Chapter 37: A beast tamer
Chapter 37: A beast tamer
Bryce and Wolfgang blended in the crowd.
While Wolfgang was also in a new city, much different than his kingdom, he wasn't particularly interested in anything around him, and he moved forward without bumping into other people, but Bryce was different. His eyes went from a house to a market, then from a shop to another building — only to repeat the process.
Ever since Wolfgang's last words, a strange feeling has sprouted within his heart.
It wasn't just his werewolf's buddy wisdom, or rather his elder sister's, that caused Bryce to pay attention to his surroundings more than he'd usually done. The Emerea City reminded Bryce of his home on Earth. He unconsciously compared these two, and the strange thought wedged between his heart and brain.
'Have I ever thought I might get killed in a supermarket?'
Such an odd thought, Bryce thought.
But as it started, Bryce simply couldn't shake it off. Yes, he knew that his former world wasn't safe, and people committed many crimes regularly, even pointlessly killing others. He had heard of many shops getting robbed, yet when he went around the city to buy necessities, he never thought he might get killed or be in danger.
Yet, that feeling seemed to take over him in the proper city in another world.
"Mister! Where did you come from?" A little boy in clean clothes stopped Bryce and looked at him with big eyes, "Are you a mercenary or merchant's guard? You have a sword, don't you? Are you strong?!"
Bryce halted and looked at the kid. Like many other kids, he was curious about everything around him, and it was cute, but Bryce couldn't bring out a smile. For some reason, he thought someone had sent the kid to gather information about him and Wolfgang.
After staring for a few seconds, Bryce awkwardly smiled and broke the silence, "If you want to get answers to your questions, you ought first to create a proper mood for it. Next time, greet someone with a smile and ask about their day, then you can ask what's on your mind."
"Uh," the boy gawked at Bryce, not knowing how to proceed. And while he stood, clueless, Bryce bid him farewell and resumed his steps.
He blamed himself for overthinking: even though his thoughts were related to his safety, he went overboard again. Bryce didn't want to end up with a mental illness like paranoia or trust issues. Knowing that the world wasn't black and white and that everyone could turn his back on him, Bryce looked ahead, no longer caring about the city and its people.
He'd do it when interacting with them, and that was enough.
"You no longer move like a coward," Wolfgang suddenly opened his mouth, his words not shocking Bryce at all. The werewolf also didn't seem surprised by Bryce's reaction, for he still believed his new buddy was from a less advanced village with a different mindset.
On the other hand, Gengo kept sniffing out some good stuff to bite, properly enjoying the city. Bryce could use some of his ignorance and simplicity, but he decided to not think about it anymore.
"Don't need to be worried about me," Bryce replied with his usual smile.
Wolfgang harrumphed, his smile hidden from Bryce, "I still need you to guide me to the dungeon."
Both then noticed a prominent, tall building. Their first impression was the same — tavern — but it was not as simple as it looked out, for people, armored and equipped with various weapons, went in and out of it, and some stood before the building as though on school break, either casually talking or exchanging standard information.
It was naturally the mercenary guild.
"You've gotten hold of yourself in time, Bryce," Wolfgang whispered, his feral aura heightening as though he wanted to put a strong front, and his golden eyes gleamed, appraising other people with a little of his experience.
Because Wolfgang could easily display his race's characteristics — all because of werewolves summoning a hero once — Bryce often became a secondary character, shrinking in Wolfgang's presence. It was fine, as Bryce didn't want to flaunt his vampire bloodline, but he wouldn't hide it, either.
During the registration process, Bryce wanted to say he was a half-breed and start his mercenary career without hiding too much stuff. It already felt exhausting.
It could cause problems, but Bryce was fine with it. Knowing he couldn't elude all of them, he, at least, would make sure to not endanger his friends. But then, a particular event happened, and it involved Wolfgang.
A woman in a luxurious fur coat came out from the mercenary guild. She wore a long and thin black dress with a slit, revealing slender legs, and her blonde hair cascaded freely onto the black fur around her neck, which came from the aforementioned coat — the item that triggered something within Wolfgang.
Having beauty above this region's standards and not what people often expected from female mercenaries, she took over the scene and ambled to a restaurant with all eyes on her, enjoying it as her smile became wider.
She stopped after noticing Wolfgang and his golden eyes — a beast who stood with his hands balled, his face scrunched in a fury, and his heart pounding against his chest.
"A werewolf, royalty, at that," the woman spoke without a hint of fear; amusement was in her voice. She turned her heels and went in Wolfgang's direction, soon standing just a few inches away from him. "I thought nothing would make me happier than a lone werewolf, oh, I was so wrong, a royal werewolf with his white fur already turned me so ecstatic. What will happen when I get my hands on him?" Her voice turned sultry, and she purred, "I will come, won't I? Will you-"
His hatred tamed, Wolfgang growled at the woman, halting her speech, which resounded in Bryce, Gengo, and the woman's party's ears, "A Beast Tamer. You're lucky we are inside the city."
"No," the woman shook her head, her blonde bangs nearly scratching Wolfgang's face, "You are too lucky to have met me, and I will make you even luckier, soon, darling. I will thoroughly own you."
Having said all of it, the woman blew a kiss toward her new prey, turned around, and left the scene, shaking her voluptuous ass left and right, clearly in the mood of her life.
Her people, men of rough, muscular and tall bodies, smirked at Wolfgang, then ran after their lady.
"What do werewolves usually do to such people?" Bryce asked, his eyes on Wolfgang while the rest of the crowd had their eyes still glued to the woman's ass, for her long coat had a wide slit behind, exposing her smooth skin.
Wolfgang wheeled and looked at Bryce.
Bryce chuckled and added, "I want to help you."
"It's not your problem, and she's a human," Wolfgang flatly replied.
Not liking it, Bryce snorted, "I feel like she's stolen my line. You're lucky to have met me, not her. If it weren't for me, you would still be lost in a forest, beating bandits and forcing them to lie to you. So, I have a legit reason to help you and scratch some of that woman's skin. How werewolves punish those beast tamers?"
Saying those words so bluntly and powerfully, Bryce left a strong impression on Wolfgang. And, he, who didn't want to involve people he wasn't so close with, decided to give a chance to the half-breed vampire and become even closer to him. It was a start of a friendship that would cause a lot of chaos in Wolfgang's life.
He brought his face closer to Bryce and Gengo, then whispered, "After beating the shit out of her, I will bury her legs, then I will pull every hair off her head crudely and mercilessly. I will peel off her nails, stomp on her bald face, twist her arms and cleave them, and torture her for every werewolf she has hunted. Lastly, I will feed wolves with her dead body."
Gengo became cold, speechless, and frightened.
On the other hand, Bryce nodded and said in a chilling tone, "I will hold this bitch while you bury her."
"Thanks." Wolfgang genuinely said those words, then smiled faintly at the dog — his smile didn't help Gengo at all, for he still had that murderous aura.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone