Transmigrated to a Dark Fantasy World of SSS-Rank: King of the Void-Chapter 65: The Land of Ash [4]

Next, they explored the city in search of valuables or useful information—signs of life, traces of magic, or minor curses. While Nemoria already had a heavy, depressing atmosphere capable of masking sensations born from imminent danger, it wasn’t enough to hide traces of any kind of activity—at least not from adventurers of Marco’s caliber.

They split up to cover as much ground as possible, but Monar followed Mitsuki to keep an eye on him.

"So? What do you think of the journey so far?" Monar asked.

Walking ahead to avoid the dark elf’s gaze, Mitsuki took a moment to answer, as being alone with someone he barely knew felt uncomfortable. "It’s normal. Like any other trip."

"You don’t seem like someone who travels often, but at least I’m glad you don’t feel overwhelmed. When a journey becomes too much for someone, it’s best to turn back. Don’t you feel like going back?"

"Not really. Besides, I don’t have a place to return to right now. I’m fine like this."

"I say that because sometimes you seem too distant, like your thoughts are taking over your mind. And it’s not like what Azel does—that analyzing people thing. It just seems like you don’t know how to hide what you feel through your facial expressions."

"I guess I’m like an open book to everyone..."

Mitsuki lowered his gaze. It wasn’t good for everyone to read his emotions with just a glance. He had to learn how to hide what he felt, because at a critical moment, that could be his downfall. More than that, he needed to learn not to feel fear when it truly mattered. There had been moments when he almost died because of his mediocrity, but what could be expected from a hikikomori who hadn’t left his house in nearly a decade?

Being a pro player in video games was useless if he didn’t know how to apply that knowledge now that he was in the right place—fear was his greatest problem.

Monar smiled. At least Mitsuki was honest in that regard. That long-haired boy seemed more approachable when you didn’t look him in the eyes, or when you weren’t within his field of vision.

"That can be a bad thing sometimes—I mean, bad when fighting an enemy who can read your moves through the emotions on your face. But, ironically, it also helps when making friends."

Mitsuki frowned, clicking his tongue under his breath.

’Here we go again... Friends... At this point, I’m not interested in something like that. To be honest, was I ever? When I thought I had finally made friends in this world, it turned out I was too pathetic to stand beside them. If that’s how friendship works in this world, then it’s better to stay alone and try to use others as tools—as a means to an end.’

"Making good friends is also part of the long cycle of life, though it’s ironic coming from me. I don’t know if you’re aware, but elves in general are very selfish and not very friendly. Our relationships are usually based on mutual benefit. But, of course, in my travels I learned that it doesn’t work like that. Thanks to many people, I came to understand that friendship is more than that—something that transcends power, status, and benefit."

’He has a point, I guess, but that won’t change my mind!’

"What I’m getting at is... do you want to be my friend? I mean, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. It’s clear you don’t really like being around people, but the company of a friend doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. What do you think?"

"I’ll think about it, I guess," Mitsuki replied in a somewhat bored tone. He quickened his pace to continue the exploration—and to escape Monar’s chatter.

The dark elf smiled kindly at Mitsuki’s reaction.

"It’s obvious he really needs someone to talk to," he said to himself, something the human couldn’t hear.

Later, when the sun finally sank wearily beyond the gloomy horizon, the group gathered in what appeared to be the town square. The place was an intersection of four streets forming a cross, larger than usual. The crumbling brick walls at the corners formed a sort of small fortress, from which one could easily see in every direction—something very important when guarding against sudden threats.

They set up everything needed for camping, cutting some logs and arranging the camp at the center of the square. After that, everyone gathered in the middle, showing the treasures they had found.

"I found some gold coins near a chest in the east. This should cover our beer when we get back," Azel said, proud of his find. "After that, I didn’t find anything but rusted things eaten away by ash."

Marco sat on one of the logs and pulled out a few small items from a cloth bag.

"I found two gold rings and a silver locket in a house that wasn’t as destroyed as the others. I searched the surroundings, but didn’t find anything else."

Monar stepped toward the campfire and pulled out a plate.

"This is made of silver. It’s turned black over time, but with a good polish, it’ll look as good as new. As for Mitsuki, he found some silver spoons in the same house."

Mitsuki took out three spoons, blackened by oxidation, and showed them on his palms.

"We checked the other houses, but didn’t have any luck," Monar added, putting the plate away. Mitsuki did the same.

Marco nodded.

"It looks like we all did well. Let’s hope we have the same luck in the next town. Until then, I suggest everyone rest as much as possible tonight, because the next town is farther away—and until we reach the capital, it’ll be weeks of exhausting travel."

The group obeyed, and everyone stayed close to the campfire—except for Mitsuki, who, as always, sat a bit apart from the group. He wrapped himself in his blanket to keep out the cold and ate roasted meat in silence.

Azel chatted animatedly with the others, laughing and drinking beer from his wooden mug, while Marco polished his sword and Monar read a book. They all ate peacefully by the light of the campfire, which cast those shadows that danced to the rhythm of the burning flames.

The soft crackling of the firewood accompanied voices that faded into the center of the town, while a shadow crept among the leaves of the trees, watching the group from afar with its ethereal white eyes.