Since I had two hemp bags soaked in blood, both the merchants and the warriors near the gate were looking at me with amazed looks when I passed by.
Then they started to whisper to each other.
[Are you kidding me…]
[Oioi, could it be all that blood coming from the orc's ear…..that many...?]
[If that's the case, then he had defeated 2 squads of orcs on his own? Who is that guy!?]
Even if they were whispering, I will eventually hear about it anyways since it will pass to other people. It won't be long until my presence became known in Babylon.
Now, although I've become renowned as the warrior Mukuro, I won't need to sneak around like when I was still in the kingdom. Here in Babylon, it's the warriors' role to subjugate monsters.
Warriors capable of tackling a large amount of monsters will surely be welcomed here.
I don't mean to emulate Greed but I do need to act dignified.
With blood still dripping from my bags, I forced my way through the crowd. The exchange facility is at the end of the main road on the eastern side of the gate leading to the military district.
According to the proprietress of the inn where I'm staying in, it's the busiest part of the city. Not only because of the soldiers, but also the warriors.
It's the common gathering ground for them because it's where they can gather information and find out about the reward for monster subjugation.
When I got there, I just hope that the classic, meddlesome warriors won't feel obliged to try to create problems for me.
Well, I'm entering the exchange facility in such a conspicuous way after all so I'm just wondering how the warriors that were already there will react. In any case, I can't exchange the ears for money anywhere else for all I care.
Greed once again talked through "mind reading"to annoy me.
『Fate, here is what you need to do. Don't give a damn to those other warriors. Just split them in two starting from their head. I'll even help you!』
[Again being noisy. If I do that, I'll make all the warriors on the whole Babylon as my enemy.]
『Fuuhn, that's exactly what I want』
[You wish!]
Ha…Greed wants me to be that kind of warrior. That, while ridiculous, didn't surprise me…..he's just that twisted of a being.
『The point is to do it with a dignified look. That's what I always say』
[I know that already. But I've never been treated as human being before I awakened the gluttony skill. That time has been engraved deep into my body, I can't easily get rid of it.]
『Miserable. You are my wielder regardless! Very well, this me will guide you. Follow as I said.』
[Don't be overly exaggerated.]
『I know. Leave it to me, gahahahahahaha』
Ha~, that made me really worried.
This is a trial anyways. So let's just follow in earnest. This is the kind of world where powerful warrior will have a say. In Babylon, it will be hard to anything if other warriors keep pestering you.
After receiving a simple tip from Greed on how to become a brave warrior, I entered the exchange facility.
This is amazing. It's so wide. The windows and even the ceilings are decorated with colorful glasses. I can feel the religious sense through its beauty.
While I was distracted, two warriors came from my sides and surrounded me.
[Oi, you're standing in our way. Get lost.]
[What's with that…..you don't want your face being looked at? And a skull mask at that, what a bad taste. Moreover, where is your party?]
[What's with that bag in your hand? Anyway there doesn't seem to be anything precious in it, eh, skull-kid? Your face must've been so ugly to wear that mask. That's why you're hiding it, right? Take the mask off and let me see your face.]
Yep, I ran into trouble right away.
Even if I knew it already and I don't want to admit it out loud.....it's probably because my rather small body which looks weak.
After everything had been done, what Greed had told me just now seems to be make sense now.
Well, why don't we try it out? I tried to recall what Greed had taught me.
[Shut the hell up, I have nothing to do with small fries like you. If you don't want to get hurt painfully, scram.]
[Haa!? Bastard, what did you say just now?]
The face of the two warriors turned red in anger, staring at me as if trying to swallow me.
As expected, they couldn't afford to draw their weapon. If you are involved in a bloodshed while inside the facility, you'll be banned from using the exchange facility.
In other words, I think it'll be fine if we fight bare-hand. Actually, one of the warrior already lunge in with a punch.
I easily caught his fist with my right hand, and said,
[Do it now if you want to give it up.]
[Hah, I want to see you try. I have friends here with me.]
Friends, huh…..so there are 8 people? Since it has come to this, I'll just do it.
I crushed the man's fist as a reply.
[Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....]
With an annoyed voice, I threw the two hemp bags to the air.
