Chapter 10: Sus Grandpa

“Nothing compares to the finer things in life, for they are magnifique.”

“Meisatsu...?” Akane said, her eyes slowly drifting to the top of his head. “It seems you’ve got a little... something... on your...”

“I know,” he responded casually, with a light smile spreading across his face.

Simuru jiggled elegantly, each wobble matching the rhythm of Meisatsu’s head movements. The squishy creature had claimed his dome—for his own.

“This guy here is my good buddy Simuru.” He gave his companion a light tap, causing soft ripples to spread out across his body.

“I see.” Akane fixed her glasses as she leaned in closer. “He does seem rather powerf—a level ten rage slime?!”

“Yeah, that’s what Ayame called him too.” He chuckled lightly. “Is that some sort of big deal?”

Akane shrugged her shoulders and let out a lengthy sigh. “Slimes that evolve—like Simuru—are quite rare, since they tend to live rather undemanding lifestyles.”

“Hear that bud? I knew you were built different from the moment our... eyes met,” he said, giving Simuru a tight embrace—squishing him a little in the process.

The Explorers Guild was brimming with an energy that one could only get from a group that go on dangerous ventures. People who fought off monsters daily tend to act differently from your average Joe—and they were anything, but average.

Meisatsu scanned his surroundings carefully, swearing to be more observant to save himself from other... embarrassing incidents.

Explorers flowed in and out of the Guild at an ever-increasing rate, the doors swinging open and shut at a near rhythmic pace.

At the corners of the hall stood wooden tables that looked like they were polished to perfection, light brown with a glossy finish, and benches to match. Despite the Guild’s long history, the internal décor had an air of class to it, in direct contrast to the battle-hardened individuals lounging around them.

More people marched across the humble wooden floors toward the front desk, Meisatsu struggling to keep himself afloat amidst the raging waves of Explorers.

Jeez, what’s their deal? Meisatsu wondered as he paddled relentlessly through the ravaging currents.

Finally freeing himself of the torrent, he noticed that Ayame—who normally never lets him out of her sight—was not in view.

She probably wandered off somewhere, he concluded. A small sigh of relief escaped his lips—some alone time.

His gaze shifted to the passing Explorers, sizing up what kind of people made up the crowd.

Among them were those clad in shining armor, adorned in battle scars and carrying stunning weapons, radiating with battle prowess.

A particular party that stood out within the ruckus, consisted mostly of towering men with battle axes, their muscles so inflated they appeared comical.

Yet despite the nature of the institution, Meisatsu saw people who didn’t have in the slightest, a presence that screamed Explorer.

Some wore weathered sandals, plain shirts and regular hats. No fancy armor, no weapons of war, just—

An old man?!

Meisatsu had been startled by an elderly fellow who despite the folds that decorated his face, seemed sturdy, no different from any youth.

“You’re the new Hero ain’t ya?” the elderly man said as he leaned in closer, his voice heavy with wisdom and deep reflection.

His sharp eyes darted around Meisatsu’s face, like an artist sketching every detail of his subject.

Sus...

“How long are you gonna keep staring Sir?” Meisatsu implored, trying his best to come off polite but still sounding agitated.

The old man was garbed in an all-black Samue, with only the edges being lined with a thin strip of white. His head capped off with an amigasa—it was pitch black, seemingly dyed. And his feet were saddled firmly in a pair of geta. 

Meisatsu wondered how he had invaded his personal space without clopping across the wooden floor.

“I’d bet a hundred platinum coins,” he said as he stroked a light stubble, “you’re wondering how I snuck up on ya just now.”

Dammit, he’s right!

A wry smile began to bloom on the old man’s face. He enjoyed watching the twitches that flickered across his subject’s face.

“Mind telling me your name alrea—”

A finger landed softly across Meisatsu’s lips. Its surface callused, completely devoid of moisture.

I guess this is why my parents always told me not to talk to strangers...

“Ssssssshhhhhhh...” the old man whispered.

He jerked his head toward a corner, which Meisatsu reluctantly glanced at.

Across the hall sat a lone table, right next to a window that let in the soft golden rays of sunshine, as fine dust particles clung in the air—their reflection shimmering, creating an atmosphere of a hidden legend.

A sight so beautiful to behold, it caused a single tear to trail down his face, plummeting to the floor with a subtle...

PLIP!

The elderly man firmly instructed, “Follow me.”

Immediately, the old man spun around, strode toward the table, each step deliberate and eerily silent.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Meisatsu followed.

