I woke up the next morning, the sun was just barely rising over the horizon. I got up and walked over to the table that was in my room. It was against the wall with a small mirror nailed into the wall. On top of the table was a bowl of water, a lantern as well as well some of my belongings. It was relatively still dark in my room, so I took match and lit the lantern which brighten the room up a bit.
I looked in the mirror and I final could see myself for the first time in a while. My eyes were brown well my hair was a dark coal black with some bad bed head. I took my comb and dipped it in the bowl of water and proceed to clean up my hair. I had mid length hair that didn't go down to my ears. I always keep my hair flowed to the left in the front, well back I had it flow straight down. My beard was a lot longer than I expected it. It resembled a lumberjack beard which kind of looked weird to me, most of the time I was clean shaved, but I stopped ever since I was on the run. Lucky all my bounty pictures had me clean shaved, which work it my favor from being recognized.
I went and grabbed my trench coat that was hang off the back of a chair and put on. It was thick black leather with some blue coloration on the ends of selves as well as around the collar which. The coat increased my armor rating but not by much. I button up my coat and grabbed my belt that was lay on a chest in front of my bed. Attached was my sword, hunting knife and gun. I put it on over my trench coat around my waist which left my gun on my right side, sword to my left and my hunting knife behind me. There were also three pouches attach to the front which I used to store certain items like money and bullets. To be honest, I looked like one of those assassins from a certain line of video games I use to play.
I took my revolver out of it holster, it had dark blue metal finishing well the grip was a reddish-brown wood. Back home, this gun resembled a Remington Model 1875 but here it was called Stormguard Six-Shooter. Stormguard Firearms was one of the famous gun manufacturer that operated in the Kingdom of Faubley.
The Kingdom of Faubley was properly my favorite country I have visited yet. Unlike like Melromarc which was still using medieval level of technology, like swords and bow, Faubley was more modernized like muskets and revolver. They even had some steam engine trains and ships and their capital reminded me of what a steampunk London would look like in the 1800s.
I opened the loading gate on my revolver and made sure it was fully load and then closed the loading gate, holstered it to my side.
By this time the sun was almost over the horizon lighting up my room making the lantern useless, so I put it out. I walked over and grabbed my messenger bag which carried the rest my belongings and throw the strap across my body and on my shoulder. Even though the bag was small, it had an enchantment that increased in inside of the bag a bit. I than grabbed my black cloak which was on the chest as well and throw it over my clothes like before, concealing my amour and weapons.
I made my way out of my room and went to Naofumi and Raphtalia room which was next to my. I knocked on their door, but no one responded so I knocked again but a little harder.
"What?" I heard a very tired Naofumi responded behind the door.
"Time to get up, we got a lot of work to do."
I heard him sigh. It was early but I had something I need to show them.
"Fine, we will be out in a few minutes."
"Then I will be downstairs then."
I went downstairs and found a much older lady working around the inn. She resemblance the younger lady that I was used to seeing working around the inn with her hair color and high but unlike her, she was much older. My best guess she was in her late 40. She was trying to light a fire in the fireplace.
"God dammit, piece of crap match," she muttered when the match broke after trying to strike it.
"Hey, ma'am, here let me give it a shot," I said as I walked over. I scared her a bit properly because she thought she was alone down here. She handed me the birch bark that she was using as a fire start and the matches.
I put the box on the table and reached into my pocket and pulled out my lighter and lit the birch bark. I then placed it into the fireplace and blow on it until the logs caught on fire.
"Why thank you, Mister?"
"Mark Mills," I lied to her. There was no way I was going to use my real name.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Mills," she said as brought over a kettle full of water and passed it over to me and hanged it over the fire.
"If I am correct, you're the mysterious person my daughter was telling me about."
"Your daughter?" I asked confused by what she meant.
"Yeah, the person that was running this place the past few days well I was in Castle Town purchasing supplies is my daughter, Eve Lyons."
That makes sense and didn't surprised that much, they both looked very similar.
