Chapter 5: Conflict
1014 AD, Medina Inn
"Man, this is horrible!" the imp yelled. "I'll lose all my guests if they know that you're here!"
"Quit yer babbling, Hugo!" Marco walked toward the counter. "This guy isn't a monster. That's just bullshit from stupid people out there."
Hugo leapt repeatedly like a spring behind the counter. "Marco, you don't make any sense!"
"If ya know him closer, ya ain't gonna complain about that. He's a nice guy."
"Kick that monster outta here, Marco! I won't ask the chef to cook your fish if you don't!"
Marco grabbed Hugo by his neck and lifted him up into the air. "I'd better introduce ya to him, little imp." Still holding the green-skinned creature with a hand, Marco carried him over the counter before walking toward Guile.
Looking at this, Guile didn't feel right. Marco should have good intention, but his way of introducing Hugo was just…inappropriate. Hugo had only attacked verbally, while Marco had resorted into using physical strength as retaliation. But that wasn't what that sparked an uneasy feeling in him; instead, the fact that a giant fisherman was lifting an imp with the size of a man's forearm ticked him off.
"Sir, let him go," he muttered. "It isn't fair if you use your brawn on this little imp."
"He wants me to kick ya out, so why play nice with him?"
"He hasn't used physical force to attack any of us. Besides, you're like picking on a child."
"Bah, I can't understand ya, mate," Marco said in an exasperated tone. He shook Hugo and screamed directly into his ears, "Ya hear that, Hugo? This guy is too nice to be a monster!"
Hugo squinted at the loud volume of Marco's voice.
Seeing Marco's attitude toward the imp, Guile began to lose his patience. With a fierce look on his face, he demanded sternly, "Let him go now, Marco."
Marco put Hugo down and stared at him. "Now, listen up, little imp! I let ya go 'cuz the one you call 'monster' asks for it! So be nice to him!"
Shivering with a gaping mouth, Hugo looked at Guile, before turning to Marco and returning his attention to Guile again. "Are you just pretending to be nice to me or what? I don't trust you." He frowned.
Before Guile could react, he saw Marco raising his fist above Hugo's head. Instinctively, he dashed and caught Marco's arm with a hand of his.
"That's enough, Marco."
"Sheesh! You're a marshmallow, Guile." Marco pulled back his arm and took a step backward. "Somebody like this needs a good clobberin'."
"That is only fair if he attacks us and isn't this small."
"Guess ya wanna get beaten too."
All of a sudden, Viktor appeared between Guile and Marco. Spreading his arms, he said, "Stop fighting! Avoid unnecessary fights!"
With his gaze still at Marco, Guile replied, "We are just arguing, master."
Viktor glanced at Marco, before looking at Guile again. "Both of you are about to fight already." He scowled. "Can't you solve little problems like this with a negotiation?"
"Bah, that's stupid." Marco spitted. "Everything should be settled with fists whenever possible."
"There are times I won't negotiate either," Guile responded flatly, closing his eyes. "Once the foes have shown how dangerous they are, I'll fight back." He continued, "I see nothing wrong with walloping those who are being unfair as well." He opened his eyes and gave Marco a death glare.
"Whaddaya want?" Marco asked in a brash, challenging tone. "A fight?"
Guile let out a 'humph' and turned away. Although he wanted to punch the fisherman on the face, he knew that doing so would only start an unnecessary problem.
"Okay, okay, I assume that you won't make a mess, so I'll ask the chef to cook those fish," a squeaky voice said. "Anyway, if I ever catch you smashing stuff like the monster everybody keeps talking about, get the hell outta here."
1014 AD, Outskirts of Medina
Sitting on the clearing of the grassland, he watched his little brothers slumbering in two tattered sleeping bags with their heads bandaged. It might take a long time for them to wake up, judging from the injuries they received earlier. The moment he found them, they were lying on the uneven grassy ground, unconscious while bleeding out from their heads.
With a hand on the hilt of his sheathed broadsword, he growled. He wasn't happy about what happened to his little brothers. If he could find who had hurt his siblings, he would like to cut that person down.
Unfortunately, he had no clue of what actually had happened. It was very illogical for him. He had instructed those two guys to only rob the weak like children and elders, and how could they get beaten up?
He soon discarded those thoughts out of illogicality.
Upon doing so, he realized that there was something more important than revenge now. With his siblings incapacitated, he would need to find more cash to keep up with their expenditure. He probably had to take more risk; instead of preying on the weak, he had better off robbing the people at Medina. That should be harder, but more rewarding.
However, he was doubtful. This was a meadow, and beasts might just exist. There was no guarantee that his injured siblings could defend themselves from ferocious animals.
