CH 87

Chapter 87: Reunion

It was when Thames was walking towards the South Gate to meet with Yuto’s Party when it happened.

From the top of the South Gate, she heard the bell used for times of emergency began to ring.

Thames: “..........what is it all of a sudden?”

Hearing the sound of the bell, Thames scrunched her brows together.

The sound of the bell does not necessarily mean that Kronos itself is in trouble.

It would ring even if there was a small fire.

But hearing the sound of the bell, a terrible feeling of dread overcame Thames.

But this feeling wasn’t due to any particular future reading Skill.

She had this terrible feeling simply because a bitter memory inside her awoke every time she heard the sound of that bell.

Today is the last day of the Guild’s Designated Request.

With entering the Party as a Temporary Member, Thames was on the verge of grasping something important.

It wasn’t anything as a Shield Warrior, but something at the core of her as an Adventurer…….

She felt her hand almost reach that unknown something.

And then the sound of the bell began ringing.

Thames: “...........tsch”

The bell seemed to mock her efforts and made Thames click her tongue in scorn at it.

It was right then……..

“...........Lady…...Thames?”

She suddenly heard a familiar voice out of the blue, and it made Thames suck in her breath.

She turned around in fear and caution.

Thames: “...........Rita……..is that…..you?” Rita, who she knew since she was very little, stood there.

Unlike Rita from her memories, the girl now wore very ragged clothing.

But she still held an aura of nobility and pride around her, and her eyes still conveyed a strong will just as she held before.

The building Rita lived in was in a poor condition.

Thames: (.......Rita…...do you live in a place like this now?)

A slight pang of guilt crossed Thames’ heart.

She couldn’t help but feel that it was her fault that Rita was now living under these conditions.

Rita: “I never thought that I would meet you, Lady Thames, in a place like this.”

Thames: “Don’t call me with any honorifics. I’m just a simple Thames now.”

Rita: “But without a doubt, you are still the Garou Tribes'ーー”

Thames: “How do you expect me to carry on a family name that disappeared long ago.”

Rita: “..............”

With Thames’ words, Rita’s brows lowered in sadness.

Thames was born from a Governor’s house, the Garou family, in a small town.

She was given an elite education from a very early age so that she too could become a first-rate governor of the lands one day.

She met Rita when she turned six years old.

As a caretaker and servant of Thames, Rita was hired as an underling for the Garou Family.

They were close in age, and Thames and Rita soon became close friends.

Thames’ parents also hoped that they would become friends and hired Rita for that reason.

By the time Thames reached 12 years old, Rita was promoted from an underling to a servant status.

Rita also received a similar elite education to Thames by the head of the Servants.

Eventually, she was trained up so she could be Thames’ right hand man when Thames became governor of the town.

The town that the Garou Family served was small, and they did not have a giant city wall protecting its perimeter like Kronos.

The town received numerous attacks from Monsters, but every time, the Garou Family stood at the forefront, and protected the town from the Monsters again and again.

In order to govern the territory as part of the Garou Family, you cannot simply just acquire knowledge.

You also needed the strength to repel Monsters.

[The duty of fighting Monsters falls upon those with strength]

By the time she was 14, Thames became an Adventurer to increase her own strength and skills.

She was going to train in Kronos and gain strength that was worthy of a governor.

Thames did not doubt for a moment that she would be handed the Governor’s reigns one day and inherit the family responsibilities.

But that dream ended exactly 4 years ago from today, when the Garou’s governing territory was completely wiped out……

Thames: “...........tsch. Shut up already. What is with you for crying out loud?”

The endless sound of the bells embittered Thames’ mood even further.

The high ringing sounds of the bell hurt her ears.

Rita: “.........my lady, please do not speak in that way.”

Thames: “Ack?! HーHey! Don’t call me like that, okay?! I’m already 19! I’m definitely not a lady no moreー”

Rita addressed as she did when they were younger, and it raised the hairs on Thames’ skin hearing those words.

But that only made Rita smile warmly towards Thames.

Thames: (Geesh, she did it on purpose knowing this would happen……)

Thames felt a rush of annoyance at Rita’s attitude.

But that’s when it happened…….

They heard loud noises and cries erupt from the main streets.

Thames: “ーー?!”

Hearing the screams of terror, Thames immediately braced herself for a fight.

Although she didn’t know what happened, she readied her shield just in case so she can respond to anything.

Across the main street, looking southward, people are running about and scattering in fear.

And the South Gate that was beyond them was closed.

Thames: “Huh……? Why is it closed?” Seeing the South Gate completely shut was peculiar.

The giant gate of Kronos would open when the sun rises and close when the sun sets.

And it is currently daytime, so the gate should have remained open ordinarily.

Thames: (If the gates are closed, it means………)

It happened when Thames realized the answer to her question.

Before Thames, a Monster with two horns sprouting from its head appeared.

ーーAn Ogre.

The Ogre raised its fist against the people that were nearby.

Seeing that, Thames immediately poured strength into her shield.

Thames: (ーーDANGIT! MAKE IT IN TIME!!)

Thames: “[TAUNT]!!”

Her shield burst forth with an immense presence, and it drew the Ogre’s attention to her.

<GLARE>. The Ogre’s gaze pierced Thames.

It only glared at her. That was it. Yet, Thames’ spine froze and shook when it happened.

Thames: “RーRita! Get away from here!!”

Rita: “Huh……….?”

Thames: “Hurry!”

Thames glanced at Rita for a moment and looked forward once more.

Thames: “ーー?!”

She only took her eyes off for one moment.

But even so, the Ogre was now right before her.

Thames: (Impossible?! It was still a good distance awayーー”

But her thoughts were interrupted as her sights wavered.

A dull brain suddenly crosses her left arm holding the shield.

ーー<SLAM>!!

With the sound of an explosion, Thames flew sideways.