The kettle began to whistle, and she came over and took it off the fire with an oven mitt.
"I'll be back in a second," she said as she took into kitchen.
I notice Naofumi and Raphtalia were still not down. I hope he didn't just fall back asleep, he was never an early morning person. Mrs. Lyon came out with what looked like two coffee cups and hand me one.
"Must be tired being up this early in morning," she said handing me one. I took the cup for her and took a sip. It was indeed coffee.
"I'm used to it. Just waiting on a few people to get up."
I always been an early morning person and never could sleep in. I find that I'm wasting the day away if I sleep in.
"Wait as long as you want. I have to start prepping food for the day."
"Oh, before you go. We will be coming back her later, can I just pay now and hang on the keys for the rooms."
"For sure, how many are in your party?"
"Three including me." I said as I placed 3 three silver coins on the counter.
"Then I guess I will see you tonight," she said as she took the coins and took off towards the kitchen.
I sat there and finished my coffee when Naofumi and Raphtalia final came down. They both look tired and groggy being woken up this early.
"Why are we up this early?" Naofumi asked.
"Something I want you to see, now come on," I said as I got up a began to make my way to the door.
"Aren't we going to have breakfast?" Raphtalia asked.
"Yeah in a bit," I told her as I open the door.
"Mrs. Lyon, I will see you later," I call out to her.
"Ok, be safe Mr. Mills," she responded from the kitchen.
We walked out onto the street.
"Mr. Mills?" Naofumi asked.
"Cover name, now come on."
I led them down and through the forest toward the mine. We got down behind the log that I hide behind yesterday.
"So why are we back here?" Naofumi asked me.
We were looking over at the mine entrance. The sun was already too high in the sky and it was most likely the monster have already retreated back into mine.
"That monster you two killed yesterday, well there are a lot more in there."
"Yeah, what makes you say that?"
"They are call Black Cerberus and they always travel in a pack. Think of wolves back home, where you fine one, you will find a dozen. If left uncheck, they could easily over run the village in a matter of weeks."
"Ok, and why is this our problem?"
"Well, by clearing this we would gain some good XP, which would help you two level."
"Yeah but it sounds a little risky."
"Yeah, but you would be helping the village out."
"And why should I help these scums. What have they done for me?"
He was coming up with every reason why he shouldn't help these people.
"True, but I pretty sure the Governor of this region would pay us for clearing it."
He paused and though for second. Money was always a selling factor for him.
"Alright I'm sold, Come on Raphtalia, let's go."
"Right," she responded.
He was about to get up, but I stopped him by putting my arm on his shoulder.
"Hold on. I didn't finish explaining. In every pack, there is an Alpha and Beta which are a lot higher level than the other ones. They are the leader of the pack, think of them as a dungeon boss. If we run down there without a plan, might as well go buy a grave stone well you're at it,"
"So, what then?"
"Let's go get some breakfast and then plan on how we are going to do this."
We made a fire next the stream that was close by. I caught a couple fish with my fishing rod. It was telescope which made it easier to carry around in my bag. That was one thing I love doing was fishing. Back home, I always went fishing whenever I got the chance.
We place them over the fire and wait for them to cook. By now, the sun was halfway up in the sky.
"So why did you wake us up this early Alcatraz?" Naofumi asked.
"Those creatures are nocturnal. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of them heading back to the mine to get an idea of what level they are."
"Well the one we killed yesterday was level 15."
"Yeah but that was a little guy. The Alpha and Beta will most likely be twice that level if we are lucky."
"Twice the level and you think we can take it down."
"Maybe, there is only one way to find out."
I looked over at Raphtalia who was poking at the fire with a stick. I notice her short sword she was carrying was well worn.
"Hey Raphtalia,"
"Yes?" She answered.
"Can I see your sword."
She took her sword off and handed it over to me. I took it and unsheathed it. To me it was more of a long knife, but for her it was the prefect size. I examined the blade with my finger, and it was sharp, but the grip was worn out. It was made from leather and was nothing fancy. it was starting to crack and dry out.
