One's Eden: Hanayuki Travel

Chapter 17: Spirit gem

“I’m sorry.”

The light brown-haired girl said again.

Ninym desperately blinked back tears and shook her head.

“…No…It’s my fault…I was stupid. Thank you…for saving me…”

She had to squeeze out the words between stifled sobs. The girl slowly approached, knelt before Ninym, and spoke hesitantly.

“That small feather dragon… Is not a monster, right?”

Ninym nodded and replied:

“My friend was a spirit.”

“It's not too late… there is still a way to save your friend.”

She wiped her tears away and got confused about what Hanayuki had just said. Living things that have died won’t be coming back. It is true, but that law is not applied to everything in this world.

For example, was spirit life. Spirits are creatures that will have the ability to live for a thousand years. They could still die, just like what happened to Snow. But there is a way to revive your spirits.

And that path is something Hanayuki wanted to present to Ninym.

“There is a possibility that we can revive her using the spirit gem.”

“Huh?”

Ninym snapped to attention. She looked up into his face, mouth half-open.

“It’s not common knowledge, since it was only just recently discovered. At the south end of Mona city, there’s an outdoor dungeon called the Spirit den. It’s pretty difficult for a pleasant name like that, though…Anyway, there’s a rare gem placed at the bottom of the dungeon, and it’s supposed to resurrect a spirit.”

“R-really?!”

Ninym shrieked, hopping to her feet before he could finish. A light of hope was shining on her heart once again, which moments ago had been plunged into mourning.

But…

“Mona city is located far away from this country. It's located on the edge of the Arsland continent.

“Don’t worry… I’ll cover the travel expenses for you… It said that the gem will only appear in the presence of the spirit art user.”

Surprised by the kindness of the girl, she smiled.

“It's fine… You saved my life just now. I can’t accept such kindness. I might not have money now, but someday I’ll get money. I’ll finish quests in the guild and save lots of money to go towards that dungeon. By that time, I swear to be stronger and I reunited with my friend again.”

Ninym said with a tone full of optimism. But Hanayuki has her worried-looking eyes.

“... The spirit can only be revived within three days. Three days had passed and the spirit didn’t revive. That feather in your hand will be reduced into the memento of a passing friend.”

Hearing Hanayuki’s words. Ninym once again fell into despair. She even decided to work hard. She won’t get there on time. Traveling by train would take 26 hours already. That’s more than one day. After that, they will still have to walk toward the dungeon. It might take half a day in the process.

Mona City is a place for high-level adventurers. The reason for that was the powerful monster roaming around the city. It's also a great place for people who would like to grind and battle powerful monsters.

Knowing that the monsters are all-powerful. Ninym would not stand a chance with them just by herself.

When the light of hope was about to fade. Hanayuki crouches down over her and looks at her with a grin.

“Don’t worry about it… I’ll cover the travel expenses… Here, take this.”

In her sling bag, Hanayuki took a dagger. A special dagger is called the Light Wing dagger. A ring called Protection of mother nature and an item skill card called Ghost walk.

“I’m not using this item… I’ll let you borrow them. The power of this item will make you stronger.”

Ninym took the dagger. At that moment, a surge of magical flow goes through her body. Her dizziness was gone and her body felt lighter.

“This is a magic weapon...”

“The ring will give you a protection boost from magical and physical damage. It will make your body endure strong attacks. The item card, ghost walk, will make you invincible for 15 seconds. Physical attacks will pass through your body while it's activated.”

Ninym has never seen a handy item before in her life. She has a dagger, but it is just a normal dagger. There is no magical enhancement.

Magic weapons are rare items and accessories like protection rings cost a handsome amount of money.

She started to be confused about Hanayuki’s intentions. Lifting her glance directly at Hanayuki’s face,

After meeting various adventurers, Ninym has already met people that will manipulate other people for the sake of will. There was a time Ninym was forced to be pushed into the bed by a man pretending to be kind to her. She was lucky that her friend Snow was there to rescue her. The man was tackled by a small dragon. Having an opportunity to flee. Ninym jumps out of the glass window.

Because of those kinds of experiences. Ninym can’t fully trust people who are being kind to her.

She knows that every act of kindness has intentions behind it.

Right now, Hanayuki’s act of kindness is questionable to her.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Why?”

Hanayuki makes a skeptical expression. Seemingly more puzzled than Ninym.

“What is your intention… You’re the reason for your being kind to me?”

“What is this all of the sudden?”

Replied with another question. Ninym has her seriousness directly facing Hanayuki. Glaring as if she is an investigator asking a criminal.

“You’re giving me these rare items for a reason, right? There is no way a stranger would hand over this rare item without a reason.”

After saving Ninym’s life, Hanayuki is accused. It made her a bit upset. Hanayuki just made her staple innocent smile.

“There is no need for a reason to help other people.”

