A job to Hogios Kingdom. [ 第五章 ]

It’s been three months since Jin and his friends came to the capital. Seth was finishing up being a trainee to get his first duty as a full-fledged soldier. While Jin, Emily, and Edward have elevated to C rank adventurers.

‘’Next!’’ a guard on the gate of the capital said loudly.

‘’hey! How are ya?’’ Emily said with a warm smile.

‘’I-I am good. What about you Emily?’’ The guard said as his ears and cheeks got red.

Emily, Edward, and Jin continued heading inside the gate to the search area.

‘’Yo! How you’ve been old man?’’ Edward said as he waves his hand to the knight in charge of the search.

‘’I am fine. Also, I am not old, I'm just 35!’’ The knight responded as he was sitting on the chair as usual.

‘’Good Evening, Sir Dominic!’’ Emily said to the knight.

‘’Well, Good Evening to you too miss Emily! Was your job easy?’’ Dominic replied.

‘’Yes! Some small bandits were terrorizing a small village east. We took care of them.’’

‘’Of course! I beat them up with my new strong technique!’’ Edward puffed his chest out and spoke.

‘’Oh, so the captive bandits who came last night were your guys?! Thank you for helping keep order and peace! You may pass! No need for search of course.’’ Dominic ignored Edward.

‘’Oi, I was talking to you!’’

‘’Thank you, Sir Dominic!’’

The group continued heading towards the guild building as they always do after completing a job.

‘’Anna! We’re back!’’

‘’Welcome! We heard about the success of your job from the knights.’’

‘’Oh! That is so embarrassing.’’ Emily said scratching the back of her head. But inside, she enjoyed being complimented.

‘’Well! There you go. The reward!’’ Anna gives Emily a small bag with money in it.

‘’Thank you!’’

‘’Treat yourselves! You all been doing jobs consistently.’’

‘’Will do!’’

Emily, Jin, and Edward head then to Cecilia’s workshop. They found it closed.

‘’Hmm. Weird! Elise never closes this early.’’ Emily wonders.

They go to the backside, where there is a door that leads straight to the room next to the shop room. Emily was looking for the spare key Elise gave her but couldn’t find it.

‘’Dammit! I lost my key.’’ Emily said frustrated.

‘’Don’t worry. Elise gave me another spare key.’’ Jin said as he holds the spare key.

‘’Why would she give both of us spare keys?’’

‘’I guess... she knew you will lose it?’’ Jin said. Emily was mad but she tried not to show it.

Jin opens the door and they see Elise with another person sitting at the table.

‘’Oh! Y’all came back.’’ Elise said.

‘’Yes! We saw the shop closed so we came from the back.’’ Emily said ‘’And what’s the deal with you giving Jin another spare key?’’ Elise got sweaty as she sees Emily’s face and her creepy eyes get closer to her.

‘’Ah! Never mind that! I want to introduce you guys, my friend. Rolo!’’ Elise said as she shows with the palm of her hand the man who was sitting drinking. A short guy with blonde hair and bangs and blue eyes.

‘’Hi! My name is Rolo as Elise said. I know I look like a kid but I am 24 years old.’’ He said smiling.

‘’Hi! My name is Emily.’’

‘’Yo! I'm Edward.’’

‘’Hello. My name is Jin. Nice to meet you.’’

Everyone sat down and drank the tea.

‘’This so-called green tea is amazing! Elise told me that you taught her how to make it. Is it right?’’ Rolo asked Jin.

‘’Yes. It originated from my mentor’s homeland. He taught me how to make it and I taught Elise. Unfortunately, Emily and Edward couldn’t learn and they gave up.’’ Jin replied with a smile.

‘’Is there a trick to how to make it?’’

‘’Yes.’’

‘’What is it?’’

‘’Your heart must be calm.’’

‘’Um, what do you mean?’’

‘’My mentor always said it like this: If the heart is as calm as a lake, you can achieve anything.’’

‘’I don’t understand your point...’’

‘’We neither... He told us the recipe and how to make it step by step. But we couldn’t make a tea as good as he makes it.’’ Emily said as she sighed.

‘’I thought it needs some kind of room temperature or a specific time...’’

‘’Oh Rolo! You use your brain at everything. To make this tea, you need to feel.’’ Elise said as she kept poking Rolo on his head.

‘’Well, logical thinking is the only thing I can do,’’ Rolo replied laughing.

