Transmigrated to a Dark Fantasy World of SSS-Rank: King of the Void-Chapter 7: By the Light of the Campfire

After a few minutes, Mitsuki grew curious about the carriage driver. He peeked through one of the small holes in the canopy and spotted a short-haired, gray-haired man sitting with his back turned. Judging by the few wrinkles lining his neck, Mitsuki estimated he was around sixty years old.

After making sure he had seen everyone present, he turned toward the two girls resting nearby.

Ellegaard was reading a book, while Jeanne sat with her eyes closed.

His gaze met the elf’s for a brief second. She shot him another glare before returning to her reading.

Mitsuki sighed, clearly stressed.

’I was lucky someone found me, but I’m so disoriented I don’t even know what to do. I checked the system and saw... so many new things. I want to scream with joy, but I don’t think I can do that in front of these two strangers.’

Remembering that he had survived by sheer miracle, he crossed his arms and frowned.

’At least neither of them looks dangerous,’ he glanced at Ellegaard. ’One of them—one of them doesn’t look dangerous.’

On the other hand, Jeanne was very kind and understanding.

’Blonde girl in armor. I’ve seen that a hundred times, but I still can’t believe this is real. I’d love to be amazed by the elf, but the bad first impression she gave me killed all my excitement.’

He relaxed slightly. He still felt uncomfortable, but at least he was no longer terrified by the memory of the black knight.

’They said they saved me from wandering alone in the forest. What exactly happened to me? How much time passed? Could it have something to do with this skill?’

[ Progression Healing ]

’It’s a skill without a level. It seems that, just like all these other incredible abilities, I obtained it at some point I can’t even remember.’

The items were astonishing too.

’Shotguns? In a fantasy world? This reminds me of Dark Blood. What an awesome game. I want to play it again.’

He showed a faint smile, but the elf noticed. She twisted her face in disgust and said,

"Your stare is unpleasant. Rip your face off. That would be less unpleasant to look at."

Mitsuki lowered his head. With the same gloomy expression as before, he replied,

"I’m sorry."

Ellegaard, perhaps with the slightest hint of guilt, returned to her book. Meanwhile, Mitsuki sighed, disappointed.

’No matter what world it is, there are always people like that,’ Mitsuki thought, pushing down the bitter memories that made him see the world through a dark lens.

He tried to keep forming theories about what had saved his life, but decided it wasn’t worth it—not for now. Everything he had experienced in this world so far had left a bad taste in his mouth.

Instead of ruining his day further with those thoughts, he chose to get some sleep, hoping these people wouldn’t murder him while he rested.

***

Later that night, the carriage stopped in an open area between the trees. The driver climbed down with the girls but then moved to the back of the carriage to spend the night there. Meanwhile, Jeanne cut down a couple of small trees to make seats, while Ellegaard gathered dry branches and stones to build a campfire.

"Would you do the honors, Mitsuki Kirishima?" Jeanne said, pointing at the unlit fire.

Mitsuki nodded and prepared himself.

’I’ve done this twice already. I can do it a third time.’

He focused on the spell and, without hesitation, said,

"Fireball!"

The flame shot forward and struck the campfire, which ignited immediately.

’I’m already getting the hang of it.’

Jeanne clapped, while Ellegaard shook her head in disappointment.

"At least you’re useful for lighting the fire. You’re no longer dead weight," the elf said.

Jeanne crossed her arms and glanced at her companion before speaking.

"Stop bothering him, Ellegaard."

"Yes, yes. Whatever you say, Princess."

Mitsuki laughed nervously.

’Jeanne really is sensible. On the other hand, this elf is already getting on my nerves. What did I even do to her? I mean, we just met, and she already hates me...’

There was nothing he could do about it. He couldn’t risk angering these people, especially in a world he knew absolutely nothing about. For now, staying close to them was the safest option.

The hard part would be maintaining a friendly conversation.

***

With everything ready, Ellegaard pulled out a cauldron and placed it over the fire. Then she raised her staff, drawing a circle in the air and summoning her own magic. Mitsuki watched closely.

’She’s an elf, so she must know a lot about magic. I’d like to learn from her, but...’

Nah.

As Ellegaard continued, ancient bluish elven symbols floated around her. Magical energy gathered like a vortex at a single point, and in the blink of an eye, a sphere of water formed before dropping neatly into the cauldron.

