In exchange of getting an appraisal crystal, Rouge-san gave me a quest to
gather ingredients for appraisal crystal.
I needed to go until far away in order to check how far the instant
teleportation ability of Local Wife could reach. This quest was just perfect
for that.
And so Alicia and I went to the guild in order to accept the quest formally.
"Sorry to make you wait. Eriol-san and Allie-san is it. We have been told
about the designated quest."
The receptionist lady spoke the names that Alicia and I used when
registering as adventurer while bowing her head.
It was just as Rouge-san said, the quest designated us by name. With that
we were able to easily take the quest.
"Even so Rouge-san is really considerate. She went out of her way to
designate us like this for the quest."
"...As expected from the rank 1 merchant that Sonya-san trust."
Alicia and I were chatting while procuring supplies at item shop for our
expedition.
Designated quest was just like the name, it was a quest that designated
particular adventurer or party to do it. This kind of quest was very
beneficial.
The reason was because the guild held adventurer who got designated like
that in high regard.
In addition if the quest was completed, the adventurer could accumulate
more acknowledgement than usual which helped them to climb up to higher
rank.
I was aiming to be a top class adventurer in order to be able to use the
contract breaking item, in order to try dispelling my Master-Servant
Contract with Alicia. So I was really thankful for this quest.
By the way.
Before we knew it Alicia and I had been promoted to be rank A adventurer
party from the recognition of our major effort in the Armor Ant incident. It
was an unprecedented speed in climbing up the rank.
But the guild master Goudo-san looked really dissatisfied when he told us
about it.
{You should be rank S or even SS considering your achievement... You
will be given various privileges in such rank, so you need to accomplish
many quests――in other words give continuous contribution to the guild
for the promotion. Sorry but right now please bear with the A rank.}
That was what he said.
The second highest rank from the top――I guessed that SS rank would be
barely eligible to be given permission to use the contract breaking item, so I
felt really disappointed, but most likely even this promotion to A rank was
the result of Goudo-san doing everything he could for us,
If after this we kept completing quests diligently then the path to SS rank
shouldn't be that far away.
Because of that I was in high spirits to do the quest from Rouge-san.
We quickly did the preparation for camping and potion and other necessities
to immediately head toward Vestal Village that was our destination.
It was an inn town that was three days away by horse carriage to the west
from this fortress city.
Normally we should ride on stagecoach to travel such distance but――
"Then we're going to depart but, will you really be alright?"
"...Yes. I have also grown from the battle last time... I want to move
my body properly after so long, for the sake of training too."
We departed from the fortress city on foot.
There were several reasons for this but, the biggest reason was our growth.
.
Erio Scarlet Human Incubus Level 201
Alicia Blueaiz Human Sacred Knight Level 40
,
I who had gone over level 200 went without saying, but Alicia had also
leveled up a lot from stealthily defeating Armor Ants in the previous battle.
With this we judged that we would be able to easily reach our destination
on foot faster than even using stagecoach, so we chose this option.
Although, even though she was Sacred Knight, we still didn't know how
much improvement she had from reaching level 40, so I felt a bit worried
but,
"...Recently, it feels like my alone time with Erio has gotten short... I
want to have a relaxed trip with you so... I'll work hard."
"...tsu, I, I see. Then let's go."
Alicia said that as though it was only natural. It would be boorish for me to
feel any more anxiety than this.
My face reddened while I departed together with Alicia from the fortress
city.
(...I noticed later that we were already getting along every night with just
the two of us though. Did Alicia consider that as not counted?)
*
Perhaps the abnormal appearance of the Armor Ants were still having small
effect even now.
Powerful monster sometimes appeared on the highway. But,
.
"...Physical Enhancement [Super High]"
.
"...Swordsmanship Enhancement [High]"
.
"...Demon God Killer"
.
*DOGUSHAAAAAAAAAAAA!*
Alicia who possessed the skill Area Detection went into a rampage.
She couldn't really fight until now in order to hide her true identity. Now
she was massacring monsters to vent her frustration.
And then each time she finished a fight,
"...mufuu"
She would run back with a proud look that was so faint only I could
possibly detect it. She then would present her small head to me.
She wanted to be patted.
It was a bit embarrassing but, somehow it felt like it had been a long time
since I spent time with Alicia like this.
"As I thought Sacred Knight is... or rather Alicia is amazing."
