“I see. A wyvern hunt... For once in your life, you’re right, Abel. I am the only option.” Ryo inclined his head proudly.
“Are you really?!” Kenneth asked, genuinely surprised.
“Setting aside his attitude, Ryo is actually pretty good at hunting wyverns. Keep it between us, though, Kenneth.”
“Why?” Kenneth asked.
“I am indeed! You must never tell another soul. Keep it locked away deep in your heart, Kenneth.” Ryo shoved his face close, his expression intense.
“Um... All right...” Feeling pressured, Kenneth bobbed his head in frantic agreement. He didn’t quite understand exactly which part was supposed to be kept secret, though.
After successfully silencing Kenneth, Ryo seemed to remember something.
“Speaking of, wasn’t Amon sent flying into the sky during a wyvern hunt?”
“I’m sorry?” Kenneth was once again confounded.
“What we were talking about earlier. Ahzone,” Abel explained.
“Did you know, Kenneth? Apparently, the latest strategy among swordsmen is to defeat wyverns by hurtling themselves through the air.”
“Astounding! Using air magic? Or some sort of alchemical tool I don’t know about?”
“Kenneth, he’s messing with you. It was plain old man power that did the trick.”
Abel was right. Gohrikii of Six Flowers had grabbed Amon by his feet, swung him around, and tossed him into the sky—all using his own strength...
“Ahem. Right then, Abel and I will accept this wyvern hunt. You can rest easy, Kenneth.”
“Thank you so much!”
“Wait, I’m going too? I didn’t think you’d need me...”
But the other two didn’t hear the swordsman’s baffled mutter.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I’ll pin it down, and you’ll deliver the finishing blow, Abel. That’s how we’ve always hunted wyverns. Don’t tell me you already forgot?” Ryo asked, shaking his head in exasperation. They’d killed a bunch of the monsters on their way from the Forest of Rondo to the city of Lune.
“No, you jerk. I’m just saying—that strat worked in the Malefic Mountains, but we’re not in the Malefic Mountains anymore, are we? Wouldn’t it be easier if you just finished it off with magic instead?”
“You’re always like this, Abel. Never thinking further than your next free meal. I think it would be better if you took the initiative and actually put in the effort sometimes.”
“Spare me. You stay holed up at home and don’t even show your face at the guild!”
They had left Lune, passed through Acray, and were now approaching Ahzone, which bordered Kenneth’s manor to the north. The village had once been a relatively large transit town on the agricultural supply route to Acray, the largest city in the Kingdom’s south. Now, however, it was still recovering from being ravaged by the wyvern that Room Ten and Six Flowers eventually defeated.
“Wow, the wyvern did a serious number on everything, including the inns and hotels. I heard they were top-notch here.”
“It really is awful. And yet...”
Ryo saw how terrible a state the village was in, but he also noticed that the people rebuilding didn’t seem gloomy at all. They spoke to one another comfortably, some even smiling, as they began to move forward toward the future.
“I’m sure the villagers will be all right,” he said with a firm nod.
Abel understood what he meant and agreed. After a brief pause, he continued, “They’ve still got a long way to go before they can take on any travelers.”
“A shame.”
So they gave up on the idea of staying there.