Later that day, the materials I ordered to install the shower finally came in, so I got to work. I opened the shop, letting the apprentices run it in my stead. That still didn’t stop some of the hero’s party from coming in to annoy me. At least Maxus and Kelvin actually helped, while Ronica and Nuwa peppered me with questions. Fortunately, it was mostly basic things, though for anything I deemed sensitive information, I kept to myself. It wasn’t like they volunteered to tell me the plans of the Lord Ruler or their own abilities. Ultimately, I… was reluctantly teaching them humility. Stop always taking and give back a little. Fuck, even my dad taught me this. But in a world where might makes right, almost everything I said or did seemed odd to these people. So be it.
The shower installation ending up taking a few days of grueling work, but Maxus and Kelvin returned each day to help. After explaining everything on the first day, the men didn’t hesitate to lend a hand, their reason being to thank me for saving Nuwa. Ronica, Iris, and Nuwa didn’t always show due to their jobs. In the meantime, Milia seemed incredibly busy with a project of her own. When she asked to measure my sizes, things got somewhat awkward, but the dryad was as professional as the tailor, teasing aside. She insisted that I be patient before she revealed her new idea. Surprising me with being able to make clothing aside, why did I feel so much mana emitting from her work room?
As we put on the finishing touches of the shower, I asked Maxus and Kelvin a question that had bugged me for days now. I wanted to avoid it, feeling that asking about it when their friend almost died was a bit insensitive, but I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to make a counter against it.
“Okay, I’ve never got around to asking, but about that spell that sect guy used,” I said. “What is it?”
Maxus almost seemed to seep into the shadows. Thankfully, he didn’t pull off a rogue escape to avoid answering my question. Kelvin nodded at his fellow party member to continue.
“The Hell Drag Technique, something we learned to be forbidden magic,” Maxus said, “and for good reason. Some demonic cults were notorious for using it before the Lord Ruler outlawed it.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s not possible to outlaw what is learned in secret,” I mused.
“Indeed,” Maxus said. “It keeps the information hidden from the general public, at least, but for villainous sects and cults, or even the other three master magicians, there’s nothing the Lord Ruler can say to stop them.” Maxus began tossing a copper coin into the air repeatedly, clearly using the action to calm his nerves for the next part. I considered just stopping him, but the man pushed on, eyes zoned out. “We first encountered the nasty technique during a small skirmish between Jasmine Kingdom and our kingdom’s magicians. One member of the hidden sect latched onto a friend of mine. Rapidly drawing in mana from their comrades, he exploded into flames so hot, the kingdoms formed a truce and worked together to put out a rapidly expanding hell itself.” Maxus shuddered. “And it truly was hell, for things screamed and laughed from the flames. Worst of all…” Maxus seemed to steel himself. “I heard my friend’s scream from inside the hell portal, accompanied with a dark voice that said, ‘Mine.’”
Even I flinched. “Sorry, man, I didn’t mean to make you relive that.”
“It’s an old memory now,” Maxus said. “The best way to understand the danger of the Hell Drag Technique is to know what it is and its resulting fallout. It is not just an ordinary suicide spell, like something a standard assassin would use if cornered, but something far worse. But… even eyeing the gate of hell itself still doesn’t compare to feeling like a child staring up at the Peace Spawner.”
“I think it’s at least close,” Kelvin interjected. “For all we know, one of these days, the Peace Spawner may end up being that voice. If he’s not already.”
“Is the Peace Spawner some kind of demon?” I asked, making damn sure the subject got fully changed.
“It’s possible that he’s some kind of dark god or even an existence we don’t understand,” Kelvin said. “I’m honestly unsure if he was truly born as a mortal.”
After the shower was done, tested, and good to go, I thanked the two men before they went their way, promising me ale later. Apparently, Ramon made it his job to guard Drew’s cell personally until the real kingdom guards arrived. However, even the hero’s party felt a little anxious. The other day, Mandi said that they should be at the village resting before proceeding. We checked out everything by air but saw no sign of them. That meant the guards weren’t coming from Wingston this time. Whether due to bad encounters, other problems, or even lazy soldiers that didn’t want to make a trip this far east meant we’d be stuck with Drew for God knows how long.
“This place needs an upgrade,” I told Milia over dinner. “Like their own court system, bigger jails, and properly trained soldiers to protect the people. Maybe with a few non-psychotic magicians.”
Lucas, Harmony, and Mandi, who were having dinner with us, either nodded or made noises as they thought about the possibilities of Kyushu becoming a proper town.
“Without any funding from the Lord Ruler, that’s nothing more than a dream,” Harmony said after a while.
“There is one way to get the Lord Ruler’s attention, but I’m not sure if even I’m ready for that,” Lucas said honestly.
“No,” I said simply. “I have a few crazy ideas that I’m not sure will actually work, but something is better than nothing. The problem is, in fact, funding. In my case, spirit coins.”
Harmony almost seemed to fall out of her chair. She fixed me with a skeptical look, turned to Milia, but only received a sigh and a shrug from the dryad.
