After doing my inventory, with my hands in my pockets, I decided to go around the market and gather information. As I walked, excitedly, an old woman who ran a jewellery stand called me.
"Hi young man ! Come on ! Take a look at my jewellery stand. Oooh ! Look at this splendid ! It would make a nice gift for your girlfriend."
Hearing the word "Girlfriend", made my mood going down and it reminded me that I have no luck with girls.
"Haha thank you but... I don't have a girlfriend and I might never have one", I said blankly.
"Tch ! I know that a loser like you can't have a girlfriend, I just want to sell my products ! Buy it !"
Eeehh ! What was that ?! She's crazy ! And not to mention that it was really mean ! You didn't have to say that ! The truth always hurt ! I thought while making a disgusted face.
Then, I noticed there was a placard on her table but I couldn't read it, although they can understand me.
"That's weird."
Suddenly, a man with a big bag appeared screaming and running out of an alley.
"Get out of my way ! Get out of my way !"
He ran past me and jostled me, but I didn't say anything because I didn't care.
Next, I noticed he was being chased by a man who looked like a guard but he was way behind him. At that moment, it changes everything. I started to think about it and came to the conclusion that if I managed to stop this man, I might receive a reward.
"Yooosshhh ! Let's do this !"
Since he was already far enough away, I gave up the idea of chasing him. He has knowledge of the place, and I would get lost. Instead, I picked up two stones and with a flick of my wrist, I threw the first stone at his head and the second at his right leg to make sure he lost his balance.
Passing by me at full speed, the guard said a few words to me.
"Nice throw."
With a great leap, he jumped on him and tied him. People started to applaud and compliment me for my action, and eventually I thanked them in return.
Then, with a big smile, the guard came talk to me. He was pretty well-built and seemed to be around twenty-seven years-old, about the same height as me with short wavy green hair and thin eyes of the same colour. I noticed his sword and, from what he was wearing, his cloak stood out the most. It was long and brown with engraved on it an ensign with the flag crowns of this nation and the lines drawn in gold colour in the front left and the back of it.
"Huumm, It seems to be part of an official uniform."
"Hey, you seem to be nimble with your hands. Unfortunately, I didn't have to do anything", he said while shrugging his shoulders.
Unfortunately ?? I thought while looking at him with a confused smile.
"N-o... It was nothing . By the way, what did he do ?"
He started telling me that a few minutes ago someone came to inform him me that a guy just robbed a jewellery shop and was heading to the north of the market. That's when he started chasing him and that we have come to this.
Suddenly he tilted his head to the right side, put his thumb and forefinger on his chin and brought up a sad facial expression.
"I had planned to have fun with him for a bit but you knocked him out before I could", he said as he sigh.
Huh ? Have fun ? What does he mean ? I don't know if I should feel sorry for him or think he has some weird tendencies, I thought while making a confused smile.
"Ahah... A jewellery shop eh, what a coincidence."
"Well, since you've practically caught him, what can I do for you in return ?"
And as I predict, this is my chance to change my situation.
"You see, I'm new in the country and I don't have a job, money or a place to stay so I was wondering if you could help me with that... Please."
"Oh, so you're not from Fretzia. Actually, I was thinking you were wearing some unusual pair of shoes Where are you from ?"
"Uuhh, It's kinda hard to say. A small island nation to the east..."
"Humm, there's no Island nation to the east on our continental map. I can only think of Ströte as the easternmost nation... Anyway."
I guess that's how it is, I thought while looking at him with an awkward smile.
Then, with his arms crossed and eyes closed, the guard was thinking.
"Besides being good with your hands, you seems to have an accurate vision. You're skinny but by the way you stopped this robber I think you must be smart with good athletic ability."
"I wouldn't say I'm good with my hands nor have good athletic ability but I used to play basketball so, I guess there are just some things that won't go away that easily. Also, I'm just an average college student so, don't get high hopes when it comes to me."
"Basketball ? What is that ?"
"Never mind."
In everything I've just said he only remembered the word "basketball." I admit that it annoyed me a bit.
Suddenly, he snapped his fingers as if a great idea just came through his mind.
"Have you ever used a bow ?"
"A bow ? Nah, never."
" I see... Well, it's recruiting season and the Royal Army is open to all candidates. I think you'll make a good one."
"Eh, I'm not really sure about that..."
"Don't worry, I'm never wrong about stuff like that. Trust my judgment."
"Huumm..."
"Come on, you'll be paid well, you'll have opportunities to travel and you'll be able to spend some times with me", he said with a manipulative smile.
