Rudeus in Re:zero

"CHEERS!"

Celebrations rang in Pipin, the third largest country of one of the three Great Magic Nations, Duchy of Basherant. The shouts were from the brave adventurers that took on an S-ranked quest to kill a stray Red Wyrm, a dangerous beast capable of flattening towns and cities.

Four adventuring parties united to slay the great beast. Though, they quickly realized they were outmatched. A Red Wyrm quest typically calls for seven parties with at least 40 S and A-ranked adventurers. To make matters worse, they encountered a pack of Luster Grizzles during their pursuit, alerting the mighty beast before the group was ready. The United might of Stepped Leader, Rod Knights, Iron Cluster Corps, and The Drunken nonsense would have vanished to history had it not been for the man of the hour.

Rudeus Greyrat.

"All hands up for the star of the show, Rudeus of Quagmire. The one who single-handedly killed the Red Wyrm!"

"Rudeus! Rudeus!"

"Quagmire! Quagmire!"

"Everyone, please calm down. I wouldn't have been able to do so if it wasn't for everyone's effort!"

The fifteen-year-old Adventurer was, simply put, a child prodigy. The combination of a reincarnated mind obsessed with the concept of magic and the Laplace Factor birthed a monstrous mage. Had he been known to the nobility, or had the Fittoa displacement incident not happened, Rudeus would have found himself under the clutches of Asuran politics for his vast mana pool and voiceless incantations.

"Humble as ever, huh, Quagmire? It never hurts to take the glory here and there. Especially when you kill a Red Wyrm!"

"Thanks, Soldat. But still, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you guys."

"Sure, sure. Keep knocking yourself over every achievement you make. Besides, isn't it time you joined Stepped Leader?"

Soldat, the current Leader of the S-ranked party Stepped Leader, picked Rudeus up a few years ago. After failing to make up for his father and some traumatic heartbreaks, Rudeus was at the lowest point of his life. The result? Simply put, he was a mess. After years of searching, Rudeus has yet to find his mother, nor has he found a cure for his manhood.

"I always appreciate your offers, but you know I can't join. I've spent enough time in this city. It's time I moved on to the next."

Even under the pressure of finding his mother and the self-hate that bubbled inside him, Rudeus never stopped searching for his mother. He traveled from town to town, spreading his name in hopes his mother would find him. He would not stop to smell the flowers, to enjoy the adventuring life he was living. After all, seeing his mother was the only purpose he had.

"Right... Things never change. Well, we'll still be staying here for at least another year. Let me know when you leave so we can see you off."

"I will. Thanks for everything, Soldat."

Rudeus's rejection made slight frowns across the tavern, but no one blamed the young mage for his decision. We all live for a goal, even at the cost of one's happiness.

"It was then! The Red Wyrm appeared!"

Three troubadours performed on the pub's stage. One stood in front and told the story in a clear, bell-like tone, while the other two matched their music to his rhythm, throwing in sound effects here and there.

It had only been a day since the Red Wyrm's defeat, yet ballads were performed in the tavern where Rudeus Greyrat was enjoying his dinner.

'At least I'm alone to listen to this. Feyden would pester me with his teases had he been here,' the depressed magician thought.

Earlier that day, Rudeus had begun to prepare for his departure. He packed his belongings in his travel sack, purchased packed rations, and exchanged some of his coins for precious gems to use in different countries. He still needed to decide where to go, and his Asuran coins were not accepted everywhere. Exchanging them for gems ensured he could quickly generate money for whatever currency the country used. One would lose some money during each transaction, but it always helps to be prepared. Besides, he never felt the need for excessive wealth. Rudeus had nothing to spend his hard-earned money on besides food, shelter, and supplies.

He never realized that his entire world would flip on his head today.

"I've finally found you, Rudeus the Quagmire!"

The doors to the quiet pub swung open, revealing an elf with long hair in thick ringlets. She looked like an adventurer but was garbed in a dress with a backpack, sword, and shield on her hip. Her face was, in a word, beautiful. She had large, narrowed eyes, pointed ears, and radiant blonde hair. She was also incredibly thin, with a flat chest. She was truly the perfect picture of an elf.

"So you've finally found me, eh…" the boy nonchalantly replied.

He had no idea who the heck she was. He hadn't done anything in the past few years that might give someone a reason to hold a grudge against him. He helped people, avoided fights, and was careful not to attract the wrong kind of attention. This was the first time a beautiful woman had sought him out, but maybe he had done enough general good that people were now seeking him out to give thanks.

'Somehow, I doubt that's the case.'

"You stick out like a sore thumb, just like I was told you would. I found you immediately!"

"Wait, you said 'finally' just a second ago, didn't you?"

"I thought you would be further east," she said, her beautiful eyes staring straight at the mage. For some reason, there was drool trickling from her mouth. She licked it away.

'What's with the woman? Why is she looking at me like that? She barely even knows me, yet her eyes shout of want. Is this the unspoken rizz of the Greyrat genes?'

The Elf effortlessly walked towards the young magician and sat next to him as if it was the most obvious thing to do. Had the center of attention been a virgin, he would have mistaken her for falling in love with him. She sat close to the man. Real close.

"My name is Elinalise Dragonroad. I'm Paul's former party member-"

'Oh,' the boy replied in thought.

On his way home from the demon continent, Rudeus reunited with his father. He expected a heartfelt welcome from his after being separated for seven years. Instead, his father accused him of wasting his time chasing mistresses while ignoring the cries of his family and neighbors. In a fit of confusion and rage, the young boy lashed out at his father, questioning his fidelity to his wife.

Of course, this was all but a misunderstanding. Paul and his party rescued a kidnapped child who was displaced during the displacement incident. They were trying to help the boy reunite with his family, but in the eyes of Rudeus, this was just a typical kidnapping. He could have ignored the sight, but after traveling with Ruijerd, Rudeus couldn't look away from those in need, especially children.

Rudeus tried to rescue the kidnapped child, only to fail and fumble over some woman's undergarments in a slight panic. He hadn't realized he was intruding on a rescue mission until he met face-to-face with his father.

Things only got worse from there. When they moved to a restaurant to share stories, Rudeus boasted about his fantastic adventures like a typical fairytale. He didn't want to worry his burdened father about his dangerous trek back home. Paul, on the other hand, took his story differently.

To Paul, Rudeus was a genius child. He held great expectations for the boy and thought him greater than himself. After years of failures, he felt his wonderful son had a better chance of finding their family. So when he heard about the boy's biased trial, combined with the constant stress and self-loathing, Paul snapped.

After some verbal counters, and some fists and magic, their once wholesome bond was shattered. It was only then had Rudeus realized what had happened. Reality struck hard. While he was busy playing Adventurer, his father was on his last whims searching for his missing family and townspeople. The thought that the blast ensnared others never popped up. He blamed himself for his incompetency. The boy could have saved so many lives but chose not to.