Something was not adding up...

With each stride, he drifted through the crowd like smoke, not touching a single person. They kept charging through regardless, even if it was mere moments before a collision, almost as if he was non-existent.

That’s when it hit Meisatsu... No one else could see him.

“Hey, excuse me.” He tapped an imposing Explorer passing by. A man with iron gauntlets, flowing orange hair, and a face so perfectly sculpted it looked divine.

“Oh sorry,” he apologized with a hearty smile. “The name’s Seiji Masato. And you're that new Hero, right? Nice to mee—”

“Umm yeah so like... Can you see that old guy over there?” Meisatsu interjected, pointing insistently.

Seiji turned to face where Meisatsu had pointed, straining his eyes as he did a quick sweep through the numerous people who were passing by.

“I don’t see any old guy though,” he responded still searching.

“Yo Seiji!” a female voice called out. “We have to get going, right now!”

“I wish I could help you more, but the party needs me,” he said, hurriedly making his way out the door. “See you around!”

That confirms it then. I really am the only person seeing him.

Meisatsu gave it some more thought. But in the end, his curiosity triumphed as he quickly met up with the old man who was already seated.

The old man was unusually quiet, picking up where he had left off on the scrutinizing looks.

Meisatsu decided to throw back some doubtful glances of his own—turning the entire scene to some sort of weird stare down.

Why do I have this gut feeling that I’ve seen him before? He scrambled his mind for answers.

“The guild sure is rowdy today.” the old man commented as he broke eye contact, reaching under the table.

“What about it?” Meisatsu shot back.

“A whole bunch of ghouls and giant centipedes are trying to get past the barrier as we speak,” he replied, still ransacking beneath the table.

Could that be where Ayame went? Meisatsu thought.

“So why the hell are we just sitting around?!” Meisatsu shot up from his seat, about to head for the Guild's main desk.

“Sit down boy!” the old man commanded, causing Meisatsu’s bravado to evaporate into thin air. “If ya could do something, they’d have called for ya by now.”

“There are plenty of people far more qualified to handle the threat, especially that Ayame girl.”

He knows Ayame?

“Anyway... we have more urgent matters to discuss”. He sprung up from beneath the table, something gleaming in hand.

THUNK!

He had placed a shot glass firmly at the edge of the table, the edges glistening brightly, outlining the translucent liquid within. And with a slight push, he slid it across the table, coming to a steady halt dead center.

“I would like to give you a personal quest. Something’s been bothering me and what better person to save me from peril than the Hero himself.” He let out a joking laugh.

“Is that really allowed?” Meisatsu asked. “Never heard of a “personal quest” before... plus, why should I?” he snapped.

“Hey, who’s he talking to?” an Explorer seated across Meisatsu asked his friend beside him.

“Beats me,” he replied nonchalantly. “Kids these days, you never know what’s going on in their heads.”

The old man feigned surprise saying, “What’s this? A hero refusing to help someone in need. What’s the world turning into?”

“Alright fine. I’ll hear you out.” Meisatsu grumbled.

“You know, Explorers don’t only get quests from the Guild. They do a lot more than slay monsters and stuff,” he said letting out a crooked grin.

“That’s where you come in.” He switched back to a more serious mood.

He slowly leaned forward. “Look at that shop over there for a moment.” Lifting a finger, he pointed it swiftly at a shop across the road whose sign boldly read—

BON APPÉTIT

—the letters being written in a stylized font further enhancing the unusual aesthetic.

Really author-kun?

“I want you to get some dirt on that shop.” He rested both arms on the table with a deep exhale.

“You want me to what...?”

“Did I stutter?”

“No way, Jose.”

“Who in the world is Jose?!” the old man asked, visibly puzzled. “Well glad you agreed.”

“I never—”

“I’ll humor you lad,” he said, using his eyes as an indicator for Meisatsu to pay attention to the glass.

“Drink all this, and I’ll pay you fifty gold coins.” He stretched his arms backwards causing light popping noises. “Fail, and you’ll carry out my quest for free.”

Meisatsu scoffed, “Prepare to lose those coins Grandpa.”

The old man’s brows arched in surprise at the remark.

He picked up the shot glass with flair, bringing it to his mouth—pausing.

This stuff smells kinda harsh. He took a quick glance at the old man. No way I’m losing to this guy.

Fifty gold coins, here I come. He took a sip.

SLRP!—

PFFT!!!

“Blegh, what even is this stuff?” he asked while wiping his mouth with an arm.

