Chapter 17: Black and White

Year 112 of Nortus, I finally finish a new <gun> prototype. Last year, I invented <Bullet> which consists of a primer, a body, black powder and lastly a fang to seal it. <Bullet>'s body is made from wood and it is shaped like a barrel without a top, then the primer is made from wood and is packed with Hell salt. black powder is filled inside of the body and lastly, a perfect shaped fang to seal the powder. The gun is similar to a thunderstick but the handle part, it can be opened and put a single <bullet> in the belly of the beast directly. This weapon might change the world so I must not let this spread like fire in the dry season. I can reload this quickly on the battlefield with <bullets> or even better, I can fire underwater or in rain.

Instead of using metal for <bullet>, using wood is more disposal and they are burnt after one use. On the battlefield, they will only see those fangs pierce on wounds of those corpses. I was one of the rare marksman of Hell Fire tribe afterall

Three years ago, when I first saw that black robe, I tracked him that night. A strange new magic other than white magic. Their magic particle seems to be black or rather to churches, they are unholy. They may seem like evil or malicious but the whole secret society like that cannot be judged by just their beliefs.

Now, compared to those human fanatics, they seem to help a lot of the poor with everything they know. They use blood transfusion to save those who bled, they use poison to cure deadlier poison and finally, they use curses to punish those who commit crimes.

Initially, these methods seem cruel and disgusting but they saved lives. Those black robes even ask before doing such desperate methods. I think white magic is not for everyone. Sometimes, they have aptitude toward something darker.

"Hey grumpy young merchant, I want to buy something"

I turn my back, it is that drunk elf again, Garcel Maebi. Next to her is her best friend, Malia Glank.

"Haizzz, what do you want, drunk elf? I think your dagger broke again this month right?" I point her dagger

"To be honest, I heard that you had said about how my knife was so brittle. I need it fixed. Tomorrow, I will come here and collect it" She hands me her dagger in its sheath.

"Drunk elf, that would be 100 Quinks. If it is too damaged, I suggest you should buy another dagger or I rather give you a new one so you wouldn't bother me"

"Tch. well," she rolls her eyes ", Thanks I guess, for your kindness"

That two elves walk away. I think that drunk elf will drink a whole barrel tonight if I meet her. They come back once a month or so. Luckily, they were at Galima when Black Fang tried to siege us for more than 6 days.

****

This is terrible. Absolutely absurd.

How can a fine-made dagger of the elves be broken like this?

Not only once, I have to fix this like 4th this year already. Damn you, Garcel the drunk elf

I give up on fixing this piece of time-wasting item.

Tomorrow morning, I will have to go back to the sand elves' and grab a better dagger.

Time to go to the bar for a round or two.

I lock my shop and jog to the bar.

"Hey mad merchant, are you interested in being an examiner?" The bartender prepares the drinks

"Firstly, do not call me that. Second, an examiner of what?" I sit down and dance my hands

"Mercenary guild" He hands me the drink

"Interesting. I will consider the offer"

"And please do not kill anyone okay?"

"Of course, they will tremble after encountering me" I signal for another

"What news do you want to hear?" He takes the mug away

"Those people in black robes? Any moves?" I put three silver coins on the counter

"They are just trying to save many people where the church couldn't reach" He collects the coins

"That is enough. I will see you next time" I quickly drink all in one gulp

I walk away from the bar and head back home

On the way

"Hey woman, why you touch me without a polite apology?"

"Whaaaaaat? Caannn yoooouu seeeeee thaaaat I aaam druunk? Dooonnn't mess wiiith meee or waaaannt toooo hiicc feeeeel sooomee paaain?"

"Why you…"

The drunk elf has just knocked that big man with one move. She just grabbed his arm and kicked his legs to stumble his balance. She threw the man like how a troll whelp throws a rock tho.

I better walk away before another annoyance comes.

****

It is morning eh? Time to pack and move then. I put a note on my shop to notify that drunk elf before she comes. I quickly hop on my wagon and whip my goats to those sand elves with the amount of last week's batch of Jilkan.

****

What a lucky timing

The sand elves finished a dagger that looked similar to that drunkard elf's.

On the way, I can see only sand and sand everywhere until…

"GIVE US YOUR MONEY"

"Please do not kill us, here is all the money"

"Oh hey there, robbing people in broad daylight huh?" I wave my hand

The bandits look at me, I can see the terror in their eyes.

"Want to live? Scram"

They quickly retreat. The merchant seems a bit bruised.

"Thank….. yoou kind mister"

"It is alright, hop on my wagon. It is quite dangerous out here."

He hops on my wagon. I load all his goods up since his wagon seems well in a "very good" condition and gets well "treatments" from those bandits.

****

I arrive at Nakitel. The merchant gets out of my wagon and he quickly grabs his goods quickly to his store, I think.

Another weird sightseeing. What are men of the church doing here? Are they trying to investigate something?

"Hey merchant, have you known something about the black robes?"

"No. I only sell weapons and also sometimes repairs them"

"You may pass. Now get away from my sight"

I return home. What a rude man. The knight was at least better than that.

****

"Jehidas the grumpy merchant, why didn't you return me my dagger?"

"It was heavily damaged. Here, on my way, I saw an elvish merchant and I bought this dagger. It is better than the fish gutter of yours"

"FINE," She grabs the dagger ", but thanks anyway."

She put a gold coin before she walked away huh?

****

I close my shop this afternoon. I walk to the mercenary guild. When I get there, I walk toward the receptionist.

"How may I help you?"

"I am here to apply as an examiner" I put the paper on the counter

"Oh dear, how bold of you, mister merchant. May I have your name?"

"It is not very convenient to say it out loud here so" I grab a stick of charcoal on the counter and write my name on a piece of paper.

When the receptionist sees it, her face goes white

"I can see why sir. Please go further inside"

Everyone else glares at me. Before I head inside

"If you want to challenge me eh? I can take all of you but I can't guarantee your life" I pull out a throwing dagger and throw it on the floor. And somehow, it pierced quite deep.

****

"The mad merchant eh? How often can you come here and work?" The guild master smiles.

She is quite an old human woman. Her hair is grey and she is wearing a robe. I think she is one of those red mages.

"I am here to say that I want to have some fun. I don't like working here. My enjoyment is to fight a worthy opponent or have some fun with the prey"

"Alright, that attitude is quite dangerous. I should put you in <horror> rank examiner"

"What is that?"

"From lowest to highest rank: <worm>, <wolf>, <dragon>, <eldritch> and finally, <horror>"

"Thanks for explanation"

I leave the room and go to the entrance of the guild

****

I hate to say this but in the name of Lamento, why the church made my shop look like a hurricane stay in this store for a year straight?

I have to clean up this mess. Thankfully, they did not take anything. What is this note on my door?

_

We apologize for making your shop like a mess but we are in a hurry to capture those heretics.

From the church

_

I must say there will be an even worse mess in this frontier village eh?

I don't think this Nortus is competent enough to manage this kind of belief. They should be under control but yet, they are free to scramble up and mess merchants' business.

Another day, another mess. I hope tomorrow will be a better day.