"W-What did you just say, Big Brother? You want to join Zephyr!?", Sherryl exclaimed, eyes full of shock.
"Now there's a move I didn't expect.", Lechter said, raising his eyebrows at me. "Are you sure you want to do this, Young Master? I can already see myself getting an earful from your Old Man..."
"Haha, what the Young Duke does is of no relevance to us to decide. If Naoto wants to join Zephyr, there is no way for us to stop him. In fact, we might even become accomplices if it's more than just him.", Rufus mused, wondering which direction this was going to go.
"W-Wait, seriously? I don't think I could even try and become a Jaeger!", Lechter retorted, obviously displeased. Hearing that, I simply smiled at everyone.
"The request is plain and simple. Now, I don't expect this to happen immediately, but this is a formal request nonetheless, Jaeger King. Just take out who I am out of the equation. I'm looking to get some real combat experience. Fighting monsters can only take you so far, you know? That's why I requested a real duel with you. You aren't a monster, Jaeger King.", I said, smiling at him.
"Fair enough. The battlefield is the quickest way to get that experience, as ya have stated. Ya landed a good blow on me too, shows ya got the practice and all. Now ya are lookin' to put it into real battle. That sound about right?", Rutger asked me. He approached me, and I saw him tower over me. He was quite tall and bulky, just like Behemoth and Killing Bear. Like a good seven or eight feet tall. Mind you, I'm still around five feet here. But I didn't let that stop me. I matched his stature.
"That's right.", I replied, not backing down. Seeing me do this, Rutger grinned. He even patted my shoulder, and let out a laugh.
"Hahaha! I like ya kid. Ya know, it hasn't been that long since we took in Fie. I don't mind gettin' another. Welcome aboard. Just so you know, that princely image of yours will be thrown at the window. To us Jaegers, we're but simple mercenaries who would just do about any job, as long as it pays right. As long as ya don't mind what we do, I don't mind if ya tag along.", Rutger said, accepting my request.
"Naoto's joining us?", Fie asked, also surprised.
"You must be kidding. Is this really what you intended to do after we got out of those caves, Naoto? I know we're here to have some fun and all, and it's very possible we'll go our separate ways from here once this is over, but I didn't think you'd really request to join and become a Jaeger out of the blue.", Van said, also surprised.
"...We are going to part ways?", Tio asked, frowning. The idea hadn't struck her yet. Parting ways after we finish our events here, that is. More than likely, it will be as Van said, but who knows?
"D-Don't sweat the small details for now, Tio! Big Brother probably has something in mind. Right, Big Brother?", Sherryl asked, trying to dissuade the idea of us parting ways.
"Well, Van isn't wrong. You all might have to figure out what you want to do from here on. Otherwise, you may very well have perished down there. Your freedom is yours to own, you know?", I said, scratching my head. I didn't think our discussion would lead to this.
"It sounds like ya still have matters of your own to take care of, so ya don't need to join right away. Like I said before, we're contracted right now. So we couldn't leave even if we wanted to. That being said, it might be best to get your own affairs in order first, Your Highness. We can talk about the boring stuff later. Ya are more than welcome to join us though while we have our fun on Nemeth Island. I'm sure Fie will love your company.", Rutger explained, only to look at Fie again. "Ain't that right, Fie?"
"Uh-huh! I'd love to go monster-hunting with you, Naoto!", Fie happily said with a quick nod of her head.
Oi. That's the first thing you want to do together!?
Hearing that, I sighed. I then looked back toward our group, and scratched my head. "So what do you think guys? I'm not sure what will happen once everything is over. For now, why don't we have some fun? Rufus blocked off the rest of the week at the lodge, and we have an extended stay. I'm looking at a few months minimum.", I said to everyone.
"That works. I've got nothing to do. As far as I'm aware, Elaine probably realized I'm dead. What's a couple months more added to that?", Van said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, when you put it that way, then we've got nothing to lose at this point. I don't see an issue of us hanging around for a while.", Sherryl said, nodding her head. She then looked at Van. "And in the meantime, I'd love to hear more about this Elaine person~", Sherryl continued, clapping her hands together.
With Tio's initial doubt placed aside, she too answered me.
"I do not mind.", Tio said, simply shaking her head.
"Neither do I. But unlike you all, I have nowhere to go. No name to keep. I lost everything. Or to be more specific, I had nothing to begin with. I'm just a no-named killer.", Ennea said, causing the air to turn still around us.
"Ennea...", I uttered, detecting a hint of sadness in her eyes. And yet, before I could say anything else, it was Sherryl who was quick to respond.
"That's not true, Ennea! You have us!", Sherryl said, trying to ease her worries.
"Mmm.", Tio said, nodding her head.
