[Sam's perspective]
I have never been out of town because it just takes too much effort to reach ANY kingdom.
The shortest path from any kingdom to our town is an agonizing effort of cutting about one hundred thousand trees to form a straight path.
The forest guarantees the safety of the village.
There's nothing special about the village anyway. Our village doesn't have the best artisan or any best in the region of Lord Rend.
Come to think of it...I don't know the schedule for the Regionals. I better hurry through this forest.
How thick is this forest! I've seen the sun set twice and my companions are still the trees.
Demons. I've never seen one but it's ugly. Grotesque even as I've heard the travelers describe. It must be the Lesser demons in those history books that have rough skin in different shades of red.
They fly so fast... Well I don't know what's fast. Maybe if I've seen a bird or a fairy I will understand which one flies faster but I haven't yet in this forest...or in any place.
I mean I've only been in the dojo...eat, fight then sleep.
Wait it's heading for the village...
Father will take care of it anyway.
Onwards. Well, wherever forward seems to be...
[Another sunset passed]
"Finally...Walls...Hungry..."
"Where am I?"
"Pay up 100,000 gold. You've stayed too long here. Which is one day. You're bald so sorry though your face and physique isn't that bad."
It seems like I'm speaking to the innkeeper but I'm...blindfolded. If I wasn't, I could easily land a direct hit to his face!
"Your katana will do."
I immediately broke free of cloth that tied my hands and took off my blindfold to strangle the one who spoke dishonor.
"Stop...or you will pay ten times more!"
A beautiful lady entered the room and the innkeeper slapped my arms away.
"Good Morning, Ma'am! Ten gold for one day rent."
This a**hole. This simp!
"Right this way Ma'am. Hey baldy! Your katana for payment or you'll be put in prison! Well prison isn't really bad here...But still!"
"How is prison any good?? It's only temporary space and later comes the prisoner's execution to purge disgrace."
"Then prison it is for you!"
Suddenly ten thugs surrounded the inn. Luckily I was on the third floor. Perhaps I should head tot he roof and jump on other roofs.
"...Wha..."
"Don't take his sword. It's like his dying wish or something to have it all the time. Teach him the same stuff. Teach him a lesson."
The innkeeper left as I opened my eyes wider. I'm surrounded by thugs. I thought my life was over but I noticed...no ropes? My katana is in my hand.
"Wake up loser. He's saved many people just to say 'pay up' and send us here. It's not that bad. Rest a bit more and we'll tell you what to do."
I can take them all out. I have an urge not to though...but they took me away from a comfortable bed! I'm here in this...sewer?
That's right I've been sleeping on something slimy and green all this time. It's not melted grass but a mixture of probably gross things. I slept anyway maybe there's a nice sauna around.
"Can you help me get to a bathhouse tomorrow?"
"It's already past midnight so I'll assume you mean morning. Nope, no bath for you until your training is over."
The thug that spoke to me had a pig nose but a dark brown robe covered the whole figure...and makes the huge belly standout. A beast?
Perhaps a demi...whatever. I should have read my history books more.
Sleep is nice.
[Yami]
A magical sheet of glass shows Sam sleeping.
"How many levels will you earn for tomorrow's training. You won't gain anything probably. Already level 40...impressive, twice the age. Unheard of for...an NPC."