, Mom, I have no idea what you just said.

James, who had been standing nearby, rolled his eyes. "Can't you stop fussing? It's not like he's going to another country. We're just heading to the next city. No big deal. Stop being so dramatic," he said with an annoyed expression.

That earned him a sharp glare from Mom, and he instantly shrank back, muttering under his breath.

Mom turned to me again, pulling me into a tight hug. I hugged her back, feeling the warmth of her love in that simple gesture.

Just then, Dad appeared and wrapped his arms around both of us in one big hug.

"Don't worry, love," he said to Mom with a reassuring smile. "I'll make sure he comes back clean, safe, and happy."

I couldn't help but chuckle at his words, even as Mom gave him a mock glare.

Just then, I noticed Dad's group had fully assembled. Among them was that adventurer I'd seen before, now accompanied by four others from his team—three men and a woman. He approached Dad, and from their exchange, I learned his name was Pol.

"It seems we'll meet the merchant along the way," Pol said. "No need to fetch him from the merchant guild's branch. He should already be waiting for us on the road. To stay safe and avoid alerting thieves or bandits, he's traveling alone and in disguise. He mentioned he'd approach us when it's safe. He also left a note saying that if we don't find him en route, he'll be waiting in the periphery of Green City."

"Who's the merchant?" Dad asked, his curiosity clearly piqued.

"Colton," Pol replied with a small smile.

"That explains it," Dad said, chuckling.

I tilted my head slightly, wondering what about this "Colton" could be so amusing. But judging by Dad's reaction, this merchant was someone quite... unique.

Pol continued chatting with Dad, but I couldn't help feeling puzzled. If this merchant can travel alone to Green City, why do we need to follow him there?

As if he could hear my thoughts, Uncle James leaned over and said, "The real danger isn't in reaching Green City—it's in safeguarding the object until it's successfully transferred. The level of fighters and criminals in that area is the highest because they know it's a hub for transactions between humans and elves. They wait for that specific moment to strike. The ones we've encountered so far are just small fries, especially since we're dealing with a high-class merchant."

"I thought merchants weren't good at fighting," I said, confused. That's what I'd read—people with combat abilities and special powers usually chose adventuring, while those with sharp minds and strategic thinking became merchants or pursued other professions.

"Well, that's usually true," Uncle James said with a smirk. "But it's a completely different story when it comes to Colton." He chuckled, his tone hinting at something intriguing.

That only made me more curious about this Colton guy.

"What do you mean by 'he's a beast'?" I asked, hoping for a clearer answer.

Uncle James grinned. "You'll understand when you meet him."

"Ha?" I blinked in confusion. Was he trying to explain, or just mess with me?

James burst out laughing. "You'll see. Just be patient."

He's definitely making fun of me, I thought, rolling my eyes.

And just like that, we bid farewell to Mom. She hugged me tightly one last time, whispering a soft "Be careful" before letting go.

With that, our journey began. It was my first time stepping out of the village, and excitement bubbled within me. Everything felt new and full of possibilities. My first mission—who knows what adventures await?

Hello sunshine☀️

I noticed that our family is getting bigger and bigger and this cute author is saying thank you sooooo so much for your support.

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