CHAPTER 40: CHASE.

Baam!

Ash grabbed both Aisha and Echidna mid-air, allowing them to hug him tight from both sides before stretching his hand up and using his demonic aura to form an anchor on the edge of the cliff.

Once he did that, he pulled himself up like a spring, soon standing on top of the surface where Aisha had initially failed to get to.

As he landed on the ground, Aisha and Echidna were still hugging him, the slight hint of fear still lingering on their faces.

At the same time, Kelvin appeared, kneeling on one knee and breathing heavily from having to climb the massive cliff.

Slowly, Kelvin lifted his head, only to see Ash being squashed between two bodies, left and right.

A calm yet pained look formed on his face at the sight, his eyes devoid of life.

"You fucking perv."

Ash sighed at the comment.

"We are on the ground now. You guys can let go," he uttered to them, trying to pull his arm from the middle of their cleavages.

"Are you sure? I am too scared to open my eyes," Echidna replied, going on to hug him even tighter, his arm fully sinking into her boobs.

"Master wouldn’t lie about something like this, so you should take his words seriously and let go."

"I am still scared. I almost died because of you."

"Nuh-uh. You were too heavy. Jumping a cliff this small is lightweight," Aisha clapped back. If she could, she would have pointed at Echidna, but that would mean having to release her hold on Ash.

"Such a brave thing to say. Are you implying you could do it easily if you were by yourself?"

"Of course. Master taught me well. Only a weakling would struggle to climb something this small."

Struggle.

Weakling.

Kelvin gripped his chest tightly, tears almost falling from his eyes.

Ash, for one, wished the ground would swallow him whole, but these two women were going back and forth so much that he could barely get a word in.

He looked to the side.

The sun was slowly starting to show itself even more, making the path ahead even clearer for him to decide.

The entire place was covered in large trees and bushes, but it was still the shortest path to making it to Othland.

He wasn’t wrong. This was the best option.

"You really want us to go through here?" Kelvin asked, standing to his feet.

"I don’t know who ’us’ is, but Aisha and I are taking this route. It’s the fastest."

"Cold as ever. If that’s the case, then I’m coming with you. We are heading to the same place anyway. You can’t really do much about that." Kelvin folded his arms, a smug look on his face.

Ash sighed once again. "Do whatever you want," he uttered, then glanced to the side.

...

The following moment, they had begun their journey to the forest, and then the city of Othland, one of the most diverse and hidden cities in the entire kingdom.

It took them a couple of hours before they arrived at the city, after fighting monsters and camping to have dinner.

But all that paid off when they all stood above the cliff, their eyes fixed on the lower lands where they could see the city gates.

"Othland." Kelvin uttered, "Doesn’t look like how I remembered it, but this is the place for sure."

Ash was standing right beside him, staring at the exact same place.

"You speak like you know a lot about this place."

"I mean, I kinda do. Most of the quests our guild faces are around this area, so it’s only natural that I run into one or two things along the way."

There was silence for a while.

"Have you heard about a man called Hapia?" Ash asked, giving Kelvin the side-eye right after.

Kelvin looked right back at him.

"Hapia? No, I don’t think I have. People here don’t exactly go around spreading their real names, you know. Hold on, do you even know what Othland is about? What are you here for exactly?"

Before Ash replied, he stylishly glanced towards Aisha, noticing that she was both nervous and scared, constantly trying to cling to his back while also rubbing her arm.

He figured this would happen. This was where she was tortured after being taken from her parents. Not to mention, this was where her mother died as well.

It was quite understandable that she would feel some kind of way after seeing the accursed city.

"Don’t worry about it. We’ve gotten to our destination. You guys have fun or whatever," Ash finally replied, turning around and walking away.

Aisha quickly followed right behind him after waving goodbye to them.

Their footsteps echoed and slowly dimmed as they got further away.

Kelvin didn’t say a word, not until he was certain they had fully left.

"Wow, I am surprised. And here I thought you would do anything in your power to make sure you go with them. What’s wrong? Gotten tired already?"

Echidna had her back resting on the tree while gently playing with her hair.

"What are you talking about?" she asked back.

Kelvin fully faced her.

"You know exactly what I am talking about. I have never seen you this intrigued by someone, so much that you would follow them this much. You idiot, you like that Ash guy, don’t you?"

"..."

"Don’t you dare think I haven’t noticed the way you try to always get involved with him. You never liked boys. Most times you even treat me like trash, but when Ash does something, you act like he is some kind of boy band or something." Kelvin had a comedic look on his face. "Who knew the great Echidna had a type? You love cold, angry guys, huh?"

Echidna sighed.

"I just met him a few days ago. Why would I be in love with someone I don’t even know?" she asked him.

But her question seemed off. It didn’t seem like a sarcastic question, more like she was digging for answers, trying to see if there was any way anyone other than her could confirm it.

Kelvin, unfortunately, could not answer the question.

It wasn’t hard, neither was it something he had to think hard about before giving a response.

But when the one asking has such an obsessive and scary look on their face...

What exactly could be the best response?