He remained still on the rough, uneven ground, deep in thoughts. There should be a way to solve both of those issues at once.
No, there wasn't. If he stayed to take care of his brothers, he would delay his plan of robbery, which would reduce his income. However, if he went to Medina to 'work', he would risk his siblings' lives.
He had to sacrifice something.
It wasn't easy to make a decision. After spending about three minutes for thinking, he made up his mind to go robbing first. Hopefully, he could earn much money that way, which would help them fulfill their bare necessities in the future.
1014 AD, Medina Inn
Guile was sitting at a round table with Viktor and Marco, waiting for the food.
Waiting was such a boring thing, especially when nobody was in the mood to talk. Trying to kill his boredom, he looked around to observe his surroundings. Who knew that there was something interesting?
No, there was nothing that truly caught his attention. A bar was just a bar; it always had tables, chairs, and hanging lamps.
The only thing that bothered him was the emptiness in the tavern. Unlike his assumptions, the bar wasn't terribly crowded. This should be related to his nickname: monster.
Hmph, sometimes people were ignorant; Guile thought. They just liked judging a book by its cover, which was a bad thing. Truth be told, Guile didn't like hurting someone for no reason; instead, he preferred helping those in need when there was the chance. Unfortunately, that opportunity never came to him, which hindered his attempt to show his heart of gold.
Sitting still, he closed his eyes, covered his mouth with a hand, and yawned. Sometimes life was just confusing, annoying, and tiresome.
Perhaps not. Once the sweet fragrance of butter and herbs stroked his nose, he opened his eyes and smiled. At least in life, he had the chance to taste delicious food.
Soon, he could see Hugo placing a big plate of grilled fish fillets on the table. The frown on the imp's face informed Guile that the green-skinned creature didn't seem to be happy with him.
Or perhaps, Hugo always looked like that? After all, he did let him eat in the inn.
Curious, Guile locked his eyes at Hugo, who didn't even return the glance. The imp simply walked away without saying anything.
Hmph, whatever happened, happened. Why should he care about people's reactions when he had something better to do? The food was ready, and now was the time to excite his tongue and comfort his stomach.
As he looked at the smoky grilled fish fillets, he reached out his hand to pick one up. But he soon decided to pull his arm back. It wasn't because it was too hot for him to lay a single finger on; instead, he figured out that he had better let the others take some first. He knew that if he had started eating, he couldn't stop until the food depleted.
Arms crossed, he sat still and leaned against the chair's backrest.
"Why didn't ya take some?" Marco suddenly asked, holding a fork above the fish fillets. "I have a big appetite, telling ya."
Guile only smiled. "You'd better take some first, Marco. It would be very dangerous if you let me eat now."
"Hmph, okay, I'm gonna eat until I'm full. This means that I won't leave ya anything!"
What the heck? Guile's stomach was already growling, and now, he probably wouldn't get anything to eat if he didn't act fast!
"Excuse me." He snatched the plate with both of his hands and placed it on his lap. Quickly, he grabbed one, gobbled it, picked up another one, and devoured it, and so on.
Eyes widening with a fillet skewered on his fork, Viktor screamed, "Manners, Guile! Manners!"
With a fillet in his mouth and draping down his chin, Guile spoke in a muffled voice, "Uh, sorry." He placed the plate of fish back on the table. "I couldn't resist."
"Bah, what should I do?" Marco placed a palm on his face. "When I said I'd eat all, you got provoked."
Guile slurped the whole fillet into his mouth, chewing it afterwards. "Leave some for me then," he uttered. "That's the best-"
An uncomfortable sensation suddenly built up within his neck, causing him to cough several times. At this, he found himself unable to talk and breathe. No matter how hard he tried to inhale, he couldn't take some air in. There was something blocking his throat.
"That's why, son. Don't talk when you're eating! You'll choke on the food!" Viktor snapped, before looking at Marco. "Wrap your arms along his stomach from the back, Marco. Then push upward as hard as possible."
"Geez, what a strange idea," Marco complained. "How can that help him?"
"That'll push the food out of him! And now…" Viktor pointed at Guile and shouted, "DO IT FAST!"
Marco shrugged. "Hmph, still a strange idea." He stood up and walked past Guile. "But that's what I gotta do to save ya."
At this moment, Guile bowed a bit as he coughed continuously. He smacked his own chest repeatedly in an attempt to alleviate his coughing, but to no avail.
"Quickly!"
"Be patient, old man!"
Guile stopped hitting his chest and nodded, hoping to tell that he agreed with Marco. He could still last for a few minutes without breathing, and there was no reason to be that hasty.
But nobody cared.
Suddenly, he could feel a tight grip on the area between his ribcage and his stomach.
