Chapter 601 Plans For The Journey
"NO!"
Both Ater and Esme said this at the same time, and the expressions on their faces showed just how much they meant every word.
"Master, it's too dangerous for you to go there on your own! You need guidance of the terrain and might require my assistance!"
"Isn't that why you're going to tell me every single thing you found out in that place?" Rey asked with a smile on his face.
"Besides… I can't allow you to leave the Capital while I'm away. It'll be too vulnerable, and there's no one I trust more than you to handle things.
Ater seemed to slightly blush once Rey said this. However, his eyes still displayed concern for his Master. It wasn't really that he was worried for him, but because he didn't want to leave his side.
"No fair. Why don't I get to have my own adventures with Master…" He mumbled, almost sulking at this point.
When Ater looked through his history with Rey, he didn't see a single moment where they both went to an important event or mission together.
He was always apart from him.
'Why do things always end up like this? It sucks!' Perhaps this was his competence coming back to bite him.
Right as he was thinking this, a voice echoed in the air.
~Don't worry, Ater! I'll take care of our Master really well!~
It came from a mouth that had formed from Rey's current attire. A portion of it was stretched out, like dark slime, and the mouth that formed from it was smiling in an overly confident—slightly mocking—manner.
"Y-you…" Ater narrowed his eyes in bottled rage, his eyes now glowing a fierce crimson as he frowned at the Symbiote Slime's sneer.
"I should have destroyed you while I had the chance!"
~Should have? Stop acting like you could, even if you wanted to.~
"Oh? Why not come and find out?"
~Pfft! Please! I don't need to do any—!~
"Emil!" Rey slightly raised his voice. "You shouldn't pop out like that unless I give you permission to."
~B-but Master…~
"And Ater, please calm yourself. It's not particularly helpful to threaten Emil like that." Rey said, staring at Ater's face.
"What do you mean, Master?"
His deep frown was completely gone, almost as if it never existed to begin with. Replacing it was a bright, unassuming smile.
"I was just joking. Please take none of my words to heart."
Rey, of course, knew better than to ignore Ater's killing intent towards Emil. He could also sense the animosity that the latter felt towards the former.
'Both of them are such problematic Familiars, though they're very capable…' He held his forehead and sighed despite having no headache of any sort.
"I really wish I could bring you along with me, Ater. You know the terrain more than anyone present, and your abilities are pretty useful—in all honesty." However, Rey possessed no ally or subordinate as strong as Ater at the moment. The only one he could count on to protect humanity's stronghold was him.
It was non-negotiable.
'I can't repeat the same mistake as last time. Unless I've made all preparations to secure everyone's safety, it would be foolish for me to leave just like that.'
"Understood, Master…" Ater mumbled, bowing his head in all humility.
~Hihihihihi!~
Rey tried chastising Emil for her laughter of victory, but he decided to ignore it. At the very least, she was doing it in his head now.
"I want to come with you too, Rey!" Esme's voice suddenly erupted into the air, both of her hands tightly clenched as she looked at him with determined eyes.
"What?" Rey could understand her desire to help, but he also understood just how problematic it would be for everyone if she tagged along with him.
"Are you sure? The Elves don't take too well to your kind…"
"I am well aware. But… I really don't want to sit this one out. I want to help you however I can, and if possible, I want to change how they view me and my Half Elf status."
Rey liked her intentions, but he considered it to be a bad idea. Based on his interactions with them, the Elves were quite stubborn. He already had his hands full trying to convince them to assist him without resorting to violence. 'If I add Esme to the mix…' He turned to Ater for assistance, hoping his blunt rejection of her desires would help her back away.
"Great idea, Esme. I am in full support!" Rey's eyes would have popped out of his eyes if he wasn't controlling his emotions. He wasn't expecting Ater to say something like that, and with a bright smile no less.
"You're really sure about that?" Rey muttered, looking to see if this was just a joke on the part of a Familiar—perhaps revenge for not signing him up for the mission—or if he was being genuine about it.
"Indeed. Her heritage as an Elf, albeit a Half one, grants her some form of connection to The Oracle." Rey found his eyebrows raised a little in confusion, so Ater went on to explain.
"It is said that the Oracle is connected to all Elves and sometimes speaks to them. I could confirm this from a few people—even from their memories—during my investigation. It's true…"
"Memories could be fabricated." Rey stated, trying his best to convince both Ater and himself not to bring Esme along.
It was too dangerous for her.
"Indeed. So I used my [Shapeshift] Skill to become an Elf and try to tap into this special connection."
"And? Did it work?"
"Yes. There is certainly something special among the Elves in that land, which is what makes Esme quite indispensable."
Everything Ater said made sense, but Rey still felt uncomfortable with the idea.
A sudden wave of protectiveness began to course through his body, and he searched for any excuse or alternative to make her remain in the Capital—where it was safe.
As much as he wanted to be with her—as a friend, of course—he also didn't want her to get hurt.
'I can't bear to have you in danger too…'
And so, within the moment that Ater finished his explanation, Rey countered with his own point.
"Emil could use her Skill to transform into Esme, or any other Elf in order to access the same—!"
"Rey, please! I want to come with you!" Esme insisted, swiftly proceeding to grab him by his hands.
An electrifying sensation coursed through his body, but all of it was suppressed instinctively—before realizing he didn't really need to control such things when dealing with Esme.
"If it gets too dangerous for me, you can just transport me back here."
Rey didn't want to, but he found himself staring into her clear blue eyes. In the end, he could not resist her charms.
"F-fine…" "YESS!" She pumped her fist in the air, also launching it towards Ater, who actually fist bumped her.
'When did these two get so chummy?' He wondered, but as his thoughts were interrupted by Emil's whining.
~I wanted it to just be Master and I. This sucks…~
He made a wry smile and shrugged off her possessive thoughts.
"Well, looks like its settled. Esme and I will—"
"Actually, Master, I was wondering if one more person could tag along for this event. It's someone you're well acquainted with."
Rey raised an eyebrow as soon as he heard this. If Ater was the one personally recommending them, they had to be good.
"Who is it?"