CH 162

As I ride Hipopo, I put my hands together and pray. The target of this prayer is the person in front of me, Kalin.

It’s been a few days since my meeting in the garden with Princess Lily. After being busy with preparations for a few days, we finally left the capital, and we’re on our way back to the Admiral dominion.

And somehow, we managed to keep Princess Lily from coming back with us.

What a miracle Lady Kalin has granted me.

I’ve offered prayers to her more times than I can count over the last few days.

According to Kalin, the favors that many people in the capital owe her came in handy. And after calling in these favors, they ended up getting Princess Lily’s nanny to complain about her plans to go to the borderland.

Hearing this really gets me thinking about how much political influence Kalin actually has. I guess a nice boss is a good thing to have.

And she’s never looked like a better and more reliable boss than when she confirmed that Princess Lily wouldn’t be going with us, just as we were about to leave.

With the same casual attitude as always, she said ‘I was the one who told you to do what you want, so all I did was back you up. I called in favors created by your accomplishments anyway, so it’s not a big deal. And it was all pretty funny too.’.

It would be absolutely perfect if it wasn’t for that last line. I can see Roa, Ahri, and Taula agree,

And thus, I enjoy our easy-going journey back in the company of only friends.

Even the borderland monsters that attack us feel nostalgic.

Ahri, Roa, and even Hipopo warn us about these attacks beforehand, so we can calmly prepare for them and deal with the monsters without any issue.

Of course, I take materials used for transmutations, and take the rest of the meat as a present for when we arrive.

Apparently we can expect a good profit from our deal with the capital, and the budget of the Kagero Institute will be increased too.

It feels like forever ago that I was selling small amounts of monster meat.

When we’re not hunting monsters, we talk about our plans going forward.

Kalin wants to go back to Habbafulton, and put together a unit to start developing a new territory, a pioneer unit.

She’s actually talking about it right now, before she turns around.

“Rust, are you still doing that?”

She caught me praying and looks exasperated.

“It’s important to express gratitude, my Lady Kalin.”

“If you really want to thank me, I have a job for you. I want you to command the advance party that will go to the ruins first, and receive the pioneering unit.”

“I will gladly do as you wish.”

It sounds easy enough, so I don’t hesitate to accept it. I respond by doing an exaggerated bow on top of Hipopo.