A man laughs with derision. He was filled with joy, contempt, and liberation. He wanted the world to taste desperation. He wanted to see a metamorphosis. The strong will abandon the weak out of distress. The weak will be forced to fight. The bystanders will act. And the people sitting at the back manipulating the events will come out. He will take away their happiness and turn it into anger. They will hate him and he will hate them. A man chose to fight the whole world.
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Marcus insists that friends should always be equal. If there's a dependency or dominance in a friendship, it's not friendship at all. It is subordinacy or subordination. One leads while the other follows. If it's a friendship, one walks the same path as the other. That's why he can't accept the girl asking to join him in his adventures.
"No. You're too weak. Not even smart nor clever. No charm, aura, appearance, or manners. You'll only hold me back."
"B-but I can cook, repair, and help with manual labour!"
"I can already do that so no."
"If you're worried about me, I can handle myself!"
"I don't care. I don't need you so- hey, get away from me. Get off, kid! NGgngngn"
"No! No! No! I have to repay you! I can't let you go without repaying you!"
"I told you! It was a coincidence! Thank the heavens for your luck. Think of it as me using you as bait! Get off, brat!"
"Gasp! You can use me as bait! Just let me go on an adventure!"
"No"
"If you don't let me, I will never get off!"
"Fu- fine."
The girl showed anticipation while still holding the teenage boy.
"But!"
The girl's face became tense.
"But you have to prove yourself worthy."
"Whaaaa, really? Alright! Alright! What do I need to do?"
The girl was jumping in excitement. She can't believe her persuasion worked.
"See that grandma over there?"
"Grandma Sherry?"
"Yeah. She's making clothes. Help her make 100 sets of clothes with different designs. That way I'd know that you could handle the task I'm going to give you once we travel."
"W-what!? One hundred!! That's a load of-"
"If you can't do that then forget it."
"No, I can do it! Just one hundred? Psh, I can even do two hundred!"
"Okay, two hundred then"
"I was just kidding, boss. Hehe, one hundred it is."
"Don't call me boss." As Marcus said that, the girl went off to help grandma Sherry. "Oh, and you also have the task to collect the materials! Doesn't matter if you go with someone or not."
Thus, the girl did her best to make 100 assorted clothes. She was unaware of the fact that the young adventurer was already gone. This was the legend of the clothesmaster.
"Companions are, in a way, friends thus, travelling together requires the party to be equal."
The young adventurer walked leisurely along the pasture away from the town.