Chapter 184: A soft breeze
"No, you can't come," Irwin said as he put his hands on his hips and glared at Ib.
"I'm really good at fighting, and I have a card that's going to be of great help," she said. "Besides-"
Before she got another word out, Rindiri grabbed her by the neck and pulled her back, shoving her into her seat.
"Enough! Remember what I told you about obeying orders when on a ship?" Rindiri snapped.
Ib looked disgruntled at the table, and Irwin sighed in relief. He didn't feel like arguing again, and he sent Rindiri a grateful smile.
"So… if she can't, perhaps-"
"No," Greldo said, his voice a growl as he poked a finger in Zender's chest. "Have all of you forgotten the rules we set up less than a week ago?"
"I remember, but listen, this is a rank-six world! Six! There is no way that the outside is going to be dangerous! Nobody has ever been here, and rank four and above worlds are always really great with plants and water and stuff like that!"
Irwin shook his head as he ignored Zender, leaving it to Greldo to keep him in line. Ever since the two of them had begun sword fighting together, Zender had started hanging around Greldo. Instead, he focused on Daubutim.
"I think you should come with me this time," he said. "If you are absolutely sure the world on the other side is habitable."
Daubutim nodded resolutely. "From everything I have read, rank-five worlds, at a minimum, are places that are far more habitable than anything below. Four are sometimes nice, but you can still get worlds that are permanently winter or summer, making them far from ideal. Six? They should be stable, large, and filled with life. With nothing dropping out of the portal yet, I would say it's safe."
Irwin nodded, scratching his chin. "It just feels way too convenient," he finally muttered, expressing the thing he'd been feeling ever since they had calmed down a bit after finding the portal.