Chapter 15: Black Fang

People are gathering at the gate. Spears, swords, axes and shields are raised and ready.

One thing that militia usually lack is metal armor. Since the army consists of many normal people, they have to use leather armors due to lacking strength to wear it. Wearing metal armor is really a torture in this hot place. So I rarely see knights hanging around for a long time in this desert atmosphere. Even if they hang around for long, they usually ditch their armor for their own comfort. Leather armors are the best choice for these kinds of places but it is also one of the deadly choices, It mostly can't stop an arrow piercing through.

Silk from giant spiders or blood silk are too expensive to obtain. They are usually meant for royalties or rich knights. Even if you obtain a mountain of it, the process makes the price really high. It is a very time consuming process to remove the stickiness from those silk, then weave it carefully by hands since they are very delicate that machines couldn't handle. But in the final step, they are as hard as Saryn ore and as light as clothes.

Wham!

What was that? A troll siege carrier?

The gate still holds firm in one piece. In the distance, I can see big grey figures. Trolls, they are usually used for carrying siege weapons and area control weapons. They can hurl rocks, trees and other objects to break forts. This village's walls are not going to survive all of these attacks.

"TROLLS! HORSEMEN, CHARGE AND INTERCEPT THEM. THE REST, PREPARE MANGONELS AND BALLISTAS"

Good choices. Mangonels can make wolves riders crippled and ballistas can kill trolls. But unfortunately, they have to take time to reload. I take a sip from my cup of tea.

It is quite a mess to witness two sides fighting. Blood spilling and metal banging.

"HEY HUMANS, WE KILLED A FEW OF YOUR PATHETICS REINFORCEMENTS. THESE HEADS ARE FROM THOSE WEAKLING CAPTAINS FROM NEARBY VILLAGES"a figure is dangling what seem like heads.

"DO NOT FALTER, ANGER IS POWER. SLAUGHTER THEM" the lord raises his fist

Hmmm, it seems like it is empty huh? I should get another cup of tea.

****

The scene is still chaotic as ever. Still trolls are struggling against horsemen and wolf riders are jumping back and forth, tearing those militias limbs to limbs.

Bam !

The gate is broken, I guess I have to interfere this battle. I go out with my casual weapons: my dagger, my thunderstick and my staff. I walk to the gate. The eyes are looking at me, thinking I am going suicidal to fight enemies.

Bang!

A shot from my thunderstick kills a wolf rider and some orcish infrantries. I move forward calmly. It seems like, I can't keep my cool anymore.

HA HA HA HA HA HA

Slaughter! Slaughter! Slaughter!

[

The smell of blood

It brightens my mood

Kill kill kill kill

The joy I always love

How many will die to fill my lust

I don't care

Send their head flying, scattering their limbs

Come here if you dare

]

I dash forward with all the joy. Dancing around while cutting heads and hands and limbs. This is so much more fun than watching.

They look at me with terror in their eyes. Not only orcs, but others as well.

I laugh madly. I cut through orcs like they are made of butter. Livers, guts and stomachs are over the places. Rivers of blood are formed

"FALL BACK, DO NOT WASTE YOUR LIFE FOR NOTHING" the orcish leader raises his hand

So they are retreating. I guess I shouldn't pursue them. After all, A few dozen orcs died under my dagger. The casualties are around hundreds including militias, a few mercenaries and orcs.

"WHO ARE YOU, DESERT MERCHANT?" the lord arrives and catches his breath after running

"I am just another normal merchant. I am not lying"

"Are you a human or not?"

"I am human of course"

"An insane human wouldn't able to dodge and flay his enemies like nothing"

"I was a fighter in the past so I can kill them easily"

"I suspect you"

"If ya want, I want to have my own leisure time now." As I return to my shop

Swoosh

A dagger flies through but I dodge it.

"Who threw that?" I turn around

"I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU YET. TELL ME THE TRUTH" he points at me

"To be honest," I dash close to him quickly ", I could have killed you when you were in my sight," I put my dagger near his eye ", but I chose not to. I am just a merchant after all"

I lower my dagger and sheath it on my belt.

I return to my shop.

****

"500 Quinks for a pair of scissors? You gotta be kidding me?"

"Hey, this is not a pair of scissors? You asked for something to cut metal wire then I put this"

"Prove its worth to me then"

"This is not scissors by the way, it is a plier. How long have you been a miner?," as I demonstrate it by cutting a piece of iron sheet ", 500 Quinks are cheap compare to many store around here, some of them are up to 800 Quinks"

"Fine, you rip off monster" he pays me the right price

"Have a nice day."

To be honest, that was made from Saryn, you moron. Well, Saryn isn't hard to get once you find a vein of it.

I wonder how the lord is doing?

****

After closing my shop, I go to the bar as usual. I occupy a table and call for a drink with some food. As I am waiting, I notice that people are more cheerful than usual. It seems they are celebrating the victory or the survival of the last battle.

"Hey mister merchant, you dared to threaten our lord. You really have guts to do it, aren't ya?" A mercenary is standing and holding a mug of alcohol

"Well, you see. If he spread the rumor about me then I don't have a place to do my business. Don't you know that my goods are one of the best around here?"

"So, will you tell me the truth about who you are?" He slams the table with his hand. But it didn't break

"Ha ha ha. You want to see a devil?" I glare at him and smirk.

Swiftly, I put my dagger near his neck. He doesn't flinch

"Now, would you please let me enjoy my night?," I sit down and sheathe my dagger ",if you keep standing there, I will never get my meal. Once, I am hungry, you will be my meal" I point at his head

He retreats. To be blunt, I can't ever get hungry at all. All I want is just peace.

****

On my way home, I see the jester of the town. I signal him to meet me in the alley.

"Dear customer, it seems you didn't kill Slived. What information are you gonna take?"

"Lord's tax" I throw him a silver coin

"Nothing changed much. Recently, I heard that herbs are going to be taxed heavily"

"Reason?"

"Three silver"

I throw him three silver coins "Tell me the reason now"

"Well, recently, the king is unhappy about the spread of <Dead eyes> diseases. Many tried a lot of kinds of herbs but to no avail. Since it is a waste of resources, the king ordered all land must raise tax to avoid experimentation"

"<Dead eyes>?"

"I will tell you about this for free. <Dead eyes> is a mysterious eye disease. Unknown how it spreads. The most obvious symptom is the eyes of the patient go white. Not a single pupil, pure white. It is said to cause blindness and rash over all bodies after a week. In a year, the patient will die due to heart attack"

"Why did the king raise tax?"

"Alright, I don't know. Ask me another"

"Have all Black Fang orcs surrendered?"

"Yes, further detail, one silver"

I give him a silver coin

"They surrendered and they backed out from war. After failing to take Nakitel, they decided to compensate for the war damage."

"Alright, that is enough. I will see you next time"

"Before you go, Can I ask you a question?"

"Hit me"

"Who are you really? I heard that you are the mad merchant who slew many Black Fang orcs in a flash"

"Like I said, I am just a merchant"

"I am not asking any further"

I walk out the alley. It is just another day. After all, I am the reason why Black Fang must not touch this village.

****

Next morning…

Knock Knock Knock

Someone this early goes to my shop? I pretend to be sloppy after a night of insomnia.

"How may I help you?"

"We accept your request to escort you to scout a new mine"