Chapter 149: Chapter 149 - Sticks And Stones

Standing there, dressed in a sleek, midnight-blue kimono with a long katana strapped to her hip, was Izumi Ayako. Her dark eyes were fixed on him, and a small, enigmatic smile played on her lips.

"What a pleasant surprise to see you here, Rossana-sama."

"You’re surprised?" Kurt blinked, genuinely confused. "Shouldn’t I be saying that? Don’t you have a tournament to prepare for?"

"Haha, and that is exactly what I’m doing. I am here to take on a request. I find that I need a bit of a warm-up before the tournament on Friday. A real blade feels different when it hasn’t tasted blood in a few days."

’A battle junkie. Got it.’

"Wait a minute. Friday?" Kurt arched an eyebrow. "That’s only two days away. Shouldn’t you be resting, or meditating, or whatever it is you high-tier fighters do?"

Ayako smiled as a genuine flicker of warmth softened her eyes. "Thank you for showing concern for my well-being. It is a rare trait in our world. But do not fret; I am fine. I have no intention of taking on anything that would truly tax me. Just a small excursion to keep my senses sharp."

As they spoke, the atmosphere in the guild hall shifted from mockery to utter confusion. The whispers were no longer about Kurt’s "dud" status, but about the bizarre sight before them.

".... Is that... Isn’t she the Heiress of the Izumi clan?"

".... Why is she talking to the F-rank scrub?"

"... Look at how she’s smiling. They look like friends..."

Ayako’s sharp ears caught the shifting tide of the room. Her smile didn’t leave her face, but her eyes grew cold as she scanned the surrounding adventurers.

"Rossana-sama, why are these people speaking about you as if you are nothing? Their tone is... disrespectful."

Kurt shrugged with a bored expression. "It’s just a misunderstanding on their part. They put a lot of stock in that glass orb on the counter. Since it didn’t light up for me, they’ve decided I’m a nobody."

"And you do not correct them? You let them speak to you this way?"

"It’s not my job to teach them. They’ll come to respect me in due time. Or they won’t. It doesn’t change what I can do. Besides, there’s the saying; Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."

Ayako paused, studying him for a long moment when a small, appreciative laugh escaped her lips. "I like that. Such confidence is more regal than any title. But," she gestured to the board behind him, "why are you lingering by the F-rank section? Surely the S-rank requests at the receptionist desk are more your speed?"

"Because I am F-rank."

Ayako blinked, her poise momentarily faltering. "Truly? I find that hard to believe."

"It’s the truth. What about you? What rank did the guild give someone like you?"

"Oh, I am still a student. Students of any academy are not permitted to be official members of the Adventurers Guild until they graduate. And even if I weren’t, I am the heir to my clan; that’s where my duty lies."

"Then why are you here looking for a request?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"I am sightseeing," she said with a playful wink. "The guild happened to be on my list of ’interesting landmarks’ in Eldoria. I thought I might ’borrow’ a request if something caught my eye, hehehe."

The heavy thud of boots announced the return of the eight-foot giant. He cleared his throat loudly, ignoring Kurt entirely as he bowed toward Ayako.

"Lady Izumi," the man rumbled as his voice dripped with forced politeness. "It is a profound honor to see you in our humble hall. My name is Bigi. My team and I are currently preparing for a B-rank subjugation in the southern woods. We are one person short, and it would be the highlight of our careers if you would join us."

Ayako didn’t even turn her head as she turned her eyes at him. "I was busy speaking to someone else, ’Bigi.’ Have you no manners? Or does your size preclude the need for common courtesy?"

Bigi stiffened, his face flushing when a wicked smile touched the corner of his lips. "My lady, I only meant to offer a more... meaningful use of your time. This person you are speaking to is nothing but a hack. A showoff nobody that hides behind his maid. Surely a warrior of your stature would prefer the company of real adventurers."

"A hack?" she repeated the word.

Kurt let out an internal sigh. He knew exactly where this was going. He turned toward Isabel, who looked ready to attack him at any moment. "Isabel," he whispered. "Can I just grab any of these and leave?"

"Yes, Master," she whispered back. "Once you have the poster, the request is technically yours until you fail or complete it."

