Chapter 15: E-rantel
(I am trying to make the chapters longer in volume 2 so the length might vary between chapters... also i am still editing
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The Fortress City of E-Rantel stood at the intersection of three borders — those of the Slaine Theocracy, the Baharuth Empire, and the Re-Estize Kingdom. It was so named because it was defended by three layers of walls. The districts enclosed by each concentric circle of the walls were distinctly different from each other.
The outermost district was sometimes used to billet the troops from the Royal Army, and so it was fully furnished with barracks and other military facilities.
The innermost district was the administrative area of the city. In addition, the district also contained storehouses for combat rations. Thus, it was heavily guarded.
Between these two areas was the residential district, where the people of E-Rantel made their homes. This place best fit the image that came to mind when one thought of a city.
At the entrance of the city a band of warriors arrived. Within that band were the warrior captain of the kingdom and Akabaru – disguised as Faer both at the front of the group
The gate guards at the gate recognised the warrior captain and his soldiers with him but didn't know the pale warrior monk.
They knew of the warrior captains strength but the pale warrior monk was a bald bearded man wearing a old garment, loosely fitting around his huge muscular frame he seemed to have no weapon on him. He wore only the necessities but seemed to be the most threatening out of the group.
The onlookers watched the group vanish into the guard tower, and then immediately began whispering about what they had seen. The warrior captain hurt with a strong looking warrior at his side.
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Akabaru sat down on a chair inside of the guard tower. He was extremely bored because they were moving so slow.. the horses that the soldiers originally arrived on were wounded or killed and couldn't carry them for long distances and certainly couldn't run.
Akabaru could heal them but it would be strange to see a powerful warrior also able to heal others like a cleric. So he resigned himself to travel with the group at a excruciating slow pace.
When they had finally arrived the gate guards tried asking his identity but Gazef fouched for him so they let them through.
Currently Gazef was discussing with the Guard leader at this entrance to secure five horses that would be able to carry them to the capital. While Akabaru just sat there ignoring the looks he was getting from the guards that were around him.
….
Gazef seemed to finish his conversation and moved towards Akabaru.
"Faer-dono the horses will take a while to be prepared so do you want to register with the adventurers guild while we have time or do you want to check on something else in the city?"
"I don't really know the city, but I don't have to… the adventurers guild sounds promising.. do you have them in every city?"
"…Yes… they are a guild that deals with monsters and other quests for money… you don't know of them?"
Gazef seemed to doubt Akabaru with his lack of knowledge
"I am a explorer by trait, and I don't particularly like cities as most are the same or worse than I know."
"That's fine… just surprised that you don't know the adventurers guild… well let me guide you."
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Sunlight reflected off the water caught in wagon-ruts on the road. Unlike proper cobbled roads, said water mixed with the earth and sand, which made for treacherous footing. A moment's carelessness might have led to a fall, but Akabaru possessed excellent balance, and Gazef seemed to move naturally through the terrain so they moved along the road almost as quickly as a proper one.
They arrived at the largest plaza of them, the Central Plaza. It was filled with stalls selling vegetables, spices, and other such commercial products.
Amidst the crowds, the stall owners energetically shouted their sales pitches to the people walking by, while the older women haggled with the merchants as they looked for fresh food. Drawn by fragrant scents, young men purchased skewers of roasted meat which oozed with warm juices.
Akabaru and Gazef had arrived to the guild hall, a five story building nearby the plaza. He looked around as he entered the building right after Gazef.
Looking around the guild seemed more like a rowdy bar, as groups of armoured adventurers stood in groups around some tables while a big counter was on one side of the hall.
The stairs to the second level were right at the entrance. The job board was at the side of the stairs right next to the counter.
"Faer-dono why don't you get yourself registered while I go talk to the guild master of this guild, Pluton Ainzach.."
"Sure… I don't seem to know how to read…"
Akabaru grasps Gazef's arm before he can go up the stairs after seeing some words that he couldn't recognise.
"Ohh… that's fine.. most people in the kingdom don't know that, just ask the receptionist… but learning it would be helpful if you want to be a fulltime adventurer…"
"I.. thanks Gazef-dono."
