"By the way, the guards ntioned this is a human kingdom," I said, leaning forward in the bath. "I asked them, but didn't get much detail."
"Yeah, what about it?" Zaben raised an eyebrow.
"How many kingdoms are there?"
Zaben scratched his chin. "Hmm? Well, there's the Human Kingdom, obviously, and then the Elf Kingdom, the Dwarven Kingdom, and the Beastkin Kingdom."
Robert chid in, "Don't forget the Dragonewt Kingdom."
"Right, right. Then there's the Free Country."
"Free Country?" I tilted my head.
Ahlem grinned. "Yeah, a place where all races live together—except humans. Humans aren't much welco there."
"Oof, sounds like they hold a grudge or sothing."
Zaben shrugged. "Probably. Then there's the Demon Territory, the Amazoness Lands... hmm, I think there are more, but those are the major ones."
"Amazoness Lands?" I repeated, eyes widening. "Like a kingdom of warrior won?"
Ahlem smirked. "Heh, interested?"
"I an... who wouldn't be?"
The whole group laughed.
"How many races are there?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Zaben stretched. "A lot. Besides Beastkin, Elves, and Dwarves, there are Lamia, rmaids—"
"M-rmaids!?" I stuttered, eyes widening.
Robert raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Don't tell you've never seen one."
"Of course not! I'm not from this world!"
Zaben snorted. "Yeah, yeah, and I'm a Dwarf."
The others burst into laughter, clearly not believing .
"So, guys..." I started.
"What now, crazy guy?" Zaben smirked.
"Is it only adventurers who are allowed to kill monsters?"
For a mont, there was silence. Then—
"Huh!? You joking, right?" Zaben burst out laughing. "Everyone can! Well... if they're strong enough!! Hahahaha!"
The others joined in, laughing at my question.
"Crazy guy, seriously, you don't know? Man, did you live in the forest before!?"
"Yeah, this crazy guy is sothing else!" another chuckled.
I sighed. "Hey, I was just asking!"
After that question? Nothing serious happened. We took a long bath and enjoyed it. I paid the granny 3 copper coins for the ale after the bath, and then we headed out to eat at the sa place as yesterday.
After that I just went back to the stable, but this ti? I made sure to choose a better spot and not waste it on a drunk. The stable owner was angry with , for not paying 1 copper last ti. So, of course, I paid 2 copper after that! What? Do you think I'm soone who runs away without paying? No, no, no... I'm good people, okay?
And after that I just working as usual. Nothing grand happened. The chief got angry, we had free lunch at work, I went to the bath, the usual routine.
Well, it's boring, right? But that's life for you. Just a cycle of simple things. Sotis I wish for sothing exciting to happen, like a quest or an adventure. But then again, I might just end up in trouble.
I an, how many tis can you hear about the sa wall repairs or deal with the sa grumpy custors? It's like living in a loop.
But hey, with that, I managed to keep the earnings I have. After a month of "busy" work, baths, and everything else, I collected 2 silver and several copper coins. Well... what can I say? I'm a genius... well, sort of. Oh, no... well, err... more like it was... because I had no choice!
Yeah, yeah, I'd love to call myself a genius for saving up 2 silver and so copper, but let's be real—I was just too broke to splurge on anything fancy. No luxury als, no entertainnt, no new gear. Just the sa old cycle: work, eat, bathe, sleep in the stable.
But hey! At least I wasn't starving. And I didn't wake up covered in horse shit again. Progress!
Now the question is... what should I do next?
I an, I could keep working like this, slowly stacking up my wealth like so sort of budget-conscious nobleman. But let's be real—this is boring as hell.
Should I try becoming an adventurer? Nah, I'd probably die.
Maybe start a business? With what money?
Or maybe... just maybe... find a way to get stronger?
Yeah, that last one sounds smart. If I don't want to be a broke stable-sleeper for the rest of my life, I need options. And in this world, options co to those who are strong.Or perhaps I could even think about a trip to the nearby town—see so sights, et new people. After all, all I ever did was work around here!
But... what if things went wrong? What if I got in over my head?
Ah, screw it! Life is ant for living, right? I could always return to the stable if things got too wild. With a bit of luck and a good chunk of my savings, maybe tomorrow I'll step out of my comfort zone and see what the world has to offer!
I glanced at the repairman group, laughing as they ate.
"Oi, crazy guy, why are you staring at us? You in love?" Zaben smirked.
