CHAPTER 69: ALMOST HOME

Honestly this journey has been full of unexpected surprises that I still can’t even believe. I didn’t think we’d be heading back to my shop after all this time and I definitely didn’t expect to have this many people with me.

Akina seems to be the most curious about everything with me which is kind of strange still but it’s not the worst. Mira doesn’t have the same excitement as she did in the tower anymore either.

It has definitely been a weird time.

Ghost has been keeping close to me since I’ve returned as well, it’s kind of nice. Everyone seems to be getting along well but I don’t know how it’ll go when we have to decide on the people staying behind.

Akina is definitely going to want to come along since she was curious about me in the first place.

Her curiosity is definitely interesting. A being like her with that kind of power shouldn’t be so concerned with you.

Trust me I’m thinking the same thing but I guess she’s going to do what she wants to do anyway. Again, I’d rather keep her as our ally then as an enemy.

There’s no chance in hell that I’d be strong enough to beat her in a fight any time soon.

Tug. Tug. I look to my left to see ghost tugging on my shirt. "What’s up Ghost?" I question curiously.

"Are we really going to travel with this many people?" She responds with a bit of confusion in her voice.

"We’ll figure that all out when we get back to the junkyard." I answer calmly.

I don’t think Mira will care much about staying behind but Velia definitely will have a problem with doing that. Especially after everything we went through in the tower together.

I’m starting to think we won’t be able to cut down the group very much. It might just end up being a big group regardless of what happens.

I scratch my head as I walk with everyone through the wasteland. It wasn’t that much further until we were finally out of the wasteland.

No more abandoned buildings, monsters lurking in larger numbers, or even hunters after our lives.

"Rokuro when are we going to get new clothes? You came out in that fancy outfit but never gave us anything." Lilly asks with a jealous tone.

"I’ll help with that when we get to our home base." Akina chimes in with a reassuring tone.

I can hear Lilly let out a sigh before continuing to walk alongside everyone. The one bright side I’ve noticed is that her and Velia have gotten a bit closer.

They’ve had lots of small conversations during the walk back to the junkyard. Her original feelings towards Velia felt like they were finally taking a good turn.

But in the distance my attention was immediately drawn to a group of people standing at the entrance to the wasteland. Most of them were pretty well geared for whatever they were planning to do.

Mostly modified versions of tech armor, magic usually flows through armor like that which is why it can be quite strong. There were four of them and three of them were guys while one was a girl.

Each seem to have a different color to their armor and a weapon that suited each one of them.

"Think they’ll cause an issue?" Velia speaks up while staring at the people ahead.

"I don’t think they will, but you never know with how the world is." I respond.

People can be kind of unpredictable in this world... Something that I got used to as I visited the city sometimes. Not everyone can be kind and not everyone is a complete asshole either.

There’s a decent divide when it comes to those types of people and sometimes one side tips the scale more than the other.

They’re from Aetherion, just look at the symbol on their chests.

As we got closer I could definitely see the guild symbol of Aetherion and it was definitely a 50/50. Hunters from there acted pretty stuck up when it came to helping another city in need.

They all seem to be talking and laughing though, I can actually hear it now. At least that was until they noticed us.

We were basically face to face with them at this point so there wasn’t a chance to avoid them.

"Yo. Are y’all hunters as well?" A man with a funky accent asks as he steps forward.

He seems to be the tallest of their group, spiky short red hair, red eyes, and wearing a strange jacket with tech armor integrated within it.

Akina steps in front of me before I can speak. "Of course we are. We have a very important quest to turn in so if you’ll excuse us." She responds before walking past them.

They didn’t have a single response to her so we just follow behind her instead of waiting for them to say something. It was still quite a long walk before we reach the junkyard but at least we’ve avoided any problems.

"Master Akina really does know how to handle any problem that could arise." Mira mutters to herself.

"I appreciate you helping with that. I’d rather not deal with them too much if possible." I say with a grateful tone.

Akina stops for a moment as she waits for me to be right next to her. "No need to thank me Mr. dragon. I said I’d help before so I’m just keeping to what I told you." Akina replied with the same happy tone still in her voice.

"Still, thank you." I say with a genuine tone.

There wasn’t much of a response afterwards as we continue to make our way towards the city. It wouldn’t be too much longer after that.

A couple of hours went by as Central Ashvalis finally began to appear in the distance once again. We were finally almost home after a long walk.