The Sword Saint's Second Life As a Fox Girl-6-7 Reunited

“Everything’s back to the way it was, eh?” Lyra cheered as she walked with her back facing forward.

“Not exactly the way it was but it’s close,” Erin muttered in response. “And watch where you’re going.”

“I miss you, Erin. Didn’t you miss me?”

“It was only a few days, not even a week.” There was a patronising chuckle beside her but she ignored it.

“I could barely stand it,” Lyra said. “If it wasn’t for a certain prude, the nights without you would have been at least a bit more bearable.”

“I am not a prude,” Nivia snarled, glancing back. “Stopping someone from pleasuring herself in the middle of the night in the wilderness does not make me a prude.”

“Oh, please. I’m sure you had the same idea.”

“I did not.”

Erin sighed. She certainly did not miss this.

“Truly the way things were,” Aedan whispered.

“It certainly is…”

“This calls for a celebration, I say,” Lilian chimed in gleefully.. “You have managed to keep your desires in check and control your lust from emanating.”

“Kyu~” Ruri squealed in equal delight.

“See, even this little one agrees.”

“We don’t need a celebration for that,” Erin responded. “And I doubt Ruri actually understands the occasion. ”

“Ah, of course. Perhaps not for that but maybe for your ability to convene with the Spirits.”

“It would be cause for celebration if I had earned back the ability through a lengthy and rigorous training. But I didn’t. It was bestowed upon me as payment for a request, a job.”

“Well… if you put it that way, perhaps we don’t need a cause for celebration. Let's just have one for the sake of it. To lift our spirits, if we truly need a reason.”

“Kyuu~!”

“You’re a bad influence on Ruri,” Erin remarked.

“There will be no celebration,” Nivia said. “We don’t have the funds for it.”

“We could take on a few quests in the next town,” Siv suggested. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

“And how far is the next town?” Lyra asked.

“...I don’t remember,” Siv replied after a brief silence.

“Just another two-hour walk and we will be reaching the next town,” Amyra answered. She pointed at a path that deviated to the right from the one they were taking. “Five hours that way and we will reach the Dungeon Village of Talgon.”

“A Dungeon… I have never been to a dungeon,” Erin mused.

“Oh, you’ll love it, m’lady. It’s lucrative too.”

“It’s only lucrative if one lives through the ordeal to spend the money,” Siv said. “I advise caution, Mistress. Do not be tempted by the prospects of the challenges and the rewards.”

“I know that, Siv. Do you think so little of me?”

“Y-you did re-acquire your ability in a would-be a-agonising manner,” Aera said meekly.

“She’s right,” Aedan added.

“Shush.”

As the town drew near, they began to encounter other travellers on the road. There were a lot of adventurers and merchants. There were also some villagers and plain folks going about their usual routine. Everyone stared when they saw Erin and her companions. Even the adventurers in a diverse party were staring. Not only were Erin and her companions the above-average beauties, they were also an odd mix. Never did they expect to see Faerie-kin with Beast-kin, and also humans and an Augur. There were plenty of envious glares directed at Aedan.

“Do we have to suffer this kind of attention every time?” Nivia grumbled.

“We could go our separate ways,” Aedan suggested.

“Never,” the answer from Nivia was immediate.

“Then bear with it. Be glad that the gazes you received are not hostile.”

“Shall I give a little bit of warning, Your Grace?”

“No, Aedan answered.”

“There it is!” Lyra shouted as she pointed forward.

The town was finally in sight. Though there was nothing notable about it at first sight, it was the closest town to the capital. It also served as a first line of defence against an assault in the case of a large-scale offence such as a monster horde. For a small town, it had ramparts scattered in its outer areas.

The town consisted mostly of taverns, smithies, and apothecaries. It was as if the town was built for adventurers. Despite the wide selection of taverns, none of them could accommodate them due to the size of their party.

“Well, what should we do?” Aedan asked. “Do we split or do we persist together as one?”

“We haven’t even gone to half of the taverns here. Surely there must be one that could accommodate us.” Erin was optimistic.

“No tavern can accommodate us,” Amyra said. “Only a luxurious inn can and we don’t have the funds for it.”

“We can just make camp in the forest,” Nivia suggested.

“A terrible idea,” Siv pointed out. “Even if there are no bandits around, there are people who will get tempted by the brazen opportunity in front of their eyes. If we wish to camp in the forest, we will have to do it far away from the town.”

Erin turned to Aedan.

“What?”

“You won’t happen to have any acquaintances here, do you? Or some kind of a secret place?”

“Not in this town. I have never been here. This town wasn’t here the last time I went to the capital.”

Erin groaned. “This is troublesome. Any other bright ideas?”

“I’m afraid we might have to go our separate ways once again,” Lilian said with a sigh and her face resting on her palm.

“Perhaps I can be of assistance, dear ladies.”

It was a sudden and abrupt offer that came out of nowhere.

Erin sighed inwardly and turned to face the one who made such an offer. As expected, it came from a man who seemed to have too high an opinion of himself. He was wearing armour befitting a knight but he was clearly no knight. A mercenary, Erin surmised. He had a longsword by his side. The grip was worn. Even if his appearance suggested otherwise, he was no slouch. For a fighter and a mercenary, he had taken good care of his body and appearance. There was no scar or any blemish on his face.

