Transmigrated to a Dark Fantasy World of SSS-Rank: King of the Void-Chapter 11: One of the Weakest

Two days after the encounter, the group was resting beneath the shade of the trees. The old man was giving water to the horses, while Jeanne polished her sharp, double-edged sword.

Nearby, Ellegaard was scolding Mitsuki.

"No, not like that. You have to feel the energy close to your body. Meditating like some idiot monk won’t do anything."

Mitsuki lowered his head.

"I’m doing the best I can."

"If that’s your best, I don’t even want to imagine your worst..."

Sighing in exhaustion, Mitsuki closed his eyes and continued following Ellegaard’s instructions.

’So far, things aren’t too bad. It’s not as hard to talk to them anymore, my magic has improved a little, and I’m no longer starving.’

He also remembered that last night Jeanne had mentioned that in Lamus he would find what he needed to survive. For now, that place was his goal.

’Once I can support myself, I’ll have to continue alone—farm some levels, skills, and useful items.’

The road ahead was still long and uncertain.

"First empty your mind, then feel the prana against your skin and extend your hand. Condense the prana into a sphere and hold it for a few seconds," the elf instructed.

Mitsuki obeyed.

’Easier said than done. I can’t feel this so-called prana in the air.’

He frowned, straining his hand as he tried to shape the prana. After several seconds of absolutely nothing happening, he finally gave up with a sigh. He let his hand drop to the ground and looked straight at Ellegaard’s nose.

"Are you sure this is going to work?"

Bonk.

The staff came down on Mitsuki’s head. He rubbed it with both hands, trying to ease the pain.

"Of course it’s going to work, rookie. I know what I’m doing because I’ve studied my entire life. Now stop complaining and try again."

"Okay..."

Under the shade of a nearby tree, Jeanne smiled as she watched them. She kept polishing her sword while speaking to the coachman.

"She seems more cheerful than usual, don’t you think?"

The coachman nodded, setting down the tray of water for the horses. Then, in a deep and weary voice—yet gentle and kind in tone—he said:

"Because Miss Ellegaard’s aggressive attitude is often misunderstood, she has never been able to make friends besides you. I believe she is happy because she thinks she has made a new friend."

Jeanne nodded.

"Yes. Very few people can see the sweetness hidden behind that ill-tempered elf."

"And what do you think about Mr. Mitsuki, Princess? He appeared out of nowhere, covered in blood and in miserable condition. Even though he looked highly suspicious, you decided to take him into our carriage."

"Well, it never hurts to help someone in need. And if he were a demon or a bad person, Ellegaard would have discovered it from the start—the moment she lifted him with magic to place him in the carriage. She has the power to do that quite easily, you know?"

The old man sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead with a white handkerchief.

"I cannot deny that Miss Ellegaard is a very talented woman, but it is not right to enter people’s minds without their permission."

Jeanne laughed softly.

"You’re right. I told her the same thing before, though I think I did it too late. Besides, she’s probably helping Mitsuki because she saw something in his past that softened her heart."

"Let us hope that is the case."

Bonk.

The staff struck Mitsuki’s head again.

"Not like that, tick! You’re doing everything wrong!" the elf growled.

Mitsuki could only endure the frustration by screaming inside his mind.

’Stop hitting me already! I’m doing exactly what you’re telling me!’

It was a shame he couldn’t say that to her face—he would probably deflate like a balloon in front of her.

He tried one last time to feel the prana, but once again failed spectacularly. Ellegaard lost her patience and was about to strike him again when the coachman knocked twice on the wooden frame of the carriage, calling everyone back.

"It’s time to continue."

Ellegaard looked slightly frustrated but chose to head to the carriage, ignoring Mitsuki, who remained seated on the ground staring into nothingness.

’I think I have a lump on my head...’

The sheer strength a fantasy creature could exert just by casually dropping an object was terrifying.

Eventually, he boarded the carriage as well.

***

"Lamus has four great kingdoms," Jeanne said, marking four imaginary points on the carriage floor. "Amaria is the closest to Nemoria’s territory—that’s where we’re heading. It’s well known for the River Lamos, which connects to Nemoria’s central kingdom, Holylight, where one of the Four Ancient Mysteries first emerged."

Mitsuki frowned.

’Ancient Mysteries again... What exactly are they?’

Ellegaard seemed to notice the doubt in his expression and, like a teacher, began explaining:

"The Four Great Ancient Mysteries were catastrophes that struck the world hundreds of years ago. All of Nemoria was consumed by the Mystery of Cinder, which in turn amplified the power of every beast and race in the surrounding area. That is why this land is extremely dangerous. Only S-Rank adventurers or higher can leave this place alive."

Jeanne nodded.

"That’s why Ellegaard looked at you so suspiciously, Mitsuki. No offense, but you look—and are—far too weak to survive here."

A chill ran down Mitsuki’s spine as he swallowed.

"I don’t really know what I’m doing here either. When I woke up, I was on a hill. That’s all I remember."

Most of that was true. The lie was about losing his memory. Though partially accurate, it was still a lie.

Ellegaard frowned analytically.

"No matter how it happened. You’re alive, at least. Perhaps you’re a lucky tick."

’Is that supposed to be a compliment? Because I feel offended,’ he thought with a crooked smile.

Sheathing her sword, Jeanne said:

"Setting that aside, we should consider that we haven’t encountered any monsters in the past two days. Do you know what that usually means, Mitsuki?"

"There’s probably a strong monster that either scared them away or killed them all. If so, this would be its territory—and we’re invading it," Mitsuki replied, recalling brief memories of open-world RPG monsters.

Jeanne snapped her fingers.

"Exactly. That means something could attack us at any moment."

Ellegaard tightened her grip on her staff.

"Conveniently, that something is moving beneath the ground right now. We need to stop the carriage."

That alarming news drew a terrifyingly charming smile onto Jeanne’s face—one Mitsuki had never seen before.

’Wait. I only said what I knew. I didn’t expect it to happen this fast. Will my Fireball even work against something unknown?’

Even if it didn’t, these two girls might be strong enough to handle it.

Two small knocks, and the carriage came to a halt. The coachman steered it toward the side of the road. Ellegaard raised her staff high, and Jeanne followed, unsheathing her sword as it began to shine with a blinding light.

Mitsuki, meanwhile, remained behind them.

"I don’t think you should do this, rookie. You’ll be crushed in a second," the elf suggested. This time, she was completely serious.

’I should probably listen... but if I don’t face something and level up, I’ll stay weak forever.’

"Let me do this. At least let me fire one Fireball at the bastard’s face."

Jeanne smiled.

"Let him, Ellegaard. The boy wants to become a man."

Laughing softly, Ellegaard faced forward again.

"Fine by me. Everyone chooses how they die."

The ground trembled suddenly. The trees shook violently, dragging against the earth as if they were alive. Massive rocks along the roadside cracked apart—and before them, bursting from the ground and shattering the road like a waking titan, a horrifying beast emerged to spread disaster.

Mitsuki’s eyes widened in disbelief before Ellegaard spoke the words he would never forget.

"This is one of the weakest ones."