Sixty-nine: If we’re gonna be moving together, I can’t be ignorant of your strength.
After enjoying Jitarou’s self-sacrificing joke, we set out from Goldendown.
“Raidock, which route are we taking?”
“West, I think.”
Fair enough. West sounds good.
North of Goldendown is a river so wide you can’t see the other side. East and south are somewhat known, at least.
By the way, the old Goldendown settlement—Zaid’s pioneer village—is located southeast.
“Yeah, I agree. That sounds best.”
“Settled then.”
The grain fields are slightly west of south, and since that whole area is open, no urgent survey is needed.
Given all this, we decided to cut straight through the forest stretching northwest.
In short, we’d be pushing through a woods barely touched by people.
"Leave the forest to me! Yeah! Camille-san! Let's walk at the front together!"
Jitarou was already calling out to Camille, the quiet swordswoman and second daughter of the Casper sisters.
Never learns, or just plain tough, I guess.
Elva gave Jitarou a cold stare, but Camille said nothing—just nodded and stepped forward beside him.
...Hard to read, that girl.
"Then how about me and Leifan taking up the rear?"
Soral, Raidock's ranger girlfriend, invited Leifan.
"Uh-huh!"
Leifan chirped back cheerfully, and Raidock turned to the rest of the group.
"Alright, me and Morda’ll take point. Keep the magic-users in the center."
"Got it."
That’s how we started moving—when Eva suddenly called out.
"Wait! Hold on! You're going too fast! Slow down a bit, please!"
"Huh? You got stamina potions. You won’t get tired."
"There’s a limit! Running at horse-pace for this long? It’s brutal!"
"Ah, right. Guess we haven’t been stuck in Goldendown long enough for your body to keep up."
"Y-you always move at this pace?!"
"Never."
"Oh… yeah, right."
The magic-users were bunched in the center, so I answered near Eva—apparently, I’d gone too fast for her.
Eva relaxed, but I pressed on, wanting her to understand Goldendown’s standard.
"Normally, we go even faster."
"Wha—?!"
Stamina potions let you keep moving without fatigue during regular exercise—or even moderate exertion—but if you push yourself near your limit for long, you start to feel the strain.
And, recently, it’s been confirmed: at Raidock’s level, stamina potions don’t work as well. Not exactly that they stop working, but the fatigue from their high-level techniques just outpaces the potion’s recovery rate.
“Raidock’s party should be moving even faster than this.”
“Wait—what? You’re kidding, right?”
“No. I’m serious.”
I leave Eva frozen in shock and ask Raidock to slow down. Even so, Eva still feels it’s too fast—but pushing her body like this is the quickest way to get her up to Goldendown standards.
"Even so, moving at this pace through the woods—won’t we just miss the enemy?"
"Jitarou’s here. We’re fine."
"Wait—him?"
"Yeah. I’ll admit his first impression was awful. But in the woods? He’s reliable."
He says it, eyes flicking to Jitarou.
"Like, I’m not exaggerating when I say my bow put the final blow on that dragon!"
"..."
"..."
Unaware of Eva’s freezing glare, Jitarou keeps bragging passionately to Camille, leading the way ahead.
Sorry. Really. He’s dependable. Probably. Definitely. Maybe.
Just as I was wondering if he’d ever get a chance to clear his name—Jitarou stops dead.
"Enemy."
One word. That’s all it takes. The carefree vibe we’d been walking with vanishes. Tension snaps through us.
Raidock immediately signaled everyone to gather.
“Jitarou, I’m counting on you.”
“Got it.”
Jitarou vanished into the deep woods alone.
“…You’re sure you’ll be alright?”
“Just watch.”
After a while, Jitarou quietly returned, glancing back.
“There’s six ogres up ahead. Six.”
“Ogres!? We haven’t even left the town behind a full day yet… uh, no, wait—yeah, we’re pretty far now. Feels weird. Anyway, what now? Should we skirt around them?”