"Yeah, here we go!"
A crushing pressure from his stomach to his lungs caused him to cough hard and send a saliva-coated lump of crushed meat rocketing out of his mouth.
With nothing blocking his throat now, he breathed in and out very quickly. The moment of unable to breathe had made him hungry for fresh air.
"It worked," Marco said from behind, before delivering a friendly smack to Guile's back. "You're safe now, mate." He returned to his seat.
"How sloppy you are, son!" Viktor scolded. "That can kill you in a few minutes!"
"That is quite a long time, master," Guile replied calmly. "You should try to be more relaxed."
Viktor placed a palm on his face and sighed.
Through that expression, Guile could tell that his master wasn't happy. There might something wrong with his words…
Hmph, why should Guile care anyway? His master was a moody old man at times, and he knew that Viktor would smile again moments later.
He had another reason not to mind about it. His stomach needed more attention now. The thick, sauce-coated fillets in front of him looked mouthwatering, even though they had choked him earlier.
Well, it was his fault though. If he hadn't talked, he shouldn't have gone through that trouble.
He reached out his hand to grab a fillet.
Smack!
A sudden hit to his wrist stopped him from taking anything.
It wasn't difficult to guess who did that. From his experience, Guile knew that Viktor hardly ever used physical force on him, while Marco was the other way round.
He stared at Marco, who returned his glare and yelled: "Breaking yer promise, eh? Ya asked me to leave some fer ya!"
Guile nodded and retracted his arm. Arguing or insisting on taking the fish would only start an unnecessary fight with the boisterous man.
He spent some time sitting still, staring vacantly at the nearly empty plate. It held nothing but three palm-sized fillets and some small puddles of soy sauce now.
What annoyed Guile now was that Marco kept picking up a fillet and ate it. If the man kept on doing that, there wouldn't be anything left for Guile!
As he saw Marco holding a fork above the last fillet, he quickly snatched the meat and shoved it into his mouth.
"Godammit, Guile!" Marco snapped, glaring at Guile.
Guile ignored Marco and continued munching the fillet, savoring the sweet fragrance of it with his tongue.
As he swallowed the crushed meat down, he noticed two not-so-nice things around him. Marco was gritting his teeth in anger, while Viktor was shaking his head with a palm on his face.
Without saying anything, Guile sat still and leaned against the chair, arms crossed and eyes closed. It wasn't his fault; instead, Marco was the one who started it. If the man hadn't eaten until there was almost nothing left for Guile, then he wouldn't need to nab the last piece of fillet.
The tranquility didn't last long. He could soon hear someone yelling aloud directly into his ears: "Greedy monster!"
He opened a droopy eye to see Marco staring at him.
"I am not that," he said calmly, shrugging and closing his eye. "You are gluttonous." He sighed. "You broke your promise not to eat all the fillets, and you still put the blame on me? I was just taking the last piece you were supposed to leave for me."
He seemed to have gained an upper hand with his words; there was no reply from Marco afterwards. It was a usual reaction from this brash man whenever he felt guilty.
Bowing his head a little, Guile spent some time dozing on the chair. There was nothing to do other than napping for now. His stomach was trembling and growling softly, and he considered snoozing would relieve his rowdy tummy better than staying awake.
His sleep didn't last very long. An ear-splitting shout snapped him out of his slumber.
"Hands up, people! Gimme your money and I'll let you go!"
The yell wasn't just loud; it was also adrenaline-inducing. There seemed to be a robber, and it would be a pleasure to fend the thug off.
Opening his eyes, Guile stood up slowly and turned his attention to the exit door of the inn, which was now wide open. A man in a brown leather suit was standing with a steel broadsword in his hands, his cape billowing by the breeze.
Guile's presence drew the thug's attention. The robber was now staring at him with a pair of slit eyes.
"You're that infamous monster, aren't you? I'm not afraid of you!" the thug yelled.
Hearing that, Guile gave out a sinister grin; a smirk that showed his excitement toward the incoming fight against a daring man.
That wicked smile was demoralizing for the would-be robber. The man gulped, taking a step back with his mouth ajar and beads of sweat trickling down his temple.
"Were you just bluffing earlier?" Guile asked calmly, still sporting a mischievous grin.
The thug lowered his sword and closed his eyes. "Whatever. How about a deal?"
Guile raised an eyebrow; he didn't understand what the man was talking about.
"This sword is sharp, and I can still hurt you," the man continued. "But we can avoid injuries and the likes. If you give me money, I'll leave immediately. I need it."
"Well, you should've made a more polite entrance, boy," Viktor said, walking past Guile and stopping between him and the thug. He inserted a hand into a pocket on his trousers, pulling a small leather sack out of it afterwards.