"What's wrong," She asked.
"I notice that you don't have a good grip on your sword. That's because the grip is basically done on."
"So, we have to go buy a new sword," Naofumi asked. He was always concerned about money back home and I see that has changed here.
"No, just give me a second and pass me my bag over there."
He passed me my bag. I open it and dug around until I found a long leather strip.
I took a rock and bashed the sword pommel off. I unwrapped the old leather off the sword and tossed it into the fire. I wrapped the new one on making sure it was tight and secured and reconnect the pommel and locked it into place. I sheathed it and hand it back to her.
"Here, that should help with your grip with the sword."
"Thank you," she said inspecting the new grip.
"Where did you learn to do that," Naofumi asked
"This, this I nothing fancy but after being here for a year, you learn a lot of new skills."
We finished up cooking the fish and ate our breakfast. We began to pack up the camp when I realized that I still have not been add to their party.
"Hey, aren't you going to add me to your party?" I asked him.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to do that," he said before sending me an invite to his party. I accepted it and I saw both Raphtalia and Naofumi level. Naofumi was level 19 well Raphtalia was level 17. This surprised me because he was leveling way faster than I was when I first got here. It took me one year to get to level 27 and he was more than half of that in only a few weeks.
"Well you're not so far from my level. I thought you would be lower."
"And I thought you would be higher. Why is your level so low?"
Low, I thought I was pretty high for my level.
"It's complicated, but what have you been doing to level so quickly."
"I've just been killing monsters, that's all. I thought I was leveling up at a normal pace."
Weird. It didn't seem right that he was leveling that fast. Maybe it had something to do with his shield.
"So, what is your plan?" He asked.
"Well first, I want to see how you two fight then we will go from there."
We went off to go do some leveling, I pay close attention to the way Raphtalia was fighting. Her and Naofumi had a system, he would hold down the target and she would attack. This worked fine for smaller monster but when we get to the tougher ones, well it may not work so well.
Raphtalia was also not holding the sword correctly. The way she was holding it worked, but it looked very clumsily. It is almost like Naofumi just gave her that sword to fight with and didn't train her how to use it, but that is properly what happen because Naofumi properly didn't know how to use one either.
The one other thing I notice was the amount of XP I was getting from just kill small monster. After I was added to his party, I noticed I was getting more then six time the amount of XP then I would be getting if I was alone. Nothing we attack was even close to difficult for me. We killed a bunch of balloon monsters as well as a few egg ones too.
We took a break for a bit. It had been a few hours since breakfast. I was using a wet stone to sharpen my sword well Naofumi was focusing on making medicine with herbs we have collected this morning. It seemed he had a thing for making medicine. I guess that was his way to make money. The one thing that felt odd was we didn't talk like we use to back at home. Back on earth, we could never stop talk but now he was quiet and cold which made it feel awkward traveling with him.
It also didn't help that Raphtalia didn't talk much either. If I was in her position, I would be scared, but I must give her credit, she didn't show it. She follows Naofumi orders without disobeying him. I know most slaves have slave crest that prevent them for disobey orders, so I wasn't sure if it was because of her slave crest or she actual trusted him.
I then remember something I wanted to show her. If she is going to use a sword, she should learn how to hold it right.
"Hey Raphtalia, come here," I asked her.
She came over to where I was sitting.
"Yes?" she asked. I got up onto one knee.
"Draw your sword."
"What?" She asked confused.
"Just draw, I'm going to show you how you should position your hands."
She drew her sword.
"Here, put you right hand at the top end of the grip and you left towards the end close to the pommel."
"Pommel?"
"Yeah, that round thing at the end."
She moved her hands to where I told her to put them.
"Like this?"
"Yes, that should give you a better grip on the sword and make it harder to get knocked out of your hands."
