Winter brought a piercing chill. Even on a bright morning, the cold seemed to seep into my bones like a needle pricking its way through. Yet, amid the biting chill, Linnie's shrill voice made our bodies feel warm, stoked with the fiery excitement of the adventure awaiting us.
"Are you both ready?"
Fenrir and I nodded, smiling confidently.
"Alright, let's begin."
Linnie raised her wand, closing her eyes in deep concentration. She chanted complex incantations, and soon, a sizable magic circle appeared right beneath our feet.
Fenrir clasped my hand, her slender fingers slipping between mine, holding tight. Her gaze met mine with that familiar, confident smile she often wore.
"Don't worry. I'll always be by your side." Fenrir's voice was soft and soothing, as if trying to reassure me.
I gave her a meaningful smile, grateful for her kindness. "Thank you, Fenrys."
"Oh, great tree Yggdrasil, I offer my mana. Take us to our destination." Linnie paused, taking a deep breath before shouting the spell's name. "Teleport!"
At that moment, a green light glowed from the magic circle. It was a bit blinding, but I didn't mind. The light grew even brighter, compelling me to close my eyes.
When I opened them again, our surroundings had completely changed. Where we had once stood in a snow-filled forest, a magnificent scene now awaited us nearby.
"Woaaah."
A grand gate stood before us, white with gold engravings on both sides. Surrounding it was a massive wall, towering high, built to protect the city from any possible threats.
This was my first time seeing a city. Previously, I had only passed through and stopped at small Jotun villages.
I glanced to my side, catching sight of Fenrir staring at the city gates in awe. Unlike me, this was likely her first time seeing a settlement within Jotunheim.
"Welcome to Hojberg, the outermost city in the Udgard kingdom." Linnie spread her arms wide, a big smile on her face, posing like a ruler welcoming guests to her territory.
We strolled leisurely toward the gate. From a distance, I noticed two guards standing there. Both were stocky and stone-faced, holding spears as they steadfastly guarded the entrance.
"We don't have any identification, Linnie," I whispered to her.
"Identification?" She tilted her head, her expression puzzled. "What's that?"
Ah, I nearly forgot. It's not just the era and culture that's different—we might be from different worlds. No wonder Linnie looked confused; identification didn't seem to exist here.
"It's nothing. Forget I mentioned it." I looked away, hoping she wouldn't press the issue.
"Alright..." She furrowed her brows but didn't ask further.
When we reached the gate, the guards stopped us. But then Linnie stepped forward to speak with them, her face relaxed as she faced the stern-looking guards. She even chuckled a little in front of them.
In no time, both guards burst into laughter. It was as if they were old friends enjoying a conversation. On the other side, I could only watch in amazement.
Suddenly, I felt Fenrir's hand clutch my arm tightly. I turned and saw her face slightly tense, as though she wanted something but couldn't express it.
As I gauged her gaze, I realized what she desired. "You want to mingle with other Jotun, Fenrys?"
She nodded slowly, biting her lower lip. "But... I feel a bit shy."
"It's okay," I reassured her with an understanding smile. "I'll make sure you get to chat with others soon."
"Really?" Fenrir's ears twitched excitedly, and her tail swayed back and forth. "Can you promise?"
"I promise." I nodded resolutely.
After a while, Linnie wrapped up her chat, reached into her pocket, and handed the guards three silver coins. She then waved us forward, inviting us in.
We stepped forward with ease, passing the guards who now smiled warmly after their conversation with Linnie.
"What did you talk about with them?" I asked, impressed.
"Oh, just a little joke," Linnie replied, a faint, proud smile on her face.
Sunlight hit my face as we stepped out of the fortress corridor. At that moment, I could fully see the city before us.
It was a bustling place, with streets full of people going about their day. Stalls lined the roads, selling all sorts of goods. The buildings were made of bricks and styled with Romanesque architecture, something that didn't quite match this world's era.
I raised an eyebrow, thinking to myself, "Well... this is a different world; it doesn't have to fully align with my own era."
