10 Years After – 119
The Walk Back Home
After Kathe left, we started to walk back towards the capital.
Nia and Grulf were not nearly as cheerful as during the beginning of the walk.
Grulf was especially tired.
“Grulf. Are you alright?”
“Grr.”
“What about you, Nia?”
“I’m fine!”
It was an hours walk back to the capital. A completely manageable distance.
But then again, we ran as fast as we could and then killed goblins, so they were likely tired.
Nia and Grulf were still young.
In fact, they seemed to be about the same age.
Lord Gerberga was sleeping in my breastplate.
It was his nap time, I guess. I hoped he had a good rest.
“Grr.”
“What is it, Grulf? You wanted Kathe to take us back?”
“Grrr.”
It seemed that he would have preferred that to walking.
Which suggested he had gotten over his fear of the dragon.
“Grulf. After Kathe shouted so loudly, people will be on the lookout.”
“Yes, that is true. People will see us if we rode on the back of a dragon.”
“Exactly, Nia is right.”
Nia looked a little bashful.
“Still, let me know if either of you are really tired. And then I will carry you.”
“I am fine!”
“Grr…”
Grulf went behind me and put his front paws on my shoulders.
He was fully prepared to take me up on my offer.
“Grulf, how about you try walking just a little more…”
“Grr?”
Grulf was nearly the size of a horse, so I didn’t actually want to carry him.
And so I took him down and encouraged him to walk more.
We passed the western hills on our way back.
Goran and several Adventurers and ten knights were there.
Goran was likely with the best of the guild.
Which meant they would have all been A-ranks.
As for the knights, their armor suggested they were part of the royal guard.
So Eric must have sent them.
Goran noticed me and walked over to us.
“Groof-groof!”
“Grulf. Good boy. I’ll play with you later.”
Goran said as he pulled out some dried meat and offered it to Grulf.
“So, this ‘Locke’ that the dragon was calling was you after all?”
“Yes.”
“I see… I thought it might be.”
“Now that I think of it, I didn’t tell you about Kathe yet, did I?”
“Kathe?”
And so I gave him a short outline of what had happened.
“You should have told me this sooner!”
“I’m sorry. I forgot. It didn’t seem related to the vampires and dark ones at first.”
“Still…”
“I’ll visit you at your house later and tell you the rest. What time will you be back?”
“No, I will visit you when my work is done.”
“Alright. I’ll be waiting.”
And then Goran went back to tell the Adventurers and knights.
Hopefully he could explain to them that there was no danger in a satisfying manner.
It would be hard, since he couldn’t talk about me. I felt bad for him.
I would apologize about it later.
And so we continued our journey.
“Grulf. Do you feel better now?”
“Groof.”
Koko wa Ore ni Makasete Saki ni Ike to Itte kara 10 Nen ga Tattara Densetsu ni Natteita