And the worse part, his younger sister Norn had seen it all. She saw how far his father had fallen mentally during those two years. To the young girl, his so-called brother beat his tirelessly working father with magic. This was the first time they had met, and as they say, first impressions make up half of your relationships.

Rudeus silently wept as he failed to protect the one thing he had worked so hard for in his new life, his family. Without telling a soul, he left this city with Ruijerd and Eris the next day.

"I'm also Roxy's friend."

Hearing the name of his treasured teacher, Rudeus snapped out of his depressive thoughts.

"What! My teacher! Where is she?"

He leaned forward from his seat, excited to hear someone speak his teacher's name for the first time in a long time.

"More importantly!"

Instead of answering the number-one question on the mage's mind, Elinalise leaned close enough to kiss him and put her lips to his ear.

"I heard you killed a Red Wyrm alone, didn't you?"

"Y-yeah, it was basically at death's door, anyway."

"Now I understand why Roxy was so proud of you."

The fight against the Red Wyrm was a challenging task. It may be the hardest quest he has taken so far. Still, after his near-death encounter with the Dragon God Orsted, it was hard to panic and lose control. Nothing could compare to the fear of facing the seconded ranked warrior of the seven great powers. Even Hitogami claimed him to be the strongest being in existence.

"I'm tickled pink to hear my teacher boasting about me… No, that actually tickles. What are you doing?"

"Touching your chest. You're very strong."

Her fingers traveled up my chest until she touched the pendant Lilia gave me.

"My, my. Who gave you this?"

"My family's maid. She gave me this alongside an important relic I had at home."

"Oh, is she an Elf?"

"Huh? No, they're not. My, my, why are you asking about that?"

'Oops, looks like I'm now talking like her.'

The Elf raised her sheathed sword, revealing an intricately crafted pendant like his. An amateur had made the magician's pendant while a skilled craftsman made hers.

"This is a design passed down from my tribe. Whoever made it must have been an Elf like me."

'Made by an Elf, huh? Lilia is obviously not an Elf. I can't see why anyone would give Lilia an Elven pendant to pass one to me-'

"Sylphy..."

Indeed, the pendant was made by Rudeus's childhood friend, Sylphyette. She was a green-haired half-elf girl from Fittoa. They would play out daily, practicing their innate talent for voiceless-incantation. Rudeus had not seen Sylphy since he left for his teaching job all those years ago. While her name was not on the list of the dead, with both her parent's demise and Lilia's silent remark about the pendant's origin, only one conclusion could be made.

'Sylphy didn't survive after all...'

With the realization settling in the child's mind, a deep emotion rose from his chest as a lone tear fell from his right eye. Elinalise noticed the boy's anguish and didn't act. With her ridiculously long life span, she knew the pain of losing a loved one. It didn't take much for her to realize what the boy was going through. She let the young prodigy silently grieve in his way. Besides, she did not want to get wrapped up with Paul's son.

After a silent 5 minutes, Rudeus wiped his tears and proudly wore the Elven pendant above his shirt. It was the only thing he could do to remember his presumed dead friend.

"I'm sorry you had to see that. Anyways, Miss Elinalise, do you have some business with me?"

"I've brought good news."

"Good news?"

The woman only smiled in reply before bringing out the one blessing the boy could have.

That was the day Zenith's whereabouts were confirmed.

"I can't sleep."

With the sudden news of her mother, Rudeus could not sleep. Was it from happiness? Excitement? Joy? Yes... and no. Despite his last interaction with Paul, Rudeus still loved his parents. He still wanted to make amends and felt the best way to do it was to rescue his mother, Zenith. It was the only way to atone for his sins and make up for his sloth. Yet, he learned that all his efforts were in vain. His master Roxy had located Zenith with help from the Demon Empress Kishirika Kishirisu.

He failed what felt like his one chance to make it up to his father, to patch the broken family he shattered. What's worse was he could have located his mother years ago. When Rudeus met the Demon empress years ago, he could have asked her where his family was, but no. He took the entire interaction as a joke and obtained the Demon Eye of Foresight. His sloth made him a failure, and his greed took his one chance at diligence.

He, indeed, was the worst of them all.

'This entire time, Zenith was in the Begaritt continent. Of course, she had to be in the one place I had never visited.'

He sighed deeply as he realized the predicament he was in. With his complete failure to locate his mother, Rudeus would never gain the courage to face his father again.

"Well, there's nothing I can do anymore."

He fell back on his bed, forgetting to undress or unpack his bags as he no longer had a reason to leave. The quiet, calming sensation of sleep enveloped his mind as he drifted to the endless void of rest. Even after his early declaration to take life seriously, he was nothing more than a useless human scum who leached off the work of others.

"Huh?"

The distressed young boy repeatedly rubs his eyes, looking left and right, taking in the bright sunny day.

"Where am I?"

Around the confused boy was the bustling street of a typical merchant's district. Humans, Beast, and Demon folk went along with their everyday lives. Some sent some side glances at the unusually dressed boy. He seemed like an average person but was wearing winter robes in the summer. His pack was filled to the brim as if he had just started an incredible journey. On his right was an ornate staff foreign to the people of this city. Perhaps they thought it an extravagant Metia? Whichever the case, it was clear that the boy was not average.

"I went to bed last night and... I don't remember anything else..." The boy muttered.

He rubbed his temples to remember just how he ended up in the middle of the street. It looked nothing like the streets of Pippin, and the temperature was too warm to be anywhere near the Northern continent. How did he end up here, and why couldn't he remember?

"Ugh, in any case. I should figure out where I am. The first step to expert adventuring is to learn where your place is in the world."

He took off his warm under cloak and stashed it in his sack. He wore a simple white shirt and red pants with his mage cloak he got from the Demon continent all those years ago.

Walking down the street of the newly found city, he reached the main road leading to the city's center. The large roads were filled with the busy workings of Lizard-like creatures pulling carts.

"Is that... are those giant lizards?" He muttered.

"HEY!" A voice shouted from behind.

"WATCH OUT!"

Turning around, Rudeus saw a young boy fall on the ground. Tumbling towards him was a Lizard pulled cart racing at incredible speed.

Before he knew it, Rudeus had begun running towards the boy in perilous danger.

*Quagmire*

The ground stretching from the boy to the carriage melted into viscous mud. With each step the lizard took, it fell deeper and deeper into the sucking muck it stood on. The carriage wheels faired no better as the entire underside sank deep within. The simple spell had stopped the racing carriage just in time to save the young boy's life.

The gathered people stopped and cheered in awe at the magical stranger's work to save the young boy. Only the driver seemed slightly annoyed but didn't express them vocally.

"Are you okay?" The mage asked.

After stopping the cart's momentum, Rudeus ran toward the boy on the ground. He struggled to stand as the shock of what happened hadn't yet settled, and his legs lost strength from the sprained ankle on his right foot.

"You have a sprained ankle. Here, let me heal that for you."

