Based on the information that had been obtained, Nagao started to prepare everything,
"All right! Let's go!"
Nagao rushed to his destination. From what was discussed with Mr. Schmidt, that area distance was a little bit far from the kingdom.
However, with the shortcut path that had told, the distance to the destination I walked was short ...
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
After going through the shortcut path, Nagao saw a different side of the kingdom that he didn't know about. The 'other face' was never heard or shown by the new residents like Nagao ...
He saw an unusual sight. Many poops were scattered on every side of the road. The pungent odor made the air unclean. Amidst those conditions, many beggars remained to sit until sleep around it. Their clothes also were shabby and very inappropriate to wear. Following that situation, the community did not care about it and continued their activities. Not only that but buildings and houses were seedy.
Realizing what Nagao saw, he remembered Mr. Schmidt's advice ...
'Although it was a miserable place, keep an eye on yar surroundings.'
Nagao suddenly thought it,
(What a miserable place. But how lucky I am to wear these ....) While looking at his clothes. Nagao, who camouflaged with it, started to do his activities.
The carpenter's place was slightly better than the place he had passed before, especially in cleanliness.
According to Mr. Schmidt's words, that place sold some wooden display items, especially the wooden sword ...
(People wouldn't expect that there is a carpenter's shop in this area. Ah! Hopefully, I found some clues in here!) He thought while heading toward the carpenter's shop.
When Nagao got there, the carpenter's place was busy. Seeing the many customers who appeared, he only had to be patient with the existing conditions.
While waiting in line, he saw someone who caught his interest. Not because of the clothes that person wore, but what was underneath that person. Something that became the basis of Nagao's curiosity ...
*Stare*
That person has a 'special' condition in the leg. Although that person used a peg leg, it was already fragile. It made that person tilt slightly in standing normally.
Then, Nagao heard a few words that were spoken ...
"Take a look! The weirdo has come again. Surely, that person asked the carpenter's owner for a job!" The fat man with black hair reacted.
"How's that possible??! Did that person have shame?! Better offer it toward others!" The yellow-haired girl replied sarcastically.
"But I slightly heard rumors that the person's job is as a beggar who often hangs out in front of an almshouse!" The black-haired woman commented on her words.
"Really??! That's why the body smells bad!" The thin man waved his hand around his nose.
Hearing those comments, Nagao tried to observe the person's reaction. Nevertheless, the person didn't react. Just silent reactions that person did.
Gradually, the queue has gotten smaller. The person and Nagao started to reach the cashier's stand from the carpenter's place. When that person reached it, the person uttered something,
"A 100-inch piece of oak, please," the person pointed in one direction behind the cashier.
"You again! Has your wood been damaged again?!" the cashier asked annoyedly.
Hearing the cashier's words, several people chuckled, except Nagao and that person. Under such conditions, the person wasn't provoked by it and replied calmly,
"Unfortunately, it was. It's broken because of something that I couldn't control. So, I came here to buy it ..,"
"If you have it, take care of your things wisely, you crippled dammit! Ugh, wait for a minute!" While rushing to take the order.
Time after time has passed. After several minutes, the cashier brought what the person asked for,
"This is what you asked for. Now get out of here!"
The person glanced and observed at the oak that was given. Aware of something, that person commented,
"It ain't like the item I asked for. It has a poor quality. It's different!"
"Well, it can't be helped," he shrugged. "Moreover, that's the only left. So, accept it!" he replied sarcastically.
"I asked to exchange!"
"You've talked too much!" Said the cashier guard while throwing his punch.
The punch was aimed at the person's face. When the punch was about to hit the person's face ...
*Swoosh!* *Catch!*
The punch could be stopped with someone's palm hand. Simultaneously, from behind of that person, someone grabbed the person's shoulder to anticipate the cashier guard's punch reaction. As a result, the punch didn't land on the person's face.
Seeing that incident, other customers were surprised. The only person who stopped the cashier's punch was Nagao. Eventually, Nagao reacted,
"Looks like the adage about 'a person's behavior is reflected by the way the person treats others', also applies here!"
***
Several minutes before the incident ...
I saw some discriminatory treatment of the cashier toward that person. Bluntly, I didn't care about it. Another reason was to keep my disguise ...
(Better not be reckless because I don't know who I'm dealing with now!) I thought while observing that incident.
Not long after I observed the incident, several status board notifications appeared before me ...
