Chapter 3 Vol.2
Chapter 22: Candy kingdom
After a 10 minute walk, we exited the barracks, using the passes given by the soldiers we managed to pass through the checkpoint with ease. We reached a big city gate after another 30-minute ride from the military checkpoint to another checkpoint due to the War that might break up anytime.
"Next! You two, state your purpose of entry."[Guard]
"We came here to resupply our resources." [Calli]
Calli showed the man the badge given by the soldiers. The soldier looks at us and our attire. we are currently wearing the Demon Lord special forces uniform which is all black and covered with a mantle and a cape. The soldier's faces here look tense from the nervousness and at the same time, I felt that they lack emotions to show it.
"Remove your hood please." [Guard]
We both removed our hoods and the guards looked at our ears.
"You may pass, but if you were to cause any trouble, we can deport you anytime at will. NEXT!" [Guard]
We got into the city safely and began our shopping, however before we started Calli said something weird,
"LIsten, Only consume things that I approve of while we are in the city unless you want to experience hardships."[Calli]
"Do you really need so much control over my life Dad?"[Edge]
"You'll understand in time."[Calli]
Since she said so it's better to just follow her to ensure a smooth ride.
"Dad?" [Edge]
"Yes son" [Calli]
"Is there a reason why I never celebrated any birthdays during our stay at the vault?" [Edge]
"Its because they're old. They would wish that they could forget how long they lived after they reached a certain threshold. It's something that might hurt them if you make them start counting again."[Calli]
"How old are they?"[Edge]
"Again with that sort of questions, Mio is pretty ancient if you were to ask me and Fubuki is relatively young, probably after the first prank war" [Calli]
"What!? Fubuki is a Hun-"[Edge]
Calli covered my mouth with her hand, she whispers into my ear.
"Don't announce a girl's age in public okay?! It seems that I need to teach you a lesson about human values and decency after this is over."[Calli]
"Sorry..."[Edge]
Information on what I learned from the Vault on Candy kingdom is that it was originally a small town and its founder was a sweets maker. Many people gathered for its sweets and it eventually snowballed into an empire of confectionery and sweets. In merely 50 years they became a small kingdom and then the expansion of their borders kept growing until they neared the edge of the forest. Elves living in the forest retaliated against their expansions, wars were fought and relations between them turned sour until the past 127 years. They established trade relations but still repelled outsiders from stepping into the forest.
The city is painted in colors that are cheerful and bright but there aren't many people in the streets and the atmosphere is bad. I could smell fear emitting from them after they saw our attire. Only businesses that are selling essentials are open and the rest are all closed shut. Calli and I finally reached the city center where a white fountain was located and then she started navigating us towards the liquor store that she highly recommended.
"So what's so special about this store Calli?" [Edge]
"They use spring water from the underground water source in the forest of the dead. It contains the trace minerals needed for yeast to thrive, It has no chlorine, fluoride, or other contaminants making it the fucking best to make wine."[Calli]
I can feel the excitement from Calli's footsteps and her occasional humming.
"We're here" [Calli]
It is an old store with a wooden plague Anderson's Brew. An old man came out to welcome us.
"Hello there foreign soldiers, It must have been a long walk for you to reach my shop here. Care for a drink?" [Store Owner]
"Hell yeah we do"[Calli]
Calli said that excitedly. She looks pumped, and I get to enjoy fine wine. It's a win-win. The shop owner uncorked a bottle of red wine and poured 2 glasses for the two of us.
"Then here you go" [Store Owner]
"Here we go." [Edge]
I tried to pour the wine into my mouth in one go but the bitterness and sourness choked me.I threw up the wine in my mouth instantly and winced in disgust.
*Bluuegh* *Cough*
"Oh yea I forgot to teach you how to drink"[Calli]
Calli finished the wine in her glass in 5 sips. She placed the glass on the table and begun explaining
"Swirl the glass for a bit to pull the aromas and smell it, look at the color and try to taste it with your nose from the smell, then take a sip." [Calli]
I followed her instructions and drank it. From the smell, i could smell oak and the fermented sour taste of the wine.
"Let it roll around on your tongue for a moment and after you swallow the sip, try to taste the aftertaste" [Calli]
I could taste some hint of sweetness after rolling it around my tongue but the sourness is attacking my tongue making it feel numb.I Try to taste the aftertaste but i could only taste lingering bitterness and sourness along with the hint of sweetness earlier.
"So how's it?" [Calli]
" *ahh* Bitter" [Edge]
"Haha, It takes time to get the acquired taste for it. You can take your time, after all, we have a long night to go." [Calli]
Calli grabbed hold of my shoulder while talking and hit it after she finished to encourage me.
"Store owner I'll take everything on these 3 shelves"[Calli]
"Really? You're a godsend, With the stalemate going on I need money to get away from here. Thank you so much but how do you plan on carrying them? Do you have your own wagon?" [Store Owner]
"Unfortunately we don't, but we could make arrangements for that."[Calli]
Calli flashed the badge given by the soldiers at the barracks. The store owner looked stunned but he also saw an opportunity for him.
"Mind if I ask when are the two of you leaving? I could escort the two of you to the military base in the evening to collect my pay as well " [Store Owner]
"Make it done in the afternoon and we'll pay you extra." [Calli]
The eyes of the owner flashed in greed and he decided to agree to our terms.
"Very well. I will do that instead, I will be waiting for you both in front of the square at half-past twelve."[Store Owner]
"Thank you, we shall see you soon" [Calli]
"Goodbye. And you too boy."[Store Owner]
I waved him goodbye and we left to stroll the kingdom. It's half-past twelve and we are seated in the wagon and headed towards the checkpoint.
"Is it okay to put it on Mikochi's tab?" [Edge]
"Considering the work we're about to do I'll say we're giving her a discount." [Calli]
"We're stopping the war?"[Edge]
"If push comes to shove and I might have to step in then the war is over before it begins." [Calli]
"Then why aren't we joining the war council? It all started out of a misunderstanding after all." [Edge]
"I see you're already informed" [Calli]
"But you see, I prefer a non-intervention approach for humans can kill each other as much as they want. *Guh* " [Calli]
"Then when are we entering the forest?"
"Tonight, after we find ourselves a guide."[Calli]
"A guide? we'll need a guide this time?" [Edge]
"Yes the woods weren't there when I was here, there were only a couple of Hydras lying around.I hope the scouts could help us secure a path straight to them."[Calli]
The cart suddenly stops in front of the checkpoint. There seems to be a ruckus.
"GET BACK HERE!"[Guards]
There is a man running towards the gate at full sprint while carrying a package.
"SHOOT THAT MAN!"[Guard 2]
*Bang* *BOOM*
The guards shot the man dead but the package he's holding exploded and killed a dozen people in front of the borders. The fire engulfed people who are alive and also the charred corpses that are lying on the ground. A stench of burnt skin wafted in the air. An officer showed out of nowhere and yelled out a chain of commands.
"CLEAN IT UP! WE ARE CLOSING THE CHECKPOINT TODAY, FOR EVERYONE ELSE PLEASE COME BACK TOMORROW!" [OFFICER]
"It seems that they would be closing the borders until tomorrow, I guess we can only try again tomorrow?" [Store Owner]
Calli and I looked at each other and made a deep sigh.
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Yes, I became too engrossed in wine all of the sudden...
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