Shit. I really need to get my shit together. Why am I blocking myself so much?
It's probably not you thought it would be, but I needed to write this.
By the way, I had 15 nosebleeds at a single day.
Disclaimer: I don't even own this plot device.
Why?
(?)
Seriously, this is not funny. Actually, it's a pretty bad situation. If I can't return, then I can't update my Story, and I'll be letting people down.
Aside from that, it's just plain weird. I've confirmed this to not be a dream, but it doesn't feel real either. It's similar to the feeling of the first day of summer vacation. You have a feeling you should be happy, and you are, kinda, but you actually have no idea what to do. Not like I ever had any idea what I was or should be doing, but I digress.
I'm in a different world, with a Medieval Fantasy setting. Quite original. So, do I have a Quest, or something? Nah. Am I ridiculously broken character with unique skills and high stats? Think again.
But hey, at least I have clothes that fit in this setting. And I can converse without a problem. Also, I possess what seems to be the currency, gold coins. And some silver ones, too.
Seriously, what should I do?
I was in quite a predicament.
If I were brought into this world slowly step by step, I might have kept my cool. But it was more like *puff* and I'm in another world. Just like that, of course I would be quite troubled.
After spending the most of his life trying to avoid trouble, I had developed a feeling for arousing trouble. At that very moment, I felt my coward sense tingling. That, and I heard a large group approaching.
I hated getting involved in troublesome things. I immediately searched for a path to escape from the approaching noise. If I had some divine being backing me up, or at least moderate fighting prowess, I would have stayed. Curiosity killed the cat, and not even satisfaction will bring it back.
I rushed to the first back alley I found, and just kept going. But fate had other plans.
A slender man in his mid-twenties, covering his head with ridiculous large hat, handed him some ominous sphere.
"Do me a favor and hold on to this, would ya?" He gleefully told me, and raised his speed, leaving me behind; confused, kinda scared, and in the middle of running.
Much to my dismay, the noise seemed to approach me. To be precise, the soldiers followed him.
"He is an accomplice of that thief! Stop him!" One of them shouted.
"I-I can ex- Whoa!" While still running I turned my head, and attempted to surrender and explain, but a javelin barely missing my face cut me off. The most of those soldiers started preparing some kind of ranged weapon, obviously wanting to kill me.
Be it tomes, bows, javelins, knives etc., they put all their effort into ending me. With both parties running at high speed, and the trash lying around, their attack only graced me. But for me, even hitting my knee against the sofa made me cry in pain.
I played with the thought of dropping the sphere, but I couldn't risk it breaking. Even if it was definitely a fake given to me by that mysterious bastard, they would be enraged if I broke it. Those kind of people always act before thinking.
But I was already at my limit. I had various small cuts all over my back, and big cut on my left arm. My left side already went numb due to a spell of the lightning element hitting me. I only had a single option left.
I turned around and held the sphere before my head.
"Halt! *Hah* I surrender…" While breathing heavily, I surrendered.
The attacks really died down as soon as I used the sphere as a shield.
They muttered something I couldn't hear, and the one who seemed to be leader stepped forward.
"A wise decision, thief."
The way you said that makes me regret my decision.
"Now hand it over, and we will let you live."
Geez, that's what I wanted to do anyway.
I handed over the stupid sphere, and was taken into custody.
They threw me into an empty prison cell.
My back ached horribly. Without considering healing me, they left me in there without saying a word.
The cell was cold, and the corners were wet. A foul stench occupied my surroundings. It probably came from a rotting corpse. A rat, or some other small animal. Mixed with the smell of my own blood, I almost puked.
I shivered. My weak, flimsy body can't handle the cold.
But no, it wasn't the cold. If it's just cold, I can endure it. I was quivering in fear.
I feared getting punished. I feared torture. I feared death sentence.
And I clearly wasn't overreacting. That sphere was precious to them. And I ran away with it.
For the second time in my life, I felt pitiful. Weak. Dumb. Idiotic.
I hated myself for not immediately turning around and surrendering. I hated myself for not thinking about the situation carefully.
"OY! BASTARD!" Interrupting my self-hate, an enraged middle aged men appeared before my cell.
"Where's the 'Handsome Thief'?!"
"Handsome thief…?" I meekly asked. I had an idea who he was referring to, but too exhausted to care.
"He's your ally, right? Tell me where he is!" After hearing my answer, he got even angrier.
"I don't know this 'Handsome Thief'. I don't know anyone from this city." I replied, trying to sound honest.
"DON'T JOKE WITH ME!" He opened the cell, ran up to me, and kicked me in my face.
I wanted to cry in pain, but held back. Nonetheless, I couldn't stop my tears.
"How fucking convenient. An innocent stranger that just got involved with by chance?! Do you think I'M DUMB?!" He shouted, making my ears ring.
