The next day I went to the 'Market' once again. Yesterday, after coming back with a paper bag full of bread of different kinds, I even bought some fruits from the shopkeeper's friend, Denis. I didn't buy any items though, because I already had the best of them. Also, did I find any that caught my attention? Not really.
Valerie ate the bread with an expectant expression, she liked the breadsticks most, she said it was the best treat to eat while studying.
She had a storage ring of her own, of copper color, and she had mostly books stocked inside. This reminded me that even though she was trying to live without much help from her household, she wasn't stupid to not take necessary things.
On the other hand, Ducas looked a little down, seeing that I brought food with me. It baffled me when he muttered, if you wanted something you should have told me Sir Arthur. He was saddened, I even got a message stating he felt dejected. I guess he really likes being the host for food.
Even Persephone ate the Stuffed bread. Damn, I felt like shouting, Hurray.! She eats something.! But I got a glare from her as she delightfully chewed the soft bread. So I didn't.
I also gave some to Charlotte, a little more than necessary for one person, thinking she might eat with Dianne. But one thing that got to me was the festive atmosphere of the city, it resonated with the feeling of freedom.
Back on Earth, I spent almost three years of my life studying for my college entrance exam, and I used to avoid any place that would be considered a 'waste of time'.
Well, I don't regret it, as I got the reward of my hard work, by enrolling in one of the top colleges. And my first year there was spent great.
But I couldn't help but think, how would visiting those places, that I could have gone to with others as a kid, would have felt like?
So I am visiting the Market.
Since coming here into this world, I had unexpected situations to deal with, and I have done multiple things. From becoming an assistant in a school, granted I didn't go out much, and the one time I did whole plaza was attacked.
I also stole-, I mean took Church's whole wealth and then blew the whole place up, geez that doesn't sound good in my favor. But Ducas, the scam existence, got to live.
Then I cleared two hidden Scripts and gained Zoe and Gale, both would be my great allies. And so, so, so much else happened as well, which was tiring for me. So I plan to enjoy the feeling that I experienced yesterday once again.
At least that's what I thought.
Ducas: "Sir Arthur. Let's go to this place, this weapon shop looks better than the one before."
My plan of take a stroll, enjoying the festive atmosphere, as the colors blended into one another, and each step took me to a different world. From a world filled with shops containing clothes made of beautiful hide, to the street with a fountain, where different people performed to show their talent in entertaining the crowd, was turned into visiting one weapon shop to another.
It wasn't that it wasn't festive. Strings of colorful paper dangled overhead forming a shelter that led the way forward. And most of people here walked with one or two weapons, it was baffling. I mean not so much, I have gotten used to seeing this among the demi-humans.
But still looking at the people walking with spears in their hands, swords or daggers at their waists, and huge maces or axes on their backs, most of them being demi-human, felt so weird.
The shop we are standing in front of had a big door, which I assume is made for bear people or for the customers who buy huge weapons. It had window walls, which displayed dummies from human size to bear to Lion and tiger, and even rabbit and wolf mannequins wearing armor, beyond which many weapons on display were visible.
There was a sign in big stating 'Welcome to Carbine weapon shop', and the door had a sign 'open'.
This street had many shops like these, some stalls with weapons on display. Ducas didn't like any of the weapons there, and many shops like this which we visited.
So here we are now at our fifth shop, it was relatively better looking. Ducas marched inside with an expectant expression, and I prayed in my heart that, I hope this shop have something he likes, which wasn't answered.
Ducas: "What is this sword? Look here. This isn't properly molded, and here the leather in the handle is loose."
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' comments "Haha. He sure is choosy." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments "A right weapon could make huge differences in battle." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments "Indeed." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' comments "Ahhh... What is so good about fighting?" ]
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While messages flashed before me, Ducas openly berated the shopkeeper, who couldn't argue as he pointed out minute details that I couldn't point out. The shopkeeper released beads of sweat.
Shopkeeper: "I am sorry sir, you are right. Why don't you look around the shop and find a weapon you find suitable. I will immediately take this to our smith."
Ducas clicked his tongue as he gave the sword that he was holding, then roamed around the shop, checking some of the weapons on display.
Shopkeeper: "Asshole."
The shopkeeper grumbled in a low voice, but I heard him.
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "Woah. He cursed at a customer." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' comments "No wonder there are less people here." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments "Faking good appearance is business tactic." ]
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The shopkeeper's eyes lifted making eye contact with me. He gave me a smile, hiding his disdain towards the silver-haired weapon fanatic, as he went behind the main desk taking the sword with him.
Ducas: " Most of these swords are chipped away. How long has it been seen they have been in the care of a smith?"
