Being challenged in life is inevitable but being defeated is optional.
When you see a challenge in front of you, what will you do? If you are strong, you will face it and overcome it and if you are weak but you still face it, you will suffer consequences and of course you will not be able to overcome it.
But what about, if you are weak but you have to overcome the challenge no matter what happens. In that situation the only one you can believe and depend on, is yourself.
Right now, in a city called Rester, two people are walking in an area full of shops and crowds.
These two were no one else but Dreamer and Liberi.
After buying the mana potion and knowing about the auction, Dreamer was walking aimlessly with a complex expression on his face.
"My lord, about the auction's main attraction, could it be my sword?" Liberi, who was still carrying the sack, asked Dreamer.
"Of course, it is your sword. And the rumor that is spread around about the sword coming out from a volcano, is a lie.
Probably the principal is the one who made someone spread this rumor around the city. But why is he selling the sword in the auction why not use it for himself?" Dreamer answered and asked a question in return.
"My lord, it's not why the principal is not using the sword for himself, instead the principal can't use it at all." Liberi revealed such a statement which made Dreamer frown a little.
"What do you mean? He is a principal, right? He must be a great swordsman so it's very unlikely that he can't use a sword." Dreamer said after hearing Liberi's statement.
"My lord, you are right. The principal must be a great swordsman but it's not the reason why he can't use that sword.
That sword is special. At first glance, it looks like a normal sword but when a person who is acknowledged by the sword as its master, and pour their mana on it, the sword will turn bright red.
When I first found the sword that sword was already red, but with blood, so when I poured my mana on it, that sword became even more red, giving off a crimson colour and when I stopped pouring my mana on it the sword returned to its original state.
I decided to check this, so I tried giving the sword to other students and teachers and told them to pour their mana on it and when they did that, the sword showed no reaction and when I was the vice principal of the academy the principal also tried to pour his mana on the sword but still the sword showed no reaction even from the principal's mana.
So, after all this testing I came to a conclusion that there is something in me that can make this sword turn red and it is not present in anyone at the academy, not even the principal.
Although anyone can use the sword only, I can use it more efficiently as the sword recognised me as its master.
So, after realising that he cannot use the sword fully, the next thing the principal must have decided is to sell the sword in order to earn some money." Liberi explained the reason why the principal can't use the sword and also the reason why the principal decided to sell the sword.
"I see. That sword must be one of a kind, no wonder you are so eager to get it back." Dreamer said and was amazed by Liberi's explanation about the sword.
"That's right, my lord. That sword is indeed one of a kind." Liberi agreed with Dreamer and kept on walking.
'Why are you roaming around for? Do what you need to do.' Helix, who was silent all this time, spoke to Dreamer as he was just walking around aimlessly.
'I am thinking! The auction changed everything. Now I have to make another plan to get the sword. Speaking of plans, do you have any ideas?'
Dreamer asked as he had planned everything about how to take back the sword but due to the auction taking place, he had to change his plan accordingly and for that he also asked Helix for some ideas.
'Huh? Why would I use my brain for something like this! It's your call, your quest, your subordinate and your subordinate's sword. I have nothing to do with it.' Helix said and stated his decision that he will not help Dreamer.
'What? If you think this has nothing to do with you then what was that lecture you gave me about being a man. You should have stayed quiet back then. I am here because of you so you have to help me, I don't care if it's your problem or not.' Dreamer replied and made it clear that Helix had to help.
'Listen, kid. My job is to make you a strong individual and warn you when you are doing something wrong and about the lecture I gave you, it was also a part of my duty as you will not get strong without facing challenges and strong opponents. You have to act brave even if you are pissing in your pants.
My job is not to make you give up when you are scared, but it is to make you brave and don't get me wrong being brave doesn't mean you can't be scared instead it means you can be scared, really scared, badly scared, but you still have to do the right thing anyway and this is my duty, to make sure you do the right thing.
And about retrieving Liberi's sword back, well, I said it before and I will say it again, I have nothing to do with it.
My duty is to make you face challenges, not to help you to overcome them and right now you are facing a challenge and if I helped you here you will never be able to overcome any challenge in the future.
