Entering a broken down shack, that I hoped would serve food that I could actually afford, the intense smell of sweat and liquor radiating from it left me intimidated.
Suddenly, a drunken man stumbles in my way.
'I don't blame him for walking into me, the door made it impossible to guess who was behind it, it must've been a simple mistake.', Is what I thought, until he spoke up.
"What do we have here? Girly, you don't look like you're from here.", said the man, trying to keep his footing.
Since Puddles wasn't around, I hid my Halberd, so the man wasn't able to tell that I was a hero.
"Watch where you're walking, my friend. Don't want to get in trouble now, do we?", I said calmly.
Flustered by the answer, he steps back, "Y-You're right-"
Interrupting his retreating manner, another person, that I couldn't recognize, grabbed the drunken mans head and pushed him to the side as if he was just another trash bag to be taken out.
Meeting gazes, I feel a shiver run down my spine.
.
This person is dangerous.
"Halberd, right? To think I'd find you flirting with random men on the streets.", the woman says, narrowing her eyes.
Flustered, I feel a single sweat drop crawling down my face. 'Who is this person, how does she know that I'm the halberd hero?'
I need to calm down and handle this with caution, so I answer after a short hesitation, "You've got it wrong, I'm not-"
"I don't care for your excuses, I believe I have some serious business with you. Why don't we look for a table?", she says, not caring for what I said.
Her expression has remained complex throughout the entire interaction, making it hard for me to read her intentions. But… they can't be good.
Growing impatient, she adds, "*sigh* Oh come on, stop being silly and just follow me."
Powerless, I had no choice but to comply.
That's right… In the face of pure strength, I am powerless. I've grown too complacent ever since I came here.
Still unsure, I decide to ask her, "So, what do you want from me? The king wouldn't let you get away with harming one of the heroes.", which was followed by an eery silence.
Suddenly losing her composure, the woman starts laughing at me, "Y-You're so hopeless, little girl."
Finally calming down, her mask cracks, showing a regretful look, "Let me introduce myself, my name is Namphal and I am a former member of the halberd heroes party. Now, since you're his successor, he left behind some guidance for you, gracious as he is."
"What are you talking about? Why would he do that?", I ask, trying to clear the confusion inside my head.
"*tsk* If you knew who he was, you'd understand. During his time, he was hailed as the strongest hero of all time, with a pure heart to match. He was our ray of light in this dark world, plagued by the waves. However, he knew, that you, his successor, would crumble under the weight of his legacy, so he decided to leave behind bits and pieces of his knowledge.
Now,... it all starts with this.", she claims, while grabbing a little box out of her bag.
Unsure how to react, I accept the broken down box, that remained cold as ice, making the hair on my arm stand up upon touching it.
With an inquiring look, I look up to Namphal but she seems disinterested, motioning for me to just get it over with and open the box.
In the box, upon a soft bed of cushion, there lied a single tooth.
Regaining a more neutral tone, Namphal says, "This is the first piece of his will. He said, that you would know what to do with it.
Also, he left behind some vital information for you: After your month-long probation, you will be forced to engage in combat with the other heroes. If you want to prove your worth to us, it'd be in your interest to win."
Shocked by the information, I don't hesitate to ask, "What?! why would they do that?"
But she didn't care to give an answer.
Standing up from her chair, she looks back one final time before leaving, "Don't waste his good will. You better not, if you don't want a problem with me."
Finally, she exits the humble tavern, leaving me behind like a broken record. This- This is too much for me. I-I can't beat them, especially not Tanaka.
Slowly looking down, I see the tooth still encased in the freezing box, raising even more questions in my mind.
.
My mind was working overtime, thinking about how this seemingly useless item would help me. What does he mean by `I would know how to use it`? Obviously I don't, seeing as I haven't figured it out even after beating my mind over it the last few hours.
Finally, after spending about two of my three silver coins for food and a hotel room, I lie motionless in the cold bed.
Feeling my muscles still tired from today, I feel a hint of bitterness… 'I never asked for this, why do they all expect these great things from me?'
Even back on earth, I never excelled in anything and I don't remember ever winning in anything. Now, all of a sudden, I'm expected to beat people like Tanaka? Not only is he three years older than me, he is also tall, strong and smart. I don't have a chance.
I didn't even bother questioning the legitimacy of Namphals words. Deep down, I knew them to be true. The way the guides kept insisting on building a rift between the heroes and how they made us go against each other, it only made sense. Competition makes humans excel most, after all.
So, left to my sorrowful thoughts, I drift to sleep, ready to begin another day of hard work. I had no other choice, after all.