He grumbled as he inspected one sword after another. I couldn't share his disappointment.
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is snickering. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' is looking. ]
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Arthur: "Ducas, You have money right? I will wait outside, choose whatever you like."
Ducas: "Ah. Yes, Sir Arthur. I won't take long."
He said as he kept his eyes on the swords on the display.
'Somehow I doubt that.' Sighing at his lack of reaction, I went outside the weapon shop and grumbled.
Arthur: "He is really into it huh?"
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "Yup.! Yup.!" ]
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Persephone: "And what are you into?"
She teased as she squinted her eyes at me with a coy smile. I just rolled my eyes at her, but then I noticed something.
My eyes landed on the corner of the shop. There I noticed two furry spheres of gold and black, above a tattered rug.
'Was someone selling Furry orbs here?' I questioned.
It was way in the corner that I hadn't noticed it before. I went closer only to find that it was not balls but two fur cats cuddled to each other.
I crouched near to them, two cats, with one whose fur was gold in color and one black in color, their eyes were closed like they were asleep. Maybe they are sleeping.
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "So cute.!" ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is looking with curiosity. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking with aww. ]
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As I stared at them, I couldn't help but feel compelled, they looked so cute.
Persephone: "Huhu. This fluffy feeling inside. You feel quite happy and calm. So you really like cats huh?"
She squatted down next to me looking at them with me. I just glanced at her, quickly shifting it back to the cats.
-Wasn't it obvious from how I used to handle Hekate?
Persephone: "I thought you were just being polite, not trying to enrage a higher existence."
As I was about to message Persephone, the gold-furred cat rubbed its face over its paw, as one of its eyes slowly opened, and the other one followed. Maybe the cat sensed my presence and my eyes looking at it.
As soon as the cat confirmed my presence, I saw its eyes narrowed, but when our eyes connected and it saw my face clearly, I noticed the gold cat flinch.
Feeling the movement beside it, the black one also slowly opened its eyes, lifting its head first at the gold cat, and then tracing its gaze the black cat also looked at me, and flinched in a similar fashion.
'What is it? Do I have something on my face?' I questioned inside, seeing how they reacted, but then I noticed something about the gold cat.
Arthur: "You..."
I narrowed at the gold cat. The cat became uneasy at this development, I could swear I was seeing beads of sweat forming on its forehead. I extended my hand and seeing my hand approaching, the gold cat closed its eyes, looking almost fearful.
I went ahead, running my fingers on its neck, as I lifted its chin with my thumb.
Arthur: "You are hurt."
There was a line in red over the cat's gold fur, it was a blood stain. Involuntary I frowned upon seeing that. The black cat nudged at my hand with cute eyes, seemingly asking for help.
Just that time, the shop's door opened, and Ducas walked through it grumbling.
Ducas: "-man is so cheap, didn't even lower one penny. At least this dagger is decent."
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' is looking. ]
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He shook his head around, before spotting me and stepping in my direction, coming closer he stood near to me.
Arthur: "Did you find something you liked?"
I asked looking in his direction, still holding onto the gold cat's chin, as it looked between me and Ducas.
Ducas: "This dagger is decent."
He stuck out the dagger that was inside a metal sheath with intricate patterns, its handle was wrapped in black leather. I eyed the dagger and spoke, shifting my eye back to the gold cat.
Arthur: "Alright. Do something for me. Go back inside and see if the shopowner has some healing Ampoule. This cat is hurt."
Ducas bent closer looking at the cat's fur where a red stain was and nodded.
Ducas: "Yes, Sir Arthur. He must have some, since people often get hurt while handling weapons."
Arthur: "He won't give it for free from his personality. Don't try to bargain just give him the money."
I recalled how Ducas grumbled that the shopkeeper was cheap, so I was fairly certain that he would try to get any money he could. Ducas nodded and as he was about to turn I spoke, noticing something.
Arthur: "Buy two hides of these cats' size, their fur seems to be riddled with dust... Also since the dagger you bought is only decent, give it to me. We'll buy a better one at someplace else."
Ducas looked confused at my last request, but he didn't argue since he didn't find the dagger pleasurable. Handing the dagger to me he turned going back inside the shop.
Both Cats looked at me with a weird gaze, which confused me as well, but I quickly dismissed it. I held the dagger with a calm expression and raised it at them. The cats showed a fearful startled expression.
'Why are they shaking?' My eyes shifted to the mirror from which the inside of the shop was visible, but I could see my own light reflection in it and I could understand.
My calm face with a dagger in my hand, looked a little threatening. I tried to show a light smile, to which cats shook even more fearfully, and it made me twitched the corner of my lips.