I kicked the man who had collapsed on the floor with a broken fist. That's one down.
Seven remaining. Three of them jumped at me from the left.
I should handle them all at once. In that case, I activated the martial arts skill "One-inch Punch".
This is a powerful skill that can destroy the body internally. It can damage the organs, rupture blood vessel and break bones, bypassing any armor. It's perfect as it can incapacitate the enemy.
Circulating power to my left hand, I hit one of the men on his side. Then a continuous hit on the slick-haired man's left and right shoulders.
Afterward, I kicked the bearded man in the crotch.
The three collapsed with multiple explosive sound. All of them were unconscious with foaming mouth.
That's four...I considered escaping, since all of them at last drew their weapons out.
It seemed that they want to kill me here right now. Even so, I can't really reciprocate with the same attitude.
Their attacks are monotonous. Looking at their footwork just like Aaron had taught me, I can easily read their attacks.
Without trouble, I knocked down all four to the floor with "One-inch Punch". The eight friends now lay unconscious on the floor.
Well, is that it?
I caught the two hemp bags that I've thrown to the air just now.
[Done?]
Of course there is no answer from the now unconscious guy. Although I had hit them with the one-inch punch, I deliberately missed their vital points. They won't die, since they have warrior's tough body.
I stepped over the fallen men and headed toward the counter to claim my reward. For the information, this daring stepping over people act was something that Greed had taught me. But right now, I really felt like stepping on these people.
Because there are people like them, public evaluation of warriors in general tend to be bad.
I walked calmly, with any warriors on my way retreating left and right, toward the counter.
The receptionist was an attractive looking girl, and she smiled at me. Well…..I'll try to act as nice as possible to you.
[I came to cash this in. Please?]
[Ye, yes….I will confirm it now so please wait a moment.]
Two heavy hemp bags landed on the counter with a loud thud. As she can't carry it on her own, other officials came in from the back to assist.
I supposed they are already used to this kind of work. The confirmation shouldn't take too long.
[Eee...there are 400 orc ears, and 2 high orc ears. Umm….just to be sure, did you kill all this by yourself?]
[Yes, of course. They aren't that troublesome of an enemy after all.]
I replied while re-adjusting my skull mask. There is no need to lie. If compared to the difficult fight against machine angel Haniel, those orcs are too cute.
The receptionist's face turned pale to my reply. Eh? Did I just say something wrong?
[Pardon me. But could it be that sir is a Holy Knight?]
Why of course. To be able to defeat orcs squads of that size, only holy knight that can come to mind. As long as my mortal sin skill remained unknown, it's normal to come to that conclusion.
She's afraid because she doesn't know what to do if I am really a holy knight. She's scared that I might threaten her for not properly managing the warriors who had attacked me just now.
That phenomenon from the kingdom still applies even here in Babylon. No matter where I go, the holy knights still reign supreme.
But anyways, please calm yourself. Otherwise, I might not get my reward anytime soon.
[No, I'm not. I'm just a warrior named Mukuro. I'm not a Holy Knight.]
[Really?]
[There is no use in lying about such things. Please give me the reward already. That said, I need to replace my clothes.]
[Yes, understood. I'll prepare it soon.
There were 100 gold coins on the counter. Apparently, one orc is worth 20 silver. While a high orc is worth 10 gold. If I added the money I have now, it'll be 103 gold in total.
That's such an easy work, isn't it!? If that's the case, the money loving Myne should've been able to make a lot of money in Babylon. And yet she seems to be reluctant to go to Babylon. Nothing I can do with that. Even as she continued to kill monsters in Gallia, Myne didn't show any willingness to exchange it with money. I guess for her, Gallia had different meaning.
It's been a while since I have that much of money, so the face under the skull mask is actually chuckling to myself. Even if the pricing here is exorbitant, I should still be able to get decent equipment if I have enough money.
I thanked the receptionist, and when I tried to leave the exchange facility in ease,
[So it's you. Are you the one who did that?]
I was caught up by a dignified and familiar voice. Turning to the source of that voice, there was a holy knight standing there. Right, it was Roxy.
If only I could, I would rather to meet her in a better conditioned attire, and not this ragged clothes instead.
=====