Chapter 55: A new friend?
The merciless ringing sounding in my ears, I rested my head on the bench with a blank expression as I tried to focus on the lively scenes before me.
My eyes lingered on a building nearby, where a woman walked hand in hand with two children. A dark-haired man slipped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, and the four of them had beautiful smiles on their faces.
For a second, I just stood there, watching them.
"Beautiful, isn’t it?"
The sudden voice jolted me out of my reverie. My instincts swung into action before any thought, my scythe drawn out of my storage ring, its edge swung through the air almost immediately.
Instead of an enemy, I found a boy about my age standing a few paces away. His hair was a soft ash-brown that caught the sunlight, and his posture was almost too relaxed for someone who’d just had a weapon pointed at him. He raised both hands slowly, palms outward in mock surrender, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
"Hey, easy there," he said lightly, his tone calm, almost playful. "I promise I don’t bite."
My eyes narrowed as I examined him. ’To be able to sneak up on me. I’m not the most battle-honed, but I should’ve at least sensed his presence beforehand.’
"What do you want?" I asked, my scythe still pointed in his direction.
The wry smile still apparent on his lips, he answered, "Could you at least remove the scythe from my neck?"
My scythe pressing closer, I asked again with a voice colder than usual, "What do you want?"
Sighing lightly, he replied, "You just looked lonely, and I thought I’d keep you company."
I wanted to say something, but the slowly gathering crowd changed my mind, and I placed the scythe back in my storage ring as I spoke, "I’m fine; go on with your day."
Without waiting for his response, I walked down the streets of Vossier, my mind racing with ways on how to get fifteen thousand points and still be alive to use them.
"Hey! Wait up!" His voice rang behind me. "Where are you heading to?!"
Not acknowledging his existence, I turned left at a junction and continued wandering aimlessly.
The persistent voice slowly died out, and I was left with the constant cackles and sickening sounds of cracking bones that took abode in my mind.
*******
Skill: [Masseuse] is in use!
Status: Permanent usage!
Skill: [Strong mind] is in use!
Status: Temporary usage
********
The sounds slowly receded into the ugly crevices of my mind, leaving the silence of the path I walked to accompany me.
"You’re a difficult guy to find, you know that?"
Just when I thought I could have some peace of mind, the constantly cheerful voice rang close to my ears.
Halting my steps, I turned around slowly and met eyes with the guy. "Why are you following me?" I asked flatly.
With his hands at the back of his head and a happy smile on his face, he replied, "Like I said, you looked lonely, so I’ve taken the liberty to accompany you."
"You do know I could kill you right here and now, right?"
Sticking out his tongue, he answered, "I can tell you’re not that kind of guy."
My eyebrows slammed in confusion. "Who is this kid? Does he have a death wish or something?’
I stared at his eyes for a moment, and a realization hit me.
’He’s not scared of me.’
Watching him ramble about something I had no idea of, I watched his body language, his tone, and even his lip movement. Nothing showed up: apprehension, nervousness, or even the slightest signs of fear.
A strange emotion welled up in me; I couldn’t place my finger on it, but I was sure it wasn’t anxiety, fear, or even anger. No. I was far too familiar with all of them to not be able to identify them.
"And that’s why the elves don’t like coming to the Belvedan domain." A proud smile on his face, he continued, "What do you think?"
"...Of what?" I asked after a moment of hesitation.
’Why did I hesitate?’. I questioned internally.
"Huh?! My story! You didn’t listen?! I’ve been talking for the past three Feyns!" He complained.
Shrugging, I turned away from his wronged face and continued my aimless journey.
Muttering something under his breath, he chased after me as he spoke, "I didn’t get your name!"
My footsteps halted for a brief moment before answering, "Clark...Clark Thompson."
"Clark...what a strange name that is," he muttered.
"Anyways, where are you going, Clark?" He asked with his arms swung across my shoulder.
Shrugging away his arms, I answered, "Vossier Inn."
Placing it back on my shoulder, he replied, "But Vossier inn is quite a distance from here, and you’re going in the wrong direction too."
