30. Friends Part 3

When Shen finishes off the wild boars, Fritz notices that people outside of his party don't give or leave him with Demonic Karmas to collect.

'My party's maximum capacity is 3. It increases by one every time I do a Rebirth. I should keep on leveling and expand my party even more.'

The three kids spent the night together with Shen and Natasha. The couple has another spacious bedroom in case of such incidents. The three men shared the guest room while Natasha and Lily slept together in a comfortably fluffy bed.

Fritz sat in the window of their bedroom that midsummer morning and disconsolately watched the birds chirps and the greenery that soothes his tired body. He awoke earlier than the others, for he could not sleep due to some thoughts that have been bugging him.

"Why don't I start my morning workout while the others are still sleeping?"

Even if he was not able to properly sleep, Fritz found himself energetically working out in the front yard. After doing some push-ups and other exercises, he then decided to take a stroll around the area, hoping that he'd come across a couple of monsters to complete his morning. Unfortunately, he didn't.

Everybody was awoken by the time Fritz came back. Shen was done cooking their breakfast while Natasha and the other two kids were preparing the dining table.

"You won't encounter monsters around this area," Shen said, smiling.

"Those wild boars yesterday just happened to stumble upon here." He threw a piece of cloth to Fritz to wipe off his sweaty body.

The kid caught the piece of cloth. "Quite unfortunate." The aroma of the newly cooked breakfast went under his nose. "I suddenly feel hungry."

"Breakfast is ready."

The famished kid joined in and took a seat. He grabbed a bread and took a sip of the hot soup with sliced meat in it.

"The bazaar here is quite far away. It will take us about two hours to reach it." Natasha said, chowing on a loaf of bread.

"Don't talk when your mouth is full."

"Okay..." she replied dryly.

Newt and Lily were both glowing. They haven't had a nice bath and comfortable sleep for the past few days.

***

Fritz learned new things about Outsiders. Every Outsider has this sub-dimensional inventory wherein they could store limited types of equipment and kinds of stuff of a sizable amount. Unlike his spatial inventory that is expanding every Rebirth he did. That also answers why Shen was able to act faster than he could when the wild boars got lost.

Led by the couple, Fritz, Newt and Lily went on a two hours trip to reach the nearest city. Natasha packed some leftover food and water for when they get hungry. They can just make a stop, take some rest and eat to regain the drained energy.

"I shouldn't have come along with you guys," said Lily. There is still a whole hour of walking trip and, her feet were aching already. Due to her frail and thin body, her stamina and physical proficiency are not that great. She needs to gain more pounds and do some exercise to be physically fit.

Natasha was a tall, stout woman with a corset so tight that her bust protruded forward like a ship's prow. Her golden locks were accentuated by a curled false fringe that was brazenly yellow and disdained to blend in with the rest of her hair. She had a round, brightly colored face with a mix of good-natured sophistication and a commanding demeanor.

"Should I cast a spell on you, Lily?" Asked Natasha cheerfully. She placed her right hand on top of Lily's head and, after just a few seconds, the kid afloat. "There you go." She pinched the kid's cheek and continued walking.

"H-how are you doing this, big sis?" Fascinated by it, Lily found herself enjoying floating around.

Envy arose from Newt and Fritz. The two kids asked Natasha to cast one on them too but, "I can only cast it on one person. You guys are men. Walking for two consecutive hours without taking a break should be an easy feat for you two." The skill that was cast upon Lily lasted for an hour, enough for her to reach the City of Aldama, a small city of the Iloutopia Kingdom.

Under the over-arching storefronts and inns, the brick road lay checkered in shade and sun glare, and the hooves churned up small red clouds of dust. Girls cool in floral skirts, with light shawls, bonnets, and mittens to protect their skin and small parasols carried over their heads; elderly ladies calm and smiling amidst the laughter and carriage-to-carriage calls and jokes; Soldiers on horseback idling at a snail's pace beside the carriages, wheels creaking, spurs jingling, gold braid gleaming, parasols bobbing, fans swishing, and entertainers singing. Convalescents from the inns wedged in between stout chaperons and slender girls who made a great fuss and to-do over them; soldiers on horseback idling at a snail's pace beside the carriages.

"What a lively City." The stores, bars, and inns were beside each other.

"Follow me," said Shen, leading the way to a slightly different building. The store gave a gloomy vibe to whoever walks in front of it. Shen knocks three times and opened the door. "Pardon our intrusion."

A short, pot-bellied, irascible old gentleman with a pink face, a shock of long silver hair, and an utter lack of patience with feminine timidities and vaporings came into sight.

"Okay, okay, I need to go now. It looks like I have customers!" The owner of the shop banged down the communication device. "What can I do for my dear cus— Shen?!" He exclaimed. "I won't give you free weapons and items anymore!"

The latter calmed the old man down of his rants. "I'm not here for that, Rhett." He was chuckling, recalling a memory from a month ago. "We came here not for that reason. I was just accompanying some kids who have something valuable to sell."

"Kids? Where did you pick those brats up?! I don't buy rocks that can be found from the streets!"

Before Rhett could go on with his babbling, Natasha showed herself and happily greeted the old man.

"Oh, my dear Natasha, you came!" Rhett had a sudden change in behavior upon seeing the busty woman. "As beautiful as always! Why didn't you come with your stupid husband the last time he came here?" He fumbled in his pocket for a piece of cloth to wipe his hands.

"I was busy at that time."

'Look at this old man. I can see a Newt in the future.'

"What?" Fritz was looking intently at Newt so, the latter had to ask him.

"Nothing." Carrying the bag with the minotaur's skull, Fritz put down the bag and took a look around the shop.

'Nothing special to remark. Just some piles of trash and decrepit decorations.'

"So, you are here to sell something?" The shop, from the outside, looks spacious. But, from the inside, the shop only occupies a quarter of the whole store.

Shen nodded, "These kids, actually."

Rhett shifted his gaze toward the kids. "What are you brats going to sell?!" If Newt, Lily, and Fritz were ordinary kids, the three of them would be crying now with how Rhett treated them and how he looked.

"We are wondering how much this will cost?" The rainbow horn of the minotaur came into light.

They could see Rhett's eyes widened, dumbfoundedly pointing at the rainbow horn. "Y-y-you brats! W-where the hell did you pick something so rare?!" The old man drools, came closer to the bag to check if it's the real deal. "Freaking hell!"

Shen tapped Rhett's should, still fascinated by the rainbow horn. "Shouldn't we talking upstairs?"

Rhett wiped his drool and collected his composure. "Y-yeah. We should. Come, brats! Follow me to my office!"

~