My gaze wandered, taking in the variety of items for sale. Suddenly, I fixated on a jewelry vendor not far from where I stood.
Grab.
I shook my hand, catching myself in the act of reaching out longingly. It seemed my instinct to seek shiny things wasn't something I could easily shake off.
No. I didn't even have any money.
As I fought against my impulse, I felt Fenrir clutch my arm tightly, causing me to wince a little. When I looked, her mouth was practically watering, and she clutched her stomach as though trying to suppress an overwhelming hunger.
This girl, too...
"Oh, by the way, do you have any money?" Linnie asked.
I turned to Fenrir. We exchanged a glance, but neither of us said a word. We both knew we were completely broke. I shifted my gaze to Linnie, who was still watching me, waiting for an answer. I could only shake my head.
"I thought so." She let out a long sigh. "For now, I'll take care of you two. Luckily, I have enough savings for that. I'll also teach you how to earn money easily."
Relieved, I gave her a grateful smile; she truly was kind and willing to help. "Thank you, Linnie. That really helps."
"Don't mention it. Consider it a reward for saving me."
"Let's grab a bite before looking for an inn." Linnie gave Fenrir a sympathetic look, as if she knew Fenrir was suffering from her own insatiable hunger.
"Alright, thank you. You're very helpful, Linnie."
Linnie led the way with enthusiasm, striding confidently through the crowded street. We could only follow behind, each of us trying to keep our instincts in check.
For the first time in a long while, I felt the sting of worry over not having any money. So, this is what it feels like to be broke, huh? I could only sigh inwardly.
As we walked, I observed the various traits among the Jotun around us. Most resembled humans like Linnie, but quite a few had features reminiscent of animals, like Fenrir.
Leaning toward Fenrir, I covered my mouth with my hand to make sure my voice wouldn't carry. "Fenrys, why do the Jotun have such different forms?"
"Don't you know we have two forms: giant and humanoid?" she explained in a low voice, covering her mouth with her hand. "Our giant forms vary, too. Some look like humans, animals, or even absurd creatures. Our humanoid forms carry some of the traits from our giant forms."
"Like you, with your wolf traits?"
"Yes, exactly!" Her eyes suddenly narrowed at me suspiciously. "Wait, how did you know my giant form is a wolf? I don't remember ever showing you that."
"I just reversed your words." I stayed calm, confident that my little lie would go undetected. "You said humanoid forms carry traits from the giant form. So, doesn't that mean your giant form is a wolf?"
"Wow, you're really clever, Yata." Her eyes sparkled with admiration, and she innocently accepted my explanation.
"Thank you."
Honestly, as far as I knew from Norse mythology, the Jotun were always depicted in their giant forms, so this was the first time I'd heard they had humanoid forms in addition to their giant ones.
After a while, Linnie finally stopped at what appeared to be a food stall. She gestured for us to follow her inside. "Come on in, it looks like we can eat here."
We entered and chose a table in the corner. Linnie raised her hand to call over a waiter, who began listing the available dishes.
We decided on a full portion of roast venison, knowing how immense Fenrir's appetite was. A large portion felt like the safest choice.
"After this, I'll teach you both how to earn money by hunting monsters."
"Hunting monsters, huh..." I murmured to myself.
My mind drifted when Linnie mentioned that. I imagined us hunting monsters and selling them to an adventurer's guild, like in the stories of otherworldly adventures.
My daydream quickly vanished when the waiter brought our order. Fenrir's mouth was practically watering. Before the waiter even set the food down, she snatched it up, grabbing a piece of venison leg in each hand and devouring it eagerly.
I had to apologize and explain to the waiter about Fenrir's behavior. Thankfully, he understood and overlooked her lack of manners, though it made me think I should probably teach her a bit of etiquette sometime.
*****
Under the gentle morning sunlight, I watched the city's bustling scene as if it were breathing in its daily rhythm. People moved with purpose, while the lively shouts of vendors echoed through the air, eagerly advertising their neatly arranged goods on carts.