"No problem.. but can you let go I cant feel my arm anymore?"
Akabaru realised that he was still holding Gazef by the arm so he quickly released him.
"Sorry about that."
"Not to worry."
Gazef left to go to the guild master leaving Akabaru alone to get registered.
Akabaru had to wait because there was someone already at the counter getting helped with delivering a job item.
The job item that he seemed to be delivering were herbs, but looking at the disappointed look on the adventurers face it didn't seem to go well.
Just as the guy got his payment another guy stepped before Akabaru blocking him from the counter. The guy who blocked him seemed to be a high class adventurer as he was wearing some decent equipment in comparison to the rest.
"Hey what's your problem?!"
Akabaru confronted the guy that cut in line before him
"What do you mean.. clearly I have more important business than you."
"There is no need to get into a argument sir… he is Igvarge, a mithril class adventurer."
"So what, if he doesn't have manners than it doesn't matter who he is!"
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Igvarge's dream was to become a hero who would end up saving the world, sacrificing everything to achieve this dream, going as far as spreading false rumours about himself or using his companions as meat shields. Everyone beside himself were all steppingstones for him to reach the peak.
Being in the Guild Hall on a normal day, he was just cutting Infront of a unimportant nobody with a body to big that he would topple over with one kick.. Just as he was starting to talk to the guild assistant the guy behind him decided that he wanted a lesson in respect
"So what, if he doesn't have manners than it doesn't matter who he is!"
"You wanna go punk, you think those muscles mean anything.."
"You think having a shiny plate gives you the right to treat others as lesser."
"Yes.. so what you are just a nobody.."
"Please calm down you two… sir if you just apologise.."
The guild receptionist tried to remedy the situation by defusing the confrontation but it had the opposite effect.
"I apologise for this buffoon of a man… do you have any idea…"
"You dare.. fine.. a dual.. the loser has to beg for forgiveness from the winner."
"You're on!"
The guild hall began to get louder as people were interested in a new guy getting beaten by one of only three mithril ranked team leaders.
People began to move out of the way as a circle was made for them to fight in.
The receptionist seemed to flee up the stairs the moment the challenge was issued, seemingly trying to get to the guild master.
…
Igvarge clenched his fist around his sword.
He was circling the big bald man, that had insulted him inside of the guild hall. He would have killed him on the spot if there weren't any witnesses around but he was planning on making it an accident.. A sword slash to the chest would probably cut him right open..
On the other hand Akabaru stood still, looking at his opponent, when he entered the guild he wasn't expecting a fight to happened so soon but he did provoke one. Although he didn't think he was in the wrong. Igvarge had disrespected him and called him weak.. meaning that he was under the impression that he was just for show.
When the confrontation happened Akabaru just thought that it would result in some arguing but the new situation wasn't to bad either.
One of the onlookers stepped forward and asked
"Both ready?… BEGIN!"
Igvarge took out his blade still circling him, while Akabaru stood still observing his movements.
"All that big talk and you're still to scared to face me head on?"
Igvarge gritted his teeth and lunged towards Akabaru.
Most adventurers who were witnessing the seen thought that the bald brut would die because he still wasn't moving to deflect the blow, but just as the blade was about to pierce into his skull he stepped aside and caught the blade, stopping it in its tracks.
A bang was heard as Akabaru's fist connected to Igvarge's chin, knocking him back into the now shocked crowed.
"Basteart!"
Igvarge's chin seemed to be dislocated as he spoke with mumbled words.
"What was that? Didn't quite hear it?"
Akabaru leaned forward and pout his hand around his ears as if indicating that he was trying to listening better.
"AaaGhh!"
Igvarge screamed as he slammed his foot into the ground propelling himself forward to try and slice Akabaru apart.
Before Akabaru could deflect the attack a voice was heard drowning out all the chatter.
"ENOUGH!"
A man stopped the attack from Igvarge with a blade of his own letting in slide into the ground. The mighty middle-aged man. Had his hair well kept, his mustache trimmed and smooth in the handlebar mustache style, and his clothes are clean and primed. Insinuating that he was rich enough to afford it.
"Guild master?!"
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