Chapter 11

"I'm Lancelot. Yes, like the knight. I love Arthurian legend! I am a tank, even though my shield isn't really much of anything but you would be the expert in assessing that right?" He kept shaking my hand with such vigor that my whole body shook in tandem as well. He was black haired with a very open and kind face but his built was a little intimidating. I noticed the woman and the other man sharing a look behind Lancelot's back but before I could even think to consider what that was about, his question threw me for a loop. My eyes scanned his crude leathery clothing that was very obviously scrapped together by any animal they had killed to survive, most probably a tiger which was a feat in and of itself. His "shield" as he called it was more like a square wooden thing that was being loosely kept together by rope made out of thick branches and didn't look like it could hold its own much in a battle. Actually, it was a little battered already so it could snap any minute now if someone attacked him. His glasses were what kept my attention for longer than must have been comfortable to have me stare into practically his eyes. But they were so unusual. They had a golden tint and literally the shape of lightning. How did he even see in those-?

"Are you falling in love with me?" He wiggled his eyebrows goodnaturedly and I looked away shyly. It was very obvious they were my seniors and I had been acting disrespectfully and brazenly but it was very difficult to keep etiquette in such an environment. 

"I was just...ehm...admiring your equipment" I tried to sugarcoat it but I must have grimaced because the next thing I knew, I was being lifted by the collar from the grumpy dude. He was a little shorter than me and much leaner. He had blonde curls that hid one of his eyes giving him this air of moody mystery. His eyes were green making me question if this was his character appearance because I had definitely never seen someone like him before in Kyoto. His clothes were made out of fox skin and from the string I could see go around his shoulder, he must have been a bow user. His bow or arrow were nowhere to be seen though so I couldn't assess them. Not that I thought it would be appreciated nonetheless.

"You have a problem with what my friend worked hard to make while trying to survive in this hellscape?" His voice was slithery like a snake and his eyes narrowed. Instead of feeling the usual remorse I expected to feel, however, I got miffed. As far as I knew, this world was my doing and even if it was a pain in the ass, I wasn't up for criticism! 

My expression gave me away once again because he looked angrier as well and ready to throw hands. 

"Not all of us can be so lucky as to just miraculously fall on something like that sword or choose-"

"Cerf, enough" The voice of the woman resounded and doused cold water on the blistering lava I could feel cooking in my belly. What was this dude's problem anyway?! Thankfully, he complied and stepped away after he released the collar of my cloak. He kept sending me daggers with his eyes but he did it from his corner with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Frankly, I felt a fool to even take this guy seriously. He seemed nothing more than ridiculous and childish at that moment. 

"If you can upgrade our armour, we will consider properly introducing ourselves and letting you be a part of our party." Party? I wanted to ask. Did they think there was enough cause for celebration? Or even the essential materials to do so? But I kept my mouth shut because her expression and voice were much too grave for me to look like an oblivious idiot. I nodded at the prospect of a deal even though I could feel the regal wolf behind me getting more and more impatient at my letting them treat me as if I was the liability. Thing is, I was and he would have to get used to seeing much more grovelling than that.

I looked over her armour in the most respectful and quick way I could manage. As I had expected after looking over the other two, her clothes were made out of deer skin and her only weapon was a long wooden stick with a crude and small stone on the edge that she had tried to refine into something remotely sharp. You could call this a spear, if you wanted to be extra kind. Just as I had feared, I had no confidence in my ability to make anything out of these more than like throw them away and replace them. But I couldn't tell them that. Just as the grumpy guy had let slip, they had obviously seen my sword and they were expecting some next level shit. That was the only reason why they would be willing to consider me as a member of the group. So I had to lie and lie good because if I showed my uselessness, I was bound to be a loner with an asshole of a wolf once again.

"Hmmm" I tried to look very professional as I pondered. "With what we currently have in hand, I may not be able to do much really. You obviously did the best you could do with what the forest could lend." I tried not to sound condescending but grumpy dude hmphed loudly at what I said. I could feel sweat running down my forehead and back. I was trying to use more formal words but truth be told, I was totally going out on a limp here. "We can replace the ropes in that shield with some more tightly woven and tied to the different pieces of wood while it would be best we work a little on the wood first so as not to get splinters in the bearer's hands. We could put more distance between the wooden blocks so that in case of a fight with a weapon wielder, you could trap the weapon in the void parts and take it away from them. You seem well built for that." I looked at Lancelot's muscles appreciatively and he flexed them playfully. Not gonna lie. He was already growing on me. "We can then sharpen the stone on the spear some more. The wooden part is very well worked and loved as it is, I think" I tried to smile reassuringly but the mere eye contact with the woman scrambled my brain like eggs. This was too much for my teenage brain okay? And she was built like a warrior with a soft smile. How could I ever stand tall and all serious and professional in the face of that?!

"About mine you have nothing to say?" The cold voice froze me from the warmth of that smile and without even looking at him, I replied just as coldly.

"Do you expect me to look through your clothes with x-ray vision or-?" Lancelot laughed at him and I felt emboldened. I puffed up my chest and went on with just spouting the same things that we all knew but with different words. "Anywho, until we encounter other creatures with different droppings and materials, we won't be able to do much more" See that we I kept using? Yes it was on purpose. Don't get me wrong, I'm as much of an idiot as the next person. Especially if that person is the grump. But I knew a thing or two and I was hoping to make them think of me as a member of their group.

"It's not much but I guess we can see you in action. I'm Adriana." She reached out for the american handshake and that made her caramel coloured body and puffy curly hair stand out even more. It looked like a bouncy cloud. Were these people not Japanese or were they adopting a role for the game? Why wasn't I given that courtesy? I didn't wanna go as myself! 

"I'm Artiel. Happy to work with you" I said stiffly and awkwardly as I shook her hand. Her grip was firm. It made me terrified for the moment when they would realize I was useless. 

Lancelot nudged the grump but he made a negative motion with his head. Lancelot sighed.

"You won't give away any big secret by just saying your name"

"It's easier to locate players when you know stuff about them. I like my business to stay mine."

"Then what are we supposed to call you for the duration of our cooperation?" Lancelot asked exasperated.

"Anything goes. I mean, I don't see him lasting long anyhow" And he looked me up and down. Oh, it was so on.

"No worries. I already call him "that shrimpy grump" in my head so by now it would be confusing to call him anything else" He moved like lightning. I wouldn't have realized until he had hit me were it not for the loud growling that warned me just in time for me to sidestep a flying arrow that was going for my shoulder. The dude was going for the kill at any opportunity.

"I've been meaning to ask, what is that?" Lancelot tried to be cordial but they were all stretched like chords ready to snap. I smiled hungrily while not taking my eyes off the paling grump.

"Let's say my wolf friend over here isn't very happy with your grump friend over there"

They seemed to reassess me. Good. 

Connection: 5