The boy looked at the strange young man that had saved him. He heard his voice and recognized his savior, yet no words came from his mouth. Was he too shocked to reply, or was he stunned in awe?

Rudeus saw his odd reaction but didn't think much of it. To him, he was a scared young boy that needed help. He gently gripped his injured leg and began chanting a healing spell.

"Let this divine power be as satisfying nourishment, giving one who has lost their strength the strength to rise again! Healing"

The radiant green glow emanated from the palm of the savior's hand. The boy was scared at the sudden use of magic but quickly settled as the pain of his injuries slowly faded to nothing. Soon enough, the once bruised ankle was good as new. The boy stood up, gathered his dropped supplies, and bowed at the mysterious healer with a bright smile before running off to who knows where.

Feeling satisfied with his work, he continued walking through the city, ignoring the weird looks the locals were giving the young hero.

"Excuse me, sir, do you know what city I'm in?" Rudeus asked a nearby fruit salesman.

The man was a mean-looking buff. He had the body worthy of a bodybuilder; at least, his upper body was. Add his mean face and a gripping scar between his eyes. You wouldn't dare approach the man unless you had business.

"What was that boy? What language even is that? Nobody here speaks in that tongue."

'Was that... Japanese? Am I... Am I back home?' The boy thought.

After years of living in his new world, Rudeus was comfortable speaking in three of the five languages: The human tongue, Beast God, and Demon God. He had assumed he was somewhere in the Central Continent and talked in his Human tongue to the stranger.

'It's almost... comforting to hear Japanese again,' The boy thought. Hearing his old mother tongue gave a wave of comfort rather than the expected confusion, as nobody in his old world spoke in Japanese.

Rudeus scratched the back of his head and smiled slightly at the man. He didn't want to appear rude or insult the man. He replied in Japanese in an amicable tone.

"Sorry. I'm an adventurer and use a different language. I'm trying to find the Adventurer's guild in this city. Do you know where it is?"

"Adventurer's guild? Sorry bud, but I've never heard of anything like an Adventurer's guild."

This only confused Rudues further. Just glancing at the city would tell you that this place was huge. A large and active city like this would have its own Adventurer's guild.

'Wait... I can't read the sign too. It's a completely different writing I've never seen before. Just where the hell am I?'

"Hey, are you just going to stand there or buy anything?"

"Oh, sorry, I must have spaced out. How much are the apples?" Rudeus asked as he pointed to the displayed bright red fruits.

"You mean the appas? The price is on the sign, but a dozen are 37 coppers."

"Uh, I just came from a foreign country. Would these work?"

Despite not being a universal currency, Asuran coins were recognized in most places worldwide. He would still accept them, right?

"Huh? What kind of money is that? You can't use that stuff in Lugunica. That means you're flat broke, huh?"

As the bulky aggressed towards Rudeus, he grabbed him by the collar, shouting at the seemingly broke man.

"Get out of here! Don't interfere with my business!"

"Ah, I'm sorry! I'll get out of your hair!"

"So, the people here speak Japanese but write in a completely different writing system..."

The young magician muttered to himself quietly as he walked through the bustling streets. As he aimlessly wandered the unfamiliar city, he bumped into what felt like a brick wall. He was too focused on the inner monologue that he forgot to look where he was going. Looking up, he saw an elegantly dressed swordsman with flaming red hair, sharp blue eyes, and a delicately ornate sword on his side. He fell on his bottom from the sheer strength of whoever he encountered.

'Damm. I should have looked where I was going. Whoever this is, he must be an insanely powerful swordsman!'

"Are you hurt? I apologize. I wasn't looking where I was going." Said the great swordsman as he handed out his hand.

His tone signified no ill will. Rudeus felt immensely calm hearing his voice. Despite his apparent strength, something about him made Rudeus feel safe.

Rudeus took the man's hand and stood up to meet him eye to eye. He was much taller than him and seemed better built as well. His tone, mannerism, and posture showed no signs of hostility.

"No, not at all. I should be the one to apologize. I was absorbed in thought that I forgot to look where I was going." Rudeus replied.

What was supposed to be an accident from both sides quickly became much more as the red-haired swordsman felt his divine protection trigger. The moment their hands met, the Divine Protection of Analysis and the Divine Protection of Empathy unknowingly activated. The former told the swordsman that this stranger held immense mana within him. So much so that it rivaled that of the greatest mage of the kingdom, perhaps even surpassing him. The thought of a random civilian with greater magical prowess than the great Roswaal L Mathers was concerning, but his latter Divine Protection gave him a sense of relief.

The Divine Protection of Empathy told him the man had no ill intentions or malice. While it wasn't enough to confirm the man wouldn't live a life of crime, it reassured the redhead. Though, he did feel a slight ounce of worry, sadness, and confusion in the stranger. That said, those were his emotions. It would be wrong to probe others without their consent. 'What a terrible knight I am,' He thought to himself.

"It is alright. It was also my responsibility to look where I was going. Well, I have some business to attend to. I'll head off that way. Stay safe."

With that, the swordsman left for his other duties. While worried about the stranger's magical potential, he had yet to do anything wrong. Accusing an innocent man would be unjust. He would return later to talk to the man if the need arose.

It's been an hour since Rudeus woke up in an unfamiliar city. After his slight skirmish with the fruit salesman, Rudeas discovered a few critical things about this new world.

"Alright, I've looked around enough to figure out what's happening. The people here speak Japanese. They don't accept Asuran currency. Beast and demon folk are walking around, and I can't read their writing. And I can still use my magic."

Had someone walked in on the boy sitting in a dark alleyway, mumbling to himself, they would have seen him no further than a madman at the peak of intelligence.

"That means… I've been summoned to another world!" He shouted.

"But why? I've already been reincarnated into a new world. Why am I here? Who summoned me? What about my family in..."

He paused the moment his thoughts round back to his family. Perhaps they would miss him. Aisha and Lilia only saw the hard-working boy, not the slothful trash he was. They would grow to hate him as well when they reunited with Paul. Roxy found Zenith. Paul's reformed party would be more than enough to rescue her.

'They wouldn't miss me at all, would they? Yeah, they never needed me, to begin with. Even Eris left me after all.'

"Alright! I can't let that drag me down. It's a new world, so a new me!" He shouted, rising from his depressed crouch, his hand high and proudly exclaiming his newly found determination.

"What are you babbling about!"

Unbeknownst to the madman rambling to himself, three ruffians entered the same alleyway and came face to face with the newly made man. One bulky muscular, one slim and tall, and one midget with a... mushroom head?

"If you don't want to get hurt, cough up whatever you've got!" Shouted the slim tall man.

'I guess this world follows the typical isekai troupes? A group of thugs here to reprimand the confused summoned being.' Rudeus thought.

The tall thug continued to walk towards Rudeus and grabbed him by the collar. Had Rudeus been any shorter, he would have succeeded in lifting him to threaten him. Alas, Rudeus was not an ordinary person in any sense.

