Chapter 6: Suggestion

The next morning

I keep the promise. We head straight to the forest that Kiltan is leading

What I witness next is a one-sided massacre… Kiltan called snakes before hands. And he is now beating all the wolves without breaking a sweat. Corpses are lying everywhere, some are even bone exposed. And the snakes are just there to carry kills for their king.

- Why did you bring me here?

- To show one out of ten my strengths looks like.

- Show off.

- How about you use your power then? The next one should be easy. Just another batch of these guys

And another one-sided massacre… I use my dance and knife. Single handedly wipe all of them before a leaf lands the ground. And he calls his servants once again to carry the kills.

- Well done. I always thought that you mage can only run away, and dodge to escape

- That was a lie. I am not a mage or magician. I was a jester before

- Eh? That explains a bit more about your moves last night

- That is how I performed 800 years ago

- How old are you?

- If it is my memory then I am 800 years old, if this body, just a few months.

- I guess that is that. How does Bitear taste?

- That thing I ordered at the bar yesterday? Strong ale. That can even knock out the strongest bear

- No wonder why you said weak alcohol. Let's head to my home after we return these, I will treat you for today. You are a very strong person.

- I can't reject that proposal.

After we collect our money for the quest, he splits the half for me.

His home is big and is about a thosamase to the guild. Inside of the house, there is a kid sitting on a chair and a lady behind the kitchen counter. Seems like a happy family…

- Kiltan, you have a great family there. Your blonde hair daughter is cute and your wife is a beauty.

- Actually, she is not my daughter neither that pervert is my wife.

- Eh???

- That little girl there is Miwra Ulthorm, the number one vanguard of mercenaries.

- I doubt you, lolicon.

- Stop saying that drake slang stuff, okay? I fought Kima Jersil, the Drake Fighter, in a friendly bonding tournament between humans and drakes last year. He said that I was a lolicon. At first I didn't understand it, then he explained and later on, many drakes call me "Lolicon King" ever since.

- That hurts a lot. But still, I still think "Lolicon King" fits you well.

- You want to feel another dance?

- I think I don't want to

- What is the ruckus between you two? - The little girl questions us in an angry voice

- This guy kidnapped you, right?

- I am Miwra Ulthorm. I live here with my colleague and I got married last year. My husband is better than this sadist

- Who do you call a sadist? I beat the five-mouth, remember?

- Who had to do all the heavy load afterward?

- Hey, I called snakes to carry most of the things. You only carried 3 skulls and it was much easier than restraining a troll.

- Hey, I woke up when you were heavily injured and I had to restrain it for an hour. You only had one job to cut its necks.

- I hate this argument with this brat

- Same goes for me, you sadist.

As much as it seems, they are actually trusting each other's life.

- Speaking of which, you mentioned that lady is a pervert.

- Yes. Because that lamia just tracked me down last year to this very town.

- Lamia? Aren't they human eaters?

- Yes. But apparently, after I told her not to eat humans if she wanted to live with me.

- You don't like making a lady cry, do you?

- Yeah, I don't want to make a lady cry. Beside, it took me the whole morning to convince guards that she was not here to eat me nor threaten the town.

- Dedication

- I hate so.

- My king~ . Human soup is ready

- Can I skip that? - I am whispering to Kiltan

- I can agree but you have to suffer with me for the day please. - Kiltan begs

- Not because it might taste bad but I prefer doing something else beside eating. - I haggle

- Please for my day or Miwra will beat me up.

- Fine, I accept for today- My fate is sealed…

I don't know if this is actually made from humans. At least, what I am gonna eat isn't gonna be considered cannibalism. It tastes like a horrible mole's gut from that time as Dasmuth. Welp, time for me to skip my taste and eat normally.

- You know when she said human soup doesn't mean it is actually made from humans, more like from ungutted muddy catfish. She never guts once before cooking

- Lamia likes to eat human meat. The only substitutes for the taste of humans for them are basically ungutted fishes.

- I feel that for you, Kiltan. But isn't that ungutted fish doesn't taste the same as human meat completely to them?

- Yeah. I have to eat this every night while Miwra doesn't have to

- Come on, chill my comrade. At least, it doesn't taste as bad as your cooking.

Despite bad taste, it seems a lamia and a loli lady are treating Kiltan well. He seems anti social but in reality, he is just not having a society that is for him to talk

I stay for the night at their house but to be honest. I rather sleep in the street than get kicked by Miwra in sleep fighting while hearing the snoring of reptiles in the house.

