Chapter 27: The Price of a Punch
( — 0.0.0.0.0 — )
The streets of Ehrmich District were much livelier than Naruto had imagined.
Numerous shops and food stalls lined both sides of the stone-paved streets. The buildings were well-maintained, and the atmosphere seemed much calmer, and better, than in Trost.
"This place is different," the young Uzumaki remarked, observing the buildings.
Beside him, Mikasa nodded slightly.
"Yeah. Things seem to be better here."
After walking around for a while, Mikasa stopped near a fruit stand.
"What's wrong, Mikasa?"
"We should buy a few things before continuing. We need food, water, and other supplies for the journey."
"Oh."
"And replenish the apples you destroyed during your training," she added, giving him a sidelong glance.
Naruto ignored the comment as he looked at the nearby stalls.
"Then buy whatever you want."
Mikasa looked at him.
"With what money?"
"Don't we have any?"
"We do, but we can't spend it all," Mikasa replied with a slight sigh.
She still remembered the money they had left after shopping in Trost. Although it wasn't a small amount, they needed to manage it carefully, as they still didn't know how much longer they would be traveling.
"We'll only buy what we need," she explained.
Naruto watched her for a few moments.
"And what if something catches my eye?" the Uzumaki asked curiously, glancing at a few items.
"Then we won't buy it."
"Why?"
"Because we don't need it," Mikasa replied, briefly closing her eyes as she tried to ignore his response. "Come on. We have some things to buy."
Naruto followed her without complaining, although he soon became distracted by a candy stall.
While Mikasa shopped, the blond boy would occasionally stop to examine any object that caught his attention.
It was a dynamic the two had developed during their short journey. Mikasa took care of practical matters, while Naruto was interested in anything that seemed new to him.
Although his curiosity could be irritating, she couldn't help feeling relieved whenever she saw him behaving like a normal child. After all, he was still the same boy who had saved her.
She sighed when she saw him getting distracted again.
Honestly, what a troublesome boy.
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A few meters away, four children were walking along one of the district's commercial streets.
Their leader, a boy of around eleven or twelve, stood out because of his elegant clothes and self-important expression.
His name was Albert Weiss.
He was the son of a well-known merchant and had grown up surrounded by wealth, servants, and people willing to indulge his every whim.
His parents were rarely present, and whenever they remembered him, they usually compensated for their absences with expensive gifts and money.
Over time, Albert had learned to settle for that.
His relatives weren't much help either. Some flattered him whenever they needed something, while others reinforced his belief that his wealth made him superior to everyone else. His companions, meanwhile, had discovered that they could maintain his friendship as long as they supported his decisions and never challenged his whims.
Albert had come to believe that anything could be obtained with enough money.
If someone refused to do what he wanted, it simply meant he hadn't offered them something attractive enough.
And if money didn't work, he could always rely on his father's influence.
He wasn't used to taking no for an answer. Nor did he like sharing anything he considered his.
Although he would never have admitted it, hidden beneath his arrogance was a child who didn't know how to receive affection without offering something in return.
"Where are we going now?" one of his companions asked.
Albert shrugged.
"I don't know. Let's find something interesting."
As they walked, his gaze drifted across the street, where a black-haired girl was strolling alongside a blond boy.
When he got a better look at the girl's face, he stopped.
She was pretty. Much prettier than he had expected to find during such a boring outing.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Well, well..."
His companions followed his gaze.
"What's wrong?" one of them asked.
Albert didn't even answer, focusing solely on the girl who had managed to catch his attention.
Getting her attention wouldn't be difficult for him.
He could buy her sweets, toys, or anything else she liked. If that didn't work, he could take her to the finest shops in the district and let her choose whatever she wanted.
It didn't matter how much it cost. What mattered was getting her to pay attention to him.
Albert didn't think there was anything wrong with that. If he could offer her a more comfortable life, why would she turn him down?
And if she refused, all he had to do was insist a little more.
And if he eventually lost interest in her... well... he'd see what happened when the time came.
Confident in his chances, he straightened his jacket.
"Let's go."
His companions followed him without asking any questions. They were already used to him trying to obtain anything that caught his interest.
( --- 0.0.0.0.0 --- )
Meanwhile, Mikasa had stopped in front of a stall selling travel supplies.
On a wooden table lay small bags, water containers, ropes, and other useful items.
"Do you think we should buy a rope?" she asked, pointing at one.
Naruto stared at it in confusion, as he didn't know what that thing was.
"What for?"
"It could come in handy in different situations."
"Then buy one."
Mikasa nodded and asked the merchant for the price.
While she negotiated the purchase, Naruto watched the flow of pedestrians. That's when he noticed four children approaching, paying particular attention to the boy walking at the front.
His smile conveyed excessive confidence, as though he were convinced that any conversation would ultimately work in his favor.
Naruto lost interest.
There didn't seem to be anything particularly interesting about him.
Mikasa, meanwhile, heard a voice behind her.
