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Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 - The Outside World

Leo wore a white shirt and gray pants to his ankle. He also had a hat on his head to cover his hair and eyes. As he walked on the streets he remembered a piece of information. 

'I am in the city of Gotia with bustling streets and merchants all over the country'

Leo grasped the top of his hat hiding his face through the crowd. Merchants bellow their sales and discounts. It almost felt like Korea. It was still the afternoon so it was very busy. Slowly Leo went to the side where a small merchant was selling fruits. Apples, oranges, and other fruits he didn't recognize but in the end he chose something a container. 

The stand was set up with two flimsy sticks of oak like wood. Above was a torn sheet of cloth with green and white stripes. Leo noticed the owner's bright red hair, barren and pale fingers and also his malnourished face. Leo felt a tingle of pity.

"Oho, You want some fruits and vegetables?"

Leo shook his head left and right.

"I would like the thing in the jar, thank you very much" 

Leo pointed at the jar. It was sphere shaped brown in color. Around half the size of my thumb.

"Oh, you want the choco"

Leo smiled and nodded and put three fingers up. The man took a bag from his pouch and slipped in three chocos. 

"Ehh come on now. Two minos"

Leo gently placed the two coins into his hand while the shopkeeper gave Leo the bag. He walked away after thanking him. He opened the bag and threw one in my mouth. Leo's tastebuds exploded with a milky sweet flavor.

'Good as the chocolate from home. Maybe I should buy more later'

Leo walked at his leisure as no problems appeared on his path. The noise was bearable but loud. He clinged on to the bag tightly to not drop it. Leo massaged his forehead with his fingertips. 

'I might need a different set of clothing for trips like these' 

Leo keenly read the store names written in Mycondian. Due to being very diligent he could now read with more fluency than before. Finally he found a shop named "Reglis Cloth". He entered the shop. This shop which was around 50 meters away from the stand he bought chocos at.

This one was much more luxurious than the previous with walls made out of brick. Glass windows as well. The clothing prices were fair for the quality. Leo looked to the farthest wall and decided to head there first but was stopped by an employee.

"Hello sir, how may I help you"

The employee bowed his head and placed his arm to the left of his chest. He head your normal citizen working for a wage. His suit had no imperfections at all. And his expression was refined. Leo could hear the violin playing some music on the inside as well.

"Get me, three casual clothes and two suits for a salon"

The employee replied quickly.

"Well, according to your taste we have some casuals near the corner over there"

"And as for the two suits let me take some from our storage or VIP section"

Leo nodded with a smile. He heeded the employee's suggestion and walked over to the corner as instructed. There he found many clothes which were perfect disguises.

'Cause we are entering winter it would be best if I could get something which warms me up'

He caressed his fingers through all the clothes. Shirts in many different colours. Pants in different sizes. Hats, coats, shoes, and even ties. With so many options to work with Leo decided to with the normal ones to blend in. 

Leo picked up a coat with a dark green colour, it's material was similar to nylon and polyester. On the inside it was soft and fuzzy. Leo could tell by looking at it. He then picked a black shirt, and pants to match. He dropped the idea to get another set of casuals.

Hoping to try them all out Leo ventured to the cashing desk as it was labeled above. It was a lady with dark brown hair and bowed her head down. 

"May I know where the other employee was"

But her face was in dismay for some reason. Her expression looked somewhat terrified."Sir…no is working in this part of the store except me.. everyone else are having their break or working at the VIP section"

Leo's hands seemed to tremble, almost dropping all the clothes which were laying on his arm. 

"Wait, he went to the VIP section just now. He had black hair and…" 

Leo's mind ceased to think. He tried to think about the employees build, height, facial features but they were blank even his hair styles. 

"Thank you maybe it was just a dream"

Leo said, walking away slowly yet cautiously.

'I don't remember anything about him though'

His eyes were filled with terror. Maybe a mind hex. Leo softly called out Noir.

"More interesting things are happening. Now I have to use my powers and defeat him. How tiring"

'Maybe he is still in the VIP section!'

Leo rushed to the door which seemed to be the VIP section. An attendant was right at the door.

"Sir a payment of 6 lisos must—"

Leo slipped the paper bills into the attendants hands aggressively. He started jogging. An employee had come seeing Leo's distraught face.

"Have you seen a man working here with rich black hair"

"No sir is there a problem"

Leo stomped his foot and the emplyee had escaped.

"My apologies for acting this way"

Leo turned away and went away from the VIP section. 

'He escaped damn it' 

Leo circled his fingertips on his forehead massaging it. Questions swirled in his head like Who is he? What's his goal? Is he dangerous? An ally? Or an enemy?

This could be perilous but what could he do? He has already disappeared so I won't be able to do anything. Leo sighed in frustration.

He decided to further investigate this enigma at home. Now he was going for his main objective, increasing the military strength of the tower. It was because of the recent assassination attempt and the encounter with that employee. Leo, having been scared of dying, decided to take a precaution. Vonica had picked a place for it called Eroth Forge. It was indeed a peculiar name.

Vonica said that there was a dwarf, legendary at forging. His name was spread throughout the lands of Kyroniv. Eroth the Blacksmith, and his wife Delia, an elf specialised in fighting. Their skills were both praised. Delia was now a trainer for young adventurers. While Eroth was a blacksmith. Typical novel stereotypes.