“Are you going back in the dungeon?” Harmony asked. “The A-ranked one you complained about.”
“I’m not sure yet. Maybe something easier, like a B- or C-ranked could do the trick,” I replied.
“C-ranked dungeons could provide goods, but spirit coins are not it or everyone would have them. The same goes for B-rankers. You’ll have to get seriously lucky for even one coin,” Milia said.
“If the dungeon is located in another kingdom, then you can forget about keeping it,” Mandi added. “That Ronica girl was quite passionate when it came to complaining about kingdom taxes.”
“I feel like she’s got the soul of a girl from another world,” I commented playfully.
“So is this a no on your grand master dream plan?” Harmony asked. “Or are you going to tell us anyway?”
“It’s in the early stages,” I told her. “Too early to reveal. And without any spirit coins, well, it’s pointless anyway. So yeah, you can call it a dream for now.”
Mandi frowned. “Sects and powerful magicians should have spirit coins among them. They trade between each other all the time.”
“Master Nia did once say the spirit coin was a magician’s currency,” Lucas added, but still received the glare from Harmony. He gave her a sheepish smile, blushing slightly. I considered adding a fraternization rule like the hero’s party but decided against it. They were young adults. I was certainly not their father.
Besides, Harmony was a very strong girl and wouldn’t let anything like romance slow her down. She’d also keep order between the apprentices. Not that Lucas, a timid and honest boy, appeared to have the courage to try anything.
“Magician’s currency,” the blue-haired girl said, distaste in her voice. “Do we really have to invite them to buy from our shop?”
“Eventually, we’ll have to accept some,” I said. “Not the dickheads, of course, but spirit coins aren’t growing from trees, are they?” Another thought came to mind. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask, but do you have a book listing all of the available sects and academies too? There’s a lot I need to know before I move on with this plan.”
“Shera does,” Harmony said. “I can take you to her, if you wish. She’s likely still in the library, even at this moment.”
There was still plenty of light in the sky, signaling a late afternoon, early evening, though I seriously needed to get myself a clock, regardless of how expensive they were. Dammit, I should’ve checked Wingston!
“Lead the way then,” I said. “Everyone, come along.”
Everyone had already finished their dinner. Thanks to Milia, I mostly ate healthy, perhaps too healthy. All that could change when the farm animals arrived tomorrow. Marrying a vegetarian wasn’t all bad news, though. Watching her long for another slice of blueberry pie was adorable.
Chenzu growled as he dodged the maw of a demonic wolf beast, his dark robes fluttering. This mangy mutt wanted to make a meal out of the beastkin, but he just wouldn’t be having that. He’d finally found some hope with obtaining a job. That was, if he could make it to the human living quarters first, less than a day away.
His brother’s betrayal still felt like a fresh giga-bee sting or a cooking vessel burn. But a banishment was a banishment and Chenzu would honor his village’s wishes, no matter how painful. Watching his brother take Chenzu’s love interest to the wedding chambers right as he moved to leave made him wish he’d never been born as a beastkin. Despite that being many months ago, he still felt the need for a drink. He refused to go to any brothels, as to not imitate his wretched brother.
Knowing what happens in a wedding chamber… The most beautiful kitsune, having his babies. The cruel world!
“Hey, demonic wolf bastard,” Chenzu said as he pulled out the lute on his back. “I’ve got farm animals to deliver and hopefully a new job. If you weren’t a demonic beast, then you’d sit with me, listen to my songs. You’d understand my words and my pains. After all, as a lone wolf, you know what is like to be forced from your homeland.”
The demonic wolf wasn’t intelligent, just a hungry demon, no better than the skeletal wolves of that E-ranked dungeon.
As the wolf lunged toward Chenzu to bite the man’s head off, Chenzu grinned, running his fingers across the strings of his lute, playing notes of a… misleading song. Good thing there were no women around to hear this shame. He wouldn’t blame them for thinking low of him.
“She was a lonely lass with a horse, with a horse, with a horse,” he sang, causing the wolf to fall to the ground, howling at the magical pain the lute caused him. “Oh she was lonely, lived in the forest, and quite curious, with her horse, with her horse.” Chenzu stopped playing to glare at the large convulsing creature. “She wanted to be a horse racer, you pervert.”
He kicked the beast in the throat, ending its miserable existence. If he wasn’t motivated to obtain the job as a farmhand, Chenzu honestly would’ve considered letting the wolf have a free dinner.
“Depression isn’t a nice lady,” Chenzu sang as he pushed the lute to his back.
He whistled, magic infused within a silent command. The animals followed him again in a single file line and they were off.
“If I can cultivate enough mana, maybe I’ll enact my revenge,” Chenzu said, though he laughed at that idea. He was by no means a fighter and his brother would just beat him again. Chenzu was just a lover with skills. His papa taught him everything he needed to know at least with farming, survival, even becoming a doormat for a lady. Okay, that last part should stay in the perverted closet where it belonged.