‘’You still didn’t tell us how you two met?’’ Emily asked Elise.

‘’Well, Me and Rolo were at the same orphanage when we were kids. He got adopted by a family and I was adopted by Cecilia. We got separated for a long time. But years after that we found each other.’’

‘’Oh, that is so sweet! It’s like a love story!’’ Emily expressed. Rolo heard the word ‘’Love’’ and got all red.

‘’H-How about you guys? What do you do for a living?’’ Rolo asked to change up the subject.

‘’We are adventurers,’’ said Emily.

‘’That’s great!’’ Rolo smiled. ‘’Excuse me. I need to use the restroom.’’ Rolo stood up and went to the restroom. The smile he had faded away.

The group started talking about the job they came from till Rolo came back from the restroom and sat down.

‘’Rolo. You didn’t tell me why are you here in the capital. You’re a busy man!’’ Elise said as she lightly hits him on his back with the palm of her hand. Rolo got all red again.

‘’I-I came to give the potions to the capital.’’

‘’Potions?’’ Emily asked.

‘’I forgot to tell you! Rolo is the one who made the healing potions! He is a genius!’’ Elise said as she lightly hits him on his back again. Rolo turns red again.

Emily, Edward, and Jin were all surprised.

‘’A... Amazing! I have two of your healing potions.’’ Emily said as she shows him the two healing potions.

‘’Have you used one of them?’’ Rolo asked as he grabs a note and a pen from his pocket.

‘’I used one on a seriously injured guy. He seemed fine afterward.’’ Emily got nervous as she sees him writing down his note.

‘’No side effects?’’ Rolo asked again.

‘’Stop whatever you’re doing. You’re freaking out Emily.’’ Elise said.

‘’AH! I’m sorry.’’

‘’N-No needs,’’ Emily replied.

‘’Is Seth coming tonight? Since Rolo is here, we will go drinking!’’ Elise said.

‘’I don’t want to drink with her. She gets too wild!’’ Edward whispers to Jin.

‘’Before we went for the job, he told me he is busy this week. So, I don’t think he will be coming.’’

Later that night, Seth was out with Connor and his friends from the same squad in the military. They entered the inn they always go to which has hostesses.

‘’Tonight, we drink till morning boys!’’ Connor, the middle-aged man shouted as he seems already drunk after a few drinks. With each at least a hostess on their arm, except Seth who was sitting alone with them.

‘’Seth! My friend Seth! Come on, for just one day. Have fun! I am sure the girls here are what you’re into.’’ Connor said to Seth who was facing him on the rounded table.

‘’I’m good,’’ Seth replied. ‘’I’ll go outside to have some fresh air.’’ Seth got out of the inn and stood in the dark alley next to the inn. After a few drinks, Connor follows him.

‘’Yo Seth! Are you okay? You seem gloomy more than you normally are.’’

‘’I just have stuff on my mind.’’

‘’Mind if I join you for a bit? I need to sober up before I invite one of those girls tonight to my room. If you know what I mean.’’ Connor said with perverted eyes as he lightly elbowed Seth’s elbow.

‘’Tell me, Connor, do you have a family?’’

‘’Woah! I know adultery is a bad thing. But I'm not married or do I have a family.’’ Connor replied with his hands up.

Seth took a moment before he sighed.

‘’Do you remember the war between Edril and our kingdom?’’

‘’Yes...’’ Connor replied confused about what Seth meant.

‘’Do you remember what was the reason for it?’’

‘’Are you trying to lecture me here or something Seth?’’ Connor replied hysterically.

‘’Answer.’’ Seth glares at him with his vicious black eyes. Connor felt goosebumps and he swallowed the saliva he had in his mouth.

‘’The reason... was Edril’s attack on one of the nearest villages to the border.’’

‘’I see. You remember all of this.’’

‘’What do you mean?’’

‘’When the Edril’s army attacked our village, they killed dozens of people. My mother was one of them. She bit her tongue as they were raping her. She couldn’t stand the suffering and she killed herself.’’ Connor felt chills down his spine as he heard what Seth has gone through.

‘’I’m sorry pal. Did your dad... die as well?’’

‘’My father was never with us. From what my mother told me when I was a kid, he was a knight. He has short light brown hair and a mole on his neck.’’ Seth said. He then looks at Connor’s neck which the moonlight was shining on it.

As Connor heard his words about the description of his father, it took him a moment before he got shocked. His eyes opened up and his jaw dropped.