This could produce some results such as expeditions for the kingdom which Leo could get plenty of money from. Because Leo discovered after fighting with the maid, Shira, that he could barely even think. Noir said it was just a side effect. But it impacted many aspects of Leo's life.

Such as his daily routine, mage tower duties, and even eating. Now though he had finally recovered the endeavours he had to go through that day was now not a worry. After walking for 300 meters he has finally arrived at the forge. Its sign was a hammer. 

When Leo saw it from the front he was somewhat skeptical. The walls were made out of stone bricks stacked up. It looked as if it was out of condition. The smell of wine entered the air. Leo had a disgusted face.

'Maybe he is one of those drunkards' 

He carefully clasped the doorknob and twisted it entering cautiously. The whole room was in darkness not being able to see it.

BANG. CRASH.

He looked straight squinting his eyes. There he saw a man with long blond hair. Around 1 meter tall.

"Hello, Mr. Blacksmith"

The short dwarf turned around. Then light flooded into the room. Leo gazed at the dwarf who held a knife. Leo looked around the room and saw the interior which was good. Fire wood beside the dwarf. Down below pieces of glass were scattered.

'He must have gotten angry and break the wine bottle'

"Who are ya"

Leo calmed down and replied.

"Mr. Eroth, my name is Leo Vlaniz sent by Vonica. I request you don't point a knife at me"

Eroth lowered the knife.

"Ahh, Vonica sent ya. Is that girl doing well"

Leo nodded in response.

"Well, kid, what brings you here? Maybe need some advice or wine ehh"

"No sir, I came here strictly on business terms. I would like you to make some weapons"

Eroth's eyes widened.

"How much?"

"Ten swords, spears, bows, and daggers. Also a specially forged blade and fan"

Eroth moved away. Walked towards a wall and punched it hard which left Leo puzzled. Gears started turning and the sound of cogs spinning filled the room. The wall which Eroth punched turned in a ninety degree angle. 

Eroth entered and he signaled his hand to me to come. Leo slowly stepped around the glass. Then finally reached the wall. As he entered, sweat trickled from his neck. Inside was the forge of this blacksmith. It had many weapons on display. 

Eroth then grabbed weapons and put them on a piece of cloth and tied it up.

"So kid the first weapons are done except the the last two for that I need some time around a month"

"When can I get the first few"

"Around a year"

Leo jumped back at those words.

"Kidding, they will be ready by tomorrow"

'I should get a horse driven cart by tomorrow then'

"Right, what are the requirements for the blade and fan"

"The blade should be near indestructible and the fan as well. The fan should have some space to slip daggers in there and more tricks in there. Which you can choose"

Eroth smiled at Leo's response and said.

"200 condes should be good"

Leo's jaw dropped in shock. 

'I guess this the price for quality'

"May I ask where Miss Delia is?"

"She is over on the other room"

"What room"

"Damn it get out of here pull the book named 'Elf world' there she is"

Leo did as instructed. He pulled the book from the spine. Again gears and cogs started turning. Then in a flash he was in another room. There she Delia with her orange straight hair. Wearing hunter attire.

"You must be Leo as my husband said"

Leo was gazing at the room. It was very bright and natural in every nook and corner. There were also many weapons.

"I need your services Miss Delia"

"I see. Training right?"

Leo nodded and replied.

"Thirty untrained people and 50 trained people"

Delia clapped her hands lightly.

"Truly simple but do you have enough money"

She licked her lips from left to right like a snake.

"100 condes"

"Deal"

Leo quickly replied. From his perspective this was an understandable price. Leo was about to leave but then Delia stopped him.

"Hey, do you know about the mystic age"

Leo stopped in his tracks. He didn't know what it was but it was an enticing piece of information. This could provide him with some answers.

"No, but from what I can guess there was probably something near extinct?"

"Good guess, but no. It was a period of time where there were many races. Like myself and Vonica Elves, Dwarves, Dragons, Angels, Demons, and Giants. They even had kingdoms Dryadales for the Elves, The Dark forest for the dwarves, Drigonis for the Dragons, Hepulis for the Angels, Daemonium for the Demons, and Magnus Gigan for the Giants"

Leo tried piecing the load of information he got dumped with.

 'Mystic Age with all the races and their corresponding Kingdom which they live in. This was not what he read in the books. Elves and Dwarves still have a Kingdom the angels are under the gods and the others are just creatures'

The information he read had been false? Wait why was she even telling it to him in the first place.

"Why are you–"

"That's all I know apparently they perished in a fight against something or a war. What's your idea?"

Leo was puzzled trying still to process this information.

"This could be a load of bull or true. If it is true then its probably a creature strong enough to wipe them out"

Leo replied. He was scared if it was true then…What could possibly do such a thing?

Delia laughed.

"You are quite the funny guy if I say so myself. Well believe what you want."

Delia then threw something to me, Leo catched it instinctively. His face in confusion.

"Take it as a souvenir"

She replied. Leo looked down to his hand and saw a stopwatch. He put it inside his pocket.

'I should go back and eat something after going home'

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