Chapter 4 - Acquaintance from Beginner Village

I can't seem to believe that the day would come when I decided to help a Locusts, the same people I declared to be my nemesis since then. Well, its not that I hate getting a mission since those Granny's from my village is always giving us orders from time to time.

So getting one is nothing new on my part but only on how I got it this time, on the good side I'm not a Knight who honors their words so yeah I decided on accepting it. . .

"Then, that little Gorilla is mine" Is what I declared. His men gave me their distasteful looks after that declaration. I even heard the mutter of disagreement:

"Huh!? Why are we doing this in the first place if you only stole it?!" someone say. as if I care though.

"O-kay! But..should I buy it from you later is that okay? I need this little Gorilla here for my growth" The boy looking girl, claimed.

Ho ho, buy it huh. . .did I think like a businessman just now? I only want is to liberate that little one from the pain of losing its mother but okay, deal with it little one.

"Alright. But first, give me your name and affiliation. . .or else, Tea Shop will hunt you down if you break your words"

"He he, I'm true to my words Boss. . .I'll pay a visit in your Tea Shop later"

"Hmm that's better then" Agreeing, I pulled out my knife hidden from my robe, one was rusty looking while the other is a brand new one, I walked where the hordes of new arrival Locusts are running to. Lets see how far can this new weapon accompanied me. . .

"Thanks Boss but don't stress yourself out, or Tea Master Asashi will cut me if you bleed"

Wow thanks for the concern but to think I heard his fake name again. Haha life here is not as tedious as I thought. I'm having fun right now.

But then again, he said a word I didn't pay attention of: "---To think I give a quest to a Quest Giver. This is mystifying"

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Unknown POV

finally arriving at my destination, I pulled out a piece of parchment attached at the hidden pocket of my cowl. It's just a plain minimap.

Yes, this is it, the place where they settled their life, or so according to my information. I was overwhelmed and astonished witnessing this overpopulated place.

No, it is not so I'll take that back. . .this place is many times bigger than our village so overpopulated is overreacting on my part. But in the first place, that's not the reason why I am here.

Adrift from those thoughts, I jumped from roof to roof for how many hours and is looking for someone but was surprised as another one of my acquaintance I don't want to see, is now blocking my path.

"What are you doing here, Ten?" Says by the man with raven colored unkempt and short hair with an ocean blue eye. He is one of my clansmen coming from the same village. Did he dyed his hair though?

"One Zero and not Ten!" But his word triggers me to rebut. After all, how to described our numbers is more important than our current existence:

"---So its true that you guys are here? Zero Three?" I follow up a word which is obviously the case. After all, information coming from those old people are most reliable.

Feeling his presence alone, I felt that Zero Three is much stronger than the last time I met him.

"We decided to runaway as you can see, though not from the soldiers job but because of the irritating Locusts"

"I know that, but I'm not here for you so get lost. . .someone will deal with you later" I said in reflex.

"Hohoh, get lost you say?" He sneer. . .

Ahh N-no no no. . .thats not what I meant, I mean I have something to do here and its not about you! So spare me this one, goddamn it! Its not intentional!

"Heh? So you want a beating huh?" He said while cracking his fists.

Ahhh! that annoyed face of his! I hate it! sweat started flowing out of my temple and keep dripping, I gulped in panic realizing my mistake so I subconsciously touch one of my hip and the hilt of my weapon. I then assumed position my other hand, gesturing him to stop.

"Wh-what I mean is, am here for Zero One and not for you. . .Gran give me an errand"

"Gran? Gran who? they counts more than your fingers combined, who amongst them?"

"Gran, his grandma. . .please don't delay me"

"Hoh, because someone will deal with me later, is that it? is it the number Two? Well, who else but him?" He bend his hand and shoulders upward as if signing his defeat as if disappointed.

Gulp---

I can't even retort, that single sentence I spew backfired in the end. . .I shouldn't said that in the first place. This Zero Three is very sharp indeed.

"Think what you think. But I have an errand different from them---"

"I'll tell to not disappoint you now, but you can't drag us back even with Zero digits combined" He cut off my words.

Well, its not my mission to drag you back and I can't do it even if I tried, so yeah sorry to disappoint you too.

Still, looking at him right now I don't know what actually happened. They should be weaker than us by now as they don't even train but its in reverse instead. His presence alone is suffocating as if we have a whole twenty rank difference.

But still, for now I can't do or say anything as I have to focus on my mission: "I'm here for him, may I ask where is he right now?"

"Ahh you are looking for Mark?"

M-mark? The fuck is that? Wait don't tell me its his name?

"Hahahaha, isn't that amusing? We have to blend in and name ourselves, and from now on I'm Asashi while Zero Six is Saiha and of course others have their own names too"

The fuck!? What's with that weird name? Are they insane? But his reaction didn't change. What's more, he seemed elated just introducing his fake name.

I can't help but thinking, why am I even acquainted with this people. Or maybe Locusts contaminates their brain? Damn, that's what happened when you run away to an unknown land.

"Pitiful" I spew a word from my thoughts. Thereafter, I avoid his current spot and jumped to the other end and start sprinting away, afraid of being butchered to death.

"Hah!? I tried my best to introduce my name beautifully and you call it pitiful?! Oi where are you going??"

Don't look back, don't look back! And please don't chase me! Is what's on my mind as of this whole moment.

After a minute or so, I looked back. Indeed he didn't chase me. Phew, thank goodness.

Asashi, he said? Weirdo.

After that thought, I didn't stop my track and restart my mission to look for someone who should wear---as I subconsciously pulled out something from my pocket. A black bandana---this thing. . .

In the first place, I don't know what its use is but Gran reminds me by herself to give this to him personally and tell its usage. I can leave this to Zero Three as they are close to each other but no, I have to finish this mission like how Gran wanted to.

Pocketing it again after noticing some activity somewhere, I advanced forward.

After arrival, I witnessed people are gathered at the outskirt of the City. One gave his speech as others started their battle cry thereafter. Wow its amazing, to assemble this many people at once and even follow him with his weird speech, he's such a good leader. . .I'm kind of a bit curious so I try to blend in and hear a familiar word.

A Field Boss? Hmmm, its outside the city so I didn't think I should try, but still, someone from the back of my head is telling me that I should follow them.

After then, the group sprint out and exited. Ahh what should I do. Without much tought, I followed.

Lets follow them for now then. . .