Lance let out a deep groan as the last set of customers left Wiz's shop. It has been getting busier with each passing day, the new commerce that arose from the mixing of worlds doing more than enough to strain his patience. Yet the presence of merchants from every possible edge did nothing but feed his paranoia of being found out.
In the last week he had seen close to fifty different merchant groups from Lugunica alone. That's not even getting into the massive trades taking place between the four or five known world powers.
"Hey," Ross greeted as he walked into the shop after closing. In his hand was a large bag with a noticable ball shaped object inside. "Yeah," Subaru replied as the shudders were closed and the dye was being rubbed off. "Just got something from The Crimson Demon Clan." Ross said as he left the bag on the table.
"Is it spider related?" Subaru asked. "Indeed. They got some magic ball recordings of Kumoko as she worked in class." Ross answered as the ball began to show various images. "So you actually care about her." Subaru said. "Not really, just wondering how far she'll go before something bad happens and we'll have to clean it up." Ross replied.
"True, but she does seem to be having fun." Subaru said as the crystal ball showed Kumoko posing with her new classmates while casting spells. "Yeah, but I've also been getting the bill for her school lunch orders." Ross said. Subaru just cringed, far too familiar with their associate's eating habbits.
"How rich are you again?" Subaru asked. "Not rich enough too keep up with her stomach." Ross replied. "Just great, say, you seen the sheer amount of merchants coming in right?" Subaru changed the subject. "Yeah, getting worried?" Ross asked as the illusion and dye dissapeared.
Subaru just stayed silent, staring at Kazuma with his one good eye and the aid of The Star Gazer over his bad one. "Right, sorry, so is there anyone in particular that I should keep an eye out for?" Kazuma asked. "Certain Demi-humans and spirits can smell the witch's miasma on me. Garfiel, a young tiger demi human with blond hair and green eyes. Ram, a pink haired Oni who works as a certain clown's personal maid. And Beatrice, a Great Spirit who resembles a little girl with a frilly pink dress. Those are one's I was familiar with and know would recognize me. Anyone else would probably think I'm either a witch cultist or was cursed by the Witch of Envy." Subaru answered. "Lots too look out for." Kazuma said.
"Far too many to look out for." Subaru replied. Kazuma just hummed before he took out another bag. "I also bought you and Sophia some dinner, roasted giant frog legs and bread rools." Kazuma said as he pulled out a box from the bag and laid it on the counter. Subaru nodded before he went to grab Sophia from her nap. Kazuma just opened the box and got to work moving some of the supplies as Subaru and Sophia ate.
"Are ya sure 'bout th's?" Garfiel asked Otto as the two left the docked boat. "You heard what Julius had said, what has been circulating through Merchant circles. If Subaru had truly fled by ship, then he must be around here." Otto replied. Emilia had asked the two of them to go and explore some of the new lands in hope of finding Subaru. If what the knight groups had told is true, then Subaru was either dead in the ocean or living in one of these new lands.
Neither wanted to refuse, Emilia and Beatrice had both retreated too different rooms in the mansion after the revelation of what happened to Subaru. They couldn't say no to the depressed Half Elf who's mental fortitude was held only by strings.
So here they are, exploring the easiest of the three options. There were many sea dragons still around the one world. The fabled lands between them and tempest were too far to traverse by foot in the time allotted. Neither could say a thing about exploring the depths of the sea.
"Well come on, we must retrieve Frufoo and Patrasche and the carriage." Otto said as they tried to ignore the more... jaring differences between them and the locals. Garfiel followed after the merchant as they tried to look away from the rather risque attire of many Adventurers.
It was now two and a half months since he was broken out of the prison. Just a little over two months since he had adopted the identity of Lance Rogers, the young inventor/merchant friend of Ross Autigan and recent father who's beloved had tragically passed in child birth. Just a little over a month since he had moved into Kazuma's house near the Crimson Demon Clan Village.
Quite the path towards a guaranteed quiet life. Neither Wiz nor Kazuka had asked to do provide services to the Demon King's forces, nor had he been forced to do anything horrible except play a part in the destruction of The Axis Cult Hotsprings. Kumoko couldn't drag him into any crazy scheme due to her 'quest' to join the Crimson Demon Clan.
The only issue, was how close he was to losing it.
Far too many merchants and traders from The Great Waterfall were here. Far too many were interested in the useless nick nacks within the shop. One wrong move and- Subaru's internal monologue was interrupted by the sound of Sophia crying.