I drew my sword. My sword wasn't made with normal steel but with material call black steel. Unlike normal steel which silver and shiny, black steel gave my blade a dark look with a little bit of blue shine. I was never into chrome or anything shiny. That's why I went out of my way to have my sword made with black steel.
"I want you to attack me."
"What!" She said shock at what I was asking.
"Just attack me, I will block it."
I ready myself.
"Ready?" I asked her and she nod. "Go."
She attacked me and I blocked her, I underestimated her attack power a bit. For her size, she was very strong in her attacks and was using what I taught her properly just increased them a bit.
She repeated and again.
"Alright, I think you got the hang of this," I said as I sheathed my sword.
"Wow that is so much easier,"
"I figure you would be using a bow or a crossbow," Naofumi said still focusing on his herbs.
Every game I ever played, I always went with the class that had range attacks like hunter or ranger.
"My sword is for close up," I said and took my revolver out of my holster and held it up, "this is for range."
"Only you could find the only gun in this world,"
"Ha, no. they are not common in this country," I said. I look over at Raphtalia who was eyeing my gun like she has seen it before.
I holstered and hid it with my cloak.
"Alright, lets get back to it," I said, and we went back to leveling.
We did a bit more leveling and then went back to Rylute village for lunch. Well they head off to the inn, I went to the town hall to speak with the Governor.
I walked in and an older lady greeted behind a desk.
"Welcome, have you come to see the Governor," She asked.
"Yes, is he in?"
"He in his office. Go right in." she said pointing to a door to her right. I opened the door and went through. There was an old man sitting at a desk looking over some papers. He was thin and had white hair and a beard and seemed to be a much older fella. In front of his desk were two guest chairs. There was bookcase and shelfs that surround the room with books, rolled up scroll and other knickknacks.
"Hello traveler," He said as he looked up at me.
"Good day Governor."
"Not many travelers come to my village these days. What brings you here," he said as he went back to reading the papers that was on his desk.
I walked over to his desk and grabbed a seat in one of the guest chairs.
"Well, I was passing through, but I see that you have a monster problem."
He then looked back up at me put his whole focus on me.
"You mean the mine?"
I nodded.
"I sent word to the King but no word yet. I was hoping he would have sent us one of the heroes by now."
"Black Cerberus are really problem if they are not dealt with soon. Your village could be overrun if left unchecked. I'm actually surprised it didn't already happen."
"Yeah, well I have done everything I can. I just don't have the manpower to go in and clear out and it seems the King could care less about us," He responded by hitting his hand on his desk. His old face tightened with anger at my comment.
"Would you happen to have a map of the mine?"
"Why?"
"Well, I know some people that would be willing to clear it, but it would nice not to be going in blind."
"No, I refused to be responsible for sending you and whatever friends you have to their deaths." He then paused for a second, "But you look different. You look like some that has seen his fair share of combat," He got up and walked over to a bookcase that had a bunch of rolled up maps. He looked around and then pulled one off. He came back with it and had a seat.
"This is the most recent map I have of the mine." He told me as he handed it to me. I took it from him.
"Thanks, this will help a lot."
"If you do this, we will be in your debt and there will surely be pay for this."
I got up from my chair and held my hand to shake his.
"Thanks Governor, this will help a lot."
"If you do this, I'll be the one thanking you," he said as he shaked my hand.
I left the townhall and went to the inn and found Raphtalia and Naofumi who had just finished eating lunch.
"Where did you go?" Naofumi asked.
"I went to get this," I said unrolling the map of the mine and placing on the table. I used both Naofumi and Raphtalia glasses they were using to drink from and placed on each side of the map to keep it from rolling up.
"This is a map of mine," From the look of the map, it seems to be one long mine tunnel. There were two caverns on the map. The first one was the one from yesterday which was not even one third of the way in well the last one was at the very end of the mine.
"Well, it a big mine," He said.
"Yeah, explain why we only found on when you were there yesterday. The rest must be closer to the end of the mine. That would also include the Alpha and Beta."
"So, what is your plan. It seems you have this all planed out."