Nodding, he reached out and yanked the first parchment his hand touched without even looking at it. He turned to leave, but as he moved, a massive, calloused hand clamped onto his shoulder.

"I wasn’t done talking, hack. Go on. Tell Lady Izumi about the type of fake person you are."

Kurt stopped but didn’t turn around. "Baldy... let go of me."

Isabel stepped out from behind Kurt, her voice shaky but determined. "Please... let go of my Master. He hasn’t done anything to you. Must I report this to the guild master?"

Bigi laughed, looking at the crowd. "See? Look at him! Hiding behind the maid! Why don’t you man up for once in your privileged little life."

*Tsk* "What is your problem? I’m just trying to leave."

"You’re the problem," Bigi spat. "I don’t care that your F-rank; everyone has to start somewhere. But you come in here like some kind of big shot and spout lies about you using mana coating, knowing it will raise your credibility. Now you hide behind your maid when confronted? Someone has to teach you a lesson, no?"

Ayako reached for her sword, her aura beginning to flare, but Kurt put a hand on her arm, stopping her.

He then reached up, grabbed Bigi’s wrist, and peeled the giant’s hand off his shoulder with a strength that made the man’s eyes widen in brief shock. Kurt shoved the hand away and walked toward the exit, Isabel trailing closely behind.

"""....."""

"""AHAHAHAHA!""" The guild erupted in laughter as he walked away.

"That’s right, run along!" Bigi shouted. "And don’t bother coming back! We don’t need fucking ’tourists’ like you here!"

Ayako stood there for a second, watching Kurt retreating back. She looked at Bigi and the crowd with utter contempt. "You all truly don’t know who you were just talking to, do you? You didn’t recognize the name ’Kurt Rossana’? I would have thought he’d be a lot more well known."

The name rippled through the crowd.

"... Kurt Rossana? That bloody man running around town covered in blood about a week ago?"

"... I think my ma mentioned that he spanked the princess in public."

"... Wait a second! Isn’t he the one they call–"

"... Diana Valentine’s lover?"

The laughter died out, replaced by a sudden, chilling realisation.

Ayako sighed as she shook her head. "I suppose I should have kept that quiet. It’s more fun when they find out the hard way." She then turned around and followed Kurt out into the late morning gray skies.

"Rossana-sama! Please wait!" She caught up and walked beside them. "I see you took parchment from the board. So, what ’grand quest’ did you pick out?"

"Ahh, this?" Kurt unfolded the parchment and showed it to her. "Apparently it’s a herb gathering request."

"Oh, Master Rossana... those don’t grow in the city. We’ll have to leave Eldoria in order to find those." Isabel said as she peered at the paper.

"Really? All that way for flowers? Damn... Well, it was nice seeing you, Izumi-san. But it looks like we’ve got a long drive ahead just for some weeds. See you around."

"Actually... Can I join you?"

"Aren’t you on a sightseeing tour? I’d hate to interrupt whatever you got going on with herb gathering."

"I don’t mind at all. In fact, this is the perfect opportunity to see the world outside of Eldoria. What better way to explore than in good company? Besides, I owe you for the... misunderstanding inside."

Kurt smiled. "Alright. Come along then. Our carriage is right here."

"Excellent!"

.

..

...

Far beyond the safe city walls, deep within the shadows of the forest, the air was thick with the scent of decay and fresh blood.

Gary lay sprawled on the dirt, his breathing ragged and shallow. His clothes were torn, and his skin was a mess of bruises and lacerations. Surrounding him were the twitching, severed carcasses of dozens of Giant Centipedes.

"Haa *huff* Austin... Whatever it takes... I have to... s-save him..."

He tried to push himself up, but his strength failed him. He limped forward a few paces before his knees gave out, and he fell hard against a mossy root. As his vision began to fade into blackness, he reached out one last time.

"Aus..tin..."

Silence. The only thing that could be heard was the rustling of trees as wind pushed against it.

Until–

"Heh. Hahaha. Ahahaha!"

A mysterious figure, cloaked in tattered grey rags, stepped out from behind a massive oak tree. The figure looked down at Gary’s unconscious form with a tilted head. Without a word, the figure reached down, hoisted Gary’s limp body onto their shoulder as if he weighed nothing, and vanished deeper into the gloom of the forest.