Chapter 22 - Nightly Carriage Trip

When the group reached the exit of Andora, they stopped for a quick break under an oak tree.

"You know, I can ask Gavin to let you guys in on the Six Blades."

Yin told Cosette.

"Nah. It's not really my style. I'll just wait around and wait until I get recruited or called for a conquest. It's good training in preparation for the tournament."

"O-Oh, alright then. What about Earl and Everette?"

"They'll be fine. Isabelle told me she would pick them up soon after we parted ways."

Gavin took out two wooden fish about the size of his pinky finger out of his pocket.

"Listen, I have a very important mission for the both of you."

He said as he faced the twins.

"Return this to me the next time we meet. You'd best keep it safe. It is of utmost importance, got it?"

Gavin's smile rivaled that of the sun.

The twins happily nodded.

"Hey! You guys! The carriage is here!"

Suna shouted from a distance.

"That's our cue. See you later, Cosette."

Yin said his goodbyes to the A rank Earth Slayer.

"Y-Yeah. Make sure you don't die in the battlefield."

She had a playful expression.

"Knowing how Yin is, I'm not sure he can promise that much."

Luken interrupted them.

Everyone laughed from the Commander's joke.

"What's that supposed to mean, sir?"

Yin had a bewildered face.

"Mainly because you always try to save everyone. You jump in head first if you see someone in danger. That's just the kind of person that you are. That's a good trait to have, if you're strong, anyway."

Cosette answered him instead.

"What's taking you guys so long?"

Suna called out for the remaining Six Blades still in the middle of getting up from their well-hidden spot underneath the huge tree.

"We're coming, young lady."

Gavin said.

As they waved their goodbyes to Cosette and the twins, this meant the end of their conquest to the Outer Gates.

Slayers were going to be sent to the ruined city in order to eliminate the lesser monsters.

After elimination, they would be tasked with rebuilding the city, to extend Niflheim's domain.

To give humanity more land to live in.

This was something only a Slayer could do.

The carriage ride made everyone's butt sore.

"Are we there yet?"

Suna asked.

"No."

Luken answered.

"How about now, are we there yet?"

Yin took Suna's place and asked as well.

"Nope."

Luken answered in a deadpan manner.

"Say, Commander, there's something I've always wanted to ask ever since we got back."

Yin said to the gallant, blue-haired SS ranked Slayer.

"Oh yeah? Spill it out then."

"Could you ever beat the Reaper by yourself?"

A silence made its way inside the carriage.

Until finally, Luken addressed Yin's curiosity.

"No doubt about it. But I'd have to go all out, you know? I'd most likely die in the process. That's just how strong that guy is. He was my mentor, after all."

"I-I see."

Yin frowned.

Worried that he might have touched upon a sensitive subject.

"Hey come on, don't worry about stuff like that! You still have to survive four more conquests, you know?"

Luken chuckled.

"Yes, sir!"

They made their way across the snowy mountain ranges by now.

It was almost nighttime.

Although there were no monsters in the vicinity, it was still creepy.

"Why did the Emperor know you guys?"

Suna asked.

"Well, there are only a few S or more ranked Slayers."

Gavin answered.

"But in all honesty, that's because he used to be a member of the Six Blades himself. We weren't in the organization at the same time, though. Adam was the one who came after their retirement from the Six Blades."

Yin and Suna absorbed their predecessor's history lesson eagerly and intently.

"Since we're just asking questions, I'd like to ask Suna one."

Yin said.

"Sure, ask ahead."

"How did you join the Six Blades?"

"It's sort of a long story, so I'll just condense it for everyone's sake. You remember the times I sneaked out of the farm to try and join the Slayers and their conquests, right?"

Yin nodded.

"And each time, the guards would recognize me and throw me out of the group. Back to the farmlands. There was one time when the Commander and Gavin were leading a conquest to eliminate five Angels gathered in one area. Can you imagine that. Five?!"

"That's to be expected, I am the stronge-"

Luken's self-boasting speech was cut short by Suna's continuation.

"So, anyway, I tried to sneak in that group again, I didn't even know they were going on such a perilous conquest. When one of the guards spotted me. Just as he was about to kick me out, the Commander intervened."

"That's pretty cool, sir!"

Yin's eyes were shining with adoration.

"Again, Yin boy, that's to be expected, I am the coole-"

He was interrupted. Again.

This time, by Gavin.

"Suna, tell Yin what happened next."

"He asked me what I wanted to do. I simply told him I wanted to fight for humanity. There was an emissary present during this raid, like always. And she was so mad at the Commander for bringing a civilian into the group, she kept yapping about how dangerous it was for a girl my age to be in the frontlines, seeing as I wasn't even capable of using Anima skills."

She stopped her story and looked at Luken and then back to Yin.

"So, the Commander placed a bet. The emissary claimed that if I died, it was on Luken's conscience. This happened shortly after the Reaper went berserk, so the High Council thought that the Commander just lost his mind altogether."

"Ah, yes. But I didn't."

Luken grinned.

"I survived that conquest. Though I was bloodied and injured close to death, I survived. That's why I'm strong, I'll forever be grateful to you two for giving me the opportunity to fight."

She said as she glanced at Luken and Gavin.

Gavin was on the verge of tears.

Like a mother seeing her son grow up so quick.

He was proud.

Luken, on the other hand…

"Well, you've surely grown since then. But, the fact of the matter is that every guy is afraid of you. Scared that they might get clobbered at night."

Before he could laugh, he was punched by Suna.

"Nice hit."

Gavin said.

Yin panicked around trying to shake the Commander on the ground.

"H-He's still breathing! Are you okay, sir? Answer me!"

This made Suna and Gavin burst out in laughter.

The night continued as did their journey back home.