Calm Before The Storm Part 2

Daytime.

Blue Rose City.

North District.

Commercial Street of Serog.

The commercial street of Serog is designated for foreign merchants to conduct business. I was amazed at how shrewd these merchants were. Wherever I looked, there were only weapons. Every merchant here sold weapons, and every person I saw was either an adventurer or a knight.

According to the guild, this place was a huge market that sold a vast variety of products from all over the world, but now they only sold one thing and that is weapons, this is the effect of the war.

Beside me was Luciada, dressed in a brown long-sleeve shirt with green accents and a black skirt with red edges. Her shoes were black. Her long, silky brown hair was tied back with a red ribbon, her natural beauty on full display, untouched by makeup.

She smiled constantly while hugging my arm, exuding both joy and elegance with every step. Everyone who passed by, male and female alike, turned to look at her.

"John, let's go over there," Luciada said, tugging my arm and pointing to a particular shop.

Following her gaze, I saw a bookstore named Merva Bookstore.

"Hurry up, John, I want to see the literature in this world—cough, I mean this country," Luciada urged.

Luciada pulled me towards the bookstore amidst envious glances from the crowd. Among them, I noticed a beautiful blue-haired girl with glasses watching me with interest. She seemed oddly familiar, oh I remember now she is Asfi. Lost in thought, I was dragged into the store.

"What's wrong, Lady Asfi?" Lulune asked.

"Nothing, let's go," Asfi replied.

Merva Bookstore.

Something felt odd about this bookstore, similar to what I felt about that Padalapan shop. Ignoring the feeling and followed Luciada inside.

The bookstore was a typical fantasy-style shop.

"Why are bookstores in fantasy worlds always poorly lit?" I mused aloud.

"Don't be rude, John," Luciada scolded.

"Yeah, yeah, don't worryyyyy," I replied, only to trip over a random book on the floor and fall face-first onto the stone ground.

"Are you alright, John?"

"Yes, I'm fine, Luciada."

"John, your nose is bleeding. Stay still," Luciada said, taking out a handkerchief to stop my bleeding nose.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a small, cute girl peeking from behind a bookshelf. She had an aloof expression and the demeanor of an adult. The girl acknowledged my gaze with a nod before disappearing into the shelves.

"It's fine now," Luciada said.

"Thank you, Luciada."

"You're welcome."

After the minor incident, Luciada excitedly explored, picking up books that caught her interest. Most of her choices were novels, along with some books on potion-making and magic. Once she was done, we headed to the counter.

"Hello, sir. How can I help you?" the little girl at the counter asked blankly, her expression emotionless.

"Huh? A kid?"

"I'm not a kid, sir," the girl replied, her face unchanging.

Luciada, seeing this, squealed like an aunt spotting her cute nephew. She hugged the little girl, pressing her cheek against her.

In the dim light of the bookstore, the little girl stood unblinking, her petite form draped in a traditional yet unique kimono. Her purple robe, embroidered with geometric patterns, billowed gently. It was fastened with a broad obi tied with a green cord, reflecting her refined yet enigmatic nature. Long, glossy black hair cascaded down her back, framing a delicate face with large, expressive eyes. A pair of small, sharp horns jutted from her head, hinting at her otherworldly origins. Her expression was blank, but a silent strength emanated from her violet eyes. Small, pointed ears peeked from her hair, adding to her ethereal presence. She wore white ankle boots with red laces, contrasting her otherwise traditional attire.

(Little Girl Image).

Seeing the girl, I sensed an unfathomable strength within her, detectable only by beings on the level of a True Creator. This was the second time I had felt such power in this world. Could it be this world is a hidden den of True Creator powerhouses?

Excitement bubbled within me when another proof of my speculation about mystic castle appeared in front of me again getting closer and closer to the answer I sought, though outwardly I maintained a gentle smile. I activated one of my skills to gauge the girl's true power, unsatisfied with merely sensing it.

---

Meimei Velka Lokk

Race: True Ogre

Age: 190 billion

Power Level:

Relaxed: True Creator Level

Serious: Forbidden Level

---

(Fun fact, There Is only one True Creator that Exists in a single reality, and this rule was destroyed by the Mystic Castle's existence, plunging All existence into chaos in order at the same time).

As expected, this girl was as powerful as a True Creator. The building felt similar to Padalapan, reinforcing my suspicions. Excited to see if my guesses were correct, my smile curved slightly.

The girl, Meimei Velka Lokk, noticed my smile and her lips curved slightly in response, a subtle change noticeable only upon close inspection. Her eyes glinted with recognition and anticipation, hinting at a future only she and her companions understood.

"That will be 10,000 valis, sir," Meimei said flatly, ignoring Luciada's hug.

"Here," Luciada handed over the money.

"Huh, isn't that very cheap for a dozen of books? Aren't they usually 400,000 Valis if you add all of them?"

"Thank you for your patronage. As for your question sir, that's a trade secret," Meimei replied, blinking awkwardly as if unused to the gesture.

I chuckled at her cute blink, while Luciada hugged Meimei again.

A few minutes later, Luciada and I left the Merva bookstore.

Meimei, now alone, took out a picture. It showed a tall, handsome man with unruly black hair and blue eyes that exuded unfathomable depths. His expression was calm to the point of being emotionless, and a closed third eye on his forehead hinted at hidden power. He wore a white shirt and a black coat adorned with golden edges, black pants, and black boots. On closer inspection, he resembled the taller and more mature version of the man who had just left.

Seeing the picture, Meimei's emotionless face softened into a gentle smile first in billions of years. Immersed in melancholic thoughts, she failed to notice her ten beautiful subordinates spying on her since John and Luciada entered the shop.

"Giggle, it seems the master's allure hasn't faded," said the first beautiful girl.

"Hehe, do you think Master will awaken soon?" asked the second.

"I think so too," added the third.

"Fufu, I hope Master awakens soon I want to taste him again," the fourth girl said.

"Pervert, stop saying disgusting stuff," chided the fifth girl.

"Don't deny yourself before saying that," the sixth girl countered.

"Quiet down, we'll be dead if she discovers us," warned the seventh girl.

The eighth and ninth girls remained silent.

"Run, she saw us," the tenth girl shouted, her acting terrible.

The other girls gave her a deadpan look as if to say, "Really, big sis?"

Meimei's face stiffened at the shout, and she robotically turned her head towards them, her eyes dead.

Everyone started sweating buckets under her gaze, but the tenth girl continued her horrible acting.

"Ahh, ooh, run! The demonic and small gremlin is mad, transforming into an ugly monster—everyone run!"

The word "small" echoed in Meimei's mind, and something snapped.

"Shit," cursed the sixth girl as Meimei's cute, unchanging face contorted with anger.

Chaos erupted in the Merva bookstore, but no one outside noticed due to the building's soundproofing and lack of windows.