So, take a deep breath, think straight, look around yourself and find a way. And for the sake of not distracting you, I will not speak till you have finished this quest. Good luck, kid.'
Helix explained himself and wished Dreamer good luck. After Hearing Helix's final answer, all Dreamer did was sigh.
'Haah, fine! But, what can I even do!?' Dreamer replied Helix in his mind and stopped in his steps.
After seeing Dreamer stop walking Liberi also stopped in his steps.
After stopping, Dreamer took a deep breath and calmed his mind. Then he started looking around him while thinking of a way.
There were many people in the shopping area, mostly the rich people. They were wearing high quality clothes and were buying various things from the shops.
Some rich people were buying weapons, some were buying clothes and some were just looking around to pass their time.
'Right now, If I want to take back Liberi's sword then the most important thing is to attend the auction but for attending the auction, I need to change my appearance otherwise the people at the academy will not allow me to enter. There are many rich people present here and anyone can tell that they are rich just by looking at them.
So, I need to change my appearance if I want to enter the academy, but without money how can I do that? I should have hunted down more beasts before coming here. But now is not the time to worry about that. I need to attend the auction no matter what and for that I have to change my appearance! There must be a way! Think! Think!!...Think!!!...Hmm?'
Dreamer stopped his thoughts because while he was looking around, he noticed some familiar faces and then a smile crept on his face.
'As I thought! There is a way, After all!' Dreamer said to himself while looking towards the familiar faces as he formed a plan in his mind.
"Liberi! Come here for a second." Dreamer called Liberi and moved away from the familiar faces and Liberi also came towards Dreamer.
After Liberi came to him. Dreamer explained his plan to Liberi and after hearing the plan Liberi had a confiscated look.
"My lord, it's too childish. They can't be this stupid to believe such things." Liberi said to Dreamer after hearing his plan.
"Well, we will see. If it works then we are one step closer to getting your sword and if it doesn't work then we have to think of something else. So for now, do what I said."
Dreamer said and after hearing Dreamer's order Liberi started doing what Dreamer had told him to do.
Soon, Liberi moved towards a shop that was selling clothes and stopped outside the shop.
Liberi put down the sack he was carrying beside the shop's front door and he also removed his robe.
He was now bare chested, he took the robe in his hand and nodded towards Dreamer and went inside the shop while only wearing his pants and carrying his robe in his hands.
After Liberi went inside the shop, Dreamer also made his move.
He walked towards the familiar faces and started a conversation.
"Hello, Great Brothers!" Dreamer said and greeted the familiar faces with a smile and a bow.
"Huh? Great Brothers? Are you talking about us?" The familiar faces revealed a surprised expression after hearing Dreamer's greeting as no one called them great in their whole life.
"Of course, Great Brothers. Who else is there beside yourselves to deserve such kind of words." Dreamer again called them great, but this time he called them with even more respect.
The three brothers who were the target of Dreamer's praise started crying all of a sudden and one of them even rubbed his nose and threw out his snot on Dreamer's t-shirt but Dreamer let it slide.
The three brothers or familiar faces were none other than the Trolls that Dreamer had seen at the Duskwallow Tombs.
The three Trolls were wearing nothing, but their explicit parts are well hidden under their thick fur so no one really bothered to tell them to wear some clothes.
"Great Brothers, please don't cry...How about, I make all three of you laugh..."
Dreamer said with a fake smile as he is cursing the trolls in his mind and especially the troll who rubbed his nose and snot in Dreamer's t-shirt but Dreamer still kept a calm mind and focused on his plan.
"Really? Yes, yes do it" All three trolls stopped crying and said in unison while being excited.
'Well, that was one hell of a mood swing' Dreamer thought as the trolls who were just crying a minute ago became excited instantly.
"Sure, sure. But before that let me ask you something. Have you heard about the 'knock-knock' jokes? And how does it work?" Dreamer asked.
"Yes, I have heard about them and listened to a few of them, they are very funny. A person will say 'knock-knock' and then the other person has to say 'who's there'. Yeah, I know about them." The three trolls again said in unison.
