I was Betrayed then Reincarnated as a Kitsune

Chapter 54: Onward to the Next Adventure

[Luna POV]

We stayed for two more days to help in the cleanup from the festival, but now it was time for us to go again.

You got everything you need, Velvet?

Yeah.

Guess Ill go tell everyone were leaving, then well be off.

I walked around the shrine and said my goodbyes.  It wasnt as hard as last time since we all knew I could just teleport back whenever.  Once that was done, we teleported back to the capital.  I chose to bring us to the edge of the forest in the east.

Whyd you bring us here?

Didnt want to teleport on top of a random person and the only other places I can teleport here are the room it the inn I was staying at, the guild masters office, and basically right in front of the gate.

Why not my home?

I grabbed Velvets arm and teleported to her home without answering.  Once we got there, I immediately started to walk out of the building to head to the guild, still not talking.

You dont need to be embarrassed; you know. Velvet said as she followed me.

I just ignored her and continued walking.  About 10 minutes later we made it to the guild and walked in.

Judging by the amount of people here, we made it just after the morning horde.  Ill go turn in the completed quest papers, will you go see if there is an escort quest going to the Celestia Kingdom, Velvet?

Sure.

I walked up to the counter and found Shuten there.

Long time, no see, Shuten.  Howve you been?

Good.  How have you been?  I heard you and Miss Velvet made some big contributions on the emergency quest.

I guess you could say that.  Can you process this, please?

Sure.

She took the completed quest form from me and looked it over before placing it on a stack of other papers that I assumed were all completed quests.

Is there anything else you needed help with?

Velvet is looking for an escort quest to the Celestia Kingdom for us and I was just about to go and help her look.

So, you two are leaving Savanna?

For a time.  I have things I need to do there.

Then when you two get there, look for a receptionist at the guild named Tomoe.  Shes me and Ibarakis cousin.  Tell her that you know me, and shell help you out with anything you need.

Are all of your family members guild receptionists?

No, but most of us work for the guild.  My mother, Ibuki, for example, is the guild master in the Demon Empires capital, Onigashima.

Thats good to know since Ill be visiting there one of these days.

You also have some business there?

A certain person there has drawn my ire.

May their remaining days be peaceful.

It was then that Velvet came up to us with a quest paper in her hand.

I found one. (Velvet)

Great. (Luna)

Hello Miss Velvet, its good to see you again. (Shuten)

Hello Shuten, its good to see you too.  Wheres Ibaraki? (Velvet)

I have been wondering that as well. (Luna)

Shes had a hangover from the festival two days ago that she still hasnt gotten over.  Honestly, shes such a lightweight when it come to drinking. (Shuten)

What about you? (Luna)

I can drink every adventurer here under the table and still keep going. (Shuten)

Id love to see that. (Luna)

Me as well. (Velvet)

Then the two of you can join me the next time youre in the capital. (Shuten)

Ill take you up on the offer, its not like I can get drunk anyway, but itll probably be a fun experience. (Luna)

You cant get drunk? (Shuten)

Yep, though its not all fun since coffee doesnt work on me either. (Luna)

Sure, it doesnt work, but you still enjoy drinking it. (Velvet)

Thats true. (Luna)

You know, sometimes I wish I could join you two, youre both so interesting. (Shuten)

Wouldnt it be easy to become an adventurer yourself then? (Luna)

Unfortunately not, if I didnt become a receptionist at the guild, I would only be able to become an alchemist.  I have no real combat ability and Im only really good at making poisons that debuff things. (Shuten)

Thats really useful though.  Im also someone who can make poisons, so I understand that they can be useful. (Luna)

Just out of curiosity, what can Ibaraki do? (Velvet)

She got all the combat power, shes good with lances and swords, but her best trait is her fire magic. (Shuten)

Sounds like the two of you could make a decent party if you had one more person to be a main vanguard. (Velvet)

We had that dream once when we were younger.  Me, Ibaraki, and that golden boy wanted to become adventurers, but his mother didnt like us for some reason.  Said I would lead him down a bad path, so she moved to a different country with him, and I havent seen him since. (Shuten)

Thats kind of a sad story. (Luna)

Its fine, that happened 100 years ago now, so Ive gotten over it. (Shuten)

I havent met many demons, but do you all look this young after that long? (Luna)

No, me and Ibaraki are just special, our growth stopped when we reached the human equivalent of someone in their 20s and weve looked like this ever sense.  Our mother said that it has something to do with our ancestors.  Ill process that quest for you two. (Shuten)

Thanks. (Velvet)

After Shuten processed the quest, we started to head out to make preparations for the long journey.

Good luck you two, come see me again next time youre here. (Shuten)

Thanks, and Ill see you again. (Luna)

See you again, tell Ibaraki that we said hi. (Velvet)

With our goodbyes, we left the guild and headed to the eastern shopping district.  We stocked up on things that we didnt pick up back home and some extra food ingredients for anything I decided to make on the trip.

I wonder if we will be the only ones taking this quest?

I think well be with at least one other party.  I dont think two people is enough to guard two carriages.  Normally.

Why are you looking at me like that Velvet?

Wouldnt you be able to store everything and blink us all the way there?

I could store everything, but the space magic inventory spell can only hold so much, not that that means anything to me since I dont use that spell for normal storage.  Plus, blinking is a single person spell, I can teleport multiple people when it comes to long distances if Ive been there before, but short-range teleports not so much.  Unless, of course, you want me to force myself to use all of my mana blinking ahead and back to teleport everyone with me.

On second thought, well just do this the normal way.

Not to mention that it would cut into everyone elses contribution to the quest.  Im all about making things easier, but there is a limit to how far I will go.  I dont want people becoming too dependent on only my abilities.

Fair enough.  If were done here, shall we go to the meetup point?

Lets go then.

We headed to the northern part of the city to find the people we were escorting.  On the way there, Tamamo asked me something.

{Hey Luna, I forgot to ask this a while ago, but is it ok if Atmos visits us for a bit the next time youre here?  She promised she wont stay long; she just wants to try brushing one of your tails.}

Im fine with it if you are and she keeps that promise of not staying too long, kissing you with an audience is not something I want to try.

{Then Ill let her know, especially that she needs to keep that promise.}

After finishing my conversation with Tamamo, we found who we were looking for and I was surprised by who else was there.

Well, this is a surprise, who would have thought that the lass we guarded on our her way here would join us as a guard the next time we met. (Jarl)

Its been a while, Jarl, everyone. (Luna)

Its nice to see you again, girlie.  I see you even have a friend with you. (Apollo)

This is Velvet, shes a member of my party. (Luna)

Nice to meet ya, Velvet. (Jarl)

The two of them shook hands while I greeted Zan and Gief.  All they did was nod their heads in acknowledgment.

I dont think Ive heard the two of them talk before, whats with that? (Luna)

Theyve always been like that, I asked them once and they wrote down that they were born that way. (Apollo)

It was then that the merchant we were guarding came over and told us to get ready to leave.

Pleasure working with you for the next three weeks, girlie. (Apollo)

Same to you, Apollo. (Luna)

Author's Note:

Here is a quick chapter before I need to head out today.  I hope everyone will enjoy the next one or two chapters of traveling with the party that Luna met before.  Who knows, maybe they'll show up every time there is an escort quest taken after this as well.  Thanks for reading.