"So, trash, tell me your name. I'll remember it."
"M-my name? It's ******."
He grunted, and left, slamming the door.
From everything that happened, I collapsed. I couldn't handle the sudden events.
"Just wake up already, would ya?"
Still drowsy from sleeping, I ignored the voice. I reached for my blanket, and –HUH!?
Realized there was no blanket. Nor a bed. Just a cold and wet stone floor.
Immediately wide awake, I turned to the owner of the voice.
Upon seeing him, I grimaced, and made an unintelligible sound of disgust. It was my second meeting, but I already despised his ridiculous hat, his disgusting grinning face and annoying muscular and slender body. A blond man in his twenties, presumably the one they call 'Handsome Thief'.
"Ah, don't be like that. I'm really, really sorry. But look, I've come to reward ya for your assistance."
Why do I have a feeling you're not sorry at all?
"A reward, huh? What would that be?" Sure, I had a reason to hate him, but no reason to doubt him. Not in my current situation.
"Money, and of course, Freedom." Keeping the disgusting smile on his face, he dropped three things in front of me; the keys to my cell, the bag with my belongings, and a pouch.
Curious of its contents, I pried inside. I found multiple spherical gems, a single white one, a few blue ones, and multiple red ones. I had a hunch what they were, and my evaluation of him slightly rose. If my knowledge from video games I played in the past is reliable, those gems are valuable. Like a shit-ton of money. Multiplied by a lot of them. A shit-ton of money en-gros.
"It's roughly one percent from my reward. Although unwillingly, you distracted them with the replica." He stopped talking and looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to accept the payment. I was about to place it in my bag, but I hesitated.
"How do I know these gems are not replicas?" I asked in doubt.
His disgusting smile wavered slightly, but he answered without hesitation. "Just follow me. I can only give ya my word at the moment, but ya will have proof later."
He was shady, that guy. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't follow him. But giving my current situation, he was, unfortunately, my only hope.
"Alright, in the worst case, I'll at least have my freedom."
He nodded to my response and I opened the cell with the keys. The guards were sleeping soundly. He walked through them without a care in the world, as he probably drugged them.
He's either extraordinarily skillful, or the guards are pretty useless. Might be both.
Walking through the town was similar to my neighborhood. An eerie silence, at most a small group of drunk teenagers, or in this case, a group of drunk old men. I hated that feeling. The empty streets made me paranoid every time. I imagined everyone watching me from their houses, making fun of me. I knew no one really gave a shit, but I was anxious. And, more so than anything, I wanted to avoid passing people. Walking straight past someone at night felt terrible.
"Halt! Who goes there?!" Two guards pointed their spears in our direction. In that moment, my heart skipped a beat.
That's it! End of the line, we're caught. It was too easy. Just strolling out of town. As if that could- Eh?
'Handsome Thief' handed the guards something. A pouch, or something similar. He whispered something and the guards start to act like we weren't here.
I was surprised it didn't cross my mind that he was, indeed, prepared. Bribery, the most convincing argument. In this era, getting away with bribes is a lot easier. Looking out for themselves, or their families. A respectable attitude.
When we were outside, he turned left and got off the main path. After fighting my path through the fauna, we arrived at a carriage.
"Come on now, Jack, get in!" A low raspy voice called out as we approached.
Jack ignored him and kept his pace. He jumped in the carriage, and reached for me. I took his hand and he pulled me in.
"Get going, old man!" Jack shouted towards the driver.
"Why did you get him out? He has nothing to do with us, and you're just exposing yourself to unnecessary danger! Don't tell me that you felt guilty?"
Jack snorted, and started to laugh. Creep.
"Guilty? Me? For what? I was curious, old man. Curious. How many people with blue hair do you see running around with? Who would keep on running when he could have surrendered immediately? This guy, old man, this guy." He patted my back whilst laughing. "I have a feeling that, no matter how, this guy's gonna be famous."
What I said earlier? My evaluation of him rose? Scratch that, I resent him.
"Let's hope he's worth it."
Ignoring the conversation just now, I asked Jack: "What's this country's currency?"
The creeps smile broadened. He hold back the laughter and told me:
"Here, we pay in Gold. Every other coin is measured in gold coins. Ten Silver coins equal one Gold, ten Gold equals one Knight Gold, 100 Gold equals one Imperial Gold, and 1.000 Gold equal one Dragon Gold. There are other coins, but those are the main. For large sums, we use gems. Red is worth 20.000 Gold, Blue 50.000 Gold, White 100.000 Gold, and Green 200.000 Gold. This should tell ya how much I value ya. If ya want it or not, ya will bring me entertainment."
"Wait a minute! Did you- how much did you give him?!"
"I dunno, around 500.000 Gold. Think of it as a reimbursement for the troubles I've caused him." If I weren't so disgusted, I might have shed a tear because of his generosity.