"Good, now have you heard about a place called 'Hawaii'?" Dreamer asked another question.
"Hawaii? Isn't this a place where people go, to have some rest? I don't know which planet it is though." The three trolls replied in unison again.
"That's good enough. So, listen carefully" Dreamer said and took a deep breath, the trolls also perked up their ears to listen carefully.
"Knock-knock!" Dreamer said.
"Who's there?" The three trolls said in unison.
"Hawaii!" Dreamer said.
"Ha waii who?" The three trolls said in a unison.
"I am good. How are you?.....Bahahaha" Dreamer said and started laughing like a maniac.
And soon after understanding the joke, the three trolls also started to laugh like a maniac.
"Bahahaha, what a joke, brother. You turned 'Ha waii who?' to 'How are you?' That's so funny. Ouuf!!, Brother you are amazing!!" The three trolls laughed and even called Dreamer, a brother.
"Haha, thank you so much, great brothers." Dreamer said while faking his laughs.
He had made up this joke for a way to start talking with the Trolls.
While he was walking aimlessly around the crowd, he heard a person talking about a place called Hawaii. That person was saying something about going there and having some rest.
And about the knock-knock thing. Well, Dreamer's father once told a joke to him which was a Knock-knock type joke.
And when Dreamer saw the Trolls, he made up a joke by joining Hawaii and his father's knock-knock joke and started the talk.
He was confident that this joke will make the Trolls laugh but even if it didn't make them laugh then he can just think of another joke.
Soon, after 15 minutes Liberi came out from the clothes shop and picked up the sack and started walking around the shopping area.
After seeing Liberi coming out of the clothes shop, Dreamer also decided to carry on with his plan.
"Huh? Brother, do you have another joke? Tell us!" The three Trolls stopped laughing and asked Dreamer to tell a joke again.
"I would have loved to share more jokes with you great brothers, but if i do that I will miss the golden opportunity of getting any clothes for free." Dreamer said and confused the trolls.
"What are you talking about brother? Is someone giving you clothes?" The three trolls asked Dreamer in unison.
"No great brothers. Why would someone gift clothes all of a sudden? Looks like you all did not know about the game." Dreamer said in a regrettable tone so that the trolls will think that they are missing something big.
"What game? Where? We don't know. Tell us brother!" The three trolls said in unison in an impatient tone.
"Sure, Great Brothers. Can you see that shop over there." Dreamer said while pointing towards a shop behind the three trolls.
"Yes. What about it?" The three trolls asked again in unison.
"Well, I have heard that the owner of that shop is playing a game called 'steal and run'. I have heard about this game from a person who played and won this game, let me call him here so that you can also get to know about this game. Ahh, excuse me!" Dreamer said and the person who Dreamer was talking about is none other than Liberi.
In reality Liberi didn't play any game called 'Steal and run' and also there was no such game taking place inside the shop. It's just Dreamer thought that if he mentioned a game then the Trolls might take an interest in his talk.
And also, Dreamer called Liberi in a way that would make it seem like he was calling an unknown person because if Dreamer called out to Liberi like he knew him then the Trolls might have gotten suspicious and the plan may have resulted in failure.
On the other hand, Liberi was just walking around the shops aimlessly and was waiting for Dreamer to call him and when Dreamer called him, he slowly walked towards Dreamer while revising the plan in his mind.
"Why did you call me again? Didn't I already tell you about the game?" Liberi said as he came towards Dreamer while carrying the sack full of stones.
Liberi acted like he was meeting Dreamer for a second time and Liberi spoke with Dreamer in an annoyed manner as if he was irritated by Dreamer.
"Hello, mister. I am sorry for calling you again but these three are the Great Brothers. They also want to know about the game you told me about." Dreamer said and also apologized to Liberi in a calm manner.
"Huh? Are you talking about the game 'Steal and run' that I told you about before? Why are you spreading the information? It should be kept as a secret." Liberi scolded Dreamer in an angry tone.
