I thrust my hand forward, ready to claim my payment for the herbs I had delivered to the gourmet guild. This was my routine, my way of surviving in a world that had never dealt me a fair hand.
Born prematurely and left to fend for myself in the woods, I was the underdog—sickly, small, and weak. The odds were stacked against me, and the world expected me to fade away. But fate had other plans. A seasoned adventurer, a woman who had roamed the lands for years, stumbled upon me. She sacrificed her own aspirations of motherhood to become the town's protector. Yet, when I entered her life, she embraced her long-held wish to be a mother, igniting the town's resentment towards me. They believed I had stolen her from her true calling. I was no warrior; wielding a sword was beyond my capabilities. Instead, she taught me the delicate art of plant harvesting, showing me that there was gold to be found in the earth. She was my mentor, my hero, until tragedy struck. In a desperate attempt to save me from a mana beast, she lost her life. The town's hatred for me grew, but they couldn't cast me out—her dying wish was for me to stay.
Imogen perched on the opposite side of the reception desk, somehow managing to look down at me despite my height from her seated position. Her ice blue eyes narrowed, revealing a clear disdain. With a flick of her platinum blonde hair and an exaggerated eye roll, she extended her hand, dropping a few scant copper coins into my palm while avoiding any contact. I clenched my fist around the coins and shot her a look. "This is a decent start, but where's the rest of the coins you owe me?"
"That's all you're getting, Theros. I can't believe Elenore wasted such a sexy name on a tiny weakling like you."
I chose to overlook her snide comment, despite my annoyance. If I pushed back, she'd just use it as ammo to turn others against me, labeling me the aggressor. "I earned double that just last week."
"Honestly, that might be the case, but a ton of merios was discovered nearby, so now they're practically worthless. I don't just hand out coins like they're candy; if you want more, you'd better come up with something genuinely valuable instead of this trash. But let's be real, you're probably out of luck since it seems like trash just attracts more trash. If that doesn't sit well with you, feel free to pack your bags and leave town whenever you want—trust me, no one would even bat an eye."
"I'm sure you wouldn't, and that's why I'm here to stay. I'll swing by later with some more herbs."
I stepped out the door, and the bell clanged loudly behind me. This town was driving me crazy, but I didn't have nearly enough cash to escape. Plus, Elenore was laid to rest here—the true hero of this place. She was way too good for them and a mother figure to me; she raised me like her own.
If it weren't for the blood contract she made with me before she passed, they would've stripped me of everything after her death. That contract granted me all her possessions, including a hefty chunk of land she bought for me in a relatively safe area, where she even planted herbs. I wouldn't be shocked if those herbs the receptionist mentioned were actually growing on my land.
As I strolled past Elenore's statue, I brushed some grime off it. "Love you, Mom," I murmured before moving on. With my head down, I left town, hoping to slip by unnoticed. People shot me glares as I walked past, but no one dared to speak up. I was shorter than most of the women here, and they never held back their rude comments when I was around. They were more cautious when Elenore was alive, but with her gone for a few months now, things had changed drastically.
I strolled past buildings that had seen better days, now that Elenore was gone and couldn't fend off the monsters and bandits that once plagued the town. With her absence, the townsfolk had taken to fleeing at the first sign of trouble, leaving the door wide open for invaders. Supplies were dwindling, as the bandits swept through, grabbing whatever they pleased.
Thankfully, many villagers had the foresight to stash their treasures and food in secret tunnels and caves just outside the town. That's exactly where I was headed. There were gourmet mushrooms in those caves that Mom had raved about last year, promising to take me there someday. She always warned me not to venture there alone, citing the monsters lurking in the shadows, but now, going with her was off the table.
As I stepped beyond the town's borders, I inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. It felt good to escape the town; I never liked the way people looked at me.
The path was flanked by a variety of plants that didn't pique my interest at all. What I needed were rare finds that could fetch a hefty price, allowing me to hire some skilled hands to construct a house for me on the land Elenore had bequeathed. I had no intention of forsaking what she left behind, but I wanted to minimize my interactions with the townsfolk, none of whom were inclined to work for me. One of the caves was mine by inheritance from Elenore, yet I hadn't dared to explore it yet. She had warned me about the monsters lurking within, and without the means to hire help, I was cautious. I decided I wouldn't venture beyond the second room of the cave for now. There was no need to push my luck, especially since I valued the life Elenore had saved. She had mentioned rare mushrooms near the hot springs in that second room, which now belonged to me.
I trekked across the plains until I reached the cave adorned with large blue crystals at its entrance. This was the very cave Elenore had described. Stepping inside, it appeared like any other cave. I pulled out my zapping stick from my space backpack, ensuring it had an electric core crystal inside. I was uncertain what I'd do when it ran out; those crystals were pricey if you couldn't hunt them down yourself.
The first room was devoid of monsters, but the second room greeted me with horned rabbits. They weren't much of a threat, especially with my zapping stick in hand. I flicked it out, and it expanded, locking into position. As one of the rabbits lunged at me, aiming to strike with its horn, I jabbed the stick at its side. The moment we made contact, the rabbit was swiftly electrocuted by the mana from the core. This weapon felt like a cheat, but given that Elenore knew I had little natural mana and no combat skills, it was my best option. She never got the chance to have kids of her own, and it's a shame because they would have surely been extraordinary. Yet, she embraced me like I was her own son, never making me feel anything less. She was more than I could have ever asked for, and I did my best to be a good son to her. Her absence will always leave a mark on my heart.
The rabbit went down hard, completely dazed, and I swiftly finished it off with my trusty dagger. Sure, I get it—some might call it cheating, but in war, you do what you have to do, especially when it's the enemy that strikes first. I shrugged it off and tossed the horned rabbit into my space-storage bag.
Just when I thought I was in the clear, another horned rabbit lunged at me, its horn piercing my leg and leaving a nasty wound. The sudden pain caught me off guard, and I lost my balance, stumbling back and tripping over the edge of the hot spring. I flung my arms out, and my zapping stick soared above me. I could only watch in dismay as it twirled in the air, and before I could grab it, it came crashing down, zapping right onto my chest just as I plunged into the water.
"ZAP! POP! ZAP! SIZZLE!" The aroma of sizzling meat filled the air, sending my adrenaline into overdrive as my body trembled uncontrollably. I found myself sinking beneath the surface of the shallow hot spring, a place where I could normally stand with ease. The stick kept buzzing, draining its mana-rich energy into me, leaving me powerless and shaking as I submerged deeper into the water. I fought to rise, to hold my breath, but the relentless tremors overwhelmed me, and I felt consciousness slipping away. Is this truly how it all ends? What a disgrace...
Coming Next Time: Reborn as a Dungeon.