Lois, Jasmine, Saya, Shizuka, and Saeko moved with James toward the ground floor.
Saeko carried Slasher, wrapped securely in a sheet tied around her waist. Saya's Ray Gun rested in a holster snug beneath her armpit, its energy brimming beneath the sleek casing. Jasmine had a lasso coiled at her waist, alongside Red Hawk, secured firmly in its holster. Lois had her M4W clipped in place. Shizuka was holding James` hand.
The group made their way through the dim cavern. Up ahead, James saw Nell about to leave. She was at the entrance. "Hey, Nell!" James called out.
Nell turned around. She saw James and everyone. She saw the weapons they had. They looked unusual and powerful. "Oh, you're still here?" she said.
"I was going to say the same about you," James said. "I thought you left, were you waiting for me?" he teased.
"No, I was leaving," Nell said.
"You were in a hurry to leave," Shizuka responded.
Lois smirked. "James was busy with… activities," she remarked.
"Activities?" Nell asked. She wondered what that meant.
Saeko leaned slightly forward. "Those activities," she replied.
"And others," Saya added, her tone casual but knowing.
James cleared his throat. "Are you heading to town?" he asked.
"I am," Nell responded.
"We want to go there as well," Lois added.
"James said it will be fun," Shizuka said.
"Can you take us along?" James asked. "Pretty please," he added with a smirk.
Nell blushed. She thought he was being sweet. "I will," she replied.
Nell led the group and headed towards the town. They walked down a narrow path. Shizuka held James`s left arm. Saeko held his right arm. James could feel their large breasts touching his arm. "Pervert," Saya sighed.
They finally arrived at the outskirts of town, where a towering wall loomed ahead. The entrance was guarded by a sturdy fence, reinforced with iron bars.
"We made it!" James called out.
Nell immediately sighed. "James, keep it down,"she said.
"He has a talent for being embarrassing," Saya responded.
Jasmine stepped forward, studying the massive structure before them. "This wall is huge… I wonder what's inside," she said.
Before she could take another step, a sharp voice interrupted, "Halt!" A man stepped forward, lowering his spear in warning. He wore a full medieval-style white armor, encased head to toe in polished steel, his posture rigid and authoritative.
"Show me your ID verification," he demanded.
Nell reacted swiftly. "I apologize for any confusion," she said smoothly. "I am from the church, and these six are my companions," she added. She lifted her hand, revealing a ring etched with symbols. "Please prepare temporary identification for them and grant passage," she requested.
The knight's eyes flickered as he studied the insignia. Saya, watching closely, found the markings peculiar.
"This seal…" the knight murmured. His tone shifted slightly, more respectful now. "Please wait a moment," he added.
As he turned away to process the request, Saya looked at Nell. "What did you just show him?" she asked.
Nell's expression remained calm. "A special pass granted by the church," she explained. "It allows easier movement across borders," she added.
"Nell is special," Saeko said, looking at her sword.
"She is indeed," James confirmed.
Moments later, the knight returned, holding out the prepared documents. Nell accepted them with a nod. "Thank you for the temporary pass," she said.
The knight's tone hardened. "You will be banished immediately if you cause trouble," he said. As he stepped aside, granting them entry.
They saw a town with buildings tightly packed along the streets. The houses were made of wooden beams and stonework. Many structures featured sloped, tiled roofs. There were narrow alleyways weaving between the taller buildings, leading to hidden courtyards and bustling marketplaces. Windows were varied in shape, some small and rectangular, others arched with iron-framed glass. Balconies jut out from certain upper floors, supported by wooden brackets. The streets were paved with worn cobblestones. Lamps hang from building walls,
"This is a nice town," Lois remarked.
"Different to where we were," Jasmine said.
"Different indeed," Saya agreed.
"There will be lots more to explore," James added.
Shizuka suddenly tugged at James's arm, her eyes lighting up as she pointed ahead. "James, there's food over there," she shouted.
Without hesitation, the group made their way toward the bustling stall, the scent of spices and baked goods mingling with the crisp air.
Before them lay a spread that was both enticing and strange. A slice of pie sat neatly on a plate, its golden, flaky crust seemingly perfect, until a single tentacle curled from the filling. Beside it, a rectangular pastry gleamed under the stall's lantern light. Then there was a large bowl of noodles, the strands tangled together with yet more tentacles. To the side, a skewered delicacy, a spiral-cut piece of meat. Finally, a round pastry, with a tentacle slyly poking out from beneath the crust.
"This looks interesting," Jasmine said.
"Tell me you're not expecting us to eat that," Saya added.
Saeko smirked, inspecting the skewered item. "I wouldn't rule it out just yet," she remarked.
James chuckled, reaching for the nearest plate. "Come on. We've faced worse," he said.
"We sure have and this does not look too bad," Lois said.
Shizuka, already invested, grabbed a piece of the pastry and took a bite. She blinked, chewing thoughtfully. "…I think it's good?" she said with a mouthful.
"See? Nothing to worry about," James responded.
Saya shook her head. "I swear, if something starts moving in my stomach after this," she said.
Saeko laughed. "That's a risk we're apparently willing to take," she added.
James handed her a spoonful of the tentacle-infused noodles. "I will never allow anything to harm you. I will always protect you Saya," James started.
Saya blushed as she accepted it. One bite later, her expression shifted in surprise. "It is good," Saya responded. She added, "Dont say stuff like that." The girls chuckled.
He then went to Jasmine as he handed her a bite. She hesitated for half a second before tasting it then blinked. "That's actually good," she remarked.
Saeko watched with amusement as James presented her with a skewer of the spiral-cut meat. She took it calmly, chewing thoughtfully. "Rich flavor. Good choice Danna-sama," she said.
James then gave a piece of the golden pastry. "Thank you," Lois said as she took a bite. A satisfied nod followed. "It's decent," she added.
Finally, James turned to Nell, holding up a neatly cut portion of the strange pie. Her eyes flicked between James and the food before letting out a small sigh. "You really expect me to just go along with this?" she asked.
James grinned. "Come on, Nell. Trust me," he replied.
She exhaled, relenting. Taking the bite, she paused,then glanced at him with mild surprise. "Alright. Not bad," she said.
The lively hum of the marketplace wrapped around them, lanterns flickering as voices mingled in the evening air. Amid the clusters of merchants and performers, a small crowd had gathered near a raised wooden platform, where a magician in a deep blue robe stood, his hands weaving through the air.
James nudged Shizuka's arm, nodding toward the spectacle. "There's a magician show," he said.
Shizuka's eyes lit up. "Oh, let's see," she replied.
The group moved closer, settling near the edge of the crowd. The magician flourished his hands with exaggerated precision, plucking a vibrant red flower from seemingly thin air. Gasps followed as he then made the flower vanish, leaving behind only empty fingers.
Saeko crossed her arms, unimpressed. "They're just tricks," she remarked.
"Not here," James replied.
Saeko looked at Slasher, her hand instinctively resting near the wrapped blade.
The performance continued, with cards flickering out of existence, coins flipping in the air before dissolving into dust.
"And now a volunteer," someone shouted.
"We are not getting involved," Saya stated.
"Why not? Maybe James should try," Shizuka laughed.
"Maybe later, we got other things to do," Jsmes said.
Nell, watching their interactions, smiled slightly. "You all get along well," she muttered.
"Nell, why don't you take us to the guild," James asked.
"Sure," Nell responded.