"Yes, mister. I know that such information should not be spread but they are good people just like you and me. Please don't get angry. You will be praised by these Great Brothers. So, please be kind and tell them about it." Dreamer said and then Liberi looked towards the Trolls.
"Oh? So, you are the great brothers. I have heard a lot about you. It's such a pleasure to meet you. Forgive me for my harsh words before. If it's you great brothers, then I agree to tell you about the game.
But first, what are your names, great brothers?" Liberi said to the three Trolls, Liberi also mentioned them as Great Brothers and acted like the trolls were very famous in order to raise the chances of this plan to succeed.
After hearing Liberi's praise, the three trolls were about to cry but Dreamer stopped them in time and again urged them to tell their names to which the three Trolls agreed and started giving their introduction.
"My name is Brainy"
"My name is Keen"
"My name is Canny"
"And we are triplets"
"Pfft.."
All three trolls said their name and introduced themselves and after hearing their names Dreamer let out a hidden laugh which can't be heard by the trolls.
"Such nice names, they suit your personality as well." Dreamer fake complimented the three Trolls after hearing their names.
"Yeah, we know. Our parents choose these names after thinking very deeply" The three Trolls said in unison with a proud expression.
"Pfft.." Again, a laugh barely escaped from Dreamer's mouth after hearing the three Trolls but he kept it hidden pretty well.
"Ahem, So Mister, now that you know their names why not tell them about the game that is taking place in that shop!" Dreamer shifted the topic and moved forward with his plan.
"Sure. So, Mr. Brainy, Mr. Keen and Mr. Canny. The game that is taking place in that shop is named 'Steal and run'. It is only applicable for today and for the first few customers. I was the first customer to go to that shop. That's why I got the opportunity to play that game.
Before, I was just wearing pants but when I was roaming around in this area the shopkeeper called me and introduced me to this game and after playing the game, I got this black robe that I am wearing right now!" Liberi said to Brainy, Keen and Canny while flaunting his robe.
"Hmph, you think we are stupid!?" The BKC trio said to Liberi, which made Dreamer barely hold back his laughter as Dreamer clearly thinks that the trolls were stupid.
But for the sake of not making the BKC trio feel suspicious Dreamer told Liberi to carry on the conversation.
"Why do you say that? Great Brothers?" Liberi carried on the conversation and asked with an innocent look on his face.
"Brother Brainy, you should explain the reason to this man. You are the smartest among both of us." Keen and Canny said in unison and told Brainy to explain because according to both of them Brainy was the smartest of the trio.
'Don't worry, keep calm, they will not find anything wrong and even if they somehow found out something is wrong, you can handle it by yourself. Just remember my plan.' Dreamer said to Liberi in his mind to which Liberi just nodded without looking at Dreamer.
"Sure, brothers." Brainy said as he looked at Liberi. "So, listen mister, first of all you are carrying a sack filled with beast stones so how can we trust that you got your robe for free.
Second, you said you got this robe from the shop so it must be a new one but it didn't look like a new robe as it has mud covered in it and as far as I know a new robe shouldn't be covered in mud.
Third, there is a hole on the robe which clearly states that it is not a new robe.
Fourth and last, you are hiding your face. If you are not even showing your face then how can someone be able to believe you?
Brother don't go on and believe someone like him. There are many people like him who try to con simple minded people like you.
And you mister, go and find someone else for your petty tricks." Brainy threw some questions at Liberi and also called Dreamer a simple-minded person and advised him to stay away from people like Liberi.
"Wow, brother Brainy, you are so smart, '' Keen and Canny said in unison after hearing Brainy's explanation.
On the other hand, Dreamer was surprised as he hadn't expected this troll to be so observant but still when Dreamer was making his plan, he got all these questions covered and that's why Liberi also looked calm when Brainy asked him to go away.
"Haha, Sir Brainy. You are indeed very sharp. But at least hear me out for a second. I can explain myself. " Liberi said and asked for a chance to explain himself.
"Oh, you are persistent huh? Fine, let's see what you have to say." Brainy allowed Liberi to speak.