He rushed over to the back room to see what was happening. He could see a person dressed in a most fine suit. His entire person screamed flamboyant, his face was covered by a black and white mask.
The same kind of mask he'd seen Kazuma wear before.
The same kind of mask that Kazuma said belonged to the Duke of Hell responsible for training him into a terrifying fughter.
"Ah, well hello Moi. You must be the new worker that airheaded Lich and my student informed me of." The man said. "You must be Vanir, nice to meet you." Subaru said as he extended his hand forward. He used Invisible Providence to pull Sophia closer to him as he shook hands with Vanir. "Moi are most interesting. Little fear in my presence, and so much repressed emotions." Vanir said.
"Could you not read my mind, you might find things you wouldn't like." Subaru retorts. "Oh what, the shameful image of you being beaten by a knight, or your love life with a true witch." Vanir whispered the last part so that only Subaru could hear it, but it still left a chill up his spine. "Moi forgets, I am a Duke of Hell, with power rivaling the Demon King. Moi can sense when other powers are at play. Though I will not press further, Moi does not fear what may happen to me, as for all her power, she would not be capable of truly killing me or of destroying Hell." Vanir spoke calmly.
"Though that Miasma may be a problem to our business, so I shall get to work recifying that." Vanir said. "Ok, but-" "I shall not tell a soul of it, you are easily one of moi's most valued employees and to lose you to such a thing would be an embarrassment too my business here." Vanir explained. "Though Moi should get ready, the shop opens in five minutes and people are expecting Lance to be here." Vanir said as Subaru quickly began changing into his disguise.
"We will continue this later," Lance said as he quickly unlocked the door and set the sign to open. 'That we will Subaru, that we will.' Vanir thought as some early merchants and adventurers started walking in.
"Dis place is so weird." Garfiel said bluntly as he and Otto watched a female knight(?) let a large toad devoir her with a sultry smile on her face while he team got to work getting her out. They had joined a small caravan heading towards a city called Axel; famous for creating many great Adventurers, for its peaceful atmosphere, and a shop famous for out of the box and incredible inventions (And lets not forget the Succubus Cafe, helping to keep the city's supply of Adventurers happy and willing to do anything.).
"Eh, that's just Darkness being Darkness." A scantly clad rouge girl named Chris said. "Still." Otto trailed. "I wanted to fight it." Garfiel said quietly. "Giant toads are immune to all forms of blunt damage, if you tried punching it you'd just end up like Darkness over there." Chris said while pointing at the now slime covered Crusader.
"Anyway, thank you for your help miss Chris." Otto thanked her. "Its no problem, we'll be getting paid rather well by the Guild after this is over." Chris said as Garfiel just sat back down. "Wish we had a Guild like that back home." he sulked as the Caravan continued on.
Chris just watched them, shaking her head. Ever since the sudden mixing of worlds she rarely had any free time. In a few days she'll have to meet with some of the deities of the other worlds just to try to reach some sort of agreement on how they'll run things, but that's for later.
For now, she'll just keep watch over those two. Got to keep the trouble to a minimum after all.
Kazuma whistled as he strode across the roofs of Axel. It was night time, few of the shops were still open. On the streets below Subaru and Sophia (still disguised of course) were walking back to their home.
Ultimately the reason that he choose to follow Subaru from a distance tonight rather than walking with him was the presence of two newcomers Chris told him about.
A merchant and Demi Human boy.
A demi human who fit the description of one of Subaru's old friends. Throw in the fact that he and the merchant were traveling together for some political camp from Lugunica told him everything.
That Subaru's old friends were here, and he had to look out for them.
Now he wasn't going to tell Subaru this, not all of it at least. The guy deserves actual peace and quiet after what he's been through. So he'll just keep an eye on him and make sure those two don't get too close.
"You're really doing this?" A voice asked behind him. He turned to find Chris had ambled onto the roof next to his own. "Of course I am. Guys like us got to look out for one another." Kazuma replied. "I know, but still, what if he finds out?" Chris asked. "I just have to make sure he doesn't find out, or at least keep Garfiel away from Subaru's path until Vanir can make something to cover up that Miasma." Kazuma said as he moved after the others.
"Still, you should know that they remember him." Chris said. Kazuma turned to her, his brow raised under his mask. "While they were traveling they asked me if I had seen someone who matches Subaru's description." Chris clarified. "In what tone?" Kazuma asked. "Like they were looking for a friend, they seemed rather guilty about it too." Chris said.