These were no more than lowly thugs threatening Rudeus. He was confident he could take them out if he had to. Yet, he didn't want to kill anyone, even if they deserved it.

'Judging by their clothes, they aren't some rich assholes bullying the weak. They're just some unfortunate thugs from the slums trying to make days meet.' Rudeus judged them.

'I don't want to hurt anyone if I can help it. They may let me by if I talk it out.'

"I see. I'm new here. I don't want any trouble. Why don't you just let me go, and we can move on our separate ways?"

The tall aggressor seemed surprised by Rudeus's calm demeanor. He tracked the man down after his rejection from the fruit stand. Seeing the fruit seller chewing him out and judging him as a harmless traveler.

"The hell? You don't seem to understand. Give us everything you have, or you'll regret talking back!" He said, inching closer to Rudeus, invading his personal space.

Before any could respond, a young girl's voice echoed behind them as the quickened footsteps brought their attention.

"Move it, move it! Out of the way!"

A blond-haired girl with crimson eyes entered the alleyway. She wore tattered clothes, barely covering herself. Her hands gripped tightly in a fist as if she was holding something dear. She was running full speed towards them.

'Is she running from something? Does she need help too?' Rudeus thought.

Despite being mugged in a dark alleyway, Rudeus didn't care. He was more alarmed at what was chasing the young girl.

Ignoring the skirmish in front of her, the girl sprinted past the men, jumped off the wall like a speed-running Mario player, and disappeared as they stared at the rooftops.

"Woah," Rudeus voiced.

He was curious to know if magic existed in this world too. He figured that perhaps that was why everyone looked at him strangely, but clearly, the girl was using some kind of magic to propel herself up the wall.

'At least I can get a job as a magician now that magic is commonplace too.'

The thugs seemed impressed by the girl's parkour skill as well. They continued staring at the empty halls where the girl leapt out of their sight.

"Hey, that didn't make you decide to be less hostile toward me, did it?"

"Nope."

"It made us want to beat you even more."

'Well, at least I tried.'

'Alright, focus, Rudues. These people want to hurt you and take your prized possessions. You're more than capable of taking them on your own. But they aren't evil people, either. Mugging people is bad, but they're doing it to survive. Just bruise them, and they'll run away.'

'But you don't know the average strength of the people in this new world. For all you know, the average man could be a monster like Rudeus. I should act cautiously and rely on my demon eye.'

With that assessment, Rudeus activated his Eye of Foresight, knocked the thug's hands away from his collar, and blasted a gush of wind to knock him away from his aggressors.

"Look. I just arrived here and don't want to hurt people senselessly. If you leave me alone, I promise not to hurt you."

"Was that-"

"Magic?"

The big thug and the midget seemed surprised by Rudeus' sudden leap, but the tall, lanky one wasn't fazed.

"Tsch, no matter. He's alone, and we're three people. Rush him, boys!"

With his declaration of war, the tall mugger pulled two knives from his back and charged toward Rudeus.

'They're... slow.' Was all Rudeus could see as the thug ran towards him.

'Did I expect too much? He's not slow compared to people on earth, but he's nothing compared to those from Stepped Leader. Ruijerd or Eris would have already cut him down if they were in my position.'

'I guess I was right. These aren't some super soldiers ready to hurt people. Just some unfortunate normal people forced into a life of crime. I'll take them physically, ensuring not to hurt them too much.'

In response to the not-so-rapidly, Rudeus conjured a stone sword, making sure to blunt the edge not to hurt the man.

The thug hadn't realized how screwed he was as he continued barreling down on the seemingly unarmed man. He raised his arms, preparing to swing down on the man.

'Yeah, that settles it. He's planning to swing his knives to scare me mindlessly. His movement is slow, and his stance is pitiful. He hasn't had any formal training with the blade.'

After confirming his early suspicions, Rudeus readied his sword in a defensive position. He lowered his stance, blade hovering over his right shoulder. When the armed maniac came close, he swung at both wrists in the Sword God style.

"AHHH!" The thug screamed in pain.

Rudeus was sure not to swing too hard, but it was clear the damage was done. Both knives were on the floor, and the lanky's wrists were broken.

'Oops, Yikes. Too hard.'

The wristless thug fell on his behind as he realized how fucked he was. The lonely traveler wasn't a weary weakling. He was an accomplished mage with experience with the sword.

"Alright, if you leave me alone, I'll let you guys go. I'll even heal your wrists if they hurt too bad."

The three idiots look at him wide-eyed. They felt so confident when they confronted the weary traveler, but now they knew better than not to anger the man any further.

The mushroom head slowly backed off while the bulky one helped his friend. Before they could decide to fight or flee, a bell-like voice shouted at the opposite end of the alleyway.

"Halt villain!"

The tall thug had too much to handle to look back, while the muscular man stood still, afraid that the man in front of him would attack him further.

"I don't know what's happening, but I won't ignore you hurting these people. Apologize to them now!" The girl continued.

Walking down the hallway, Rudeus stared at the newly introduced excursion. She wore an elegant white dress with purple accents, signifying her rank as a noblewoman of high status. She had long silver hair groomed to perfection. Her eyes shined brightly in the dimly lit alley making the amethyst hue stand out. In short, she seemed like an embodiment of beauty, descending to help three helpless idiots tormented by a bully.

The three thugs took this as their cue to escape. They ran full speed out of the alley. Whatever happened to the man or woman wasn't their problem after all.

After their quick retreat, the girl stomped toward the man.

"You! If you return what you took, I'll let your crimes slide. It's wrong to hurt defenseless people and steal from them. So be good and give my insignia back."

Despite her efforts to sound proud and strong, her engrossing voice could calm even the most traumatized individual. Rudeus stared back at the girl, wondering why she was defending the thugs and why she demanded that he return something.

"Miss, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I wasn't hurting anyone on purpose, nor did I steal anything. Those guys tried to mug me, and I just wanted to scare them off." Rudeus replied.

"Hng... Don't you think you can lie to me! I can see your guilty conscience. You've been a bad boy, haven't you? The insignia is very important to me. If you tell me who stole it, I'll forgive you for hurting those people."

'Bad boy? I haven't had a chance to stretch little me in a long time. Wait, wait. I'm not even from this world. What the hell is she talking about?'

As they stared at each other, one with conviction and the other with confusion, a bright foreign voice popped up out of nowhere.

"I don't think he's lying, Lia. I can't sense any malice from him."

A floating cat flew from the girl's hair as it spoke those words. The majestic being was the size of a typical phone.

'Did, did that cat just talk?' Rudeus screamed internally.

Years of adventuring, fighting beast after beast, never prepared for the odd appearance of the magical talking cat floating in front of the Elf.

"What? Wait, rea~lly? Oh no. Did I rea~lly just come around the wrong way?"

Her tone changed from her attempted, authoritative voice to that of a worried schoolgirl. She turned around to face the floating cat with worry filling her face.

"Uh... I'm unsure what you're talking about, but I saw a girl run past me. If you need help, I remember what she looks like."