"Yes, sir Brainy. So, about this sack. Well, it's not filled with beast stones, instead it is filled with rocks as I work as a labor for a noble and he asked me to collect stones because he wants to build a statue of himself. Here, you can have a look.."
Liberi said and put down the sack he was carrying and opened it, and after seeing what's inside the sack, the BKC trio let out a surprised expression even Dreamer acted like he was surprised.
"I see. So they are stones. I thought you must be a servant of a strong gifted one. That's why you were carrying so many beast cores but to think they are just stones. But how will you explain the mud and hole in your robe and also why are you hiding your face!?" Brainy realized and asked again.
He thought Liberi must be a servant of a strong gifted one as strong gifted ones usually make weak people their servants to run their errands and Brainy thought that Liberi was carrying beast cores in the sack which belonged to a strong gifted one.
"Sir Brainy, About this mud on my robe. Well, while I was playing the game 'Steal and run' I fell on the ground so it got all muddy.
And the hole on the robe is because I preferred it this way, for me, it's a design.
And I am hiding my face because the noble I work for ordered me to hide my face while I was collecting the stones as the noble wants to give a surprise to his noble friends by making a statue of himself.
And sir Brainy, if you still don't believe me then you can even ask the shopkeeper about me visiting his shop while only wearing pants." Liberi explained himself to Brainy, to which Brainy's gaze softened at Liberi.
And this was the reason why Liberi removed his robe before going inside the clothes shop.
If the BKC trio still didn't believe Liberi and decided to ask the shopkeeper about Liberi visiting the shop while only wearing pants, the shopkeeper will obviously agree that Liberi visited the shop while only wearing pants. So, Dreamer made his plan with good foresight.
Brainy was still not fully convinced but now he wasn't looking at Liberi as suspiciously as before.
"I see, then why isn't everyone went into that shop to buy clothes for free?" Brainy again asked a question to Liberi but not in a tone like he was asking before.
But still Liberi didn't get flustered as this question was also covered in Dreamer's plan.
"Sir Brainy, like I said I am just a labor for a noble, I don't get enough money to buy any clothes I want.
And the people who are present here, don't need such things as free clothes and stuff as they can easily buy such things with ease.
So, when I heard about this game, I instantly decided to play it and get some clothes but as I am not good enough physically, I only got this robe." Liberi answered Brainy's question again and after hearing Liberi's explanation Brainy gave an expression of agreement.
"I see. It is indeed true. So, brothers! how about we play this game and get us some free clothes. What do you say?" Brainy agreed and asked Keen and Canny to play too.
"Yes, yes. Game, game. Let's play" Keen and Canny said excitedly in unison.
The Trolls agreed to get free clothes as they were not very rich, they can only do some petty works like burying a body and driving carriages, they are not even good enough for being a servant for the nobles or strong gifted ones as they were stupid.
So, an offer like getting nice clothes for free is just too enticing to leave according to trolls.
And this was the reason why Dreamer made such a plan because he knew that the Trolls will not be able to reject such an offer and with this plan, Dreamer and Liberi could also get some good enough clothes for attending the auction.
'Well, that was easy!' Dreamer thought in his mind with a smile.
"I am sorry for my earlier questioning brother. So, tell me what your name is? And yours too brother." Brainy asked Dreamer's and Liberi's names on behalf of his other two brothers and after hearing this question both Dreamer and Liberi broke into a light smile.
"Great Brothers, my name is Dupe Delude," Liberi said.
"And my name is Hoax Diddle," Dreamer said.
Liberi and Dreamer didn't tell the Trolls their real names because they didn't want to face any problems later with these Trolls. So, Dreamer made up their fake names too with the plan.
"Nice to meet you, Brother Dupe and Brother Hoax." The BKC trio said in unison.
"So, Brother Dupe now that the introduction is complete, why not tell them about the game." Dreamer persuaded him and asked Liberi to tell the BKC trio about the game.
"So, Great Brothers. Are you ready?" Liberi asked the BKC trio.
"Yes, I am ready!" The BKC trio said in a unison and in an enthusiastic tone.
