After a long stretch walking toward the Kingdom of Xylonia, exhaustion was beginning to show on the faces of the three adventurers. The sun was slowly setting, painting the sky in golden and orange hues. That's when Kira let out an audible sigh, letting her impatience escape.
— How much longer until we reach the kingdom? —asked Kira, frustrated.
— Not much. Be patient —Jotaro replied without turning his head, his tone as calm as ever.
— Easy for you to say. You're not the one carrying this corpse —Kira huffed, adjusting the weight of the dead ogre on her shoulder.
— Please don't argue —Aiko stepped in with a slight smile—. Kira, do you want me to help carry it?
Kira looked at her with subtle distrust, while Jotaro spoke to Aiko.
— Are you sure? You're not that strong physically, are you? —he asked, slightly skeptical.
— Don't worry, I'll be fine —Aiko replied, stepping back toward where Kira was.
— Alright, just be careful not to hurt yourself —Jotaro said as he stopped walking.
— Okay…
Aiko stood next to Kira, who said nothing and dropped the ogre's shoulder onto her.
— Grab it from here —Kira instructed.
As soon as Aiko grabbed the ogre's shoulder, her legs started trembling from the weight.
— Are you okay? Isn't it too heavy?
— I-it's not that heavy! —Aiko exclaimed, though her voice betrayed the effort.
— Really?
— Yeah… don't worry.
— Okay then, let's walk —Kira said indifferently.
Aiko nodded, and the three of them resumed walking. Jotaro walked silently ahead, but his thoughts were racing.
It's obvious Aiko can't handle that weight… he thought, glancing back slightly to see her arms trembling. Should I tell Kira to let her rest?
He hesitated for a few seconds, then shook his head.
No… if I say something, Kira will think I want her to carry the ogre alone.
Without a word, he slowed his pace until he was next to them.
— What is it, Jotaro? —Kira asked, noticing how close he was.
— I was thinking… can I help carry the ogre?
— Of course, the more the better —Kira replied.
— Alright, I'll take the middle.
Jotaro positioned himself between the two and took some of the weight. Aiko, now relieved, immediately felt the corpse get lighter and looked at him in surprise.
— Something wrong, Aiko? —Jotaro asked, noticing her gaze.
— Huh? N-no, nothing... it's just that the ogre feels lighter.
— Obviously. Now that I'm helping, it's not so heavy.
— I see… By the way, Jotaro… you're helping because you know I'm not strong, right?
— Huh? No, of course not!
— It's okay… I know I'm not as strong as Kira.
— You shouldn't say that. Maybe you're not strong physically, but you're great with magic.
Aiko looked up, surprised.
— Really?
— Yeah. You're really good —Jotaro said with a sincere smile.
— It's just because I've been an adventurer for a while —Aiko murmured, returning a small smile.
While they talked, Kira heard a noise behind them. She quickly turned around, but saw nothing. Then she heard a second sound—the crunch of dry leaves. This time, it came from Aiko's side. Without warning, a black wolf leapt from the bushes and lunged straight at Aiko's face.
— Aiko! —Jotaro shouted in alarm.
Aiko fell to the ground, struggling to keep the beast's fangs away from her face. Without hesitation, Jotaro dropped the ogre's body, drew his sword, and rushed toward the wolf. With a shout of fury, he plunged the blade into the beast's heart.
The wolf whimpered and stopped moving. Jotaro pulled out his sword, and the lifeless body fell to the side.
Kira rushed over to Aiko and helped her up.
— Are you okay? —Kira asked, offering her hand.
— Yeah… I'm fine —Aiko replied, still panting.
— Why did that wolf attack us? —Jotaro murmured.
— Maybe it was hungry —Kira replied.
— You think so?
— Look at it —she pointed at the body—. It's skinny. Probably hasn't eaten in days… maybe weeks.
— You're right… But why didn't it hunt something weaker?
— I don't know. But it doesn't matter now. We need to bring this corpse in before it starts rotting.
— Yeah…
They lifted the ogre again.
— Let's go! —Kira ordered.
— Yes! —Jotaro and Aiko replied in unison.
The trio continued walking in silence. After a few minutes, Jotaro broke it:
— By the way, Aiko… why are we taking the ogre's corpse to the kingdom?
— Yeah, what's the reason? —Kira added.
Aiko sighed.
— It's to prove we were the ones who defeated it. If we don't bring it, someone else might lie and claim the reward.
— That makes sense —Jotaro nodded.
— Has that actually happened before? —Kira asked.
— Yeah… Once, a D-rank guy claimed he killed a dragon all by himself.
— Did anyone believe him?
— Of course not. But ever since then, adventurers have had to bring proof of their victories.
— So if it weren't for that liar, we wouldn't be dragging around this stinky beast —Kira grumbled.
— Exactly.
— I swear I'll kill him if I ever see him.
— I doubt it. That was two years ago —Aiko laughed.
While the girls chatted, Jotaro looked up… and finally, in the distance, he spotted the walls of the Kingdom of Xylonia.
— We've made it —he murmured, relieved.