"Hm? Sir hero?" Xyle's comrade calls to him. He ignores them and I had to stop moving because his gaze was like a dagger to the throat to me. I felt if I break eye contact I would die the moment I turned to got back with the girls. This was just false intuition. My imagination and fear dancing away in my head and I know it. He doesn't recognize me. I can see he doesn't. Hero they called him. I figured as much.
I take a deep breath and sigh with an eye roll then face him head on and with a silent bow to greet him, I about face and walk along like it was nothing special.
There's nothing to worry about. I don't have to be nervous. He doesn't recognize me and he won't laugh at me for being what everyone called me in school. So what if i'm a real goblin now? I have strength, power, skills, and far more knowledge than any other goblin here. I'm fine. I can live like this for the rest of my days if I need to. I may not be that happy, but I'm satisfied nonethe-...!!?
"Whoa there, little guy. What you got there?" What!? Xyle just grabbed hold of my shirt collar and stops me from going after Vanessa. I turn to look him in the eyes and I know for a fact what he was thinking just now.
"I'm sorry?" I answer as calm as I could act. I don't have to be scared. I did nothing wrong at all. Stay calm and composed, Tessa!
"Your bag. What's in it?"
"... My clothes." I reply. "I just got done shopping with my 'mistress'. She told me I should wear clothes more befitting to her household since I'll be indoors."
"..." He doesn't believe it. Does he not know how the noble system with goblins work or does he have some special power to pick up on lies? "You don't mind letting me look do you?"
"Uh... I doubt that's reasonable, sir. Since your not the guard of this sect." I'm feigning ignorance. I can see around him that his friend are belittling me with wicked eyes. They are lower nobles that don't like goblins. Thus I can deduce that he's been tempted by prejudice. Its fine. So long as I...
"Hey watch your tongue, you filthy monster!" One of the comrades hops off the carriage and there is now a long sword at my nose. "Do you not know who you're speaking to?! You should be down on your knees begging this honorable man to search your stolen goods!"
I knew it. I'm not scared. How? I'm not sure, but the fact is that they're making a baseless assumption and I am a victim of harassment. I doubt anyone will say anything about that. Thus... "Miss Christa!! Madam Vanessa!!" I call out from behind me. They were a good few shops away from me looking at other things to get. Christa sees me at sword point and flips then grabs Vanessa and rushes to me.
"Tessa! What happened!?" Christa panics.
"These guys think I stole this bag of clothes. What do I do in a situation like this?" Feign ignorance.
"Oh my god!!" Vanessa shouts in horror. "Please lower your sword! This goblin is mine and I would like for her to be dressed appropriately for her acceptance to the main house!"
"You dare disrespect the great summoned one!?" The guy now points his sword to her and she squeals in fear. Oh no you did not. Without thinking I take the blade of the sword in my hand and it snaps in half. I didn't mean to do that. Keep it together and stay composed.
"Never point your blade to the ambassador's daughter." I growl. The man buckles back in shock and panics to a retreat behind Xyle who only continues to stare at me. This time in surprise. He better have been listening to this whole thing.
"Alright. Alright. Easy. That's my bad I didn't know he was with you... Uh... Miss?"
"H-Halliway! Vanessa Halliway! I don't care who you are no one degrades my sister goblin! Is that clear!"
"Yes Ma'am! So wait that's a girl? With that kind of strength?" Ass.
"Yes she is. She's a rare breed and should be treated with more respect than even me! Is that clear, Mr. Hero?!" Wow. Way to lay it on him girl! Nice job!
"Okay. I get it. My apologies."
"So long as you understand your wrongs. Come, you two." She demands and we attempt to follow but I'm taken hostage again by the shoulder this time.
"Hold on. I still have a question."
"W-what is it? I Don't have all say you know."
"Your goblins name. Does she have a full name like other house goblins? Like where you give them your name for entitlement?" Shit! My name! Time to panic! Definitely time to panic!!
"Hm? Of course she does. It's Tessa. Once she is accepted she will be Tessa Halliway."
"... Where did you get that name from?" Not the tone I was expecting but its frightful nonetheless.
"... I've always had that name." I answer. His grip tightens around my shoulder. Ow! Mother..!
"Where did you get your name from?"
"Ah~! What the hell! That hurts!" He's hurting me now!? I can see all the malice showing on his face now. Why the hell is he so mad!? If he took into account that it's his fault I'm like this, what would he do? Probably nothing.