"Well, then we let him meet them on his own terms, when he wants too." Kazuma said. "So you won't kill them?" Chris asked. "Where'd you get that idea?" he asked. "Oh, you know." Chris began. "I know, but if I did kill them then it would just raise questions." Kazuma replies. "Good point. So will you tell Subaru that his name has been remembered?" Chris asked him.
"Probably tomorrow" Kazuma replied as he continued following after them. "Alright, Good night then." Chris said as she walked off. Kazuma breathed in before shaking his head, wondering just how he'll tell Subaru that he's been remembered.
'He's taking this well.' Kazuma thought as he watched Subaru's frozen expression. An incalculable amount of emotions seemed to be flashing through his eyes. The two of them were in an sealed off room, locked away from the rest of the world.
Subaru finally stopped on one emotion, anxiety. "They're going to drag me back." he said quietly. "Hey, HEY! Look at me." Kazuma said to break Subaru out of it. "They won't try a thing. They don't know about your injuries, they don't know about your disguise. Vanir's working on a way of hiding the Miasma. The only one who can make you meet with them is you." Kazuma said.
Subaru took several deep breaths as he listened to Kazuma. He nodded with each point. "Just, tell Vanir that I won't be available until he's finished it." He said. "Understood, I'll cover for you. Now let's get some drinks to calm our nerves." Kazuma said as he moved to the door. Subaru followed him out, still a little shaken about it all.
"I told him not to put it on." The shop worker told them as Otto pulled the ring off of Garfiel's finger. Otto just looked at the man, his green eyes barely visible past the glasses he was wearing. "My sincere apologies." Otto said as he got the ring off of Garf.
Garf just laid on the floor, content to just lay there for the time being. "Still, I didn't think that a Ring of Stamina would do such a thing." Otto said. "Well he should listen to my warnings then. He used it, so you'll have to buy it." Ross said with little concern. "Now hold on." Otto tried to say. "Doesn't matter, you damaged the ring while taking it off the boy." Ross continued. "Fine... how much?" Otto asked nervously. Ross just pointed too the box that was just under half full with many other rings like it. "Three thousand Eris." Ross replied. "Uh, how much is that is Lugunican coins?" Otto asked. "Sorry, we only accept Eris here until the kingdoms can find a proper conversion for the various currencies." Ross replied.
Otto bit his tongue as he began to dig into his bag for their remaining Eris. "Come on, where is it?" he almost hissed out as he continued digging through it. He turned back too Garfiel, giving him a pleading look. "Don't got none." Garf replied. Otto dropped at this, before turning back to Ross. "I'm sorry but we don't have the Eris for it." he apologized.
Ross just huffed; "What do you have to barter that would be of equal value?" he asked. "Excuse-" "I said you either Barter for it, or you spend a night in a cell because you tried to stiff me on your purchase." Ross clarified. "Whoa, please calm yourself. We have materials for barter. Otto dug into Garf'a bag before pulling out some Mana crystals. "Will these do?" he asked. Ross looked over the mana crystals for a second before looking back at them. "Two will be enough." he said.
Otto reluctantly gave him the crystals before he dragged Garf out of the shop. The so called Shop of Wonderous Things didn't have much too offer except for a intimidating merchant behind the counter. "That guy didn't smell right." Garf said. Otto raised a brow at this. "He smelt like a corpse. a corpse that's been dead for a long time." Garf explained. "But how can that be?" Otto asked. "Yah saw those requests at the tavern. All those undead causing trouble for folks. He might be one of them." Gard reasoned.
Otto just looked at Garf. "Maybe we should get you back to the Inn, you must be tired." he said. "Oi Fa'k you I'm serious." Garf argued. "Those undead are mindless, how could we have a full blown arguement soth someone who's mindless?" Otto countered as he carried him to the Inn.
"Still, he smelt like he been dead for a year man, ma nose don't lie." Gard replied. The sun was starting to set as Garf got his footing and let himself off of Otto's shoulder. "Its not like-" he trailed off, his gaze looking elsewhere. Otto followed it, before his eyes landed on what Garf was looking at.
A young man with dark brown hair and a young girl in his arms. A decorated eyepatch covered his right eye and gloves ran up to his elbows. The two were walking alone, just quite a way away from the two of them. Otto was about to ask Garf what he was on about when the boy let out a shout.
"Oi, Cap'n." he shouted at the top of his lungs as he rushed towards the young man.