Removing his hands once more, I bought a core from a nearby stall as I answered, "I’m going to the city’s training ground."
Covertly placing it back on my shoulder, he countered, "Hmm...that’s weird, because the last I remember, the closest training ground is west of here—close to Brinehurst, but I’m guessing you’re not heading there due to the incident. So considering where you’re wandering off to, I’d assume you’re heading to the Virsch’s lodging?"
My eyes widened slightly at the mention of that surname, and I questioned, "The Virschs stay close to here?"
"Hm? Not really. Their warriors or guards stay here during urgent periods or when they’re on missions, the children rarely come here, and the heads almost never do"
The flame I had desperately lit in my heart was extinguished once more.
Removing his hand from my shoulders once again, I asked, "Don’t you have something else you should be doing?"
Swinging his hand back on my shoulder with a sleazy smile, he answered, "Nope! School is boring and I don’t feel like going home either, so I’m stuck with you for the day!"
"....."
"Hm? What’s up? Why did you suddenly go quiet?"
"Nothing. I was just wondering how unfortunate your parents must be to send their son to school and not know he’s out harassing other men"
"That’s not very nice! I went on scholarship if you must know and my parents are too busy to think about all that stuff!" He defended
A small sense of amusement grew in me, and I desperately hoped it would come out, but it fizzled out before it could leave my mouth.
The boy probably noticed my pathetic attempt to form a smile or he was just as cheerful as always but he made an intriguing suggestion.
"Say, there’s a tavern close by and it’s almost evening so it’s prime time for customers. Why don’t we head in and grab ourselves a few drinks?"
"No. I have other things to do"
"Come on~, it’s not going to kill you and besides I can show you the best training grounds in Vossier if you want"
Listening to his constant pestering, I hesitated.
’Drinks, huh? Come to think of it, I’ve never been to a tavern since I came to this world, maybe I can feel alive with a beer or ten’
Concluding my thoughts, I faced him and nodded slightly.
Letting out a hearty laugh, he led me to a well lit building where people of different races could be seen coming in and out of.
"Is this the place?" I asked with a raised voice.
"What?"
"I said is this the place?!"
A small chuckle left his lips and he nodded. "Well, obviously"
Wordlessly following him inside, my mind was filled with thoughts once more.
’How am I sharing drinks with someone I met a few hours ago? And why is he acting like I’m normal?’
’He’s obviously C ranked, but he’s got this confidence around him that makes me think carefully before I make any move’
’He’s a dangerous guy, that’s for sure, but hasn’t this world always been filled with danger?’
Calming my thoughts, we sat at an empty table. While he called over a server, my eyes wandered. Firelight painted the tavern walls in a soft glow, the hearth crackling as the smell of spiced stew drifted through the air. Wooden tables overflowed with cheerful patrons, mugs clinking to the rhythm of a bard’s upbeat tune.
A female server came forward, dressed in a simple white shirt and brown skirt that stopped right above her knees. Flashing a smile, she asked, "What can I get you gentlemen?"
"One Frothmug Ale with a side of wyvern meat" He replied as he turned to me, "What are you taking?"
My mind worked at light speed to avoid making the server uncomfortable with my silence.
"I’ll have whatever he said"
One of the best ways to save yourself from embarrassment during public events was to follow in the footsteps of whoever invited you and act as if you knew what you were doing while saying so.
"O–okay, I’ll be back with your orders in a few minutes, you can watch the resonance screen as you wait"
Gesturing that we understood, the server left I and my host alone.
Glancing at the hologram like projection, an elven woman with silver hair could be seen speaking with a neutral expression.
I strained my ears to listen to her voice amidst the loud noise.
"In other news, the Rothschilds have officially announced the coming of their last child— Miriam Rothschild, to Vossier in relation to the Brinehurst incident that happened a few months ago, the—"
My head went blank at the sight of Miriam’s face. For the first time in a while, I felt my heart beat, and my fists clenched as I fought to stay calm.
’Miriam is coming...here’