TTIGRAAS: Predator

Chapter 15

Fuze kept the briefing short (I got the impression he spoke with the other three about it some before I arrived). I didn't mind things being quick, though, since lengthy meetings are not something I enjoy at all.

After some prep and some goodbyes to Eren, Kaval, and Gido, I left with the other adventuring group, setting out on a path that bordered the forest. Our destination was a small settlement that was technically outside the bounds of the neighboring countries and acted as a sort of trading post for merchants and adventurers.

But, according to Fuze, more and more people had been disappearing after visiting there, so the kingdom itself hired some people to investigate in an unofficial sense.

That's where this group I'm with comes in.

"So what're you? The kid of one of the Guildmaster's buddies?" Russell, the apparent leader of the group, asked me after we set out on the road. The four of us were jammed in this crappy-looking carriage that was nowhere close to a smooth ride, but thankfully I couldn't get sore from having my butt repeatedly slammed into the seat of it. I wasn't sure how these three dudes were managing to hold up, but that wasn't something you could ask a person you just met.

"No. I'm...connected to a friend of his, you could say, but I'm not that person's kid." I clarified, not wanting him to get the wrong idea.

"And apparently you have some talent in you. Don't you remember, Russell? Guildmaster Fuze said Rimuru passed the B-rank combat test." Blake pointed out.

This was a detail that Fuze had shared during our meeting to reassure these three since they seemed generally doubtful that I would be anything but a burden.

"Yeah, yeah, but ol' Thegis mighta gone easy on him, for all I know. He'll still have to prove himself to me," huffed Russell.

"That doesn't sound like something Thegis would do." The third member of the party, named Eli, interjected from the driver's seat of the carriage, talking through the opening that served as a window between it and the main part of the vehicle.

"Haha, true, true. What's it that he had you face for the last challenge, eh, kid? I dunno what they're usin' nowadays; it's been a long while since I've taken that exam myself!"

"A lesser demon," I answered Russell matter-of-factly, finding no need to hold back this info.

The carriage's occupants fell silent and all stared at me in shock. Well, Eli didn't stare, but if he could I bet he would've been. He was too busy driving to look back at me just because he was surprised.

"With a group backin' you up, right?" Russell asked in a low tone.

"A group? No, I was on my own."

After a few more seconds of silence, Russell broke out into a loud laugh.

"Pfft, hahaha! Nice one, kiddo!" Russell spat out between laughs, clearly not believing me at all. This, of course, was annoying, but I wasn't going to react much to it. He'd been calling me things like 'kid' and 'kiddo' since the time we met and I'd already resolved to allow that. If I'm going to pass as human, I have to accept at least that much since my appearance is clearly not that of an adult.

"I'm pretty sure that's a foe only used in the group exam." Eli pointed out without taking his eyes off the road. "But I don't think Rimuru is lying. Why else would the Guildmaster let him come along with us?"

"I'll believe him...if he reveals how he killed it! I know a lot about demons, so I'm curious how a child could kill one with a single sword strike." Blake grinned at me and leaned in more closely to apply pressure.