The old man burst out laughing, almost uncontrollably, kicking and slamming a fist on the table. Tears forming in his eyes.

Looks like no one hears him either...

“That’s my most powerful spirit boy, strong stuff.”

“You... You cheated, giving me this... This thing!”

“Then you propose your idea then. I’ll humbly accept.”

“Oh yeah old dude?” Meisatsu smirked. “Arm wrestling.”

They steadied themselves, locking hands, both raring to go.

There’s no way he’ll beat me in—

CRASH!

Meisatsu was sent flying through the window, crash landing on the dirt road in the midst of a party gathered outside.

“You alright bud?” A worried Explorer leaned over Meisatsu as he lay flat on the ground.

“Gaaaargh!” he shrieked as he got up, blazed past the bunch, right back into the hall.

“I get it, you win already!” Meisatsu barked, arms thrown in the air.

Simuru had hopped off Meisatsu’s head mere moments before he went airborne and was halfway done absorbing the shot glass that was left on the table.

“Give me back my favorite glass you dang slime!” the old man cried as he engaged in a tug of war with Simuru.

As these events unfolded, the entirety of the Guild watched in bewilderment as Meisatsu kept yelling at an empty bench after he—for no reason—threw himself out the window.

“Ahem!” Akane crept up menacingly behind Meisatsu, gripping his shoulder, her fingers digging deep.

“That would be twenty gold coins please,” she scowled, tone absurdly ominous.

“Don’t you have some spell that could fix it?” he chuckled nervously.

Her grip on his shoulder tightened even more.

“There are a few, but—do you think it comes for free?!” Her eyes stabbing him with invisible kunai.

THUD!

All activity within the Guild had come to an abrupt stop. Explorers slowly turning their gaze toward the now darkened windows. Something massive—really massive—had blocked them.

Like a single entity, they ambled out the hall in flawless synchrony. Their mouths gaping at the freakish display.

“A GIANT CENTIPEDE!!!” they yelled, jerking backwards.

Behind the colossal body, a pair of eyes peered into view.

“Tis I!” Ayame proclaimed, planting a hand firmly on her chest. Her brown hair flowing gracefully in the wind, like some heroine in a manga.

She gave the corpse a quick tap before she spoke.

“Caught a big one,” she giggled. “But it did act a little weird... it kept screaming ‘JAMES!!!’ as it charged at me.”

Meisatsu, stunned by the sheer size of the creature before him, attempted to move closer to the stationary body to get a closer look—drawing his Glock first of course, just for good measure.

He crouched and nudged the lifeless body with the muzzle. “...okay?”

He propped himself up. “Now... why...?”

“I’m glad you asked,” she replied. “This fella’s skin is super hard. It took two whole blasts to knock it out! Can you believe that?”

Only two... Typical, no surprise there, he noted coldly to himself as he stared at the battered beast. Note to self, don’t piss off Ayame.

“A lot of high-quality materials can be crafted with it,” she gave a gleeful smile. “And they go for quite the price too.”

More Explorers surrounded the slain monster, a mix of chatter and admiration filling the air.

Ayame leaned on the centipede like it was some kind of weird insect-like trophy.

She sure is popular, Meisatsu thought.

A soft tap on the back drew Meisatsu’s attention. It was the old man, shot glass in hand.

He gestured Meisatsu to come closer with a swift hand motion.

“Don’t forget our little agreement,” he said, slowly backing away. “And here’s a little tip. Mind all hospitality.”

Like a mist, he dissolved into the crowd, leaving Meisatsu wondering if truly any of what had just happened, was real...

In the distance, a familiar voice could be heard calling out to Meisatsu. It was Umare, who had just returned from a quest, his party members behind him.

“Ah, if it isn’t the Hero.” he said with open arms. “You finally gone on a quest yet?”

“Punch me...”

“Excuse me?!” Umare asked in confusion.

“Punch me right here,” Meisatsu said, tapping his left cheek. “Give it everything you’ve got.”

“If I did, the chances of you seeing the light of day would be pretty... slim.” He let out a light chuckle as he stretched his right arm.

Meisatsu steeled his gaze. “Just enough to make it hurt would do.”

“Not sure why you’d want that but, here goes nothing!”

BWAMM!

In an instant Meisatsu was out of view, the only thing remaining—a human shaped hole in the ground.

Yup... definitely real, he groaned internally, lying half-buried in the earth.

And with that, Meisatsu had experienced yet another day as a member of the Explorers Guild.