The girl turned around at the boy's words. She seemed… surprised?

"Why would you help me? You don't owe me anything, and I accused you of being a bad boy." She replied.

"What's with the "bad boy" talk? Aren't I too old to be called that? I'm new to this city and don't know where to go. We could help each other out. I can help you find whatever was stolen, and you can show me around." Rudeus replied calmly.

Despite his broken heart and health problem, Rudeus was still a growing buy interested in girls. He wouldn't miss a chance to help out such a beautiful girl. Besides, he was indeed lost in this city. He'd sleep on the streets by nightfall without knowing how to read.

The girl looked deep in thought, taking in the boy's proposal.

"Uhhh. Hmmm." She mumbled.

"I don't sense any malice. I think you can accept his offer. After all, the more shields between you and ruffians, the better!" The cat spoke out.

Something about that floating cat didn't feel right to Rudeus. Was it his demeanor or tone? Or perhaps it was its intention to use him as a meat shield.

"If you're worried about some thugs, don't worry. I can use magic to protect myself. I might be young, but I'd like to think I can defend myself."

"Well, I still can't do anything to reward you after. What I lost was rea~lly important. I don't think accompanying you is enough compensation."

"Don't worry about that. I'm not entirely hopeless that I need to beg to survive. Besides, I'd feel bad if I left someone in need for my greed."

"Hmmm. Very well. I don't know if I could repay you, but I'll accept your help anyways."

And with that, the two began their investigation to find the yellow-haired thief that stole the girl's insignia.

"We've been asking around for an hour, but we haven't come up with anything." The boy weakly said.

As much as he wanted to boast to a girl about his reliability, trying to find a girl in a city this large was challenging.

"It's the capital of Lugunica. It's the largest city in the country. You didn't even know that? Mr.. ummm." The girl replied.

"Oh, that's right, we haven't even asked for your name, have we? Should we introduce ourselves?"

Rudeus turned around at the cat's words as he realized he didn't even know who he was spending time with. He backed his left leg, held his left arm behind his back, and held his right hand facing up. With his newly found vigor, he bowed with the respect and dignity of an Asuran noble.

"My name is Rudeus Gre-, Rudeus. Just Rudeus. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The girl and the magical cat only stared at each other. Clearly, the boy's gesture was out of respect, but neither had ever seen such a bow in their lives. The cat was the first to break the awkward silence as it introduced itself as he flew into Rudues' open palm.

"Well, I'm Puck. Nice to meet you!"

"It's rea~lly unusual to see someone who can touch a spirit so casually. Where are you from?"

The girl's question was perfectly normal. After all, it wasn't every day a mysterious boy lent her a hand. Yet, it was the hardest question for the now panicking boy to answer.

"Oh, about that. If I'm being honest, I'm not entirely sure. I went to bed one moment and was in the middle of town the next. I only knew where I was once you mentioned we were in the capital of... Lagunica?"

"It's Lugunica." The girl immediately replied.

Her composure broke as she thought the boy was a helpless amnesiac.

"But that's rea~lly troubling. Are you hurt anywhere? Did you hit your head? You don't know where you are. You can't read and have no one to help you. You might be in an even more precarious position than me." The girl replied, worried for the confused boy in front of her.

"Um, Rudeus, was it?" She continued.

"Hmmh, that's me."

"Well, when I look at you now, you seem pretty well built." The cat commented.

Perhaps it noticed the slight panic in the boy at the mention of his origins. He swiftly intervened to change the subject.

"I exercised every day for the past four years. And I worked as an adventurer. I'd like to think I'm above average athletically." Rudeus proudly commented.

"I'm not sure what an adventurer is, but that means you're a capable warrior, right?"

The girl walked toward Rudeus, held his hand, and caressed gently with her smooth, soft hands.

"He- Hey-."

"Your hands. They're rea~lly rough with callouses and scars. They're evidence of a hard-working person. And your muscles don't look like what you get from working in the fields. I even saw you wield a sword in that alleyway. You must be an accomplished swordsman, right?'

Rudeus just listened to the girl's words. It's been a while since he had been close to a girl. Even if he finds others attractive, he can never act on them due to his condition. At least he could enjoy her presence right now.

"Uhm, anyways, I know your spirit's name, but I haven't heard yours yet."

"My name?"

"Yeah."

One would expect a simple answer from a simple question, yet the girl looked away and took her time. The wind began to blow through her hair as she seemingly agonized over what solution to give the boy.

"Satella." She finally answered.

"I have no family name. You can call me Satella."

Despite her simple answer, her tone changed as she answered the boy's question. Even the mystical cat, now known as Puck, seemed shocked by the girl's answer.

"I see... Satella."

'Something tells me she's hiding something. Does she not trust me? Of course, she doesn't. As of now, I'm just a stranger. It's only natural for her to tell me a fake name.' Rudeus thought.

"Well, it is nice to meet you, Satella."

As if to confirm Rudeus' words, "Satella" seemed surprised by Rudeus' reply.

"You have terrible taste." Puck sighed before hiding in Satella's hair.

"Well then, time to go back searching for your insignia!" Rudeus shouted.

Despite the wasted time and the girl's distrustful attitude, Rudeus felt content that he was actively working to help people rather than waste time on himself.

"Rudeus, do you think that girl is lost?'

Satella pointed to a green-haired girl alone on the streets. She looked scared as she tried to call out to strangers walking by, only to give up each time.

"Yeah, you're right. You don't mind if we help her, right? I know you're busy with your insignia, but leaving her alone wouldn't feel right."

Rudeus knew that the more time they wasted, the less chance they had to find Satella's insignia. However, he also knew he couldn't leave another helpless person to themselves to prioritize his problems. He paid the price when he hesitated to help a group of adventurers for his gain. He could never forgive himself for being slothful.

Besides, he would never be able to look up to Ruijerd if he left a helpless child alone.

"Of course. I would feel rea~lly bad if I left her all alone."

With that comment, Satella approached the girl and crouched to her eye level.

"I'm sorry, I'm not the one you're looking for. So, what's the matter? Aren't your mom and dad with you?"

What was a wholesome and kind interaction went wrong as the girl began to cry in terror as she looked at Satella.

"Um, uh... don't cry... I won't do anything to you, alright?"

Despite Satella's kind words, the girl continued to cry her eyes out. Strangely, she didn't cry out for help.

'If she was afraid, wouldn't she call out for help?' Rudeus thought.

Indeed, it was an odd interaction between the kind-hearted girl and a terrified child, and Rudeus couldn't just watch from the sidelines.

"What you see here is a stone statue of the Superd warrior, Ruijerd Superdia. He was an honorable fighter of the Superd tribe from 400 years ago. He fought countless battles to protect his family and children."

With a tone unlike a car salesman, Rudeus presented the spare Ruijerd figure he had. Even as he worked to find his mother, he didn't forget to spread the good word of the Superd tribe. He continued to make figurines of his trusted companion in hopes that one day, the Superds could live a life free of prejudice.