"Good. So, the game is called 'Steal and run'. In this game you have to go into the shop and choose the clothes that you would like to wear and after choosing the clothes, the shopkeeper will run to catch you and you have to run with the clothes that you have chosen and if you don't get caught by the shopkeeper for 20 minutes than the clothes you have chosen will be yours.
But after 20 minutes are over the shopkeeper will still run behind you so you have to get out of the shop while carrying the clothes and when you are 10 meters away from the shop, the shopkeeper will stop running after you and you can get away with the clothes that you will be carrying.
I only got this robe because I chose too many clothes and because of that I had trouble in running so all the clothes fell on the ground in just 15 minutes.
And for the last 5 minutes I only got this robe left with me which got muddy too because of my falling but still I kept on holding this and when the 20 minutes ended I got this robe for free." Liberi explained the game which was entirely made up by Dreamer.
"That seems pretty easy. We just have to run for 20 minutes with the clothes we want to wear and after 20 minutes that clothes are ours. Let's go brothers." Brainy said to his two brothers and the two brothers excitedly got ready to go.
Dreamer also acted like he was also ready to go but he knew that Liberi has something else to say too.
"Wait! Great Brothers. There are some conditions too, in order to play the game." Liberi called out the BKC trio and after hearing Liberi's call they stopped.
"Huh? Conditions? What conditions, brother Dupe!" The BKC trio asked in unison.
"There are five conditions to know before playing this game.
First condition, you cannot say anything about this game to the shopkeeper, you can only talk about this game when 20 minutes are over.
Second condition, you have to hide from the shopkeeper till you choose your clothes and after choosing your clothes you have to show up in front of the shopkeeper and only then the shopkeeper will run to catch you for 20 minutes.
Third condition, you can't disclose the information about the person from whom you got to know about the game.
Fourth Condition, while you are choosing your clothes or running from the shopkeeper you can't talk with each other.
And fifth and last condition, you can only play this game once.
I was an exception because I was the first person to play the game so the shopkeeper told me everything and the first, second and third condition didn't apply to me.
Hope you all understood the conditions!" Liberi explained the conditions. These conditions were also made up by Dreamer which supported his plan.
"Understood!" Keen, Canny and this time Dreamer too said in unison. But Brainy had different thoughts.
"Brother Dupe, the first, third, fourth and fifth condition seems fine but about the second condition! How will we go inside the shop while being hidden from the shopkeeper?" Brainy asked Liberi which caught Dreamer off guard because he didn't think about this question.
'Is he really a troll?' Dreamer thought in his mind.
'You handle this.' Dreamer said to Liberi in his mind. Although Dreamer could tell Liberi what to say here, he wants to see if Liberi was capable of handling things like this.
"Sir Brainy, I have an idea for this. I have already played this game so I can't play again. So I will just go inside the shop and distract the shopkeeper and while he will be distracted you all can go inside the shop and choose the clothes freely." Liberi answered Brainy to which Dreamer nodded in affirmation and Brainy also agreed.
"I see. That's a good plan. So, brothers, we are going!!" Brainy said and told his brothers to move.
"Yes, yes!!" Keen and Canny said in unison and excitedly.
"Brother Hoax, you are coming too, don't you?" Brainy asked Dreamer who was standing behind them.
"Yes, Sir Brainy. Behind you!" Dreamer answered Brainy and the trolls started walking towards the shop.
While the trolls were walking, Liberi and Dreamer were standing beside each other looking at the backs of the BKC trio.
"My lord, it went pretty well." Liberi said to Dreamer while walking slowly behind the Trolls.
"Yeah, and you also did well. Especially with the last answer you gave, it was a very logical one." Dreamer praised Liberi and he also was walking slowly behind the BKC trio.
"You flatten me, my lord. I just contributed a little to this plan. All credit goes to you. And also, I didn't know that you are such a good liar." Liber said to Dreamer with a smirk.
After hearing Liberi's words, Dreamer just smiled and said, "Liar, you say!?" And while looking at the three trolls in front of him, he again smiled and said,
"Well, I only lie to someone, when I am absolutely sure that they will never be able to find out the truth."