"Well kind of, the smaller ones should be easy to kill but the Alpha and Beta will be the challenge."
Just then the map rolled up all of the sudden causing Naofumi glass getting knocked off the table and on to the floor. I looked over at Raphtalia who was holding here glass with a shocked look on her face.
"Sorry, I just wanted a drink." She apologizes.
I smirked a bit.
"It alright," Naofumi said patting her head.
I took the map and put it in my messenger bag
"So, did he talk about payment?" he asked me.
"Yes, but didn't say how much." I respond kind of disappoint that all he cares about was the payment.
"Hope he doesn't cheap us on this," He said as he got up from his seat.
"So, are you going to join us for some more leveling?" Naofumi asked me.
"You guys go out and level, I'm going to have some lunch and think of a plan."
This would give them a chance for them to catch up to my level.
The both of them took off and I went to bar counter were Eve was cleaning the counter with a rag.
"I met your mother this morning," I said as I took a seat on the stool.
"She told me. I'm surprised your sticking around town."
"Yeah well, something came up."
"Well do you want some lunch? I can make you a sandwich."
"Sure, that would be great. Thanks."
"I will be right back," she said a took off for the kitchen.
I took the map out of the mine and unrolled it on counter holding it opened. The mine was just one way in and out which was a good and bad. We attacked mid-day it was very unlikely we would be attack from behind, but we would be corner them and a cornered beast can make them very unpredictable.
Just then Eve returned with a sandwich on a plate. She placed it on the counter.
"Mom told me to tell you that the sandwich is on the house."
"Thanks, I said taking a bite out of it."
"What's that," she asked pointing to the map of the mine.
"It's a map of the mine, I got it from the Governor."
"Yeah but the mine is infested by monster."
"I know, I plan on clear it with a few other people."
"Really!" She said with excitement.
"Yeah, but they problem is that the monsters are nocturnal and have excellent eyesight in the dark, but they are practical blinded by any light."
"So why don't you bring the light with you."
"I don't know any light magic let alone any magic at all and a simple torch won't be enough," I told her, but something caught my eyes. There was a shelf of hard liquor behind her.
"What is the hardest liquor you have," I asked her and she gave me a weird look.
"Why, don't you think it's a little early for a drink?"
"No, not what I meant. I have an idea, but I need some really strong liquor."
I walked into the local trading shop. There was a bald short chumpy man behind the counter.
"Welcome to my shop traveler. What can I do for you?"
"Good day, I'm looking for the strongest liquor you have,"
"Oh, looking to get wasted tonight."
Why does everyone think I'm looking for a drink.
"Not exactly. I also need some cloth and a few empty bottles."
He smirked at me after hearing that.
"I see what you are plan on doing, give me a second" he went into the back room and came out with what looked like a one-gallon jug with three XXX on it.
"This is the towns local moonshine, very power stuff. Most of the time I use it to wash paint of my work bench, but I won't drink it if you like living."
I took the cork out of the top and took a sniff of it. The smell instantly started burning the inside of my nose and moved away.
"This will do, what about some empty bottles and cloth."
He went to a shelf and took off a crate of twelve empty bottles and placed them next to the moonshine and then took a stack of cloth out from under the table.
"This should do for you," He said.
I look a bottle and examined it. It resembled a Jack Daniel bottle from back home.
"I'll take it. How much?"
"25 silver."
I hand him 25 silver and took my stuff.
"Thanks for the supplies," I thanked as I made my way to the door.
"Pleasure doing business."
I head back to the inn and to my room. I began to transfer the moonshine into one of the empty bottles. I filled the bottle about two thirds the way up. Then ripped a piece of cloth and stuffed it in the neck of the bottle. I held the finished product up and examined it.
Molotov Created
I repeated the prosses five more times till I ran out of moonshine. This left me with 6 molotovs which I wasn't sure if it would be enough for the fight, but I wasn't sure what to expect. I decide to head down to the tavern to get a beer since it was almost evening.
