Visiting a Certain Market part 3: Chapter 110
Calm but unhinged, the animal who was encased in a small bright room continued to wait as the time of the years passed.
For five years, he was devoid of his ability to mend with his only comfort of sense. The choice to wallow in with the cool and welcoming faith of the shadow…its not normal for his kind to even be in this kind of state for so long, yet he continues to survive and wait for the chance to escape.
As any trapped animal would kindly wish for, he only wanted his freedom… His wanting to touch a single speck of shadow once again…but the ones responsible for his state, never came to respond to his inner wishes. They only ever come to watch on the other side of a wall.
Is he a show simply to be looked upon?
A piece of meat waiting for itself to rot as time passes?
Or is he like any other animal, where the people only came with the purpose of ripping them limb from limb and gain their parts like it was a treasure, never minding the state of agony that this animal would only ever fear to experience. His anticipation for his death…it was never going to end.
Five years…
For five long years…
He simpy could not take it anymore.
He's eyes only ever spoke of death…death for himself…but his body was too weak to do anything in this constant state of being rained by such a powerful light, by his weakness.
As another day came, he waited for his death to come. Not long now, as he could hear his heart slowly dying away…he felt a gaze out beyond the other side of the wall. A gaze that felt so enticing…so tempting…something that was very similar to that of a shadow…no…a monster.
And he heard it…
*Clank*
The door opening and sound of the steps nearing…
"Turn off the lights." spoke this man as he came closer to the tired gaze of the animal.
it could never remember when was the last time he felt such overwhelming power and familiarity from such a person…
*tok*
But he heard it…he felt it…he sensed it!
The lights were gone and the opportunity to escape has come!
"..."
But his legs…they would not move…
And his eyes, it only ever stares at the gaze of the person who stood with such a powerful presence.
One that could make someone kneel without effort.
"...!?" and before he could ever fear this person, he came in touch with the shadow of the person…not just a simple shadow but one that devoured his own.
One that was more devious and more enticing than any shadow that he has ever encountered in his life…
A man coated in darkness. A darkness that felt so tempting.
"...Come and make me strong."
With those words, the beast that laid in this room for five years came to touch a connection with the person… a request…a deal in exchange for his freedom.
His claw unconsciously reached out to touch the finger of the person's hand as a sign of acceptance. And by then, when their shadows mending as one, the room was devoured by a sudden grow of an intangible power.
The wall cracks and the room shakes.
Even the animals in the dark zone screamed and roared as if a new king of the darkness was in this very room.
"!!" the bartender panicked. As the roars did not settle for one bit of a moment, a gaze so fearful came and met with the bartender's sight.
'What is this!?'
He who witnessed this came to the feeling of death watching him eye to eye…
Not once has he ever experienced this in his entire life. As he came to the view of a monster coming out of a room.
His throat became parched with fear.
"...W-What are you?' he asked as the client stood in front of him.
In his eyes, the boy was filled with the texture of a dragon's ink-black scale, his gaze was as domineering as that of a demon…but his presence, it was as silent as anything…like a shadow on the side of the road.
Even when he came in view of this monster, he could not believe whether or not he actually was here. The only evidence that could tell its truth was his physical stance.
"...I think it would be best if you keep this to yourself." said the person as he walked pass the bartender.
"...I-"
"Know that if you ever tell this to anyone, your life will be the one at risk." the boy threatened with so much killing intent, that the room of the roaring monsters came to a halt.
He returned to his original state of form and walked out as he couldn't bother to wait for the bartender to leave. He knew that at that moment, the bartender was frozen in fear. Leaving the man on his own, questioning himself if the person who he just served was a demon or not.
In the end, he could not answer this question truthfully…and it should never come to his mind ever again for his own good. Because even with his current strength as a B-rank hunter, the moment he would make a mistake at this room, he believed that he would not have a chance at doing anything against that monster…not even with the protection of the Black Ridge Market's ideal Rule.
Buy, not Question.
In fact, as a seller, they have a saying of their own.
Don't Question, and Let Them Buy.
And so he did.
***
Meanwhile at the entrance of this secret location, a blacksmith came into the bar and sat on one of the stools. He was the only person here in the empty bar. Known for his artistic taste on his works and for being a mad drunk, the blacksmith that came into this secret place was none other than Evor himself.
His only purpose for coming here was simply to pay his dues on the illegal items that he made for his satisfaction. Examples like the verity cage that was once taken away by a certain mystery boy.
Now, the Willow Fall was the only last place he could ever hide his items. As it was the only place he could trust to put them into. It has a very high standard in meeting the client's request. So as long a he pays the dues in keeping the items hidden here, no one would ever know about his work. Not even that kid who just came and "Borrowed" one of his most precious items.
After a while, as he waited in the bar and was being served by a different bartender, another person came into the Willow fall…
Chanting its code, the person made his way into an empty seat and ordered a simple whisky on the rocks.
Evor did not know who this person was, but a simple rule on about socializing in the market was that, you don't socialize at the market. To many risk are made from talking to a stranger.