The next morning, thank gods. At least I don't suffer human fatigue but I suffer a horrible mental side effect after sleeping at his house. Seriously, this is why no one would stay for a night at Kiltan's despite having a good house, huge beds but terrible people's sleeping habits makes it unbearable for normal humans.

- Jehidas, what is your next destination?

- Anywhere but spending a night here.

- Most people or travellers would say that to me

- I think I understand their feeling now

- Where would you go next? I suggest staying at Nakitel. That town is quite close to desert and you can learn from people for a few years. If you are bored, you can go for the upcoming village at Galima, kinda next to desert but 300 thosamases from Nakitel

- Thank for suggestion

Nakitel, here I go

After walking alone with provisions bought with the money from that hunting day, but as soon as I waste the last portion of my provisions. I can see Nakitel is a wooden fenced town with some guards. Bows and arrows, halberds, they are all well armed but poorly armoured with leather instead of iron ones. I guess for the light weight, heat, cost and comfort.

As I am coming toward the gate guard, I pretend myself as a hungry wanderer.

- Who are you?

- Hey man, I am from Loreahor. My provisions were poorly prepared, so lucky to get here as soon as they are all spent.

- Name?

- Jehidas, I am an orphan, raised by a merchant.

- It seems you are one. But why gun, knife and staff?

- That is a thunderstick. All of these things are for self protection. You know? Highwaymen and monsters these days.

- First time on this road?

- Kinda, precaution is a virtue. But please give me something before I collapse

- You better pay me well.

He gives me a piece of bread and a bag of water.

- Thank you so much. Here, an exchange

I give him a silver coin

- Don't you think this is a bit much?

- Whawt? - As I am chewing a big bite.

- This is worth like 100 Quinks. Are you sure that you are a merchant or a shut-in noble?

- I have experience in trading in the desert not in grassland so I don't know much about how currency works. Also my money was converted in Loreahor when I traded spice. I think it is about 1 thosagaf for about 10 gold coins.

- …

- …

- What spice was that?

- Chilli.

- You were scammed. That spice is worth more than that. A pinch worth more like 100 Quinks already.

- How about your sword in your sheath? That doesn't look like it is made from metal. More like from heavy wood.

- … Please do not tell this to our count. I have a kid so I had to sell the sword to get money for him. He is bedridden

- It is okay. You seem like a good man. But hey, I know a good blacksmith who can make you a good new sword the same as the one you sold. You just need to give me a design

- How did you know it is a wooden sword?

- I just saw a tiny bit of termite dropping flowing out your sword hilt. That is a very dire situation and also it could harm your house too.

- As expected of a merchant, you can't deceive a good merchant's eyes.

He let me pass

It seems a silver coin worth 100 Quinks huh?

I wonder through town.

As soon as I reach the bar, I eat like no tomorrow. Although I am not that hungry, to act like a human, I think it is best to eat like that. The best things to recover trauma are pie and soft bread. When I pay the bar, I give the waitress 2 silver coins. I say keep the change, I am in a hurry. This town is more peaceful but I haven't seen any cattle. Perhaps, I need to explore more. It seems the problem is this town settlement, there is no single blade of grass here to feed cows. But I see goats and goats. They use goats for transporting, need like 4 or more per carriage. What do they eat here?

It seems they eat those leaves huh?

Next thing to do is to find a merchant guild for registering myself first.

- I first come here, can you kindly show me the way to the merchant guild of this town?

- It is next to the mill, the biggest thing you see in the town.

- Thank you, kind lady

That was a good conversation for a while. When I reach the merchant guild, it seems I am in the wrong address…

At least Loreahor's doesn't look like this

It is too beautiful. It looks like a noble house. It looks like it is made of stone, the roof is made of bricks. There is even a stable.

- Another desert man? What seems to be your interest?

In front of me, a slim lady is sitting on a chair with a no-care posture. Her left hand is holding a glass that is filled half with red liquid.

- This town is a suitable place for me to settle for a while before I get back home. I think I want to buy a store here to sell my stuff here.

- What do you offer?

- How about weapons? Armors? Perhaps this town is lacking tools.

- Good eyes. Can you give me a sample?

- Here they are.

I let her see my weapons. She seems to be interested. She calls her servant to fill her glass with that red liquid again

- Can I ask you? What are you drinking?

- Moon tear. I got it from a trade with elves.

- Strong one?

- Yes, it is wine.

- Why is it called moon tear while it is red?

- It is made during the full moon and it is finished at the next full moon so it is called moon tear.

- Doesn't make any sense

- I don't know about elvish name sense. Back to the weapons.

- After seeing these babies, What is your opinion?

- How much are they?