I left my room and walked by Naofumi and Raphtalia room and notice that their door was open. I peeked in and notice that Naofumi was working on his compounds and was too focused to notice me at the door, so I continued down the hall and down the stairs.
I found Mrs. Lyons and Eve downstairs. I notice it was a little bit busier in the inn then the last few nights. There were four men sitting at a table eating and drinking which caught my eye. If I was correct, they were traders passing through village tonight.
"Mr. Mills, how are you tonight?" Mrs. Lyons greeted me behind the counter.
"Good, how about you?" I responded.
"Alright, Eve tells me you are thinking about clear the mine."
"Yeah, think about doing it..." I said but stop when I heard some commotion outside.
"Get out of here you demi human!" I heard some yell outside of the inn.
"Something going on outside," Mrs. Lyons said.
"I sound like a little kid," Eve added.
"I'm going to go check it out," I said and got up and walked outside and found Raphtalia and two other kids.
"Give us that ball demi human," one of them said as he snatched the ball for Raphtalia and the other pushed her to the ground. This was common with demi human because they were seen as second class citizens.
"Hey, she even has a sword," the other kid said as he was about to take it.
"That's enough," I yelled out at them and walk over to them, "You better give that ball back and apologize to her,"
"Yeah, and how are you going to make me do that," the one with the ball said with a smile think he was tough. He was about 10 or 11 and I didn't recognize him as one of the kids I have seen around the village last few days.
I grabbed his shoulder and turned him around to face Raphtalia.
"I'm only going to say it once," I said but he remained silence, so I slow started to squeeze his shoulder hard and hard. At first, he tried to tough it out, then he started to feel the pain.
"Ow ow, fine. Here." He said and hand back the ball to Raphtalia, "I'm sorry."
Just as he said that the other kid came out of nowhere with a pocketknife and tried to stab me in the side but with my other hand, I grabbed his arm and squeezed it until he dropped it to the ground. I then shoved them to the ground. They both got up.
"I'm getting my dad, he will beat the shit out of you," the one that original stole the ball said.
"I'll get my too," the other one said. One took off into the inn well the other one took off down the street.
I wonder were this is going to led too.
"You alright," I asked Raphtalia helping her to her feet.
"Yeah, thank you."
"How about we go find somewhere else to play with your ball," I asked her with a smile.
She agreed with a smile.
We head over to one of the grass field that was close to inn. I grabbed two sticks and stuck them in the ground making a temporary soccer net.
"Back home, this game is called soccer. Basically, this is the net and you are trying to kick the ball between the sticks well I try and block."
"Oh, I played this game back at my village."
She tried to kick it pass me in, but I manage to block it every time.
"Raphtalia, if you manage to score a goal. I will buy you whatever dessert you want at the inn."
"You're on."
This instantly increased the power of her kicks. I manage to block a few more until she got one pass me.
"Ha ha," she cheered at her success.
This brought back memories of my old life when I was in the military. There were time when we on tours in foreign countries and I found myself play with local children in my off time. It was away for me to deal with stress of war. Even though it only made me forget about for only a second.
"Well I guess I owe you a dessert," I said walking over patting her head like Naofumi did earlier. Even though I have known her for only a day. I saw her kind of like a little sister. It was weird but I cared about her. I never really saw a deference between demi humans and humans. In my eyes, they were just people.
"Hey you!" I heard someone call out behind me.
I turned around to see six men and the two kids from earlier standing there, both with a big smile on their face. I recognized four of the guys from the inn but the other two I didn't.
"I'm going to give you one chance to have your demi human there give her ball to my kid and we won't have a problem," One of them yelled out who seem to be the leader of the gang. He was well buffed person at my best guess he was about twice my weight. It was hard to tell if it was muscle or fat.
Were they really going to fight over a ball? I looked at Raphtalia who was shock at what was going on and preparing to give up her ball.
Although it would be a lot easier to give up the ball, I wasn't about to let someone walk right over me. I took my hand and moved her behind me.