“The name’s Owen and I can’t help but notice your troubled faces, my ladies. Do you perhaps have difficulties in finding a room?”

At this point, everyone had their gaze and attention on Owen.

Ruri immediately hissed at the mercenary once she saw him.

Owen flinched a little. “Whoa there. That’s a strange pet you have there, Lady Fae.”

“No stranger than you, human,” Lilian retorted.

“You wound my heart, Lady Fae. You misunderstand my—”

“You suddenly came to us and offered your help. We have never met. We are strangers. What reason could you probably have for helping us other than the venereal ones?”

“Does a gentleman need a proper reason to assist a lady in distress?”

“We are not in distress.”

“No matter. You need help and I can be of assistance, swear to god.”

“How can you help us?” Siv stepped forward and questioned. “How do we know you speak truly?”

“You see that inn over there, the one with five storeys? That’s where I can take you.”

They all looked over to where Owen was pointing. It was an inn that catered to the wealthy and the nobles. It wasn’t an inn that would allow just any random individual to stay at even if they had the coin.

“And how did you even manage that?” Siv further inquired. “You’re just a mercenary.”

“I’m a damn good mercenary. And my current employer is rich and magnanimous. This is her courtesy. So, what do you say?”

“No thanks.”

Owen’s amicable smile froze. The voice was a man’s. He knew there was a man in the party and he had hoped he would stay silent.

Obviously, it was Aedan who answered.

“What did you say?”

“I say, no thanks. We can handle ourselves just fine. Your offer is appreciated, though.”

The smile Owen had immediately curled into a displeased frown. He turned his gaze to Aedan. “I was not asking you. I’m asking the ladies, whose company that you clearly don’t deserve to be in.”

Aedan smirked. “Ah, envy. Figures. Unfortunately, you won’t be getting their company. Right?”

Erin nodded. The others followed, even Ruri.

The mercenary looked as if he was on the verge of exploding in anger but he managed to calm himself down at the last moment. It would be unsightly of him to lose his patience and calm in public and in front of these amazing women.

“Shall I, Your Grace?”

Aedan looked towards Erin.

“Of course not,” Erin answered.

Aedan shrugged. “Shame.”

“What’s this? Do you seriously just seek permission from a woman instead of making a decision on your own?” Owen scoffed.

“Mistress, may I?”

“Yes,” Lyra answered.

“No.” Erin followed.

“My dear ladies, I strongly encourage you to seriously consider my offer. This kind of opportunity is quite difficult to come by. This is your chance. Do not—”

“Do not what?” Erin snarled. If they weren’t in the middle of a busy street, she would have flaunted her tails. She was currently only displaying one tail for the eyes of the public. Having two or more would certainly raise gazes and curiosity, let alone seven of them.

Owen found himself paralysed for a short moment there. He couldn’t move or make a sound. Though the onlookers didn’t notice her momentary plight, he still felt humiliated from being intimidated by a woman. His face twisted with anger and he strode forward. “You fucking bitch. I will—”

“That’s close enough,” Aedan stepped in between the mercenary and Erin. He was a step faster than the others, who were also ready to pounce.

“Move,” the mercenary commanded.

“Listen here, buddy. It wouldn’t end the way you think it would. I understand I look feeble and weak to you. Maybe I am but know this, the women behind me are way stronger than the two of us together. If you still want this fight, it will be your funeral. Also remember, there are three Fae and there’s a Fae embassy in the capital. Do you really want this right?”

There was hesitation and fear in Owen’s eyes, but his ego triumphed over all logic and reasoning. “You don’t frighten me, little man.”

“Oh, you poor fool. I haven’t even gotten started. Last chance, do you want to do this? In front of all these people. Look at how many people are watching now.”

“Good. Let them see just how pathetic and foolish you are for trying to flaunt in front of these women.”

Aedan stared at the mercenary with a regrettable look. “Very well. You can have the first strike. I don’t want to make it too easy for myself.”

“Fucking bastard!” Owen roared and lunged with a hook.

Instead of dodging or blocking, Aedan stood his ground and braced himself for the impact.

“Cease this!” a powerful shout resounded.

Owen stopped right as he was about to connect his fist with Aedan’s jaw. The confident smirk he had was no more. Colours were draining from him as he turned around like a rusty cogwheel.

The crowd that had gathered was parted into two, making way for a lavishly dressed Umbrun woman strutting through.

“L-Lady Iris… what brings you here?”

“Since when was it your place to question me? Did you become my superior overnight somehow?”

“N-no. Of course not, Lady Iris. I was just… surprised. That’s all.”

“Is that truly all? Seems to me that you were about to commit some serious offence.”

“Serious offence? That is not true, Lady Iris. The bastard provoked me first. I was merely defending my honour and pride. Where’s the offence in that, Lady Iris? The man is no one, just a poor fool who could only seek—”

“The poor fool is my lover.”

Owen turned pale as his eyes widened and his mouth went agape.

Smiling, Iris glanced behind the mercenary. “Hello, you two. It has been a long time, hasn’t it?”

“...Iris,” Erin muttered. “It has, indeed.”