"Master Xyle!" A woman calls out from the shop. It was the royal bitch from earlier, Dressrosa. "What are you doing? We must hurry back now. My fiance will be here any day now and I need to look my best. I'm sorry to make you come all the way here, but this is my families shop after all."
"Uh... Yeah. Sure. Its no biggy." Thank the lords she came back. Dressrosa looks at me with a side glance and notices Xyles grip on me. He lets go the moment she does and walks back to his carriage glaring at me and Dressrosa follows him and they finally leave.
Fucking Christ. I need to be more careful from now on. I just know that asshole's gonna come back to pick a fight.
"T-t-t- Tessa~..." Hm? "You were so brave!"
"Whoa!" Vanessa jumps me with a big hug and I could swear that she turned into a fountain from all her crying.
"You were at sword point! And you saved me twice now! Why!? Why did you do that!? They could have killed you! That was the hero! And his chosen party! And you broke one of their swords!"
"Will you calm down!" I shout! I get that it was a very extreme situation that I somehow survived without a sudden death sentence, but right now I have to remain composed. "I told you before that I have my own sense of morality. I will NOT tolerate harassment especially. I don't care if their the king of the world, no one will be harmed in my presence."
Vanessa and Christa both go quiet with cherry red faces. At least she stopped crying. "... Are you sure your a girl? Because that was quite chivalrous of you to say." Christa comments.
"Shut up." I retort empty mindedly. I'm not sorry. "Lets go before I get anymore annoyances." I say this because I can hear everyone in the stores around us whispering to each other about that dispute.
The goblins especially started to become a nuisance talking in their original language. I can understand what they were saying about me. I'm crazy. Odd. Brave. Righteous. All compliments. All saying the same thing. I'm different in a good way.
We make it to a new area where the guild is and as expected, it was filled from wall to wall with adventurers and warriors from all over. This city is mostly composed of humans so as I looked around I noticed a few mixed breeds and demi-humans everywhere. It was a fun sight to see people with animal ears and tails and even scales, claws, and wings. Only a handful had horns or green skin.
"Tessa, here." Vanessa says as she puts a necklace around my neck with the Halliway crest engraved in the amulet. "With this you can come back and forth through most guilds in this sect of the city. Just don't ever go to the one on the wall without an escort."
"... I'm not gonna question that." I tell her. "So where to now that I'm here?"
"Right over there." Vanessa points to the receptionist desk where a woman stood by and was seemingly annoyed with someone she was trying to register. It was a fairly small girl in blue mage clothes. I saw the same clothes at Toba's shop. I need to hurry this up so I can keep my promise. I had them both waiting a while. Nervous, I walk over to the reception desk and wait my turn and I hear what was going on. I can see why the receptionist was annoyed.
"Why!! Why won't you give me the right amount for this! D-do you know how hard it was to bring this boar down by myself!?" Highly doubt you did that yourself.
"Miss you have yet to answer my question as to what happened to your party. Furthermore, this pelt isn't even worth 200 bronze pieces with so much damage done to it. And without your license, I cannot give you more than that of the original price for non-licensed questers."
"N-no! That's not fair!"
"Ma'am if you don't, I can't help you. Now where is the party of questers that were with you a few days ago? It's essential for the guild to know the situation of every quester that goes through this guild. They were all gold ranks if I recall."
"Oh! Stop changing the topic and give me my money!!"
"Excuse me." I can't take this anymore. They both turn to me and the receptionist seemed shocked to see me. Figures, I'm a full fledged goblin waiting my turn. The girl looked horrified to see me and backs away shivering.
"... Y-yes? How can I help you?"
"I'd like to speak to someone about a registry."
"Uh... Then you will have to go through this door and speak to the test master to get a clearance test. There will be two. One for intelligence and one for prowess. What is it that you would like to register as?"
"A scavenger, please. I understand there's not a lot of heavy dangers or casualties for it so long as I stick to the small things."
"... Alright then." She suddenly gave me a friendly smile then pulls out a key and opens the back door for me to go through. She then returns to the desk and takes out a small blank card. "Once you take the test, please return with the papers they give you for your results and I will be happy to place you. Welcome to the ribbon guild."
"Thank you very much." I say as I take the card and walk through the door, letting her close the door behind me.