Arthur: "Simmer down, I am not hurting you."
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' is laughing. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' is grinning at you. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is looking at you with difficult smile. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is holding her laugh. ]
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I sighed and gently pushed the dagger between both cats and then laid it. It slid between them, as the dagger became hidden underneath two cats, without hurting any of them. Well, it was sheathed, so it's not like it would have cut.
Arthur: "Only use it for defense."
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[ Some Nubeculas are confused with your words. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is looking at you with curious smile. ]
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I said with a light smile, as I ignored the messages.
I patted both cats, dusting them as some dust was covering their furs. Then Ducas came with a hide, and with two bottles of Ampoule with green liquid inside.
Reaching closer, He opened one of the Ampoules and handed it to me. I forwarded the bottle's mouth towards the gold cat's mouth. It sniffed at it once, and turned its head with a bitter expression as it stuck its tongue out.
Arthur: "Hey, don't be a baby. Drink this."
I pushed the ampoule, trying to grab its head, but it kept shaking its head. The black cat meowed, it seemed like it was trying to convince the gold cat. At this, the gold cat sighed visibly and drank the green healing ampoule.
The gold cat made a vomiting expression, after drinking all of the ampoule. I focused on the scar below its chin, a slight green light shone there before disappearing in an instant. Then, I ruffled its red-stained fur, carefully, and there was no wound beneath it, not even a scar.
Looking at it, the black cat's expression changed to a delight, but not for long. I grabbed the black cat's head, to which it looked at me with confusion.
I raised my free hand towards Ducas, who opened another Ampoule and handed it to me.
Arthur: "You should drink some too. Even if you are not hurt, it would be good for your health."
The Black cat turned visibly fearful, and the gold cat meowed at the black cat. I swear I noticed a smug face on the gold cat, it looked like it was taking its revenge.
Despite its struggle, I made the black cat gulped down all of the ampoule, down to the last drop. Ducas squatted other next to me and covered both cats with hide, that he held onto till now.
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' is looking at you delighted. ]
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Soon when both cats looked comfortable, and I stood pushing on my knees. Persephone and Ducas followed. We looked at the cats, as they looked at us with their gold and black gems-like eyes.
Arthur: "Well then, take care."
I raised my hand at them at our farewell and nudged at Persephone and Ducas turning at my heels.
As we walked the cats kept looking at us from under the light hide, sticking their head out. Ducas waved at them with a stupid happy expression and Persephone smiled in contentment, I could feel the satisfaction, which I accepted with open arms. That feeling wasn't bad.
We roamed around the 'Market', well the side of it which was filled with weapon shops, until Ducas found a shop whose weapons were good enough in his opinion. It wasn't easy, it took a lot of time and it was not a walk in the park.
Even there, the shopowner kept grumbling as Ducas went from one weapon to another, pointing out some of the minute problems. Finally, he found a sword he liked. After checking the sword's weight, and its grip, swinging it once and twice in a swift motion, he discussed a little bit of customization he wanted on the sword.
***
When we returned, the sun was almost past its horizon. The red-yellow-orange shade was turning to dark.
And as I stepped through the front gate of the Castellum. I got confirmation that my luck was not so great today.
Infront of the first office to the right, beside the couch, one man, with a handsome face, brown hair sloppily combed back, and his slightly wrinkled shirt underneath his Legion coat showed the traces of his long day.
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[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' comments "Justice boy.!" ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' comments "Stop giving weird titles." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' is looking. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is looking. ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "Argh..." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' is looking with disdain. ]
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Timothy was standing infront of his room with a stack of paper in his hand reading them. While a woman, with a beautiful mature face, and warm brown hair with a slight red undertone, was turned towards the office door, holding a key put inside the keyhole.
She twisted the key while twisting the doorknob once to check if the door got locked or not. She was wearing the same uniform as Timothy, except there were two stars on her shoulder strap.
I recognized her, she is one of the elite of Timothy's squad. It wouldn't be wrong to call her his right hand. Cailyn.
As I stepped through the hallway with Ducas following behind me with his new sheathed sword strapped to his waist, my intention was to get straight to the stairs.
But Timothy's eyes lifted to the sound of the heels of my shoe made in the hall. Similarly to him, Cailyn straightened her back and turned her head to us as well.
Timothy: "You seemed to be enjoying yourself."
He stated with his neutral tone as I stepped leisurely. I was already looking at him, us looking at each other. Hearing his statement, I stepped closer, turning to him.
Arthur: "I am. The citizen of this town is very lively. You should go out once in a while."
Timothy: "Is that so?"
