Is this the place? Trace looked at the map his master passed over. The building surely betrayed its name - 'Paporcean Palace'. For the shop was small, even combing the adjacent stores, the establishment was by no means as big.
Trace's master had handed over the map giving by one of the customers. Apparently, this place had close contact with the person who once came for Master's fortune telling. Here, Trace could find the person who was an expert in making fake rings!
Trace pushed open the glass door and a sticky sweet odor greeted him. Betrayed again. He was standing between a small hallway made by hanging two giant posters on either side. Above the small space, two lamps directly casted their light downwards, lighting up the space brightly.
The posters were letting off a shine that stung in Trace's eyes. He took a step backward so the entirety of the image would fit in his eyes.
'How I Became The Greatest Sorcerer, I Don't Even Know -_ whathahell'
Its poster depicted flames all over in blue and red. Between the flame hell was a small figure with big bold characters spinning over his head. The poster was very catchy but the 'DING', 'PING', 'ALERT', 'BEEP', over the silhouette made Trace wary.
In the past, there were some novels recommended to Trace but they were so different. It was his first time seeing such a kinky thing. After rubbing his eyes, Trace turned to look at the second poster. He had to step back again for he mistakenly thought there was another hallway in this direction.
'Re, Sorcerer, CEO, System, Girls, Another World _- BlueLevel_420'
The poster on the other side had a young man in between, diagonal stripes on his eyes and waving hair. Surrounding him were many different creatures. But with once glance you could somehow tell all those were girls.
Trace rubbed his nose to clear the prickling smell away. After the poster hallway a small row of bookshelves were laid out. Despite the wood being old, it held all the colorful books like flowers in the mud.
Seemingly, there was no one in the store, Trace walked towards the middle. This was the only spot that was missing a bookshelf. Instead bundles of books were kept on the ground in a square arrangement.
Just as Trace turned around, he saw the counter. It was just beside the poster hallway and a lady present there! She had wavy hair, a purple dress was wrapped on her upper body but leaving a wide cutout in between.
Trace stepped forward and greeted her. She gave Trace a quick look before ignoring him to continue reading the book. Even after trying multiple times, Trace was dismissed with a few hand signs so he decided to look around the store.
…
Sun's rays were reflected from the still pond. Bathing in eternal calmness were two girls beside the clear waters. One of them was laying on bench giggling in monotonous voice. It would make one wonder if the joy was fabricated.
While the other girl was sitting straight. Her figure was straight like splat of the chair. The Lynn sisters - Rae and Noelle, were engrossed in books early in the morning. Their comfort time was interrupted by their grandfather, Heliio Lynn.
"Noelle, what should I bring for you?" Heliio said.
"Grandpa, I am coming this time."
The monotonous voice of Rae was raised in protest. She gave her sister an angry look before jumping at Heliio. Both the pink hair girls looked at each other but their expressions were poles apart.
"Take me Grandpa, take me, I am coming, I am coming," Rae shook Heliio's arm.
Heliio cleared his throat before looking at his elder granddaughter. Soon after that joyous day a horrific incident occurred. Ever since, he had not seen Noelle smile. He sighed deeply when Noelle shook her head, indicating she did not want anything.
After getting denied a few more time, Hellio looked at Rae who was pouting. He tired to make her young granddaughter stay at home, but failed repetitively. Even the promise of bringing her a new chandelier did not work.
"Grandpa, carry me in your loving arms.
"Grandpa, I wanna buy some important things so I can enjoy myself.
"Grandpa, this is the wrong spot, no don't go in there," Rae spoke while, inside the carriage.
Heliio cleared his throat which was already hoarse because Rae kept making comments all along the way. He picked up a tall cup from the holder attached at the side of the carriage. After drinking from the decorated cup, he spoke.
"Indeed, Koyoko Shopping Complex is closed on the weekends. But only for general public."
…
About 100 kilometers outside Koyoko. A company of three was riding a carriage made up of cloth with wooden base. Some carriages in cities were also made up of hollow wood but Binpark Carriages used a light metal frame with solid base.
There was no coachman just the three Sorcerers. A new Level 1 Reaper, a Level 2 Reaper with a box around this right arm and a Level 3 Sorcerer with messy appearance. Two horses pulled the carriage along the desolate road surrounded by trees.
200 meters ahead, a group of Sorcerers were waiting. The company was hidden in the trees. Some were high up the branches while others were hiding behind thick trunks.
