Chapter 5: Feeder and the Snake Lizard

What do you do when you face a problem that is beyond your capabilities?

It's quite simple. Shut your eyes to it, pretend it doesn't exist as there is no way you can solve it. Sometimes, we need a bit of this "negative" thinking in order to maintain a false sense of "optimism".

For Bartlett, the option of "temporarily setting it aside" seems not to be a bad idea. At least for now, the change he is undergoing doesn't seem to bring any immediate harm.

Let's hope this state continues. He doesn't aspire to be better, just to avoid any obscure harm. Bartlett pondered in his heart. Perhaps he should believe in something, just like his previous dwarf partner who had faith in the dwarf's divine being, Martin.

He likened divine beings to "things", without realizing anything inappropriate. Ever since the Magic Empire that had ruled for a thousand years overthrew the divine beings that opposed the magicians, Humans had only known about magicians and forgot about the divine deities.

Bartlett got up and approached the creaky wooden door, pushing it open. The air outside was clear and cold, like the kiss of the undead. Even though it wouldn't freeze you, it would still give you chills. The early spring temperature was lower than Bartlett had anticipated; Riley's daily attire had given him a faulty understanding of the current temperature.

This temperature might make her feel a bit cold, Bartlett furrowed his eyebrows thinking. Then, he threw out this thought that didn't suit his character from his mind: he was a barbarian, an adventurer, a barbaric adventurer, not one of those bards whose heads were filled with romanticism, and whose every word was sweet as lemon cake.

If he had needs, sexual needs, Bartlett would go for those lovers who only love the 'Silver Gryphon' or the 'Gold King'. That would be simpler and more straightforward. As for emotional needs, Bartlett felt that his 'bride' was enough, he didn't need anything else. Although his 'bride' wasn't warm, she was very sharp and reliable.

It seemed that Riley too loved the 'Silver Gryphon' or the 'Gold King', Bartlett suddenly thought. But she wasn't a lover, she wasn't! He shook his head again and threw the thought of this long-time companion out of his mind.

Bartlett hadn't been out for several days. Five or six? Time flies when you are cooped up indoor, making his memory a bit confused.

He habitually sniffed his nose and flexed his somewhat stiff arms as he strolled along.

Pig Bay was still the dirty, disorderly 'Pig Bay'. It seemed that the inhabitants here weren't different kinds of humans, but rather fat livestock that would end up on the dinner table. But this environment made Bartlett feel at home, as though every muscle in his body was drawing strength from this filth and disorder.

The door of a nearby grocery store creaked open and a few adventurers wearing studded leather armor walked out. The leader, spotting Bartlett, suddenly paused, then turned to his followers and said, "Hey, guys, guess who this is?" His tone was like someone seeing a goblin dancing in an apron — a mix of surprise and incredulity.

"Isn't this our great Mr. Feeder?" Before Bartlett could respond, the adventurer spoke again to his comrades, "What do magicians say when they're surprised? Right, Magic Powers above!" His expression was somewhat exaggerated, "Oh, Magic Powers above! You're still alive! I thought you had become dung in a monster's belly in the Foggy Forest. Trust me, if you had become dung, you'd definitely be the stinkiest kind!"

After speaking, he made a pose like he was pinching his nose and defecating, eliciting laughter from his companions.

This adventurer who began to mock Bartlett upon seeing him was labeled 'Snake Lizard Jonathon'. The nicknames among adventurers were generally sarcastic, like the nickname 'Feeder' for Bartlett. It was used to mock him for leading expeditions into the Foggy Forest with a high fatality rate, almost as if he wasn't adventuring for profit, but to regularly feed the creatures in the Foggy Forest.

The nickname 'Snake Lizard Jonathon' originated from a proverbial tale.

The protagonist of the story was a farmer called Jonathon, who often dreamt of becoming a nobleman living a luxurious and grand life. When he woke up, Farmer Jonathon always longed for more, feeling unsatisfied. Over time, he began to carry himself with airs of nobility in everyday life, acting pretentious. Regardless of other people's advice, he continued this way, stubbornly so.