I shyly said that while patting her silver hair.
Alicia herself was also pushing her head on my palm. She was really
adorable.
One of the reasons for choosing to travel by walking with just the two of us
like this was so Alicia could also accumulate combat experience but...
perhaps this was more beneficial than expected.
I thought like that from seeing Alicia's happy face.
.
"Yosh, then let's stop here for today."
There wasn't really that much talking between us as we walked through the
highway, and yet time passed as though it was a blink of the eye.
We stopped walking just a little bit before the sun set. We put a mark on a
nearby tree.
Originally we should set up the camping equipment we were carrying at
this point but... the situation this time was different.
This was the biggest reason why I traveled on foot accompanied by only
Alicia.
(Regina, can we go there now?)
{Tsu! My master! Of course it's alright!}
I got Regina's permission through telepathy.
After that I activated Local Wife.
Immediately I was assaulted with the feeling of the space warping and the
scenery was instantly replaced.
(...! With this it's certain that the distance of a day of walking is still
within range.)
I was already moved to Regina's dwelling in an instant when I came to my
senses.
Regina was stark naked in front of me while breathing hard.
"Wait, why aren't you wearing clothes!?"
What was the point of me contacting her beforehand!?
Or rather, don't tell me, she took off her clothes after I contacted her
telepathically!?
"I thought it might be insolent of me to wear clothes when welcoming my
master inside a room... as the proof of that I was being scolded like this,
I, I... ♥"
"Enough, wear your clothes already!"
Although there was such an altercation,
"...Wa. It's really an instant teleportation..."
When I activated Local Wife next, Alicia also got summoned to this place
without any problem.
Then we moved back to our usual inn where we got along for the night
before alleviating our fatigue on the soft bed.
Then when morning came, I activated Local Wife once more.
"Amazing... I thought it would be fine when looking at the explanation
before this with appraisal crystal but, I can really return Alicia to her former
place in the timing of my choosing. I still don't know about the maximum
distance but, for the time being it looks like there's no time restriction."
I teleported Alicia with Local Wife, and then I also teleported after her.
With that we instantly moved to the spot where I used Local Wife
yesterday.
The mark that we left on a nearby tree yesterday proved it.
Even though we had gone back to the city, we could start traveling to our
destination from this location again.
I was worried about Alicia's sexual frustration when we were in a quest that
required more than one day, but with this I could head to faraway place
while keeping ourselves well-rested and Alicia not exploding.
There was also no need for anyone to keep watch at night during camping.
We could also bring much less luggage with us.
The skill left nothing to be desired.
The only important thing that was left now was to check just how far the
distance that Local Wife could reach but... even at the evening of the
second day I could activate Local Wife without problem and returned to the
city. There I noticed.
"I-it feels like... the amount of mana required to activate Local Wife
doesn't change whether the distance is one day or two day of travel..."
This kind of skill, like teleportation of inorganic matter would consume
mana in disproportional amount the further the distance was. And yet I felt
no change in his mana consumption, which meant...
"The range of this skill, is really unlimited...!?"
Although it could only be activated with someone connected to me through
Master-Servant Contract, this performance was still absurd no matter how I
thought about it.
Even I who had leveled up over 200 could only use this skill several times
per day, which showed just how much mana it consumed. Even so it was
still too extraordinary.
Alicia muttered with heartfelt emotion after she witnessed the performance
of my skill.
"Amazing... in other words if we made Regina stay in the city, the lack
of getting along with Erio because of {doing it outside is a no-no} will
also be gone... as I thought, Erio is my fated one..."
"Your timing in feeling the fate with me is just strange Alicia!"
No, I'm happy that I'm her fated one though!
Like that we traveled on the road for the third day while I was feeling a bit
overwhelmed from Local Wife's ability and the depth of Alicia's love. It
was then.
"...Nn, Erio. Ahead... there's something."
Alicia who was staying alert against the surrounding using her Area
Detection skill suddenly turned a sharp gaze to the front.
"...One, two reactions... they are alive but, they aren't moving at all. I
don't know if it's monster or bandit... it might be an ambush..."
"Got it."
I raised my guard following what Alicia said while advancing.
But... my wariness was immediately wiped away.
The reason was,
"U, gu, someone..."
"Eh...!?"
At the place that Alicia detected――there were two women collapsed on
the ground. Even now they were groaning as though they were going to die.