'Arrows,' a shadow signaled.
'No,' was the quick answer.
'Plan 6,' soon a common signal began to spread in the group.
Inside the carriage, Khufu Azami was nervously looking around at the creepy surroundings. He had never been out of the city before. According to Klavior, this was a short route to the next city. But the destination would only arrive if they safely made it through.
Beside Khufu, Klavior was sleeping with head hung above the seat. Opposite to him was Deus Garcia, who also had his eyes closed but beads of sweat were on his face.
Deus was focusing on this right hand, that was still wrapped up. After all the bones fractured by the talisman Trace used on him, a frown never left his face. He was channeling mana towards his right hand in excess to speed up the recovery.
Just as the carriage reached the 200 meter mark, shadows rushed out from the left side of road. Vicious grins could be seen on the unmasked faces. Khufu who was constantly looked around almost jumped out of the carriage.
"Surround em men, this is so easy."
"First touch first own, quick."
"Don't harm the horses, they are the most expensive items on this crappy carriage."
Quickly the thick cloth sheltering three unarmed men was cut through. All the assailants focused their gazes on the pancaking man and the vicious looking injured person. Ignoring the degenerate with dirty hair, they focused their attack on the two worthy opponents.
"Kyaaaa."
Khufu screamed while shaking Klavior. Whereas Deus gritted his teeth and clenched the unbroken fist. A punch shot through the teeth of a smiling bandit who was sent flying. Deus jumped out of the carriage through the gap that opened.
Some bandits turned to chase Deus while others were still eying Khufu. There was no way out of the encirclement. And Khufu's body did not dare to move like Deus' did. Despair surrounded him as he squinted his eyes to brace the incoming weapons.
But before he could completely close his eyes, a light shined from beside him and swept around in an arc. All the bandits were swept away like rags with one swing of the shining fist.
"Impossible!"
Deus and every bandit surrounding him looked towards the carriage. Every single body present in the vicinity froze after seeing the one swing. It felt like hand of the god drew one arc to silence the demons.
"I am hungry," was the dumb line that broke the silence.
If it were anything else, the bandit leader was willing to concede. But hearing this made him suspicious. An awkward silence swept again in the dense ethereal forest road.
…
In the Paporcean Palace bookstore, a new customer walked inside. The figure stopped to see the posters on either side of the mini hallway. A kick was throw at the poster towards right side before stepping inside the store.
The figure had pink blunt bangs with two long ponytails, a straight figure and an innocent face. Rae walked inside the store alone not letting her grandpa follow. She walked directly over to the leftmost corner of the store.
Just as she walked over, the boy present quickly slid a book back into the shelf. She looked over squinting her eyes before picking up a book. Walking towards the counter, she realized that the boy was following her.
"Hey you, I want it," Rae said in the same monotonous voice.
Trace also stood beside the girl, wanting to know the address of the man who could make fake rings. He looked over the pink hair girl cautiously with the corner of his eyes. While his head was turned towards the lady attendant.
"Give it to me," Rae said again when the attendant ignored her.
Annoyance was clearly visible on Rae's face. She slammed the book on the table. But the attendant only looked over once before resuming reading. A protesting voice left Rae's mouth before she threw the book at the female attendant.
Trace saw the book bounce back into the girl's hands. She turned her head towards him and then back at the attendant again.
To this reply, the lady who was violated put down the book before removing something for her ears. She fixed the cutout of her dress at the right spot and adjusted her top to make it look sizable before speaking in a very low voice.
"Rae, please don't do this to me ever again."
Betrayed again. Trace was about to slip but regained his posture and looked away. But soon a low voice was detected and he listened carefully.
"Please sir, is there anything you want?"
"Yes," Trace flustered when he realized his voice was really loud. "Can you tell me where does Mr. Overlord Kaiser live?"
"I am sorry sir, we don't give away addresses of our writers."
Writer? Trace questioned in his mind before taking out the map. It was a slip of paper little bigger than two palms combined. At the back of it, a short note was written with gigantic sign.
"This place was supposed to be the final hurdle before I can get to meet Mr-"
Rae snatched the piece of paper and looked closely at the signature. She squinted her eyes before passing the paper to the attendant.
"It's so big, it's so real, I can't breathe," Rae said.
The attendant was also shocked to see the signature. She respectfully passed the paper back to Trace before taking out another paper to write the address. Reverend Mister Overlord Kaiser's address the curly writing on the note said.