The girl looked surprised at the sudden tragic story of Laplace and the Superd demons. The watered-down version Rudeus told got her undivided attention. She stopped crying and stared at the pale stone statue.

"Legends say the Superd people were betrayed by a great enemy and tricked into attacking their friends! After they realized the gravity of their actions, Ruijerd spent the rest of his life working to help people, especially children, to restore honor to the Superd tribe. He was a kind and caring father, a fearsome warrior to the innocent and children, and a good friend of mind."

Rudeus handed the statue to the little girl. She held it gently in both hands and carefully admired the legendary figure.

"You can have this. It's a rare oddity here and will protect you from mean people."

With the added smile from Rudeus, the child was no longer scared of Satella. Her face brightened at the mysticism and safety she felt holding the figure.

"Thank you, mister!" The girl thanked Rudeus.

"I see. You were separated from your mom, huh? Don't worry, leave it to me and this lady here. We'll find them in no time."

Rudeus, Satella, and the little girl walked through the merchant's district. They walked side by side. One hand held the stone figurine while the other linked hands with Satella.

'This makes us look like a married couple and a child…'

The thought of a happy family walking through town seemed like a fever dream to the brown–haired boy. He'll never get the chance to be the child again, and he missed his chance to be the father after that day.

'A family… with Eris…'

The image of the flaming red-haired girl made him clench his teeth. He promised he would move one from their break up. He couldn't live like this forever, but nothing helped the young lad forget his first heartbreak.

"Oh, Mommy!" The little girl shouted.

She let go of both of their hands and ran towards her crying mother. They hugged deeply, crying tears of family reunion. Satella looked happy to see the girl reunite with her mother. Rudeus felt glad to see them, too, but a nagging feeling in his heart throbbed like a broken needle in a sewing machine. If only his reunion were just as heartfelt.

"Looks like we found her." Rudeus bittersweetly spoke.

"Yeah, I'm glad." Was all Satella replied.

"By the way..." Satella asked.

"What are you holding in your hand? I've never seen something like it."

'Is she asking about my staff? Do mages in this world not use staves?'

"This is a magic staff called "Aqua Heartia". It was a gift from a lady I used to serve when I was young. It amplifies my magic spells." Rudeus proudly replied as he presented his treasured companion to Satella.

Satella looked even more puzzled at the answer. She had never heard of a staff that helped with spell casting. Not even her sponsor had used such an item before.

"Rea~lly? I don't think I've ever seen someone use something like that. I know someone who uses a wand, but nothing this big before." She replied as she held the magic staff in her hands.

Rudeus only smirked at this. He could never give up the opportunity to make a joke.

"How's the thickness of the shaft? Is it to your liking?"

"Hmm, it's pretty thick, but I don't know much more." She replied as the joke whooshed over her head.

The instant she replied, Puck flew out of her hiding space and zoomed toward Rudeus.

*Tail Whip*

"You dare try to defile my daughter? Try that again, and you'll taste my wrath, Rudeus." Puck demanded.

The cute flying cat looked ten times scarier to Rudeus. It looks like dirty jokes won't be on the menu any time soon.

"Ye- Yes, Sir!"

Satella seemed curious about their antics as she didn't understand what they were discussing. Regardless, she handed the staff back to Rudeus.

"Well, Rudeus. Why are you helping me? You told me you needed a guide, but you seemed capable of handling yourself."

"I wouldn't be lying if I said I could manage on my own, but I would still feel bad about abandoning someone in need." Rudeus shrugged.

"Well, you see. I'm actually... a half-Elf, Rudeus." Satella confessed.

She looked away from the boy and gazed down at her feet. She didn't dare look up. She couldn't stand such a kind and caring person scorning her.

Oblivious to the half-Elf's feelings, Rudeus didn't seem to care.

"Oh, now that you mention it, your ears look pointy. I expected them to be much longer, though."

Satella locked eyes with the ground, preparing for the boy's harsh words to lash out.

'She seems a bit... apprehensive. Hold on, is comparing ear size like asking a woman's breast size or something? Did I insult her and her entire race? Sylphy never told me anything like this. Though, I guess she might not have known growing up with humans. Shit, I screwed up. I can't alienate the first friend I made in this new world!'

"Not that it looks bad or anything! I think your ears look cute the way they are!"

In a frenzy to resolve their misunderstanding, Rudeus might have spoken more than he wanted. His speech was fast and erratic. He threw whatever compliment he could think of on the spot. In short, he was panicking.

"Eh?"

But whatever words reached Satella's ears, she seemed surprised. She looked back at the fumbling boy, eyes, and mouth wide. She jumped down from the ledge she was sitting on and stood to face the bumbling idiot.

"What?"

"What? Well, I mean... I'm a half-elf."

"Yep, I heard you."

"Uhh."

Now her Irises expanded hearing the last words she expected to attend. She turned around, crouched down, and held her head in embarrassment.

'Huh? Did I say something wrong? I don't know what's going on! Even after 16 years, I still don't know how to talk to a woman!' Rudeus sulked.

Responding to Satella's distress, her dutiful father, Puck, flew to apprehend the culprit. He landed the deadliest attack he could muster in one swift motion, a spirit's "God Blow". Puck's fist successfully landed on the idiot's face with a soft puff.

"What'd you do that for?" Rudeus asked.

Before, he was scolded for making a perverted joke. He accepted his fault and moved on. Now, he had no clue what was going on.

"I just had to do something about this unbearable tingle I feel!"

"I can't accept being hit for a reason like that. Though, I forgive you since it was squishy." He smugly replied.

"I didn't hit you out of anger or anything. The opposite, in fact."

The crouching half-elf turned around, still clutching her head.

"Rudeus, you're such a dunderhead!"

"Dunderhead? Who says that in this day and age? And why are you suddenly insulting me?"

"Hmph! Whatever! More importantly, we need to get back to searching for my insignia."

With her last reply, Satella stood up to continue with her search. She had to find that insignia, or all would be lost. After all, she couldn't give up on the one chance to make amends. She began walking towards the merchant's district, only to be stopped by a stern hand grabbing her.

"Hold it. We've been searching for hours with no results. Running around without a plan won't get us anywhere. There are basic rules of searching."

"Rules of searching?"

"Yep, as an adventurer, I took jobs searching for missing people or animals. We should go back to where your insignia was stolen and start from there!"

"Hmm? What are you doing here again? Didn't I tell you to leave, you broke ass kid?"

'It just had to be here of all places, had it?'

Rudeus and Satella walked back to the scene of the crime. Coincidentally, it happened right in front of the fruit vendor that kicked Rudeus for being broke.

"Just so you know, I'm not some broke kid. I promise to buy as many appas as I want after I exchange my gems for coin."

Their banter back and forth kept escalating further and further, only stopped by the bell-like voice of a certain half-Elf.

"Mister. I'm sorry to bother you, but someone stole from me here. Could you please help us find the thief?"