Smoke from the food stalls drifted, carrying enticing aromas that filled the air, and beside me, Fenrir wore her usual expression, a barely contained longing to try more food, even though we'd just eaten.
I gave a small smile and patted her shoulder gently, speaking with warmth and understanding. "Be patient, Fenrys. Once we have some money, I'll treat you to all the food you want."
She immediately brushed my hand away and shook her head, irritated. "Ugh... don't get the wrong idea. I'm not hungry."
I could clearly see her trying to hide the blush on her face, though I knew better than to be fooled. I understood her growing discomfort at being seen as a glutton.
We continued walking until we passed through a slightly darker alley, and suddenly, Linnie's cheerful voice broke the silence. "We're here."
Fenrir and I exchanged glances, and without many words, we looked around. Ahead of us lay a spacious courtyard surrounded by a few simple buildings. A fountain stood sturdily in the center, surrounded by shady trees that gave the place a comforting, tranquil atmosphere.
It seemed ordinary at first, but soon enough, I noticed a group of people sitting on large cloths spread out on the ground. They didn't look like typical vendors. Instead, they appeared to be selling something more specialized.
"Still quiet, huh? But that's expected; it's still early," Linnie murmured, surveying the scene.
I patted her shoulder, my curiosity piqued. "What kind of place is this?"
"This is a marketplace for monster parts," Linnie's voice was soft yet assuring. "Usually, artisans, alchemists, healers, and sorcerers are the ones who buy them. Monster parts can be crafted into potions, medicine, or even magical weapons."
As we chatted, the atmosphere gradually shifted. More people arrived, gathering around the vendors who were opening their goods. One of them proudly displayed a monster part, and several people immediately started bidding.
"This is more like an auction than a typical market," Fen remarked, her voice filled with awe.
"Yeah, this place is specifically for auctioning monster parts," Linnie replied. "Usually, the vendors are only open until noon. After that, this place returns to being a regular park."
"How did you find out about this?" I asked, curious.
"I got it from the cashier when I paid for our food. Besides, this is common knowledge. Almost every place has a monster auction. Only the timing differs. We're lucky to catch it today."
While we were engrossed in watching, Linnie suddenly pulled something from her bag. My eyes widened as I saw she held a heart, fangs, and claws of the Smilodon we defeated a while back.
"Wait, when did you get those?"
"Yeah, I didn't even smell anything from you."
Fenrir and I protested in unison, having no idea when she'd managed to keep those monster parts on her.
Linnie chuckled softly, grinning mischievously as she showed us her seemingly ordinary bag. "I brought them without you noticing. This is a special bag that can hide all sorts of items."
"So that's how you managed to evade my sense of smell."
Linnie smirked, and we both nodded in slow realization, now fully understanding.
"Wait here for a moment."
Linnie then approached an elderly man sitting cross-legged nearby, showing him the Smilodon parts she had brought. The old man scrutinized them carefully, his expression shifting to admiration.
"You're the ones who took down this monster?"
Linnie nodded proudly, while Fenrir and I stayed silent, letting her handle the negotiation with the vendor.
"Please, place it here. I promise to sell it for a high price for you," the man requested. He then pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to Linnie.
"What's this?" Linnie asked, taking it.
"That's my address. You can either wait here or come to my house later to collect the payment."
Linnie tucked the paper away with a satisfied smile, then turned to us. "What do you think? Want to wait here or head back?"
"Do you mind, Fen?" I asked, with a look of interest in the place. But I wouldn't insist if Fenrir didn't want to; her comfort was more important to me than my curiosity.
"It's fine," she answered firmly. "If you still want to look around, I'll stay with you until the market ends."
I gave a slight smile, then told Linnie, "We'll wait here."
After that, Fenrir and I wandered around the auction area, watching the various monster parts being displayed. Some vendors even tried to sell us items, explaining their benefits. I only declined with a polite smile, while Fenrir walked by my side, her eyes wide with curiosity as she took in the sights.
Watching her every movement, I couldn't help but smile at her quiet wonder, as if this world still so new to her, turned the mundane into something extraordinary.