"Bad choice my friend," He said as him and his gang walked over.
"It won't be a fair fight for you," I responded.
"It six on one," another one of them said.
"That's my point, you should have brought more guys."
"Enough of this," the leader said and took a swing at my face with his fist. I dodged it and upper cut him in the chin. I grabbed his shirt and punched him in the face a few more times making his face bloody. Just then, I notice one of his buddies coming at me, I turned and threw the leader at him sending both of them to the ground. Another one took a swing, but I stopped it by grabbing his arm. I kicked him in the leg sending him to knee and upper cut him in chin sending him to the ground.
"Three down," I told the remaining three. They looked at one another and nodded pulling out knifes from their pockets.
They always got bring knifes to a fist fight. The three of them ran at me. One tied to stab me in the head but grabbed his arm and pulled it down stabbing him in the leg with his own knife. The other two stopped in their tracks realizing, they didn't stand a chance. The both of them took off run. Smart choice.
Just then I felt something hard hit me in the back of the head and sending me to the ground. I tried to get up, but I got kicked in the stomach knocking the wind out of me and sending me back to the ground. I looked to see leader above me looking right back down. His face was bloody, but he had a big smile on his face. He kneeled down onto my chest pining me to the ground. He punched me in the face and then began to choke me.
"You're a tough one, I'll give you that but now you are going to die," the leader said as he chocks me.
He was holding me down and I tried to break free with no luck. I was starting to black out when all the sudden his grip loosened.
"You damn demi human," He yell. It seemed that Raphtalia stabbed him in the back with her sword not seriously injuring him but enough for him to loosen his grip.
I used this opportunity and punched him in the face which knocked a tooth out. He rolled off me and I got up. The other remaining three man seemed to recover and where now moving on us like a pack of wolves prepping to finish their prey off.
I could continue fight but now they were focus on also Raphtalia. I took my revolver out and fired a shot in the air and then aimed it at them moving from guy to guy.
"I've had enough of you guys," I said and cocked the hammer back on it, "Just walk away now or I'll put a bullet in each of you heads.
"Those are the guys who ran out on their bill," I heard a familiar voice yell out. I looked to see Eve and a few castle knights run over toward us.
I don't know if I should be happy to see castle knights or to be scared.
The three man ran off leaving their leader. He tried to get up, but I put my foot on top of him forcing him back down to the ground
Eve and castle knights approached us. I holster my revolver but left the hammer cocked just in case.
There were four knights, one of them looked like he was in his 30 and had a few scars on his face. The other three where young around 16 or 17 which I was assume they were recruits.
"This is the man?" the older guard asked her as he pointed at me.
"No, that Mr. Mills, the one he has his foot on is the one. He owes me four silver for the food and drinks but ran out on his bill."
I took my foot off him and well two the other knights brought him to his feet. His face was bloody, but I saw fear in his eyes with the knights here.
"We will bring this scum back to the dungeon castle miss," The older guard said.
"Please no, I'll pay. I'll pay double, just let me go." he plead with them. It was at this time I notice that Raphtalia was hiding behind peeking out around my leg at the knights. I wasn't sure if she had a fear of them or not.
The guy dug around in his pocket and took out a small pouch of coins and gave it Eve.
"You two, escort him out of village," The older guard order his recruits, "If you show your face around her again, I'll make sure you end up in a jail cell. Now leave!"
Guy gave me one last look and then took off with knights escorting him out of the village.
"You good miss Eve," The older knight asked her.
"Yes, thank you. Mr. Mills are you ok," She asked me, handing me a white handkerchief.
I took it and used it to clean the blood from my face. It seemed that I cut my lower lip and also had a small gash above my eye but nothing serious.
"Yeah, been through worst," I responded.
"Taking on four guys all on you own. I don't know if you fool, courageous or whatever," The older knight asked me.
"Well it was supposed to be six but the other two took off in the middle of the fight."
"Say, now that I got a good look at you, I recognize you from somewhere?"
