Chapter 2: Seems to be born with a hard life

The northern mountain range within the Kingdom of Atul stretched with overlapping peaks, endless and unbroken.

Vast, lush trees extended like a green frontier line into the distance, deep and unfathomable.

Many refugees and bandits hid among the terrain and natural barriers, committing evils in the area.

Coupled with the demons and monsters prowling nearby,

the chaos in this lordless region grew increasingly severe.

Before the situation spiraled completely out of control,

a certain noble of the kingdom voluntarily posted an emergency commission at the Adventurers’ Association.

With generous gold and magical artifacts from the noble’s collection as reward,

they hoped capable adventurers would step forward to resolve the issue.

This commission ultimately fell to the famous adventuring party—Lilix.

The very team Qianyu currently belonged to.

“Haah, haah, haah, haah.”

The sweltering afternoon heat

turned the already airtight mountain forest into a steamer, roasting the spirits of every adventurer who entered.

Qianyu, alone, gasped with heavy breaths unique to a girl.

At the same time, she used both hands and feet,

occasionally snapping off branches to use as trekking poles, shuttling between bushes and piles of dead leaves.

Simply moving would have been one thing.

Positioned at the rear of the team, she was also responsible for carrying all the luggage and handling logistics.

To put it bluntly, she was the errand runner. The team’s dirty and tiring jobs basically all fell to her.

Unknowingly, sweat soaked her shirt and undergarments,

and several scratches marred her delicate skin.

This was the only way she could contribute to the team.

After all, Qianyu was a transmigrator with no buffs or cheats whatsoever.

Even during the transmigration—

there were no omens, no gods or kings explaining the situation.

It felt more like being dragged here by something, pulled into this other world, this land.

Even her original male body had vanished without a trace.

“Sigh, thinking about it now, I really am pitiful.”

Precisely because of this, she had to swallow her pride and put in more effort than anyone else to survive.

If she wanted to resist the so-called unfair fate.

“Qianyu.”

Just as Qianyu zoned out and fell into memories, someone suddenly called her name in her ear.

Before she could identify the owner,

the voice’s master appeared beside her.

As if emerging from the shadows under the trees.

Silent and mysterious.

“So it’s Miss Yeyuan. Do you need something from me?”

Pale hair like night-blooming cereus, approaching gray and slightly frizzy, cut to shoulder length. Expressionless yet strikingly beautiful features. Wearing a halter-style short tank top that outlined a curvaceous figure with substantial assets, front and back. Wheat-colored skin faintly revealed muscles from training.

She was also a main member of the Lilix team.

Unlike the forest elf Del and the captain from a noble family, she came from an ordinary household.

But from intelligence gathered while listening to teammates chat,

she seemed to have undergone strict training as a qualified scout since childhood.

The various large and small packs of equipment and supplies on her, along with the deadly weapons she carried, proved this point.

The scout position in the team was undeniably hers.

For an ordinary person like Qianyu, entrusting her front and safety to such a professional was an honor.

“Del says you’re slow, told me to bring you.”

Del—probably referring to Patridel.

Miss Yeyuan was taciturn and poor with words, always omitting a few in odd places.

Whenever everyone sat together chatting, she just silently squatted to the side and listened.

That was part of her personality.

“Sorry for being so slow…”

“Come on.”

Yeyuan extended her hand, gesturing for the still-hesitating Qianyu to come closer.

No need to be so polite.

(But, what method will she use exactly? It can’t be magic—)

Just as she was wondering how Yeyuan would make her move quickly.

“Wah wah wah wah!”

The next second, her entire body, luggage and all, was lifted like a toy and placed on Yeyuan’s back.

“Hold tight.”

“Even if you say that…”

Yeyuan was the tallest in the six-person team, probably over one meter seventy.

Even so, she was still a girl—

Qianyu stared at the slender neck and thin shoulders in front of her, unsure where to grab for a moment.

In the end, she could only hold onto the straps of her clothes.

Praying their quality wouldn’t let her tear them off.