"Besides the last remark, the offer seems interesting", I replied, looking at him with contempt.
"Argh ! That was harsh", he said while grabbing his chest.
"You asked for it."
What's happening ? We're looking like a comic duo !
"Ok, I guess I'll give it a try."
"You won't regret !"
Why do i feel like I've been tricked ?
"If a guard of the Royal Army thinks that I can do it, I've nothing to lose by following his advice."
"Ahah I think there's a misunderstanding... I may not look like this but I am actually a knight."
"Eh ?..."
*Long Silence*
So, this frivolous guy is actually a knight. Do they accept anyone for such important positions or what ?! I thought while feeling sorry for the people with whom he works with tears in my eyes.
Other than that, I still apologized for the confusion. I am grateful for his proposition so I'll tag along with him for a little while again; but there's just a question that bothers me.
"Will I have to kill people ? I know that sounds stupid since it's the army but I'm still asking, tho."
"No problem, it's normal to worry when you think about it. Killing comes only in last resort and we're in times of peace, therefore to answer to your question, 'No, you won't necessarily have to kill people; however killing monsters or magical beasts is common in this job. It may also happen that you have to deal with bandit organizations. The more you'll progress, the more you'll have new responsibilities and tasks assigned to you; and if you're not satisfy you'll always be able to quit. I don't know about you but I think it's a pretty decent job, isn't it ?", he said with confidence while shrugging his shoulders.
In my opinion this job seems pretty risky, but what is an adventure in a parallel world without a little bit of risk ? I'd certainly learn a lot from there.
We'll see how it goes.
"Oh, we haven't even introduced ourselves to each other yet."
"My name is Shirakami. Jemuel Shirakami. You can call me Jemuel."
"Nice to meet you Jemuel, my name is künh. Karl Künh, you can call me Karl."
"So sometimes you can act like a decent person. Looks like there's still hope for you", I said with a smirk.
"Of course ! I'm a knight after all, and what does this last sentence means ?! I'm older than you, you know ? Therefore, you must respect me", Karl said proudly .
"It has nothing to do with the fact that you're a knight, it's 'basic common sense', and sorry but I can't totally respect you, I feel like the more I'll stay with you the more I'll think that death sounds enjoyable."
"That was really mean !", he said with he's arms raised, followed by a sigh.
"Nice to meet you too Karl... So, how old are you ?"
"Ooohh, so you wanted to know more about me ?", he said with a smirk.
"Don't look at me like that !"
"You could have just say that you know. I'm even willing to reveal you more about -"
"Forget that I asked."
"DON'T CUT ME LIKE THAT ! OK I'LL TELL YOU ! I'LL TELL YOU !"
"I'm twenty-eight."
I was wrong a year less.
"Twenty-eight years-old and still acting like a child."
"Nah. I just live my life the way i want to", he answered while shrugging his shoulders glibly.
"If you say so. It may be something to respect."
"Jemuel... You've finally decided to respect me as the adult that I am. Come here my boy !", Karl said happily with tears in his eyes.
He jumped to give me a hug but I pushed him away.
"Get away from me !"
"Uuhh, you're so mean Jemuel. Anyway, let me guess your age."
"Go ahead."
"Huumm... You're nineteen, right ?"
"Correct. I've only known you for thirty minutes now and I'm already not impressed that you found it on your first attempt."
"I guess it's a compliment."
"Whatever man."
After taking the robber to jail, we headed to the Fretzia army base. On our way, I saw a church with the same ensign as the one on Karl's coat engraved on it, but in the same colours as those of the flag of Fretzia (red and gold). Karl noticed that I was staring at it.
"That's the church of the two crowns."
"The church of the two crowns ? Why two crowns ?"
"You seem interested, I'll tell you its story"
So, Karl told me that 599 years ago an army of demons led by a demon named Hilus attempted to invade their world. The war lasted 6 months. Toward the end, their troops were in despair and it was at this time that a higher force appeared from the sky as a god and shared its power with Alphonse Fretzia, their leader at the time when Fretzia was only a village. Thanks to that power, he was able to end the war and became the first King of Fretzia. Since then, they worship this god and Alphonse Fretzia who saved their land and that's how the Church of the Two Crowns was born. This year will mark the 600th year since the end of the war.
"Eeehh, you know you're history that's good. You earned 0.5 points back."
"Wait wait... Why only 0.5 points ?! How many did I already lost ?! And since when did we start this ?!"