Her reply was honest. It didn’t have any underlining intention, it was pure and innocent.

She is a good person.

Ninym thought and couldn't believe that there are people like her still existing in this world full of cruelty and deception.

After a brief moment of processing, Ninym cracks a giggle.

“Hahahahahahaha…”

“Accusing me all of the sudden and now you’re laughing at me. What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing, I’m just happy that I met someone like you.”

The feeling of being uneasy melted away. Ninym put her trust in the girl she had just met.

Ninym immediately put the ring on her finger, the dagger on her left wrist, and the card in her small pouch for immediate activation. Standing up, she offered her hand to Hanayuki.

“We’ve talked a lot… But I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Ninym.”

“Mine is Hanayuki.”

Their hands connected and shook. The trust was built as the foundation of their blooming friendship.

Hanayuki takes the Lost forest map in her bag and they both immediately go their way out of the forest before something bad is about to happens again.

The main city called Frieven was a pastoral farm town, full of houses with white walls and red roofs. It wasn’t that large of a place, but it was currently a hotbed of mid-level player activity, so it was swarming with people. Ninym was in town for two weeks before finally starting in the Lost Forest.

Ninym walked down the large avenue to the teleport square with Hanayuki looking around curiously.

Soon, adventurers, she recognized, began calling out to her. Word had gotten around that she was unaffiliated again, and the party invitations were flowing.

“Please come back to the party. We need a magic user at our side.”

The man talking was the leader of the adventuring party Ninym joined earlier. Ninym was still angry but she tried her best to politely decline their invitation.

“I’m sorry, but I’m already at a party with someone.”

“Well, well, well… Isn’t this girl Ninym? How fortunate that you managed to get out of that forest alive… Don’t go crawling to us. We had already sold all the items and split the profit evenly.”

The vile voice was heard. Just hearing it sound made Ninym looks aggressive. The owner of the voice was a violent woman earlier.

“Shut up! I already said that I don’t need any of those items.”

The vile woman stepped in front of Ninym, both looking at flying sparks.

“Where is that lizard on your shoulder?”

Ninym bit her lip.

Ninym and Snow are very close to each other. Ninym never made her friend snow back to its wisp form. If she didn’t see Ninym’s friend around, there was only one explanation. The vile woman knew that, of course, but she played dumb, a smile sneaking across her lips.

“Uh-oh, does that mean what I think it does…?”

“She died…but—!” Ninym glared at the spear woman. “I’m going to bring Snow back to life!”

The vile woman's smug eyes widened slightly. She gave a soft whistle.

“Bring her back to life… You’re going to the spirit den? In your current strength. I think you won’t last a minute.”

Hanayuki’s interest was pulled and she walked steps forward from Ninym.

“Please don’t bother her. She’s feeling uncomfortable looking at your thick face… Also, Ninym can save Snow.”

Cutting in, Hanayuki just insulted her.

It was a simple word to describe how thick her current make-up was, but it stings a lot for a woman aged over thirty who is desperate about hiding her wrinkles.

The insult leads the woman to approach Hanayuki in a rage. The woman is relatively tall and about 6 feet… No, she is 7 feet in height. The woman bends her body down and her eye is down on Hanayuki's face, directly glaring down.

The tension rose and Ninym was worried about what could happen.

“Are you looking for a fight? Do you want to die?”

Hanayuki wasn’t hot-blooded. But there was a time she would snap off. Right now she is calm and just smiling.

“I have never seen you around here. Are you a new adventurer? I’ll let this slide for now. Next time you insult me again, be prepared to get hurt.”

The woman turned around and walked away still with her aura made of pure arrogance. The more adventurous party arrived wanting to recruit Ninym. Two adventuring parties then made an argument with each other. Saying… “We’re the one in lane first!” “Ninym had already joined our party earlier.” “Ninym will be ours.”

In the end, Ninym declined their invitations. Pulling Hanayuki’s arms toward her and said that she had a party with me.

The boys' faces were flustered, seeing Ninym pulling Hanayuki to her bosom. It does not appear on Hanayuki or Ninym’s faces. Truth, they are disgusted seeing their perverted reaction. After that, the two girls go away.

Once the crowd of players was no longer in sight, Ninym sighed relief and looked up at Hanayuki.

“I-I’m sorry about all of that.”

“No worries.”

Hanayuki grinned at her as if to show it didn’t bother him in the least.

“I didn’t realize you were so popular, Miss Ninym.”

“Just call me Nim. And I’m not…They’re just inviting me to be their mascot, to make them look better. And…I let that attention get to my head… and wound up alone in the forest…and that’s when…”

Thoughts of Snow brought back tears.

“It’ll be all right,” Hanayuki said, perfectly calm. “We’re going to bring Snow back. Don’t worry about it.”

Ninym wiped away her tears and smiled at her. Oddly enough, she couldn’t help but believe her.