“—”

Probably still not reassured,

Yeyuan also reached out with both hands to support from under Qianyu’s butt.

This embarrassing situation of being treated like a child.

Qianyu’s cheeks couldn’t help but flush with shy crimson.

“Depart.”

“…Please take care of me.”

After receiving this response,

Yeyuan slightly bent her calves, then explosively leaped from the ground.

She easily jumped onto a thick branch high up ahead.

Before her front foot even steadied, she sought the next foothold,

using the same method to jump to a new branch ahead, repeating the cycle.

“R-Really amazing.”

Ever since coming to this fantastical other world, Qianyu’s understanding of human limits had been constantly refreshed.

Her weight plus the luggage was roughly eighty kilograms of load.

Yeyuan probably wasn’t using magic; she could jump two meters high purely on physical strength.

And maintain this movement method for rapid travel through the forest for extended periods.

No matter what, with her help,

Qianyu finally reached the position of her teammates ahead before lunch break ended.

In just a short half minute,

Qianyu covered what would have taken half an hour.

They arrived at a relatively flat terrain on the mountainside, with open views and mountain breezes blowing head-on.

The fierce sun hung high in the azure sky, and lazily floating clouds seemed within reach.

A few steps to the edge was a cliff with a drop of several dozen meters.

But as a foothold for now, there would be no issues.

Looking far ahead, two teammates—

Leila and Del, along with the captain Lilix, were already waiting there.

…Or possibly just resting.

Qianyu didn’t think they would actively wait for her, especially Leila.

“Captain.”

Yeyuan suddenly exerted force, flashing to Lilix’s side.

She lightly greeted while unloading Qianyu from her back like cargo.

“Oh oh! You’re here, Qianyu, Yeyuan.”

Golden hair like ginkgo mixed with a touch of vivid red, neatly long and glossy under the sun, tied at the back of her head with a half-crown style ornament into a thin ponytail extending to her waist.

The perfect smile never absent from her face, with faint dimples that were utterly adorable. Mature and intellectual beauty in her features, backed by a noble family background, yet she often displayed kind inclusiveness and innocent, lively optimism.

She treated everyone with equal respect.

Noble lords, slave commoners, even other races—it was all the same.

This was likely the indispensable talent allowing her to build and maintain

such an adventuring team with diverse races and classes.

Thinking this,

Qianyu’s admiration for her deepened as she looked at the unquestionable captain of the Lilix team—

Lilix herself.

She was also Qianyu’s first love and secret crush in this world.

Even though her current identity was female, she had no intention of changing her sexual orientation.

“You worked hard running that trip, Yeyuan, and Qianyu carrying our luggage so far…

Hm? What’s wrong.”

Noticing Qianyu’s somewhat enthusiastic gaze.

Lilix, who was considerate of their fatigue, didn’t avoid it or show disgust.

Instead, she met it head-on.

“N-No, nothing. More importantly, is there anything I need to do? Captain, please feel free to order me.”

It was precisely this gentleness and affection that became Qianyu’s belief in persevering until now.

Thinking about it now, this might just be the power of love.

It could serve as a driving force, constantly pushing people forward.

“Yes. Then please put down the luggage and rest, Qianyu.”

“Haah—rest, you say.”

Qianyu tilted her head in slight confusion, not fully understanding.

“Mhm, because tonight it’s Yeyuan’s turn to rest.”

“I had Del scout the surroundings in advance; there are no hidden dangers. I plan to let you experience night watch duty while we have the chance.”

“Could it be inconvenient?”

(As expected of the captain, even task arrangements are so thoughtful.)

Qianyu only had this thought. Refusing never crossed her mind.

“No problem!”

This was her first night watch task, and a direct order from the captain.

It was inevitable to show enthusiasm.

At the same time, she couldn’t help but worry—what if the incident from early this morning happened again.

Well, it’ll work out when the time comes—

Infected by Lilix’s optimistic atmosphere,

Qianyu decided to focus the rest of her attention on resting well.