‘’You...There is no way...’’ Connor said as he backs down from the alley and stumbled back.

As Connor is on the ground, He slowly sees Seth coming out of the dark alley to see the disgusted look on his face and his raging eyes looking down on him.

‘’It... Can’t be... You’re...’’

‘’Yes, I am. I am your beloved son.’’ Connor couldn’t move when he heard those words. As if he saw a ghost.

‘’I knew you were my father from the very first day you came up to me. That smile you gave me as you congratulated me on my victory over Dan, it was the same smile I still remember from when I was a kid.’’

‘’I...I...’’ Connor tried to speak but the words couldn’t come out.

‘’I have spent the entire three months trying to find a reason why I can forgive you for what you have done.’’ He said as he squats down next to Connor’s face.

‘’I have found nothing worth forgiving in your petty life.’’ With pupils of his eyes wide as they can be, Connor could see his fearful face in Seth’s dark empty eyes. While he was close to his face, Connor couldn’t breathe.

Seth stood up and said as he looks at the full moon. ‘’Killing you will only be a waste. I will make sure whenever you hear my name, you lose a piece of your soul. Mark my words, you will suffer as long as you stay alive!’’ He looks back at him one last time ‘’Farewell.’’ And then he took off.

Seth joins Emily and the group at the tavern next to the guild building.

‘’Hey, Seth! This is Rolo. My friend. Rolo, this is Seth. Our daddy knight!’’ Drunk Elise said as she was wobbling holding her cup.

‘’D-Daddy?’’ Rolo was confused.

‘’I told you to stop saying that! And sit down before you spill that cup on someone else.’’ Seth sighed.

‘’Something’s wrong Seth?’’ Jin asked.

‘’No, nothing. Tomorrow I will be heading to my first duty as a soldier. I will be at the borders. I came to see you all one last before I go.’’

‘’Oh! Good luck Seth! You finally did it!’’ Emily said.

‘’Not yet,’’ Seth replied. ‘’Becoming a knight is not the only thing I want to do. But surely it was the first step.’’

‘’Blah Blah. We don’t care.’’ Edward said as he was resting his chin on his hand. Seth hit his chair which caused Edward to fall. Elise who was wobbling next to him spilled all her beer on him.

‘’Oops! My bad Eddie.’’ Elise said as she was trying to hold her laughter.

‘’Damn you! I'll kill you, Seth!’’ Edward stood furious as his clothes were dripping with the beer.

‘’I have to go now. We will meet up when I come back. Take care.’’ Seth waves his hand as he was going out.

‘’See ya!’’ Emily waved back.

‘’Where are you running you punk? Come here!’’ Edward yelled as Jin was grabbing him to not go after Seth.

‘’Rolo! You will need Bodyguards to go back right? You’re a very important person to Lord Zolten.’’ Elise said.

‘’Well, two knights came with me. Of course, to not get unnecessary attention, I told them to lay low and stay in a close-by range.’’

‘’Zolten? It’s somehow familiar.’’ Emily wondered. Rolo looks to his right and his left.

He then leaned onto the table and whispered ‘’He is the king of Hogios Kingdom.’’ Emily was surprised.

‘’Hogios? What’s that?’’ Edward spoke out loud. Everyone in the tavern looked at him.

‘’Hogios? Is it some meal?’’ Rolo awkwardly laughed out loud. Everyone resumed what they were doing.

‘’Don’t talk out loud about this!’’ Rolo whispered at Edward as he looked nervous.

‘’What’s the big deal about it?’’ Emily asked.

‘’Hogios Kingdom is isolated from everything. No one knows what happens there. King Zolten refuses to let anyone get out of the kingdom. Not just that, but no one can enter as well.’’

‘’Well, I entered.’’ Drunk Elise said as she raises her cup.

‘’You should not say that!’’ Rolo told her as he got more nervous.

‘’H-How?’’ Emily asked.

‘’Rolo let me in. Rolo is Hogios’s money maker.’’ Elise said.

‘’Shh! Seriously, someone might hear you.’’

‘’Oh, because of the potions. Right?’’

‘’Yes.’’

‘’Rolo! How about you take Emily, Edward, and Jin back with you?’’ Elise asked.

‘’W-What? I can’t.’’

‘’Why not? You can hire them as your bodyguards. After all, they are adventurers.’’

‘’I...’’ Rolo couldn’t come up with an excuse.