All of a sudden, Marco grabbed the back of Viktor's collar and pulled him backward. "Old man, what the hell are you doing? No need to waste money just for this."
"I have to," Viktor replied calmly. "This will save everybody from troubles."
"You're a nice person, gramps," the thug said, sheathing his sword and walking toward Viktor. "I wish I can get more though. I have two injured siblings I must look after. With this money, I can help them."
"This is all I have, boy." Viktor handed the leather sack to the man. "Now, leave and spend the money wisely."
After taking the pouch, the man turned away with a smile on his face. "Thanks."
"Idiot! You're wasting money for nothing, old man!" Marco yelled, shoving Viktor away and rushing toward the man. He raised a fist, ready to crush the so-called thug's head with it. "I'm gonna kill this guy now."
Looking at Guile, Viktor commanded, "Stop him, son!"
Guile leapt into the air and glided toward Marco. In a flash, he put his arms over Marco's broad shoulders by going under the man's armpits.
"Let me go!" Marco demanded loudly, shaking his entire body in an attempt to break free from Guile's grip. "Your master has wasted money for him, y'know?"
Guile didn't know what to do now. Should he stop his newly-found friend just because his master asked him to do so? Or should he disobey his master for the money and his friend's sake?
Looking at Viktor, Guile asked, "Master, is this the right thing to do?"
Viktor nodded, but soon, his eyes widened in shock. "Look out, son!"
Guile let out a confused 'huh', but soon, he knew what had caused his master to behave like that. His lack of focus had earned him a swift headbutt to the face, knocking him off balance. In a moment of daze, his grip on Marco loosened, allowing the man to chase the thug down.
"Marco, that's enough!" Viktor yelled in desperation. "Just let him go! That man needs money more than I do!"
But Marco didn't care. He kept running to track down the robber.
"Son, stop him! Don't let him hurt that innocent man!"
Hearing that, Guile jumped into the air and flicked his feet, joining the chase with the belief that his master was always right. If Viktor wanted to help the so-called thug, then Marco had to be stopped at all costs.
It didn't take too long for him to catch up with Marco. In a flash, he rammed Marco with his body and sent the man falling flat on his stomach.
"Stop messing around with me!" Marco snapped, placing his palms on the ground to support his body. "That man doesn't need your money!"
Noticing Marco's attempt to get up, Guile had no choice but to do something he didn't like. It would save the so-called thug and please his master, but it would require his friend's life.
"I'm sorry."
Within a split-second, he stomped the back of Marco's neck, emitting a loud crack as his sole met the bones beneath the skin.
The area around him became devoid of sound as Marco laid face-first on the ground. The usually loud and brash Marco spoke no more, nor did he move a single muscle. He remained still with his eyes closed.
Guile had killed Marco.
All of a sudden, a loud shout broke the silence.
"What have you done?"
Guile turned, only to see Viktor looking at him with a pair of widening, tearful eyes.
Stepping backward, he muttered, "I killed him. If I didn't, he might kill that man."
"You…" Viktor stole a quick glance at Marco's lifeless body, before glaring at Guile. "You monster! I was trying to save everybody!"
"But I…" Guile paused. Moments later, he spoke aloud, "I can't save them both! If I didn't kill Marco, he'd harm that man!"
"Can't you think, brainless monster?" Viktor yelled, grabbing Guile by his collar and pulling him closer to the point their noses met. "You can just hold Marco back! That won't harm anybody!"
His master was right; Guile thought. At this, tears of anger and sorrow were welling in his eyes. If he had spent more time thinking, he might have done what Viktor had just said.
Unfortunately, it was too late now. There was no way a dead man could return to life, was there?
"Master, t-this is my fault," Guile stammered. "If I h-hadn't been that rash, this s-shouldn't have happened!"
"You're damn right!" Viktor snapped, shoving Guile away so forcefully that he tumbled backward and fell on his bottom. Turning around, Viktor said, "I shouldn't have brought you up. Or better, I shouldn't have created you." As he was walking away, he added, "If I hadn't been stupid enough to create you, I shouldn't have lost my wife and my daughter."
Guile stood up and followed his master by foot. He would have nowhere to go if Viktor didn't care about him anymore.
Unfortunately, Viktor only said, "Don't follow me, beast."
That remark was like a knife plunged into his heart. He wished that it was a literal dirk instead, so that he wouldn't feel this painful. He wasn't immune to emotional pain.
He fell to his knees as he looked at the shrinking silhouette of his master. With his vacant gaze locked on the ground, he let his tears trickle down to the earth beneath him.
He had nobody to rely on anymore.