“I need to find that town soon or I’ll drown in these silly thoughts.” He frowned at his empty flask. He honestly wasn’t a heavy drinker, but the pain of his crush being stolen from him five months ago crept into view every red moon.
It should go away after finding work. Honestly, Chenzu wished he could thank that farmer from Wingston again, maybe one hundred times, for setting him up with such an opportunity.
Shera glared at me, and only me, before letting out a sigh. I had to accept that this was simply how the woman, who looked to be in her mid-twenties, acted toward men that entered what she felt was her holy domain. She was a lanky woman with her hair tied in a bun. Strict brown eyes and glasses made up her general appearance.
“Hold please,” she said. “I will find an appropriate book.”
She glared at Lucas for just a bit but didn’t seem to have it in her to stay angry or annoyed with the honest-looking boy.
“Once again, I do apologize for entering so late,” Harmony said.
“You’re fine, we still have about an hour after sunset before I’ll have to sadly close the place,” she said. “Last time, a guard caught me sleeping in here and thought I died.” She sighed again. “It’s the first time I’ve seen a guard beg Wanda for my safe passing and also curse that he’d have to reveal the bad news to my family.”
The librarian was surprisingly quick, finding the book in only two or three minutes. She returned with two others, a pep in her step.
“It is a good thing to have men actually taking the time to read,” Shera said. “An admirable trait. Don’t give Milia trouble.”
Milia chuckled, while I simply sighed.
“These two books should tell you everything you need to know about sects and academies,” Shera continued. She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “I won’t charge you this once for…” She paused as if catching herself. “Keep it for as long as you need it, but please bring it back in one piece.”
“Thank you for helping us out,” I said.
Shera simply nodded before motioning for her teen assistant. “Please make sure the windows upstairs are closed. I don’t want any night bugs to get inside.”
We wasted no time heading back. Free books, the guards didn’t charge us to enter this time thanks to Harmony, and I could began to formulate a plan to obtain as many spirit coins as possible. Sure, selling to magicians was a bit dangerous, but at this point, I might as well just toss away my goals and decide to live an aimless life. I was pretty sure my soon-to-be-wife would appreciate a man who tossed away his ambitions out of fear.
No but seriously, I really wanted to see this ordeal come to fruition. Proper guards, an improved marketplace, more living quarters to accommodate new residents, maybe entertainment venues. Nothing of the adult sort, of course. Even if I wasn’t getting married, I’d still want my apprentices to respect me.
I’d still drink in secret with the guys, however. Speaking of which, I should sell the tavern a cold storage box. No, the spirit coin to gold ratio would never work out. They were on their own. Perhaps if an ice magician entered town, but the likelihood of that ever happening was zero. The same with getting someone to help me teach the teenagers some farming skills.
After seeing my apprentices off, Milia and I boarded Beakwing, flying home. Sure, a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk wasn’t a big deal, but I preferred letting my griffin get as much exercise as possible, even if he wasn’t chained up and allowed to roam free in the forest.
“Not everyone can read,” Milia said after we both had our baths and were comfortable in the bed, books in hand. “The fact that this town has a teacher is nothing short of a miracle.”
Proper schools were another matter that should be added to the list. Why did the Lord Ruler not give Kyushu proper funding? Could it be because of the rank? I hoped not, but if that turned out to be the case, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised.
The book contained quite the amount of information. Now, I could easily dump this on you, being quite the talkative guy, but to make things simple, there were roughly fifty sects in the Kingdom of Merridon. The five most powerful of them were called Wanda’s Chosen, Bringers of Dawn, Valkyrie Sect, Waterfall Sect, and sadly the Crimson Sect.
“Oh goddammit,” I said, annoyed.
“What is it?” Milia asked. She read over my shoulder, which really tried to turn the grown man inside into a teenager, but I shoved those thoughts aside because this situation was seriously fucked up.
“Turns out the red-robed bastards are members of one of the strongest sects in the kingdom,” I told her. “The hero’s party is convinced that they’re a part of a faction, a demonic cult. But what if they’re all practicing that technique?”
Even Milia seemed to shake herself. I had already told her and the teenagers about the situation, because the last thing I needed was them to be surprised if all hell broke loose. I especially wanted to see how far I could juice up my main apprentice, turn her into a potion slinging badass. Harmony’s headstrong determination should take her far, especially with guidance.
“In this book, it states there are six main academies,” Milia said. “But that’s untrue. There are eight, but for some reason, the Lord Ruler doesn’t want the two largest academies listed in any public text.” Milia shook her head. “They’re famous, so I do not understand the purpose behind this.”
“Academies in this case are magic schools right?” I said. “What’s the difference between them and the sects?”
“The sects are organizations neutral to politics and keep to themselves, other than for power and wealth gains,” Milia said. “In a way, they’re like clans, and getting accepted into one can be even more difficult than a magic academy. Leaving a sect is prohibited, except by banishment. An academy is just a place to learn magic, though some of the top schools accept only the most talented individuals or nobles.” I nodded. “But academies do hold significant power,” Milia continued. “Especially at the top.”
