Chapter 18: Prejudice and Zealous

How did this end up like this?

A scenery that would make people in shock. As I am sitting on my chair and resting my arm on the top of it. Sitting like that seems like a strong arrogant person and I am able to defeat many people at once.

"Oh mister, thank for your kind help"

"It is okay, after all, I want to have a drink here"

Drinking a mug of alcohol seems refreshing although this is only my instinct. I stand up and leave the bar.

****

I head into the mercenary guild. The receptionist greets me and she sighs

"Something wrong?"

"Recently, many people keep coming here and complain how you as an examiner so strict about training and evaluate by sparring"

"What is about it?"

"Let's see. 24 people fled due to your glaring. 12 charged into you anddddd ended up being knocked out andddd got traumas. And the last 4, you just disarmed and rendered them unable to attack."

"24 <worms>, 12 <wolves> and 4 <dragon>. It is quite a good result right?"

"I guess but those 36 ended up unable to see you without having nightmares afterward"

"Any newcomer?"

"There are some. Please do not go overboard please."

"I thought the guild master asked me to do my best and I am doing it"

"The best at being a monster!!!" she grits her teeth and spits to her right.

****

With only a glare, I am able to cause fear for around 15 newbies.

"Hey examiner, you think you can scare me with a glare?"

Typical quote before ending up in traumas for the rest of your life eh?

I heard it exactly this same quote around 200 times this week already

He is a spear user. He rushes in with his spear. I swing my staff, once, right on his head.

Not giving up, he stands up and thrusts quickly, but I am able to dance and get close to him.

He drops his spear and throws a fist on my stomach, I evade it and punch his nape. He falls down out cold. When he wakes up, I am sitting crossed legs. He looks for his spear, not realising that I am holding it on my left hand.

"I swear to Lamento that you are a monster"

"I am not a monster. I am just a <horror> ranked examiner"

Those who get <dragon> rank are the ones who don't rush me head on and be very cautious of me. But unfortunately, they do not hold for long. At least, they fight bravely and rationally than those who get <wolf> rank

How long until I get to meet at least an <eldritch> ranked newbie?

****

As I lay down in the testing ground.

"So, you are the mad merchant eh?"

"That is right" I stand up

He is a swordsman eh? Leather armor and a grappling gauntlet eh?

I spread my arms out. I glare at him fiercely.

"Fight me here or run like a coward"

"The last drake I fought did the same as you huh?"

Swoosh

He rushes in and attempts thrusting the sword toward me.

I parry his sword with my dagger and use my knee on his solar plexus. He stumbles back and attempts a slash on me.

It was a fake move when you attempted to make an afterimage of your future move. Nice try, but it won't work on me.

I sweep his legs and land a foot on his back. He should be okay and the next day, you will receive <eldritch> rank for almost getting me off the fight

****

"Guild master, I am here to tell you an important thing" I step in her office room

"What?"

"The last guy whom I knock deserves <eldritch> rank"

"What did he do differently from those before?"

"He almost got me by a little. The very little that makes the game change" I pinch in the air

"I hope that we can get better mercenaries. You evaluate almost 200 people as <worm> and most of them are traumatized by your glare? Most of them also went to another town. <wolf> ones seem to stay but whenever they want to fix their weapon recently, they often ask the receptionist to buy your weapons in their stead. "

****

Few days later, I hear a very promising event. A civil war is about to happen. Usually, when there is a war, the ones who profit from this are merchants, especially, weapon merchants.

I don't mind whether my customers are from the church or from the black robes, whoever bid higher, I just give the best to the one.

"Jehidas!"

Who calls me?

I wonder

"Good day to you, my dear customer. How may I help you?"

"You are required not to sell weapons to the black robes"

"So? This kingdom doesn't respect the freedom of trading?"

"We didn't mean that, but you got it from his highness."

"I cannot promise him that. Whoever bids higher price, he shall get it from mine"

"How dare ..." He is ready to draw his sword

"Slow down, my friend. That is how we do business, take it or leave it."

"Fine, have it your way"

He walks away.

I hate this kind of situation. A morning ruckus is not the best way to start a business.

I have to display some of the best weapons of mine. Sword, axe, pickaxe, gauntlets, etc.

****

I am sharpening my dagger, it looks quite flashy and sharp. Afterall, this dagger was made for tormenting, not killing eh? Maybe I should have a semi dull knife to have some more fun. It could be an iron blade with some rust on it so sawing people with it is quite fun to imagine.

"Hey mister terrorist"

"Do not call me that, non-lady-like receptionist"

"Anyway, straight to the point. The gal whom you appointed as <eldritch> needs a tutor"

"So?"

"Other examiners were beaten by him and he asked for harsher training. So you are the one who can beat him up."

"To be frank, I am quite busy handling harassment from the church. They messed up my store a few weeks ago. You know what? Maybe I should get someone can beat him"

"Who do you have in mind?"

"Miwra Ulthom"

"The best vanguard of Loreahor?"

"Yes. She is by far the best trainer suitable for him, I can think of..."

"What was that pause for?"

"The issue is that. Well, her appearance may not convince him so that part I am quite worrying"

****

I close my shop and stroll somewhere else. After all, there is a festival of soul god, Lamento.

They gather around, set up a market and place stalls. Perhaps, I can find something good for those sand elves. The issue that I am worrying about is not money. It is more of the goods that may not fit my eyes.

There are a stall of weapons from Ma' Arkil, a dwarven village; a stall of odd food from humans at the fishing villages; a stall of tools from the capital; etc.

So many choices that dazzle my eyes. I want to try odd food, I want to analyse the weapons and tools. I want to see how worthy my marksmanship is.

So many things to try.

****

Thump! Thump! Thump!

"Three daggers at bullseye, congratulation mister merchant over here. Here is your prize"

He gives me a round thing. It has two needles and numbers on it. It tells me time better than those sundials eh?

Maybe I should dissemble this and make a copy of it. Or perhaps asking Galthoral to make a copy is a better idea.

****

This is the second time I have seen this strange creature. It looks like a lump of a human brain with eight fingers which have some kind of mushrooms on it. I recall this thing called "octopus". When I was a drake lord, I once feast on this creature by eating it raw after having gotten served in a seashore village of drakes. It was quite good but I did not have a chance to eat it a second time.

This time, I should buy one but I am not gonna eat it in front of people since most people think that the way drake eats foods are savage and unhygienic. Ah forget it, I am gonna bite it raw

"What is wrong with you, Jehidas? Did you go insane?" Garcel looks me in disgust

"Whawt?" As I am chewing the rest of that creature.

"I haven't seen any human who do the same like you"

"That is how I see drake eating this" I wipe my lips with my hands

"Such savage person like you"

"Yeah. Double standard barrel elf" As I leave the scene

****

Wham! Wham! Wham!

What is the ruckus in the morning?

"Mad merchant! We need your help"

"What is it?"

"We need you to spar with this one. She is quite on par with your skill"

"So what?"

"Come with us"

I don't know what lies ahead of me. But I am sure about it. A worthy opponent gives me excitement. A good exercise after a few weeks