"Brat's got a point.", Van said. "It hasn't been long, but I don't see problem seein' you as my friends.", Van also said, nodding his head.
"...I'll think about it. We should just do as the Jaeger King says for now.", Ennea replied, nodding her head. Good. If she takes something out of this, then I'm all for it. After all, in the games, Ennea would use this time to join Ouroboros, and join a collective group of knights who directly serve Arianrhod, the Stahlritter.
However, at the time, I didn't know that Ennea made a difference right then and there, which would put her own story in an entirely different direction...
As we all agreed that we should have fun with Zephyr and keep the rest of the details under the bus for now, I suddenly heard Emma call out to me.
"U-Umm...", Emma tried to say. Was she trying to join in on the conversation?
"Is something wrong, Emma? You've been pretty quiet.", I decided to ask.
"Oh nothing really. Grandmother tasked me to look after you, Naoto. So I've made a decision of my own. You have your trials to overcome in the future and all. What point is there for me being a guide if I can't be there for you?", Emma suddenly asked, drawing everyone's attention to her.
"A decision of your own? What is it?"
"I want to join Zephyr. Together with you, of course. You cannot persuade me otherwise.", Emma declared.
"E-Eh?", I replied. It was my turn to be shocked. My eyes turned wide, not expecting someone like Emma to request that.
Emma joining Zephyr...huh?
You know, that thought never crossed my mind before. Someone like a Witch performing different kinds of duties like what a Jaeger can do. A mercenary-like Witch. Might be the first of its kind...
"Sure. I like you.", Fie said, answering before anyone else could. Hearing this, Rutger laughed.
"Hahaha! I hate to break it to ya missy, but ya don't exactly have the frame to do a Jaeger's job. No hard feelings.", Rutger said, shaking his head at Emma.
"I'm a fast learner. I know there are some areas I lack and can improve on. That is if you'll have me, Jaeger King.", Emma said, trying to persuade Zephyr a second time. She's serious, huh? Is this all to stand at my side and not get left out like she did the last time?
Seeing Emma also not back down, and remained standing next to me, this allowed Rutger to get a good look at Emma. He could see the determination in her eyes.
"Now that's a good pair of eyes. Could do mighty fine on the battlefield, given enough work. I'll think about it.", Rutger said, smiling at Emma.
"Oi, we aren't some daycare, Boss. We won't be looking after these brats. They'd be fending on their own if they join us.", Killing Bear retorted.
"For once, I agree with you there. It's every girl for themselves once you're on the battlefield, missy. Are you sure you want to enter such a place? There's no turning back.", Firebird said with a serious look in her eyes.
"Why don't we just leave it at that for now? There isn't a rush. We're here for a while. Ain't that right, Your Highness?", Rutger said, looking back at me this time.
"Yeah. We don't need to be so hasty, Emma. Even I might pull back on my words. We'll see how things develop from here on. For tonight at least, everything's on me. Even the drinks.", I said, looking at Killing Bear again. Garcia Rossi, huh? I don't think I really hate the guy.
"Well, alright. If you say so, Naoto. Perhaps a little bit of time will determine whether or not I really want to.", Emma said with a nod of her head.
"Now you're speaking my language. You aren't like other nobles we've come across.", Killing Bear responded, and grinned at me.
"Let's ditch this place. Hell, ya can even partake in some of our combat drills to see if it's up your alley. We can worry about that tomorrow.", Rutger said, urging everyone to follow him back inside. In fact, I even saw Killing Bear ignore all of us, and already started walking up the stairs.
"Hey! That is so not cool. You can't just leave us and go have fun on your own.", Firebird said, retorting at him.
Hearing that, Sherryl glanced her eyes back at me as we made our way up the stairs so we could head into the resort building.
"Is this really alright, Big Brother? You came here wanting to meet someone, right? It wasn't that Campanella guy. He's such a weirdo.", Sherryl whispered as we walked.
"Yeah. The person who I want to meet actually isn't here yet. I wasn't lying when we'll be here for a while. It could be a few days, a few months. Even potentially a year. It all depends on when they will show up.", I said, walking next to my friends.
"Well then out with it Naoto. Who do you want to meet here if it ain't those Jaegers and us? We're with you on this. Might as well see it through.", Van said, keeping his voice low.
"Mmm. We're in it whether you like it or not.", Tio said, also nodding her head.
"I'm all ears~", Lechter said with a grin. I'll just ignore him. Instead, I nodded my head.
"Very well. You see. It all begins with a sole daughter of an up-and-coming merchant, who calls herself Renny Hayworth...", I began to explain...
As we all got situated inside the resort, I began to relay Renne's unfortunate tale, while making sure to keep it civil, and omitted parts that didn't need to be said. Before I knew it, time began to pass by while we were having fun here at Nemeth Island!