Think Alcatraz, think.
"Yeah, I think I recognize you too, I think I've seen you at one of tavern in Castle Town main street. What was it called, golden something… no I think it was silver...?"
"Oh, the Silver Dragon, yeah I go there with the boys all the time. Well we have to head back to Castle Town, Miss Eve, Mr. Mills take care now and if you're in the Silver Dragon anytime, I'll buy you a drink," He said and took off to with the other knight.
Thank you silver tongue. It has gotten me out of a few jams.
"What are knights doing in town?" I asked Eve. Since I been here, I have not seen on knight.
"They were training close by. Anyway, I got head back to the inn, thanks again Mr. Mills."
"No problem," I said, and she took off back to the inn.
I look down at Raphtalia who was looking at the blood on her sword still shook at the whole situation. I got down on one knee and looked at her face.
"Are you ok?" I asked her.
"I…. I never attacked anyone before," She said still looking at the her sword. She attacked the guy but did not cut into the guy deep. Just enough to get him off me. It seemed that she was about to cry but I stopped her by putting my hand on her shoulder. She was young but has gone through so much already. I took her sword away.
"Raphtalia, if you didn't do what you did. I would have been killed," I said as I cleaned the blood off her sword with the handkerchief, "Thank you."
"But all this for a ball, Won't be just easier to just buy a new one."
"Yes," I said as I took her sword and sheathed it back on her side, "but If you don't fight the small battles, you will never be ready for when the big battle arrives."
I picked up her ball and handed it to her.
"Now come on, lets head back to the inn."
I was standing on the same balcony I talked to Naofumi the night before. I was smoking a cigar well admiring the view. The sun was set, and I was watching one after another house lights turn off as the village slowly went to sleep.
My lip hurt a bit and I tried my best to keep my cigar from touching the cut.
"Mind if I join you," I heard someone asked from the doorway. I turned around to see a well dress men in what looked like a black western suit. He was a much older gentleman probably in his early fifty's. He wore a black bowler hat with a red strip around the top.
"I kind of do," I responded going back to looking at the village. He walked over next to me. And whispered in my ear.
"Before you do anything stupid, look to your right at the barn's loft."
I looked over to see a figure in the barn loft. It was too dark to tell who it was, but it was clear he was aiming a rifle at me.
Shit.
"Now, Alcatraz Foxtrot. You're a hard man to find," he began, "I've been tracking you down since that train job you pulled back in Faubley."
I continued to smoke a cigar.
"If you plan on taking me in, you're a fool to think you and your sharpshooter there can."
"Allow me to introduce myself, Detective Agent Braden Williams of the Brinks agency."
Brink Agents, a private security and detective agency from Kingdom Faubley. Just my luck, bounty hunters.
"I saw your fight earlier this evening, I know I currently don't stand a chance against you right now."
"So why are you here, Detective Williams, it seems you have a brain?"
"Because you can lead me to a much bigger bounty. Blackjack Adams, it is my understanding you use to ride with him."
Blackjack Adam or his real name Adam Waters was the leader of a gang I was running with before the wave. He was a demi human who was slave in his younger days but manage to break free and now robs noble men across the continent.
"Well your right, but I haven't seen him since the first wave, so I don't know where he is or what he is up to these days."
"I'm sure you will be able to find him."
"Let me make this clear Detective Williams, I'm not going to give up my friend for my own skin."
"And let me make this clear as well, if you don't, I got no problem taking you back to Faubley whether I bring you in alive or if I have to drag your dead body back."
He then began to walk away.
"You got two weeks Mr. Foxtrot and we will be in touch. Hopefully you will have some information," he said and left me alone on the balcony. I looked over at the barn and notice the sharpshooter was gone.
I put my cigar out. What am I going to do, even if I knew where Adam was, there was no chance I was going to give him up even though we were currently not on the best of terms. Now do I make a run for it and leave Naofumi and Raphtalia on their own or do I stay with them put them at risk as well.
This is a tough choice.