Spices.

—

[Morning. Academy Prefect Living Room.]

Reading Dijkstra's scout report about new possible monsters, ranging from classic minotaurs from his mythology database to pixie-like creatures that enjoy sucking the brains of their victims until they become shriveled, Richard then focused his attention on the Tretegor report. Frowning because the report indicated that the undead movement was now more organized, as if guarding something, Richard decided they would not wait any longer to go there after he and Ciri bought their provisions in the market near Borsodi's Auction House.

Noticing the cup of tea on the table, which had already become lukewarm from being set aside for some time, Richard produced a small fireball—no, not a fireball, a small sun—in his fingers. He let the heat wave hit the tea, making it scalding hot as if it had just been brewed. He finally nodded and carefully released his sun energy into the surrounding room, so that in the future, this place would produce mana on its own.

Although he has yet to master this technique he learned from Archimonde, which involves pushing out his vitality Sun Breathing to the surroundings, he is getting there slowly but surely. Especially knowing that their way of producing energy is similar—both creating a nuclear fusion to jumpstart their attack until it can burn everything around them.

The difference between them is that while Archimonde wanted to create a hot blazing meteor, Richard wanted to create something that would help not only in destruction but also provide auxiliary support for him and everyone around him. What he realized from fighting these seniors of his is that he could not do everything alone to make up for the gap in experience. So, while they want power for themselves, Richard wants powers that can be used by others and him in unison.

"Richard, I am ready."

Seeing that Ciri had already finished her makeup, which mostly involved creating black eyeliner around her eyes, Richard stood up after downing the tea in one go and glanced at the corner of the room where the Eir sword was located. Walking over and picking it up, he nodded to Ciri and started to leave the student prefect rooms, which had been repurposed for the Redenia royal establishment.

As they walked down the stairs into the lobby, Richard noticed the King himself walking along with other founders of the Syndicate, the group of underground bosses he had saved in Novigrad except for Cyrus, the leader of the Eternal Fire. Nodding along to greet them in passing, he then saw the King of Beggars looking at him with a contemptuous expression for a split second before returning to normal as if nothing had happened.

"What do you think we should buy first, Richard?"

Still walking, Richard turned his head to Ciri and thought for a bit before replying, "Salt and spices. Since there will be many new beasts as our source of meat on the road."

Nodding her head in agreement, Ciri then asked, "Do you think we could create something similar to what Moiraine did? It will be unfavorable for us if she is the only one who can create a pocket space like a Wizard's Grotto."

Glancing at his wrist and seeing the inactive mode of the Seon OS, with the program currently operational only for exchanging and gathering information, Richard answered, "No, we can't. I mean, the Seon OS can't. Unless we are inside the protection bubble of the three Sa'angreal."

"Sigh, that's too bad."

"Yeah, unlike my science system, my magic system is location-dependent. Outside that location, it has no use whatsoever."

Arriving at the market and seeing many pedestrians hurrying along the streets, perhaps fearing that monsters might jump out to attack them as they did a week ago before the main issue of the Conjunction was fixed, Richard and Ciri finally reached a merchant selling salt and spices. Richard let Ciri negotiate the prices after he picked out the fresh and worthy goods. Meanwhile, he heard hushed discussions around him, with people secretly pointing at him.

"Is that the Slayer? The Demon Slayer of Novigrad? The Slayer who killed thousands of enemies with his sword that looked like the sun, like my darling Dandelion sang in the theatrical play four days ago?"

"Yes, he is. Look at his earrings. Although my mind was panicked at that time, I clearly remember him saving me in Novigrad. I would never forget those earrings; they have style."

"Wow, really? Did he really save you? Oh my, I think I want to throw myself at a monster so he can save me. Oh my, what a wonderful scene that would be."

"Aye. Not only this lad, but the entire city owes him our lives, myself included. Even though the Slayer knew my old bones couldn't save me from certain death, he still carried me to the healing tent and stayed beside me until he saw I could be healed. According to the green-dressed sorceress who saved me, it's a miracle I'm even alive."

"Handsome and kind, what more could you ask for in a perfect husband? I'm jealous of that ashen-haired lady. But she's ugly, so maybe I still have a chance."

Though some of the gossip admired him for his deeds, others criticized and judged his decisions.

"Ptui, the Butcher of Oxenfurt. If he had been early enough, I could have saved my gold from being destroyed. And what did he do after slaying those monsters? He just threw me toward that gouged-eye sorceress without explaining anything."

"It must be because of him that this world has become like this. Look at the timing of his arrival. He appears when there's a monster outside Oxenfurt, then monsters appear again in Novigrad. And when he vanishes, there's a monster again, now inside our home!"

"Plowing bastard, he's just scared there will be more monsters, that's why he vanished like a coward. Without him, we could still drive away these abominations. A bunch of naive people, easily swayed by that pansy poet."

Thud!

Feeling a hard object hit the back of his head and noticing that his instincts didn't activate since the attack didn't harm or scratch him, Richard turned around to see an enraged and anguished father looking at him with resentment. The man held a brick in one hand and had another destroyed brick at his feet. Richard saw him throw the brick again. Weighing the pros and cons with his Sun Breathing, which boosted his brain, Richard decided not to retaliate and let himself be hit, listening to what this man had to say.

"IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU, RADOVID DID THAT!"

Thud!

"IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU, ALL THE PEOPLE IN TRETOGOR DIED!"

Thud!

"IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU! BECAUSE OF YOU, MY DAUGHTER AND WIFE BECAME UNDEAD!"

Thud!

"Stop it."

Thud!

"I said stop it!"

Thud!

"Argh, fuck you! I don't care if you've become an Allomancer now, I will not tolerate you disgracing my saviors!"

As the admirers and provocateurs started to throw punches at each other, Richard saw Moiraine in the corner of his eye with satisfaction on her face.

"Well done, both of you. It seems my training this past week has not been in vain. Come, we need to get out of here. Let the soldiers handle the rest," Moiraine led the way.

Sighing and shaking his head, Richard exclaimed, "I still don't like it," then, looking toward his left where Ciri's face was now red like lava about to burst, veins appearing on every muscle of her body, he continued, "Especially her."

"I know, my friend, I know. But luckily, this provocation happened out of that man's free will, not outside influence. If it were from enemies on the Mythic Path, I don't think you and Ciri could have stayed calm. Just imagining what manipulation they could do... I would rather not think about it," Moiraine shook her head.

Remembering the contempt in the King of Beggars' eyes at that time, Richard asked, "How about the King of Beggars? Did he have a hand in this? I noticed that he looked at me with contempt when passing by him."

He shook his head shortly after, knowing that even using the Transparent World three Realm version, he didn't see any outside influence in that man's anger—it was purely out of his anguish. The King of Beggars was still discussing the state of Redenia with Dijkstra, looking morning sleepy, so it surely wasn't him trying to provoke Richard. The man probably had contempt because he was proud of surviving without Richard's intervention to save the people of Redenia.

"He did that just this morning? Hmm, curious. Although unlikely, I think it's still better for us to investigate. Who knows, maybe our enemies come from the future or another dimension and can pull the strings without us even knowing it," Moiraine stated.

—