[Main mission: Get a reliable colleague.] (0/1)
[Side mission "Sympathy for The Loner": Give any help to a 'special need' person. View more.] (0/100%)
(Huh? Amidst this condition???) I thought surprisedly.
Even so, something piqued my curiosity, especially about the side mission. Along with that, I immediately checked that notification ...
*Click!*
[... Especially for this side mission, two conditions need to be considered:
1. Don't give anything out of pity.
2. Don't drop the person's pride in the public domain.
Remember, this mission will hugely affect the main event. If one of those conditions fails, you'll get a penalty.]
(Uwah! If I pay attention closely, this mission is tricky. Also, there's a main mission. Could it be, that those missions are also related to each other??! If that's true, the difficulty is doubled! But, how about my disguise?? I tried hard to disguise. God dammit! It's a dilemma!) I thought angrily while digesting every word.
Apparently, some voices were coming from the front,
"This is what you asked for. Now get out of here!"
"It ain't like the item I asked for. It has a poor quality. It's different!"
(Shit! Now the arguments with each other became worse. Should I help that person?) I thought warily.
"I asked to exchange!"
(Ah! Fuck it! Take it or leave it!) I made my decision swiftly.
"You've talked too much!" The cashier guard threw a punch.
*Swoosh!* *Catch!*
In that brief moment, I caught the punch with my right palm hand. I also grabbed the person's shoulder to anticipate the next reaction. Both of their faces displayed the same expression. Realizing that my efforts were on time ...
(Safe!) I was filled with relief in my thoughts.
Simultaneously, I spoke firmly while glaring intently into the cashier's eyes,
"Looks like the adage about 'a person's behavior is reflected by the way the person treats others', also applies here!"
***
Realizing that his hard punch was thwarted, the cashier's guard showed a shocked expression. Moreover, his bodies and hands were slightly bigger than Nagao's.
Aware with what he saw, the cashier guard changed his expression and took on an annoyed expression while snarling,
"Y-you shouldn't meddle in my business!"
"Is that something wrong?" Nagao replied with a question.
"Yes, there's! You didn't have to interfere to help this crippled!" he defended with a tone of annoyance. "Moreover, who are you? As if rat-assing in other people's business!"
Nagao was silent for a moment after hearing those words. Noticing Nagao's reaction, the cashier's guard reacted,
"See? You're wasting your time just to—!" His expression turned drastically. Because of the grip that Nagao gave on his hand, the cashier guard felt a harsh pain. He could see Nagao's muscles. "Urgh!"
Nagao who had silent, uttered his speak,
"I'm here because I was responsible for my younger brother who damaged this person's wood. Long story short, this is my sense of responsibility. And sorry for my lateness. You already choose your item, right?" while saying to the cripple one.
As if realizing with Nagao's mean, the person nodded,
"Like you said before!" That person then looked at the cashier guard.
*Crunch!*
"Argh!" The cashier guard felt intense pain in his hand, making him unstable to stand up by Nagao's treatment.
On the other hand, the other customers, including people who insulted the crippled person, began to hesitate to stop Nagao's actions.
"Arggh! P-please, let me go, sir! I'm begging because my bone hand is about to break!" he said pleadingly.
"Huh? Are you—"When Nagao wanted to finish his words, Nagao remembered the requirements of the side mission—"Huh! It made me sick!" Nagao was pushing away the cashier's hand. Although his cashier's hand had released, he was also being pushed toward the wall by Nagao's acts.
*Thud!*
After doing that, Nagao commented,
"I heard that this boss shop is very open to customer complaints. You know what I mean right?" While smiling at the cashier guard.
Realizing what Nagao meant, the cashier rushed to the back shop, trying to search something. After a while of waiting, the cashier guard came out while carrying an oak wood,
"H-Here! Red oak with long 100 inches. Exactly like what this person ordered!" he replied politely.
"Does it match your order?" Nagao asked the person.
That person examined the oak wood. Several moments of observing,
"It ain't what was ordered. Bring another one!" that person replied.
"Did you hear that?" Nagao asked the cashier guard.
The cashier guard rushed to the back. He then carried several stuffs at once.
After being inspected by that person, the person picked up three pieces of oak. Seeing that, Nagao paid those and both of them left the place.
Before they left, they passed several people who had gossiped about that person. When Nagao saw them, Nagao uttered his words,
"What a worthless gossipmonger~!" He said in a cynical tone. Finally, Nagao and that person left the carpenter's place.