’Amazing,’ he thought, impressed. That feeling vanished, however, when Ellegaard smiled at him as if she had just won something.

A vein throbbed on Mitsuki’s forehead.

’I see you’re doing everything you can to make me hate you. It’s working.’

"I’ll handle the ingredients," Jeanne said, walking toward the carriage.

Seizing the opportunity, Ellegaard spoke.

"This is how it’s done, rookie. Magic isn’t some childish game turned into a tiny fireball. Magic encompasses existence itself. If you control magic, you control everything. But you’re pathetic. Unless you’re pretending to be weak to deceive us, I’d believe you’re weaker than a human child."

’There’s no way I can respond to that. I’m not even from this world. And I’ve never used magic in my life—how am I supposed to learn now?’

While he had found plenty of instructions on how magic worked in video game stories, none of that seemed to apply here. Well, it wasn’t like he had actually tried.

Jeanne soon returned with chunks of meat and chopped vegetables. She tossed them into the cauldron as if it were nothing and pulled out a large spoon.

"Everything’s ready. Are you two getting along?"

Mitsuki and Ellegaard looked at each other, then at Jeanne, and answered in unison.

"No."

"Well, you’ll have time to get to know each other better. For now, let’s wait a bit and eat."

As the charcoal crackled beside the flames, Mitsuki watched the water boil in silence.

’Eat... Right. I haven’t eaten anything since I got here. I’m starving.’

When the food was ready, Jeanne served it into four separate bowls. She brought the first to the carriage driver, gave the second to Ellegaard, kept the third for herself, and handed the fourth to Mitsuki.

"Eat before it gets cold," the beautiful paladin said.

Mitsuki took the bowl in his hands and took a small sip of the soup.

It wasn’t the best in the world. It needed salt, more seasoning—and a spoon—but...

"It’s delicious."

There was nothing better than a good bowl of soup after being crushed by a horrific monster. He finished it without leaving a single drop, chewing the tough meat that stuck between his teeth. When he was done, Jeanne cheerfully offered him another serving, which he devoured to the last drop.

With the bowls empty, only the three of them remained in front of the campfire—the perfect moment for conversation.

"This might sound rude, and from your voice I know you’re a man, but hasn’t anyone told you your face looks a little feminine?"

Mitsuki raised his eyebrows while staring at the fire.

’That’s true...’

"Yeah. My manager used to say it sometimes. ’You look like a girl,’ or ’Let me dress you up like a little doll.’ If she weren’t as strong as a gorilla, I would’ve smacked her on the head."

He sighed, remembering that woman.

"I know that being this skinny and weak makes me look like a damsel in distress."

He smiled, amused.

[ The skill "Sarcasm" has been activated. ]

"You saved me, so maybe I am."

Jeanne shook her head.

"Everyone needs to be saved at some point in their life. Ellegaard saved me, so I’m a damsel in distress too. No one saves her, though. That’s why they call her The Witch of the Road."

"I hate that name," Ellegaard interrupted. "I’m not a witch—I’m a mage. Those are completely different things. Mages use mana to cast magic, while witches perform all kinds of rituals, sacrifices, and foolish acts for selfish gods just to use black magic."

’Well, that’s a difference I already knew. Though there are white witches too—I guess here they’re still considered mages,’ Mitsuki thought.

"Some forms of magic require rituals too, Ellegaard."

"But those rituals are tied to the nature of the arcane, the origin of the universe, and everything around us. You should already know that. Or have you not been studying the books I gave you?"

"I’ll study when I have nothing else to do."

"You never have anything to do, lazy princess. If you want to become a true paladin—one who rises above the sacred swordsman archetype—you must learn the purest magic."

"You sound like my caretaker. Let’s just go to sleep. Yes, that’s what we’ll do."

"Don’t change the subject, child."

"If I’m a child, then you’re an old woman."

"What did you say? Repeat that?"

Mitsuki wore a crooked smile.

’Did they... forget about me?’

Watching them argue, he could see how well these girls got along. Maybe nights with these people wouldn’t be so stressful after all.

’Well, I guess the last thing I should worry about is them trying to hurt me. I can’t let my guard down—that much I know—but I have nothing in this world. Maybe they, even if it’s hard for me to look them in the eyes, can guide me to survive in this crazy place.’

Is there a goal to follow?

Something to achieve?

Somewhere to return to?

Mitsuki didn’t know. Even before arriving in this world, his life had no clear direction.

Maybe this world would give him one.