"Shut up. Hey, you guys still hunt sotis, right?"
"Yeah, when we have ti. Why?"
"Take with you."
Silence. Then—
"PFFFT! Gahaha! You? Hunt? Are you trying to die!?"
Damn it. Why does no one take seriously!?
I glanced at the repairman group, laughing as they ate.
"Oi, crazy guy, why are you staring at us? You in love?" Zaben smirked.
"Shut up. Hey, you guys still hunt sotis, right?"
"Yeah, when we have ti. Why?"
"Take with you."
Silence. Then—
"PFFFT! Gahaha! You? Hunt? Are you trying to die!?"
Damn it. Why does no one take seriously!?
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Hey, I'm asking a favor here, you know!"
"Yo, crazy guy, ever seen a sli monster?" one of them asked.
"Sli? You an that jelly jiggle monster outside the capital city?"
"Yeah! That one."
"Hmm... yeah, I saw it."
"Have you tried killing one?"
"No... but that monster is easy, right? Just slash it with a weapon and it's done, right?"
"Pffftt!! Bwahahahahaha!" Everyone laughed at .
"Huh? Why are you all laughing?"
"Slash it, he says! Hahahahaha!"
"Aw, co on, tell why you're laughing!"
Zaben nudged Ahlem and said, "Hey, how about later we see how he handles it? Huh?"
"Yeah, that will be fun. Crazy guy's first adventure!!"
I narrowed my eyes at them. "Oi, what's so funny? It's just a sli, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, just a sli," Ahlem smirked. "Nothing to worry about, crazy guy."
The others were trying to hold back their laughter, but failing miserably.
"Fine," I huffed. "I'll kill one later. You'll see."
Zaben grinned. "Oh, we'll see, alright."
Sothing about the way they were acting made uneasy, but whatever. A sli was just a jelly jiggle monster. How hard could it be?
Later that evening...
We were outside the city, near a small patch of trees, and there it was—a sli.
It wobbled slightly, making that weird, wet "blorp" noise, just sitting there like so kind of oversized pudding.
"Alright, crazy guy," Zaben said, barely holding back his laughter. "Go ahead. Show us how it's done."
I rolled my shoulders, picked up a stick from the ground, and charged.
"Hyaaaaaaarrhhh!"
I swung the stick down with all my might—
And the mont it hit the sli...
BOING!
The stick bounced back, sending flying backward.
I landed on my back with a loud "Oof!" while the sli remained perfectly fine, wobbling slightly as if mocking .
The repairman group? Dead from laughter.
"GAAAHAHAHAHA! Did you see that!?"
"He went flying!!"
"Oh man, I can't breathe!"
Zaben wiped a tear from his eye. "Crazy guy, you really thought you could just whack a sli and call it a day, huh?"
I groaned, sitting up. "What the hell was that!? Why didn't it die!?"
Ahlem smirked. "Lesson one of fighting slis—blunt attacks don't work. Try stabbing it instead."
I squinted at the wobbling creature. "You guys could've told that before I embarrassed myself."
"Where's the fun in that?" they laughed.
I gritted my teeth as their laughter rang out. "Damn it, you guys set up!"
Zaben wiped a tear from his eye. "Nah, nah, this is education, crazy guy. We're teaching you!"
Ahlem nodded, still smirking. "You used a stick, right? That's still a blunt weapon. Get a real weapon."
I huffed, "And where the hell am I supposed to get a sword?"
One of the guys tossed a rusty old dagger. "Try this."
I caught it, eyeing the blade. "This thing looks like it hasn't killed anything in years."
"Well, it's about to kill your dignity again if you fail," Zaben grinned.
With all the kids and bystanders watching, I took a deep breath, held the dagger tight, and stabbed the sli.
Squelch.
This ti, the blade sank in, and the sli shuddered—but then...
BLORP!
The dagger bounced back out, flinging sli goo all over my face.
The crowd erupted.
"GAAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Even the sli is bullying him!"
"Uncle Sli-Face!"
The little kids pointed while their parents tried (and failed) to hide their laughter.
I wiped the goo from my face, groaning. "What the hell! Why did it bounce back!?"
Zaben patted my shoulder, barely breathing from laughter. "Lesson two, crazy guy—slis have a core. You gotta stab that, not the body."
I gritted my teeth. "Couldn't you have told that before I got slid!?"
Ahlem smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"
I swear, I hate this world.
( End of Chapter )
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