But one thing to take note of was that this particular person was a old man who wore a proper butler outfit.
".…"
".…"
Both were quiet as they waited for the main bartender to show up.
*Click*
Finally, the sound of a doorknob turning was heard and both the two old men came and looked to the direction of that sound.
But as they did, they were shocked to find out who came out of the room.
"...Hamil?" the first person to speak was the old man who wore the butler outfit.
"...!?" while Evor on the other hand was shocked to find the same mystery boy who came walking out of the room.
"...!!" Hamil on the other hand, was surprised to find out that the old Butler, was someone who he knew.
That someone was the butler for the Savez family. Namely, Old man Henry.
"...Why are you here?" asked Henry as he stood up from his chair.
"..Y-you!" but Evor interrupted the interaction, and pointed his fingers at the boy, calling him out as if he was guilty of something.
"You know him?" asked Henry as he was curious of Evor's shout.
"That boy is a criminal! A thief!" said Evor.
"...I returned the item didn't I? it didn't even took a me a whole day before I brought it back." said Hamil as he was annoyed by Evor's loud shouting.
"S-still! You stole it without my permission." said Evor, maddened by Hamil's past act.
"What are you doing here!?" asked Henry as he was filled with a tinge of fear in Hamil's character.
He knew that Hamil was somewhat stronger than ordinary when they first meet, he was even personally ordered by the master of the house to watch and never let Hamil get in touch with Ranzy in any way possible. Problems will only arrive if it does happen.
And now, his stomach churns in worry as the boy appears at a place where he would have never thought to be possible. As Willow falls was only a place where only the most crooked people should have gained knowledge of…even Henry himself who had a very questionable past.
Yet the boy was here…and he came out looking and feeling very different than usual. His eyes were colder, his presence was very thin…yet, Henry was able to see that Hamil wasn't here for the reason that may have been questionable.
"...tell me boy, what are you doing here?" his words spoke in worry…worry for the boy who came to such a dangerous part of the market.
"...I had to buy something…so let it go. I'm leaving." without ever saying anything again, Hamil left the place feeling so tense.
And Henry could only stare as the wall closes…
"Hmph!" Evor however, was sitting by his chair as he glared at Henry.
"Do you know that boy?" asked Evor to Henry…
"..." but Henry only stared at Evor and decided to keep his mouth shut. It was one way to keep Hamil safe.
"...Bastards…all of you." said Evor as he was mad of being ignored.
Not long after, the main bartender came to the front and was shocked to see that two new customers were here.
"W-welcome…what would you like to drink?" he asked while showing signs of s
***
As Hamil walked down the road of the market, his presence was hardly being noticed by the people around him. This was an effect to his mending with the Azimar as it completely decreases one's presence altogether.
"..." closing his eyes, he wanted to feel the Azimar inside him. By then, he felt a small presence in his body, swirling around like a rat in a small room. It was still alive…
The new found power was called Shadow Scale. The second stage of the Shadow Skin.
With the increased strength, a harder shell of armor and the improved senses in his mind and body, the dragon scale was a great upgrade to his previous skill on the simple Shadow skin. And although he could still activate the shadow skin as it is, it is without a doubt that he has grown. As long as the Azimar is safe within him, the Shadow scale is always active to turn on when needed.
"...Come out, Azimar." he was not able to see its original form. In the description given by Vexus, the Azimar was two states of forms. One was the shadow form where he was covered in a shadowy ink all over its body, somewhat like the Shadow skin. And the other form which was simply his own scale and body, not magic or skill was applied to its form. so having wondered what this beast was in its simple form, he called out to it.
And having heard his call, the Azimar seeps out from the shadow of Hamil's neck. By then, it simply made its way to the palm of his hand. By then, the Azimar looks to Hamil with a curious tilt on its head…wondering why such a calm person was in its presence. It was not like before, when instead of this simple fellow in front, it was more of a monster in comparison.
"...Isn't this a pangolin?" he asked himself as the Azimar clearly resembles that of a Pangolin.
A pangolin is a small mammal with a unique appearance. It has a scaly body, which makes it look like it's wearing armor. It has a long snout and a sticky tongue that it uses to catch ants and termites, which are its favorite foods. Pangolins have sharp claws that help them dig burrows and climb trees. They are shy and usually active at night as they have a better sense of awareness in that time. Pangolins are known for curling up into a tight ball when they feel threatened, using their scales as protection.
Hamil just could not believe that Vexus probably used a reference to the pangolin. Its just very weird. Yet the size of the Azimar was so small, that it could easily fit on the palm of his hand.
Looking at it, it seems like another animal has been added to his group. Three sizable owls, and one small pangolin…
"..." Having reached out to touch the head of this animal, he smiled at the cuteness that it was unintentionally showing.
"...lets go home."
The time he had in this market was over…so he made his way out, with nothing else to do…or so he thought.
As he made his way out, he noticed that a bunch of people were suspiciously surrounding him in this crowded street…and it smelled like trouble was on its way.