"Yeah, You just wait, and I'll buy your entire-oh, yeah, I almost forgot. We're looking for a thief around chest height, with golden blond hair and red eyes. Have you seen her anywhere?"

"Didn't I already tell you to scram? Stop annoying my business and return when you have money to spend!"

If looks could kill, Rudeus would be six feet under. The staring glare of the enraged fruit seller was no joke. You could almost see the fire burning in his irises.

"Mister!"

Away from the mage and fruit seller's skirmish, a young childish voice called out. They both faced the origin and found the lost child Rudeus and Satella helped. She walked up to the group, hand in hand with her mother.

"Thanks for your help earlier." The mother said.

"What brings you back here?" Rudeus asked.

"It's my husband's shop, so we were just stopping by."

"Husband?"

Indeed, the dramatic reveal of the salesman's identity was the father of the lost child. The man in question looked back at the boy differently. He was curious about how his lovely wife and daughter knew these idiots.

Before the green-haired hulk could interrogate the boy, his daughter ran and hugged her father, shining the widest grin a child could muster. How could a loving father not react to such an adorable creature? His rage and anger immediately settled as he hugged his daughter back, patting her head.

"Here here, that's my girl." He responded with the broadest grin a father could muster.

"Wait, you know these broke kids?"

"She got lost, and they found her."

"Hmmm." The father grumbled,

"Here, lady."

The little green-haired child spoke up to a weary Satella and presented a flower pin in her hands. It had bright reddish petals, an orange center, and a green underlap. The stem was tied with white string, allowing it to be used as a clothing pin accessory.

"Please accept it. She wanted to thank you in her own way." The mother said.

"Thank you."

With a simple and soft thank you, Satella accepted the gift and pinned it on her left chest. With her new accessory equipped, they simply smiled at each other, filled with satisfaction.

"Ehem. Sorry about that. You helped my daughter, and I want to thank you. You were asking about a thief, right?"

The broke couple looked at each other with satisfied grins. After hours of searching, they finally had a lead.

"Divine breath is the source of nourishment, give those who are sick the strength to wake up again. Detoxification."

The two mages ended up in the slums of the city. According to the fruit vendor, now known as Kadamon, Felt was a well-known thief who visited the "Loot House" in the slums. With this new information, Rudeus and Satella excitedly ran towards the slum district, only to be met with dozens of sickly and injured people needing help.

"This should heal your cold, but I can't do anything with the eye. I only know intermediate-level healing spells, so I can't heal an eye, sorry."

"No, no. Thank you for helping my mother. She never slept well, but I can already see she's resting much better now."

As they walked through the slums, Rudeus and Satella took it upon themselves to help the poor as much as possible. They didn't have money to share. Even if they had, Rudeus argued, the people might become violent and fight for their new possessions. While Satella wanted to do more to help them, she conceded and healed anyone needing immediate attention.

"I'm rea~lly surprised, Rudeus. I didn't think you were a mage, and your healing magic feels nothing like I've ever seen. I can't even understand what language your chants are!"

Indeed, despite being a prodigy in combat magic, Rudeus had no talent in healing and detoxification magic and couldn't use healing magic without incantation. Therefore, Rudeus had to repeat the healing chant for every single patient. What confused the half-elf and his patients was the archaic language he spoke as he healed the sick. They recognized that he spoke some unknown language because of consistent patterns, but that was all they could understand. In this world, the Human Tounge language was exclusive to Rudeus.

"Thanks, but my healing magic isn't all that great. I can cast any other spell without chanting, but not healing magic. I don't understand why, so I can't improve."

Despite the praise Satella gave, Rudeus could only focus on his faults. He cursed at his inability to perform when it mattered.

"I don't think so. Healing magic usually takes a long time for the effect to be evident. Even the best healers could take days trying to heal an injury, and you just healed her in seconds. You rea~lly are super-duper!"

"Who even says super-duper anymore."

"Hmph. We finished helping the last person. Let's get back to finding the Loot House."

They continued to walk through the broken-down streets in search of Felt. The slums were a stark contrast to the clean and pristine merchant districts. While Rudeus knew it wasn't the people's fault, seeing the difference disappointed him. Indeed, it looked no different than his home, the Fittoa region, after the disastrous teleportation incident.

With the shine of bright particles, Puck manifested from Satella's green crystal necklace and gave some select words for the duo.

"Lia, it's getting late soon. I won't have enough mana to protect you. We should wrap up our search or come back tomorrow."

"Hmm? What do you mean by that?" Rudeus asked.

"Puck is a great spirit I'm contracted with. He uses mana to manifest physically. He can't help us after dark, or he'll risk expending his Od."

'Okay, spirits bond with people and require mana to exist. They recharge their mana by resting. Noted. Noted.'

Ever since Rudeus arrived in this new world, he has been mentally noting every difference—especially those related to magic. The mechanics of spiritual magic was indeed one of them.

"Wait, if you're running out of mana, can you absorb some of mine?"

"Umm, I'm unsure if that's a good idea, Rudeus. You're a talented mage, so you should know you'd faint if you ran out of mana. You already used a lot from healing those people. You must be running on fumes by now." Puck replied.

"Actually, I feel fine. I have a large mana pool, so I have much left to share. It can't hurt to try, right? I'll let you know if you take too much."

Puck and Satella looked apprehensive at this. While they were not experts in healing magic, they assumed Rudeus' healing magic was complex and required much mana. Compared to their healing magic, it was indeed a fair assumption.

"Well, I did warn you." Puck said.

Puck tapped Rudeus' forehead with his final words and began siphoning his mana.

"Nyom nyom nyom nyom-"

"Whoa, that's a totally magical sound effect you're making!"

As Puck continued to absorb Rudeus' mana, he was shocked to see the ridiculous amount of mana the boy had stored within him. He held more mana than almost anyone he'd ever met before. And as a 400-year-old immortal spirit, Puck has met a lot of remarkable beings.

"Wow. Rudeus, your mana reserves are incredible. I couldn't take much since the low absorption rate, but I now have enough to go another hour or so! There's only one other person I know that might have more mana than you!"

"That's good to hear. I'm still fine, so if you need more mana, help yourself."

"No, Rudeus, you shouldn't overwork yourself like this. I know how much mana Puck needs. I'm rea~lly worried he might take too much from you."

Despite the public mana charger's good gesture, Satella scolded the boy. While she understood Puck's insane mana intake, she didn't fully grasp the potential of a mage born with the Laplace Factor.

"Alright, alright. Let's keep moving. Kadamon said the Loot House was at the end of the main road."

It was close to 4 pm. The sky was bright orange as the sun was settling down. Had it not been for the views of the slums, this could have been a romantic location for the two duos looking for her insignia.

"Alright, I think this is the place. Do you have a plan to get your insignia back?"

"What do you mean? They stole something that isn't theirs. Why do I need a plan?"

Rudeus deadpanned at the half-Elf's naive answer.

