Chapter - 5 (A red crystal)

Eric strolled through the Four Streets, donned in a long coat and a small hat. Despite inquiries, he struggled to find suitable jobs. A law student in this life, he had been a teacher in his previous one.

The available positions were mainly for roles like cleaners, security guards, and cooks—options he found less appealing. Desiring a more respectable job, he considered opening his own business. However, limited funds—just three gold coins—made that impossible.

Disheartened, he walked towards lower bl in the evening. As he contemplated his predicament, a polite voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Hey mister! Want a ride?" Turning, he spotted a grey horse hitched to a brown carriage waiting beside him.

"Yes," he nodded, grateful for a respite. Tired from hours of walking, he eagerly entered the spacious carriage.

Sir, you look like a young man. Are you searching for jobs? The driver said while driving.

Yes, I said in a tiring voice.

Hahaha, being young is quite joyful. You are already going to help your family despite being young.

The driver kept talking while driving the carriage. He seems to be quite a talkative guy. He didn't even let me feel bored through this entire ride.

Where should I drop you, sir? The driver said.

Just near the alley ahead.

Okay!

The carriage stopped near the alley and I got out. I gave a gold coin to the driver.

Your change sir! He handed me eighty Paisa which I kept inside the coat's pocket.

Sure. I nodded and started walking towards the alley.

Now, what should I do from here on? My thoughts raced in the chaos. Having lived in the modern era, the medieval era seems to be the toughest without the advantage of graduation, posed a significant challenge.

If Eric had graduated, he might have received a job offer from the government. However, as a failure, he spent an entire day searching without any success. The increased family size elevated the cost of living, and just five gold coins wouldn't suffice. Mukesh, having experienced orphan hood in his previous life, didn't want his newborn siblings to endure poverty. Providing them at least with a roof over their heads became a priority.

Disheartened by the failure to secure a job, he walked back home. Inside the alley, where he usually took a shortcut, the sounds of two dogs barking drew his attention. He noticed a familiar black and a white dog engaged in a scuffle over something near the sewer.

Grr... Bark

Grr... Bark

Shivering in fear, Eric hesitated, considering making a U-turn to avoid the notice of the barking dogs. However, just as he contemplated this, the dogs detected his presence. They ran from the alley before Eric could even react.

Huh! Seeing this Eric was dumbfounded, wondering why they ran?

Walking towards where the dogs were barking, Eric discovered a skinny, middle-aged man lying on the ground.

Huh, A beggar! Seeing the unconscious man's tattered clothing he thought it was a beggar. There were some bruises on the man's body, likely inflicted by the dogs.

Eric sighed, realizing the challenges faced by beggars, especially dealing with territorial dogs.

Eric approached to offer assistance, bending down, Eric grasped the unconscious beggar's right hand, noting its coldness. The man's emaciated body indicated prolonged malnutrition. Checking for a pulse, Eric discovered that there was no response.

Dead!

Eric sighed, the enemy of poor was money. Poor hated the money because it was very expensive. Some poor couldn't afford money and beg on the streets, and die on cold.

Eric, faced with the lifeless body of the beggar, contemplated his options. In his previous world, calling the police might have been the immediate response, but in this unfamiliar world, he hesitated. Aware of the potential repercussions, he weighed the consequences of involving the police. Despite being a law student, he understood that his low status could complicate matters. Reluctant to entangle himself in a police investigation, he pondered the best course of action.

Eric, faced with the dilemma of involving himself in a potential police investigation, chose a different course. Swiftly and discreetly, he wiped the area he had touched on the lifeless man's hand, ensuring no evidence of his presence lingered. Wearing his hat, he quietly retreated from the scene, opting to avoid entanglement in the affairs of the deceased beggar.

After walking for some minutes, he took a deep breath and glanced behind. Feeling a sense of responsibility and pity for the deceased beggar, Eric retraced his steps towards the alley. His kind heart urged him not to avoid the situation but to confront it. Informing the police officers seemed like the right thing to do, offering the deceased beggar a chance to find a dignified resting place. The thought of helping someone overpowered any fears or uncertainty he had about getting involved in this incident.

If he informed the police officers, at least that deceased beggar would find a warm home.

Navigating his way back, Eric returned to the spot where he had encountered the lifeless beggar.

Huh! Where is that beggar's body? Eric muttered when he couldn't find the body.

Am I in the wrong place? He turned around. There was a sewer and dirt.

The place is correct but what about the body? He couldn't help but wonder about this strange events unfolding around him. The mystery deepened as he couldn't find the traces of the deceased beggar.

Puzzled, he looked around, trying to make sense of the mysterious disappearance. The alley, once marked by the somber presence of the lifeless beggar, now seemed devoid of any traces of the beggar. Eric stood there, grappling with the inexplicable turn of events, wondering if reality itself had played a perplexing trick on him.

Perplexed, Eric couldn't shake off the unnerving feeling that something unusual had transpired. The disappearance left him grappling with questions, and the alley, devoid of any trace of the unfortunate incident, only deepened the enigma.

Fearing about the mysterious turn of events, he hurriedly walked towards his home. He also had a lingering fear of seeing the ghost of the beggar. What if the beggar suddenly came from behind and said Hello brother?

Fearing the encounter of the dead body, Eric kept thinking about the superstitious. Since, he is in another world, everything seemed to be possible. Being transmigrated into another is the biggest impossibility he had experienced.

After reaching a hundred meters he took a long breath. Just as he was about to cool his head, he heard a bark. He saw the dogs who ran after seeing him were fighting each other.

Grr...

Grr...

In front of him there were two dogs, Shivering in fear, Eric hesitated, again considering making a U-turn to avoid the notice of the barking dogs. But, there is a hell out of a dangerous place behind me. However, just as he contemplated this, the dogs detected his presence. The barking ceased, replaced by a sharp-toothed gaze from both dogs. Panic set in, and Eric instinctively started to move backward.

One of the dogs chased him, quickly catching up and leaping ahead. Now, Eric found himself sandwiched between the two dogs. In the midst of his fear, he recognized something familiar about these dogs. "Huh! Aren't they the landlord's dogs? Why are they so aggressive?

Grr?

Grr?

Blackie and Whitey pounced on Eric, causing him to slip and fall towards the corner. In an unexpected turn of events, the two dogs collided with each other and ended up fainting on the ground.

"Damn, that was close."

As Eric tried to collect himself, he noticed a red object shining from the sunlight under the sewer. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a red diamond. Picking it up, he mused, "This? A red diamond! No, it's a red crystal. Diamonds don't have this kind of shape." Hmm... There seems to be a black line inside this crystal and this crystal is warm!