"Excuse me..."
She turned around and found a boy with neatly styled hair, accompanied by three other children.
The leader offered her a smile.
"Sorry to interrupt you, but I couldn't help noticing that you're new around here."
Mikasa looked at him without showing much interest.
Albert interpreted her silence as shyness.
"My name is Albert Weiss. Perhaps you've heard of my family. My father is a fairly well-known merchant in Ehrmich and does business with people from other districts."
As he spoke, he adjusted his jacket to reveal a small metallic ornament.
One of his companions decided to help him out.
"It's true! Albert's father owns lots of shops and knows people from all over the place!"
"And his family has tons of money," another added.
Albert raised a hand, feigning modesty.
"Well, it's nothing that special."
The smile on his face suggested precisely the opposite.
Mikasa merely replied:
"I see."
No surprise. No admiration.
Albert felt that something was wrong. Normally, when he mentioned his surname alongside his father's reputation, people began treating him differently.
But this girl didn't seem the least bit interested.
"By the way, what's your name?" he asked.
"Mikasa."
"That's a pretty name."
She didn't respond.
"Did you just arrive in the district?"
"Yes."
"Are you visiting with your family?"
"No. I'm traveling."
Albert briefly glanced at the blond boy standing beside her.
"And he is...?"
"Naruto."
The boy raised his head.
"What?"
Albert examined him from head to toe. His clothes didn't look particularly elegant, even if they were a little unusual, and his carefree attitude didn't suggest that he belonged to an important family either.
He looked back at Mikasa.
"Is he your adopted brother?"
"No."
"Your cousin?"
"No."
Albert waited, but the girl said nothing more.
He had to suppress his irritation. He wasn't used to having to work so hard to keep a conversation going. Even so, he decided to try one more time.
"If you're visiting, I could show you some interesting places. I know quite a few shops and restaurants."
He paused before adding:
"If there's anything you'd like to buy, I could probably get it for you."
"Thank you, but we don't need anything," Mikasa replied.
Albert's smile tightened.
"It doesn't have to be something you need. Sometimes it's nice to buy things simply because they're pretty," he said, pulling out a small leather pouch and opening it to reveal several coins gleaming in the sunlight. "I could take you shopping. It wouldn't be any trouble for me."
Mikasa looked at the coins before looking back at him.
"No, thank you."
Albert blinked.
"Are you sure? You can choose whatever you want. You don't have to worry about the price."
"I don't need you to buy me anything."
That answer displeased him.
Why would she turn down something she could get for free?
Albert was used to people changing their minds once they understood what they could get in return. He couldn't understand why Mikasa seemed so indifferent.
Beside her, Naruto had stopped looking at the items on the stall.
"Why do you want to give her money?" he asked.
Albert turned his head.
"What?"
Naruto pointed at the pouch.
"You've shown her your coins several times," he remarked. "Why?"
"Because I want to buy her something."
"But she's already told you she doesn't want anything."
Albert frowned.
"That's none of your business. I'm talking to Mikasa."
Naruto tilted his head.
"But you're talking too much."
One of Albert's companions gasped in surprise, while another had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing.
Albert felt his irritation growing.
He wasn't used to being ignored, much less having a child make fun of him in front of his companions.
Nevertheless, he maintained his smile.
"I suppose your friend doesn't understand how things work around here," he commented, addressing Mikasa. "Some people simply don't know how to recognize a good opportunity."
Naruto blinked.
"An opportunity?"
Albert raised his chin slightly.
"You don't get the chance to meet the son of an important merchant every day."
Naruto stared at him for a few seconds.
"Oh," the blond boy exclaimed. "What's so interesting about that?"
Silence fell immediately.
Albert's companions froze, while Mikasa lowered her head, pretending to examine the products on the stall.
She didn't want to laugh, but the boy's expression was so peculiar that she had to struggle to maintain her composure.
Albert felt the blood rush to his face.
He took a deep breath before recovering his smile.
"I suppose you're still too young to understand the importance of money."
"Does money let you buy things?" Naruto asked.
"Of course!"
"Then I understand," he said without showing any interest before turning toward Mikasa. "Are you done yet?"
"I'm almost finished."
The girl returned her attention to her purchases, practically leaving Albert out of the conversation.
The boy tightened his fingers around his coin pouch.
He had talked about his family, bragged about his wealth, and offered to buy her things.
And yet, Mikasa preferred to pay attention to a rope.
A rope!
He could buy hundreds of those without his family even noticing the difference in their accounts.
So why would that girl rather discuss the price of a rope than talk to him?
Did she know who he was and simply not care?
Albert felt a pang of frustration. He didn't like feeling insignificant. Much less in front of someone he wanted to impress.
"Why are you still here?" Naruto suddenly asked.
Albert slowly turned his head.
"What did you say?"
"If you're not going to buy anything, you could leave," the Uzumaki remarked calmly.