"Jack… No, I'll let it be. No matter what I say, you won't change your mind."
So let's try to write it down:
1 Gold = 10 Silver coins
10 Gold = 1 Knight Gold
100 Gold = 1 Imperial Gold
1.000 Gold = 1 Dragon Gold
20.000 Gold = 1 Red Gem
50.000 Gold = 1 Blue Gem
100.000 Gold = 1 White Gem
200.000 Gold = 1 Green Gem
The old man sighed heavily. "Tell me your name, boy. It's common courtesy."
"******. And you don't need to tell me yours. I won't remember it anyway."
"Rude, aren't you. I just hope you'll survive for at least a year."
He was right that I would easily die in this new environment, but nonetheless, he hurt my pride. So to recover, I decided to ignore him.
"Where is this carriage taking me?"
"To the next town, Sharlia. I'll introduce ya to some 'friends'. Ya will get everything you need; Weapons, a change of clothes, information and bodyguards."
"Why bodyguards?"
"To protect ya, ya dummy. With the enormous bounty that'll be placed on your head, it might get dangerous."
"Well, I can imagine."
I clenched my teeth and made a bitter face. I should have known.
"I do need protection, but I won't hire bodyguards. There's a chance they'll betray me. Is there a place I can get slaves?"
"Ya don't want to place your trust in people, huh. Excellent decision, ******."
"Whatever."
"Welcome, Master Jack, welcome. Yes."
With a dubious business smile, a robed man greeted Jack as we approached.
"Are you finally willing to purchase some of my goods? Yes."
"No, no, not me, but my friend ****** here." He gestured to me.
"He requires… Assistance. Oh, and before I forget, show him around afterwards."
Thus, Jack left me alone with the Slave Merchant.
"Very well, Master ******. If you would follow me. Yes."
I followed the man with the annoying speaking habit. When we entered, I saw a different variety of slaves. The majority either had animalistic features or were beasts. Of course, there were humans, too. Only a few of them looked up, when we entered. But all of them looked like they had discarded hope. Pitiable, but they got nothing to do with me.
"What kind of goods would you like to purchase? For what purpose? Yes."
"I'm in need of protection. Anything come to your mind?"
"Of course, of course. Yes." He hurried through the shop towards a large cage. The red dragon confined in it glared at me with hostility.
A dragon could certainly keep me safe, but I'd rather have something smaller and less hostile.
"Anything with an ability to detect people in the vicinity?"
"I'd recommend the wolf tribe, but sadly, there are no in stock. Yes." As he told me, he glanced to the side for a moment. Chained to the wall, to girls with wolf-like features were sitting there.
"What about them?"
His started to sweat lightly, but kept up his business smile.
"Master ******, you don't want these. Incapable of human speech, and already used. On top of that, another customer purchased them. Yes."
"Can they understand human speech?"
He smiled wryly and kept rubbing his hands.
"Certainly. Yes."
"How much?"
"Yes?"
"For how much were they purchased?!" I barked at him, pissed by his slow understanding.
"4 Dragon Gold each, Master ******. Yes."
8 Dragon Gold? That's 8.000 Gold. I have no idea if it's cheap or not, but I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.
I took out the pouch and took out a Red Gem.
His eyes seemed to sparkle out of excitement.
"Forget what I said, Master ******! Anything else you need? Yes."
"Get them some clothes to cover up their tails and ears, plus something for me. Ah, could you tell your customer the 'Handsome Thief' purchased them?"
"By all means! Just wait here, Master ******! Yes!"
He ran off at an inhuman speed, and brought back three cloaks and a bottle filled with Ink, or some other black liquid.
"What's in the bottle?"
"Slave Ink. I will create a Slave Seal that will punish the Slaves if they break the rules set by their master. Consider it a special service. Yes."
How convenient. Magic sure has its merits.
"Just sign this contract with the Ink, and you'll be considered the master. Yes."
I skimmed over the text to see if there was anything fishy, but it was only something regarding the Seal. While I signed it, the Slave Merchant already applied the Seal.
He released the chains and ordered them to stand up.
"Now if you would please, Master ******. Set your rules. Yes."
"Always be in a 20 meter radius of me, unless ordered otherwise. Do not harm me in any way. Do not disobey me."
They looked at me with dead, empty eyes. There was no sign of hostility, or any other emotion.
"Anything else you wish to purchase, Master ******? Yes."
"Just show me around, like Jack told you. Any place where I can exchange Gems for Gold?"
"I'll show you the place."
It's darker than my usual chapters, but it's still rather light.
The story of this character will be continued whenever I'm having problems with the main story. He actually appeared in almost every Character Prologue, but you probably didn't notice. And could Jack really fathom the fame the mysterious ****** will reach?
And as always, feel free to comment on whatever, however.
I'm Sol D. Mars and I hope to see you again!