I tried to show a soft smile, at which Timothy narrowed his eyes, as Cailyn turned to stand behind him, just as Ducas was standing behind me.
Timothy: "I was informed that you came yesterday before noon. Why didn't you come to see me immediately?"
He put down the hand holding the papers. I stepped closer to him, lifting my head, and looking down at him with my eyes.
Arthur: "Why? Did you have something important to discuss? From what I hear, we will be departing the day after tomorrow, so we can have a detailed discussion sometime tomorrow. Unless you wanted to share pleasantries, but you couldn't even be bothered to tell me that I would have to travel from Brimos, Alone, so that can't be it. Although I prefer it that way."
Timothy expression didn't change, unaffected by tone. But Cailyn didn't like my attitude. She took a step closer, almost beside Timothy.
Cailyn: "You are talking to Legion Major of Central Castellum of Cloud Continent. If he asked you to come, you show up with a better attitude-"
Timothy raised his hand, at which Cailyn halted her speech and shut up. I also raised a hand, lightly touching Ducas's chest, who stepped closer just like Cailyn, but didn't say anything, just showed a hostile frown.
Timothy: "His name is Arthur Xanders, the one who is rumored as the sliver-winged protector in Brimos and the one who gave me the information on Highness Beako."
I narrowed my eyes a little involuntarily. I wanted to say that 'I didn't want to be referred to by that title. Can you please don't spread it?' But I didn't, I felt like if I did then he would use it against me.
Timothy: "Don't fret. She works right under me, she won't tell anyone. And because of her position, she needs to know some of the information. You need to understand."
Timothy took my frown for the reason that I was being angry that he was talking about the information about me that, I didn't want anyone to know.
'And Yes, both of those things don't need to be known by anyone.' I hate that Silver title and if Viscount found out that I gave the information on Beako before she was found out. That would be a problem.
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[ The Nubecula 'Dionysus' comments "This tension. I like it." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "I hate this guy.!" ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Raziel' comments "You are breaking character 'rumor expert'." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' comments "I thought you like situations like this. You are playing favorite." ]
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[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments "The situation is great.! But I don't have to like every aspect of it.!" ]
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'Quite a contradictory feeling. Must be tough.' I mused as Timothy's eyes then shifted to Ducas, as he eyed Cailyn who looked at me with disapproval.
Timothy: "I heard you had two people accompanying you."
Arthur: "Ah yes. His name is Ducas, and the other one is a woman named Valerie."
Timothy: "So, you have some who you let get close to you. I thought you were incapable of trust."
'Incapable of trust? Is that what his investigation led him to believe?' I questioned. His intuition of judging people is just as remarkable as Valerie's.
Valerie has better intuition to find out if someone is hiding something thus her passive skill [Discernment]. And Timothy is good at judging how much trust someone actually has, hence his skill [Discerning].
Arthur: "...Well they are different."
Ducas showed a sheepish proud expression to Cailyn, who was darting her eyes at me, which felt uncomfortable to me. So I turned to her with a raised brow.
Arthur: "Anyway, I would appreciate it, if you don't look at me with such hostility, Miss Cailyn."
Her eyes widened a bit as I said her name, her hostility vanishing and Timothy narrowing his eyes at me.
Timothy: "Just a few hours more than one day here and you already are well informed."
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[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jini' is looking at you with proud smile. ]
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Arthur: "Well informed? You should interact with your squad more. All they can talk about is the five elite of your squad, and Miss Cailyn has fans all over."
I covered it with the obvious excuse, at which the suspicion on both of their faces lessened a bit.
Arthur: "So since we are all acquainted with each other, and if you don't have anything else to tell me. I would like to get back to my room, I had a long day."
Saying so with a polite smile, I turned to the stairs, Ducas following me as he glanced at Cailyn once and she at him, both having frown on their faces. I took a couple of steps when Timothy spoke to me.
Timothy: "We will discuss the expenditure of Iprtius tomorrow evening at seven. Be there at the time, unless you want to fetched."
Saying so he turned towards the front gate. 'Fetched? What am I? Some kind of animal?' I grumbled, and headed towards my room
After the conversation, I went directly to my room, spent by all the whole stroll from the day. At dinner time, Valerie and Ducas came. Ducas brought a big basket with dinner inside, multiple food varieties, like Grilled meat skewers, Deep-fried pastries, Fresh rolls with veggie, Deep-fried dough topped with powdered sugar, and such.
Valerie held a chuckle throughout the time Ducas talked about our stroll through the market and the lack of consideration towards the weapon. She showed curiosity about the whole situation with the cats and gave a gentle smile, which felt weird to me.
But still, just like that the day ended, and despite the night, the dark sky was lite with stars.