Ogres were monstrous, hulking creatures with twisted features and bulging muscles. Not as big as cyclopes, but they usually traveled in small groups and were fiercely aggressive.
Their magic stones were good quality, but since there were no other useful materials to harvest, they rarely attracted hunters.
For a rookie adventurer, they were definitely enemies you ran from—no question.
Eva’s face twisted with worry, but Raidock gave a light nod.
“Huh? Just knock ‘em down. Ogres, right?”
Eva’s expression snapped sharp at how casually he answered.
“…Then leave it to us.”
“Just the three of us?”
“Exactly. You all know each other’s strength. But wouldn’t it be better if you knew ours too?”
“That’s true. But…”
“Besides, if you’re this confident, you’ll help us if we get in trouble, right?”
“Obviously.”
Raidock nodded big, trying to reassure her. But Eva’s face only tightened further.
“…Fine. We’ll show you what we’re made of. Camille, Marilyn—let’s go.”
“Only three of us? Shouldn’t we all go together?”
Marilyn, the priestess, stood leisurely before Eva.
"Maybe the adventurers in this town’ve gotten a bit full of themselves, thinking they beat a dragon? A teammate who can’t judge their own strength is just dead weight."
"Hmm..."
Eva made it clear she knew we could hear her, but she said it out loud anyway.
Raidock and I exchanged glances. Just a dry smile.
Honestly, it’s helpful to know their limits this early.
"Got it. Then we’ll leave the ogres to Casper and the others. That okay?"
"Yes. Let’s go. Both of you."
"Good luck!"
Only Marilyn answered, but Camille nodded and stepped forward.
Seems she’s also handling scouting duties.
A swordsman, but more like a ranger. And her prey’s a short-sword dual-wielder, so that fits.
"Craft"
Raidock leaned in and whispered to me.
"Got skill, but a bit reckless. If things go sideways, I'm out."
"Alright. Leave it to me."
I tucked the new potion bottle between my fingers and fell in behind them.
◆
"Flame Burst!!!"
The first attack came from the mage Eva.
A searing fireball slammed straight into the biggest, toughest-looking ogre.
Eva’s magic was solid. That one hit did enough damage to knock the ogre out cold. So the rumors about the three sisters are real, huh.
"Ugh!"
Of course it was Camille who lunged out.
She struck the confused ogre from behind with a silent, brutal blow. But it’s an ogre—no surprise it didn’t fall. A deep gash opened along its neck, but it wasn’t fatal.
“Hnn, ‘Shadow Dance, Funeral Twin’…”
A sword technique never heard before tore through the ogre’s body, screaming as it convulsed, leaving countless gashes. A flurry-style attack, each cut deep. Pretty powerful, that one.
The ogre, hit hard, rolled across the ground. Camille ignored it completely, already shifting to the next target. Smooth. Practiced.
Ogres aren’t weak. Far from it. They’re serious threats.
And seeing her handle one without a flicker of fear? That’s more than just rumors.
The next ogre, still dazed, finally noticed Camille charging at it. It raised its massive club with a snarl.
Evra didn’t hesitate.
“‘Thousand Needles!’”
Hundreds of magical needles shot forward, striking the ogre’s face.
Not much power behind it. But fast. And it covered a wide area. That’s the trick.
Camille wasn’t the type to let a frightened ogre slip past.
“Leaffall Flash.”
He followed up the technique instantly, hammering the ogre with a flurry of strikes. Deep wound.
But the ogre’s club, swinging wildly as it raised its arm, caught Camille square on the left arm.
I fumbled for a Healing Potion—right away—but before I could even toss it, magic was already flying.
“Speed Healer.”
Marilyn, the priestess with the holy seal, cast the healing spell without a second’s delay.
Damn fast!
I’d been impressed by Eva’s magic, but this? Casting a recovery spell this precise, this fast? That’s real skill.
The bleeding from Camille’s left arm stopped instantly.
So this is what the Casper sisters are made of.
Book edition of "Quill Alchemy" now available—great reviews! (´ω｀)