"You're right that it wasn't theirs, but if we try to force them, we might have to fight the thief. I'd prefer to handle things peacefully.

"Well, I don't have any money, and neither do you. I rea~lly don't have anything to give to buy my insignia back."

"Oh, don't worry about that. Before I packed, I exchanged most of my money for gems. They should be enough to get an insignia back."

As Rudeus proposed using his money for a trade, he pulled out a sack filled with precious gems and metals. They were his life savings. With no outlet to spend money, Rudeus' total earnings as an adventurer netted him a hefty sum—enough for him to retire with some smart investment decisions.

"But you can't! I won't be able to repay you if you do!" Satella disagreed.

"Satella. You've been a great friend to me. You helped me get around town despite your predicament. I'm not doing this to be paid. I want to do this because I want to help a friend."

"Huh?"

Satella looked surprised by Rudeus' words. She held her hand to her mouth as her eyes widened in shock. Had he said something to offend her?

"Uhh, did I say something wrong, Satella?"

'I hope I didn't screw this up! She's my only friend, and I enjoyed hanging out with her all day.'

"Oh, it's nothing, nothing at all. I'll apologize after we get the insignia back."

Whatever was troubling the girl seemed to disappear after Rudeus' question. And what was it about apologizing?

'Oh yeah, the name. She gave me a fake name and then was surprised I used it. We'll figure it out after we get the insignia.'

"Alright, these fences can be ruthless when negotiating, so let me do the talking."

With those words, Rudeus walked up to the large wooden entrance of the Loot House.

'I know we're not expecting a fight, but I should activate my Demon Eye, just in case.'

He funneled his mana towards his right eye, activating the Eye of Foresight. This unique demon eye replaced his original eyeball and allowed him to see a few seconds into the future. He could see far into the future with enough mana, but the images would be too blurry. After years of practice and use, he found 2 seconds to be a good sweet spot.

With his Foresight activated and staff at hand, he knocked on the wooden doors of the Loot House.

"For a rat?"

Behind the great doors echoed a low grumbling voice. While Satella looked surprised by the sudden question, Rudeus half expected a code as he had done so in his old world. With years of experience in mind, he knew the perfect answer to open this code.

"I have money."

The instant the boy declared his intentions, the wooden door slammed wide open, presenting the same golden blondie who stole Satella's insignia.

"Ah, you just don't give up, do you!"

"Wait, wait, hold up. Don't close the door on use. We just want the insignia back, and we'll buy it back.!"

Satella wasn't a fan of Rudeus' idea but trusted the boy who had helped her so far. He did call her a friend, and trust is important between friends, right?

"Really, this young lady behind me just wants her insignia back but doesn't want to start anything. You're probably stealing to stay alive, so why don't we buy it back, and we can all go home happy?"

The air stilled with Rudeus' last words. Each party held neutral stances, calculating their next move. One wrong step and all-out war breaks lose.

"Hmmm, fine, but I already have a buyer waiting, so you'll have to wait until they arrive."

The Loot House was a pub decorated with presumably stolen goods. The items ranged from small jewelry to large tapestries and paintings. One even looked like the modern-day Mona Lisa (How did that get there?)! Huffing in response, an annoyed Felt opened the door wide and let the two inside.

The three kids sat down on the bar stools side by side. Neither spoke up as they were too nervous about the odd situation. Just how often does your theft victim manage to track you down and negotiate their belongings back? On the other hand, the buyers feared one mistake might lead to a free-for-all. There was no need for violence. They just wanted what was rightfully theirs.

"Are these your buyers, Felt?"

The towering giant asked the little thief. Despite his size and threatening stance, his voice was that of an old man talking to his granddaughter. Not a hint of malice was felt.

"Nah, they're eyeing the same thing. With two buyers, I'll be able to get the most out of this job!" She excitedly shouted.

"I'm glad you think that way, but best keep it quiet. You don't want to give your buyers an advantage."

"Ugh, well. Anyway, how much are you offering to get the insignia?" Felt asked.

"Before we answer that, show us that you have the insignia on you first. We don't want to waste time after all."

Felt reached into her inner pocket and took out a purple triangle with golden engravings. In the middle was a bright red gem shimmering with life.

"That's my insignia," Satella said.

"Alright, we both don't have any money on us, but I have some gems worth a good price. Tell me your other buyer's offer, and we'll match it."

"No. I showed you I have. Show me your offer, and I'll think about it."

'Clearly, this girl knows what she's doing. This isn't her first rodeo with negotiations. If I show her my gem sack, she'll try to make me spend my entire life savings. As much as I want to help Satella, I don't want to be broke afterward. I still need to live my life after all.'

'Instead of showing her the entire bag, I'll just show her a single gemstone in my pocket and let them decide its value. I don't know this country's currency, so this is the best I can do.'

"This is one of the many rare gemstones I currently own. It's mined from the depth of the Red Dragon Mountains. It's been processed by skilled craftsmen to be considered a flawless gem. This should be enough for an insignia."

The negotiator offered a 26-karat emerald. Despite having no magical effects, it shimmered with the bit of light available. The gem was carved intricately, refracting the dim torchlight of Loot House.

The giant took the gem in his hands and carefully inspected the gemstone. After a thorough investigation, he handed the jewel back to its owner and gave Felt a slight grin.

"I'm not an expert with this level of quality, but I can say this will sell for at least five holy gold coins."

Hearing the old man's words, Felt's eyes shimmered with excitement. It was then she realized she had hit the jackpot with this job. With the added implication that he owned more of these precious gems, she was confident that this deal would get her and Old man Rom out of the slums.

"Alright! My buyer offered 10 Holy gold coins, but your offer is enticing. We'll wait for her to swing by to start the negotiations!"

"Is that so? I hoped you'd jump the gun here and now, but there's no helping it. When is your other buyer coming?"

"She should be here any minute now. She said she'd arrive before nightfall. You guys can just sit around and wait."

With the first round of negotiations failing, the rich duo took two seats near the entrance while Felt and Old man Rom kept the conversation to themselves.

"Are you sure you're fine with this? That gem looked rea~lly pretty. I can't let you part with something so precious!"

"Not at all, not at all. Before I left, I exchanged some money for these gems to exchange later. I have plenty more of these, so I don't mind parting with one to help a friend."

Despite the constant reassurance, Satella seemed apprehensive about Rudeus' generosity. She was thankful to have someone help her to this extent but was still wary of the naive magician. To her, he was an enigma, totally out of this world.

"Friends? I know you're a good boy, but I don't think we ever became friends."

"Oh, umm, well. Then let's say I want to be your friend, and this is a token of our future friendship! Okay?"

"Oh-Kaay?"

"Mhhm, okay?"

"Alright, I'll be in your care then."

'Even when she seems apprehensive, she looks pretty cute! If I didn't have my condition, I'd have drooled over her instantly. It can't be helped. Friends, it is. Maybe she won't leave me if we keep our boundaries.'