«Finally, I can be alone in my house.»
He could finally be alone, because the Sword Princess had gone into the dungeon. But even so, he had liked this week, for every day he had challenged her to sparring, and almost every time he had lost from a single blow. But even so, he rejoiced at every battle.
– Do you think I copied this feeling from someone?
– What feeling?
– The enjoyment of battles.
– How should I know? You might have copied it, or maybe you're just like that; anything is possible.
– And do you change?
– No.
– Why are you so sure? Maybe you don't notice it either?
– No, no, Kopii, don't compare me to yourself. You're…
– Yes, I know, you're the better version of me. Do you think I'm so stupid that you have to repeat it three hundred times?
– No, Kopii, I don't think; I know that you're stupid. Please, don't confuse the two anymore.
– …
He did not want to argue with him, for it was simply a useless waste of time. Leaving the basement, he headed for the Tower of Babel.
– Why are you going there? You're poor.
– Do you think it's expensive everywhere?
– Do you doubt it?
He answered without hesitation. At such confidence in his voice, he felt doubt.
«I hope it's not all that bad.»
Kopii's eyes widened at the prices.
– Yes, I'd have to save my whole life to earn enough for anything!
Examining the display, he understood only one thing – how poor he really was.
– That's what I told you, but you didn't believe me. You should always listen to me.
– There's still a chance!
– A chance?
– Yes, this is only the beginning. I'm sure it's not that expensive everywhere.
Starting on his way, he walked and looked around, searching for suitable equipment. But everywhere he looked, he saw enormous prices.
– See. Better just buy from the guild, and that's it, problem solved.
– Equipment from the guild, you say? I'm not buying that shit again.
– Hm. – He grunted distinctly in Kopii's mind. – Do you think you have a choice?
– Everyone has a choice!
– Foolish. You'd be better off going to the entertainment district; there'd be more use. Remember…
– Enough, stop! – He interrupted him. – I've heard a thousand times what you would have done with them. I'm tired of listening to it; do you have anything in your mind besides sex? Screw this one, screw that one… I'm asking you seriously, and you're talking about how tasty the Sword Princess's lips are. You're just a pervert!!!
– So what, Kopii? I don't hide my true desires from myself. I'm not like you.
– Are you saying these are my hidden feelings?
– Of course! You must admit it's normal for a man.
– I understand that. But with you, it's excessive.
– Think what you want. Loser.
– Boy, are you alright?
Before he could answer, an outside voice distracted him, and he turned his attention to the speaker.
– What… ah, yes, I'm fine.
Studying the man who had asked, lingering his gaze on him for a moment, he returned to his search, ignoring the man's strange look. But the more he looked, the more his hope fell, for everywhere he went, the prices were rather high.
– Here, finally.
Looking around the shop he had entered, wherever he looked, there were acceptable prices, on which he could spend everything. But his thoughts were interrupted by an unfamiliar voice.
– Can I help you choose?
Looking at a girl around his age, lingering his gaze on her for a moment, he turned away and continued looking for suitable weapons.
– No, thank you.
Examining each one with special attention, for his life and progress depended on this choice. He did not want his sword to break or his bowstring to snap in the middle of a fight.
But he did not have to search long; he chose the most affordable in price, but not in quality. However hard he tried to evaluate the short sword, holding it in his hand, it was useless; he lacked the skills for a worthy assessment. But it was sharp, beautiful, and light.
Looking at the merchant standing nearby, smiling at him. To fully understand whether his weapon was good or not, he had to ask him. But he doubted it, for there was a high chance that he would lie to him. They were interested only in money, and nothing more.
– Do you need help?
– … Yes. What is this emblem on the sword?
– It's the mark of the smithy that forged this sword.
– Alright, thank you.
He did not ask about the quality of the sword, for he perfectly understood that for such a price, there was unlikely to be anything worthwhile, so he would simply test it in action. Having paid for the sword, he immediately headed to the dungeon without delay.
– How long do you think it will last?
– Compared to a sword from the guild?
– Yes.
– Naturally. Why are you so stupid?
– What?
– If it has a smithy's mark, then this sword is worth its money. It's simple; they need more customers and fame, so they will put effort into their creations.
It dawned on him; why hadn't he thought of that right away? Was he really that stupid? Beginning to doubt his own analytical skills.
– Well, we need to test it in action. Killing everyone he met on his way, that is how he spent the rest of the day in the dungeon.
Climbing back up, eager with anticipation.
Bang.
A sudden blow from the darkness was too unexpected for him, so he did not have time to react. He had simply decided to cut his path through the alleys, but someone had attacked him. But before he could recover, another blow flew in, but this time he managed to leap back.
– …
Peering into the darkness and seeing several silhouettes. But before he could make them out, he had to leap back sharply because of a noise from behind.
BANG.
A powerful blow landed where he had stood just a second ago. His eyes widened in horror; if he had not managed to leap back, he would have died on the spot.
He reached for his sword. He understood one thing – if someone had attacked him, they wanted to kill him. He would not hesitate.
WHOOSH.
A too-familiar sound rang out, but he did not have time to react before he felt a sharp pain in his arm. After that, everyone began to act; he tried to dodge all the attacks, but over time, more and more wounds appeared on his body.
He could not counterattack because of the archer. And poor visibility only played into their hands.
WHOOSH.
He dodged an arrow, but could not dodge a fist flying into his face. From the blow, he staggered, and his enemies took advantage of it. Blows flew at him from every side.
«Damn! Damn! Damn!» – He shouted mentally, understanding that his chances of winning were almost zero.
– Run, Kopii!
Kane's shout rang out, but he knew it even without him.
He tried and managed to break out of their encirclement, but it was too easy.
«They're playing with me!» – Anger began to boil in Kopii from the whole situation. And the fact that they were simply playing with him infuriated him even more.
«They're all above level one.» – Flashed through his head as he dodged a series of blows from the strangers. He heard their laughter.
But however hard he tried, absolutely everything was against him – fatigue, terrain, and time. He understood that he needed to run, but the fear that there were actually more of them than he thought held him back.
– What do you want!?
He shouted, dodging arrows and blows.
– What do we want?
Hearing a rather unpleasant voice from the darkness, he strained his hearing to the limit to hear the next words, but he was met only by silence.
Dodging, but still receiving a blow, and then he understood that he had to fully focus on escaping. Escape guaranteed him a better chance of survival than fighting strangers here.
WHOOOSH.
He dashed in a random direction with all his might. His main goal was to reach the busy streets of Orario, which was quite hard to do, since he was now in the ruined district. And it was unknown whether more were waiting for him ahead or not.
– Stomp, stomp, stomp.
He heard them running after him, which gave him even more strength to run harder; he did not even look back, fully focused on running.
WHOOSH.
Dodging an arrow, he slowed a little, but quickly regained his former pace. He had already met people with the same tactics as theirs. The same tactic as that family of slavers.
A tactic for weaklings, he called it. But he could not deny the effectiveness of this tactic; however weak it was, the effectiveness was high.
But his thoughts were interrupted by a fist flying into his face.
«Ambush.» – He thought, managing to block, but because of the speed, the damage became more significant. So strong that it felt like crashing into a wall; from such a blow, he could not stay on his feet. Before he could even try to get up, he was surrounded and beaten from all sides; of course, he tried to resist, but it was futile.
– There you go, you idiot!
The last thing he heard before losing consciousness.