But Jonathon was still fundamentally a poor farmer who could only farm, accompanied only by a hen and an old dog at home. The only thing his self-satisfied behavior amounted to was making a fool of himself. Just like a skink, regardless how much it resembled a snake, it was still a lizard at its core.

The later saying "living like Snake Lizard Jonathon" refers to someone who always cannot face reality and lives in their own fantasy.

"You know, I'm the 'Feeder', but not the food." Bartlett rested his hand on the hilt of the 'Steel Bride', retorting.

He didn't used to relish witty banter, but after spending a lot of time with his previous dwarf companion, he had subconsciously adopted the other's habits: "The 'Forest' never picks its food, it eats everything, and 'snake lizards', these slimy creatures, are its favorite. It even refuses to spit out the bones when eating! If I get the chance, I would feed all the 'snake lizards' to it, all of them!"

Snake Lizard Jonathon and Bartlett did not have a good relationship, they had their fair share of underhanded dealings, or else they wouldn't start bickering as soon as they met.

The two had once coincidentally met while adventuring in the Foggy Forest. In that encounter, their adventure teams almost fought over the ownership of a seven-meter long, already dead, fire-patterned python.

Although the death of the python had nothing to do with either of their teams, it didn't prevent them from wanting to claim this valuable war booty as their own.

If it weren't for a four to five-meter tall adult three-armed giant 'happening' to pass by, and driving away both teams of adventurers, maybe only one of the two people facing each other now would have survived.

"You're right, 'it' never picks its food!" Snake Lizard Jonathon didn't get angry, but seriously nodded, seeming to agree with Bartlett's words.

He raised his long, thick eyebrows, pointed his chin in the direction of the Foggy Forest, "So whatever you feed it, it eats. Let me think about what you've feed it".

Snake Lizard Jonathon furrowed his brow as if he was thinking hard: "There was 'Tommy Onion', 'Grey Ribbon', 'Beer Shoes', 'Silly Sherlock'..." He listed several names, the owners of which were somewhat famous among the adventurers, but they had all been 'digested' by the Foggy Forest, and all of this had happened to Bartlett's team.

"And don't forget 'Mervyn'!" A skinny companion behind Snake Lizard Jonathon reminded.

Looking in the direction of the voice, Bartlett realized he did not know this person. The adventurer standing behind Snake Lizard Jonathon seemed to be a new face but seemed familiar with the affairs in 'Pig Bay'.

"Right, 'Mervyn' too!" Snake Lizard Jonathon clapped his hands, looking pleased: "That poor guy, even though his laugh sounded like a cat on a quiet night**, making people very uncomfortable, making you want to stab a red-hot iron rod into his throat. But I must say, he was definitely a good lad! Both clever and obedient, right, Mr Feeder? A good lad who's now dead, ha!"

The words of his arch-enemy left Bartlett at a loss for words. If there was anything that could disturb his heart as tough as the 'Steel Bride', it would undoubtedly be the successive deaths of his companions.

Snake Lizard Jonathon continued, his eyes squinting, "How old was 'Mervyn' when he adventured with you? Seventeen or eighteen?"

"I heard he was the only son of their family." The skinny adventurer added.

"Really, an only child?" Jonathon seemed a little surprised at his companion's words, "Just like me. I wonder how his parents could bear to let him risk his life. My mother, upon hearing that I would continue to be an adventurer after my accident, even knelt down in front of me crying. But what good did it do? If I didn't take any risks, I might not even be able to afford rye bread in my later life."

Jonothon spoke, his expression suddenly seeming a little dejected, as if the pleasure he had gained from mocking Bartlett had disappeared in an instant, but he still spoke with conviction, "And it's a pity, that good lad joined your team and you... you fed him to the 'Foggy Forest'. As for me, I'm sorry, you'll never have that chance, never!"

With that, 'Snake Lizard Jonathon' leaves, not bothering about Bartlett, and walked away with his companion.