‘’trust me! You won’t regret it. Jin here can detect anything dangerous from miles away. Emily is a strong sorcerer. Also, she will love to explore the kingdom of magic.’’

‘’Oi, what about me?’’ Edward said.

‘’You’re...You’re...You’re Eddie!’’ Elise said with a smile. Edward got silent after that.

‘’Kingdom of magic?’’ Emily asked as she was intrigued.

‘’It is where researchers study the true essence of magic. Not just that, but it is where the strongest sorcerer is. King Zolten of course.’’ Rolo said.

‘’Meh! Cecilia is stronger,’’ Elise said as she drinks another beer cup all in one go.

‘’I know she helped in the war. But king Zolten alone is capable of destroying a country.’’

‘’Yeah, yeah. Defend your beloved Zolten.’’ Elise said sarcastically.

‘’Elise! That is disrespectful towards him!’’ Rolo said.

‘’Now, are you going to hire them? I'll owe you one!’’ Elise said as she winks at Rolo. He got all red.

‘’Uhm, I can’t just hire you. You have to show me what you guys are capable of.’’ Rolo said.

‘’You said you have two bodyguards in a close range? How about they find them?’’ Elise suggested.

‘’good idea! Sure, if you can find the bodyguards. I will hire you. They are professional at what they do.’’ Rolo said proudly.

‘’Well, the guy behind me on the second table is one of them. When Seth came to our table, he went for his sword. He didn’t do it when Seth walked in. He did it after he came to our table. When he saw that we knew him, he took his hand off his sword grip. And I suppose the woman with him is the other one. Also, I saw them earlier close to the back of the shop.’’ Jin replied. Rolo was speechless.

‘’H-How could you tell?’’ The shocked Rolo stuttered his words out.

‘’My mentor thought me to stay alert to any possible threat that may happen. One of them is to be aware of your surroundings very well.’’

‘’Is it true?’’ Elise asked Rolo. He nodded yes.

‘’That’s our Jin for you!’’ Edward pat Jin’s shoulder.

‘’Very well! I will hire you guys for the trip. But I won’t hire you through the guild. They will ask too many questions and might put the request over your rank.’’

‘’Sorry, we forced you to hire us,’’ Emily said.

‘’Not at all. If Elise thinks you guys are good. Then it's fine by me.’’

‘’Oh! Are there some bad guys waiting for us?’’ Edward asked as he was excited.

‘’I hope not,’’ Rolo said. ‘’We will go the day after tomorrow.’’

Somewhere in a village in Edril’s kingdom. A luxurious carriage enters a foggy village that seems abandoned. A short middle-aged male wearing fancy clothes got out of the carriage as he was surrounded by dozens of guards. He enters a destroyed house holding a big bag while his guards stayed outside. He sees a figure of a man sitting on a chair. It was too dark to see his face.

‘’Hello! Is this where the notorious killer Ra ‘’The immortal’’ resides?’’

‘’Fancy clothes and a bunch of guards. I assume you are one of the rich people of the kingdom. I am what you’re looking for.’’ His deep voice sent chills through the man’s spine.

‘’Y-Yes. I am. I came today to hire you for a mission.’' He nervously said.

‘’Very well. How much?’’

‘’I-I still didn’t tell you who he is.’’

‘’I don’t care who I should kill. What matters to me is the reward.’’

‘’It is not for killing, but to capture someone.’’

‘’Capture huh?’’

‘’This is the first deposit. The second will come after you get the job done.’’ He puts the bag on the ground.

A hand grabs the man by the shoulder. He startled. As he looks behind him, He sees a man all covered in bandages except for his mouth and eyes. The man looks at his red eyes terrified as if he saw death itself.

‘’This bag will be the money to let you go back home. Unfortunately, it is not enough for your guards to go back. So, I had to take them down.’’ The man covered in bandages said.

‘’B-But weren’t you on the chair?’’ The man said stuttering his words out.

‘’Oh, that! He’s a guy who came empty-handed. Consider yourself lucky.’’ He pats him on the shoulder. He then walks towards the chair and tosses the dead guy away from it. The man who came with the guards sees the dead one’s face and gets more terrified than he already was.

‘’You send me the details after you come back with the money. Then, we have a deal.’’ Ra said as he sat down on his chair.

‘’Y-Yes sir.’’ The man said and got out running. He ignored his dead guards and drove the carriage away fast.