Albert's companions exchanged glances. This was no longer looking like a pleasant conversation.
Albert took a step toward the blond boy.
"Listen, I'll make you an offer."
Naruto tilted his head.
"An offer?" he asked, wanting to know what the word meant, but Albert interrupted him.
"You can go somewhere else and let me talk to Mikasa. In return, I'll give you money."
"How much?"
Albert regained his confidence and took several coins out of his pouch.
"Depends. How much do you want?"
Naruto looked at the money.
"I don't want anything."
The boy's smile disappeared.
"What do you mean you don't want anything?"
"I mean I don't want your money."
"But you just asked how much I'd give you!"
"Just curious."
Albert stared at him, unable to understand that answer.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"What?" Naruto looked at Albert in confusion, curious about what he meant. "No...?"
"Then why are you wasting my time?!"
Naruto shrugged, unable to understand anything Albert was saying.
"Because you were the one who started talking to me."
Albert clenched his fists.
"You should learn to treat people who are above you with respect."
Naruto looked him up and down.
"Are you above me?"
"Of course!"
"Do you have power?" Naruto asked curiously, a hint of excitement shining in his eyes.
"Of course I do!" Albert declared firmly and arrogantly. "My family has money!"
Naruto fell silent for a few seconds, thinking about some kind of power called money, but he couldn't come up with anything.
And as far as he knew, money was only good for buying things, nothing more. This left him disappointed, and he returned to showing no interest.
Naruto simply nodded.
"I see..."
Albert's face twisted, his embarrassment turning into anger.
Money meant power. His father secured deals thanks to his wealth, his relatives smiled at him whenever they needed something, and his companions followed him because they could benefit from their friendship.
Why would either of these two be any different?
Albert didn't want to consider the possibility that his money wasn't enough. Because if money wasn't enough, what did he have left?
"Stop making fun of me!" he finally snapped.
Naruto looked at him curiously.
"Why?"
"Because I said so!"
"That doesn't explain anything."
Albert felt as though he were about to lose control. It wasn't simply that Naruto wasn't afraid of him. It was that the boy didn't even seem to consider him important.
The blond boy didn't admire him, envy him, or even seem interested in competing with him.
He treated him like any other child... perhaps even less than that.
Albert turned his gaze toward Mikasa, looking for some sign that at least she understood his position. But the girl was putting away her purchases without even paying attention to him.
"Mikasa!" he called out.
She briefly raised her head.
"What is it?"
"Do you see how your companion behaves? He has no respect. You should tell him to apologize."
Mikasa looked at Naruto, who was examining a small metal object, before turning her attention back to Albert.
"Naruto hasn't done anything that requires an apology," she said calmly. "Even if he had something to apologize for, why should he?"
The answer left him frozen.
"What...?"
"He's just talking. If it bothers you, stop arguing with him."
Mikasa adjusted the things she was carrying.
"Naruto, let's go."
"All right."
The two began walking away without saying goodbye to Albert. Without giving him one last glance. Without even considering the encounter worthy of any further attention.
Albert remained motionless, watching them.
"Wait!" he shouted.
Mikasa didn't stop.
"Mikasa, I'm talking to you!"
The girl continued walking.
Naruto turned his head slightly.
"Why are you shouting so much?"
"SHUT UP!"
His shout made several passersby turn their heads.
Mikasa finally stopped, more out of exhaustion than anything else.
"What do you want now?"
Albert opened his mouth. He could offer her more money, take her to the finest shops, or promise her any gift she could imagine. But none of it seemed to be enough.
Mikasa wasn't impressed, she wasn't grateful, and she didn't even seem interested in continuing to talk to him.
Albert felt his hands begin to tremble.
He had done everything he was supposed to do. He had been nice, bragged about his family, and offered her money.
So why did she keep rejecting him?
"I just wanted to talk to you," he murmured.
Mikasa watched him for a few seconds.
"We've already talked."
And she turned away again.
Those words were enough to make Albert lose control. He didn't know how to handle this mixture of frustration, embarrassment, and anger. He couldn't understand why someone would reject him after everything he had offered. So he did the only thing that came to mind: find someone to blame.
And Naruto was standing right in front of him.
"This is all your fault!" Albert shouted.
The blond boy stopped.
"Mine?"
"Yes, yours! If you hadn't been here, Mikasa would have listened to me!"
Naruto stared at him in confusion.
"But she already listened to you."
"Shut up!"
"And she told you she didn't want anything."
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
Albert advanced with his fists clenched.
The three children accompanying him began to back away. They knew about his whims and tantrums, but they had never seen him lose control like that in the middle of the street.
Mikasa realized that the situation had changed.
"Albert, stop."
But he barely seemed to hear her. His eyes remained fixed on Naruto, who hadn't even stepped back.
"Stop looking at me like that!" Albert shouted.
Naruto blinked.
"Like what?"
"LIKE I'M NOBODY!"
The shout echoed among the nearby stalls.
For a moment, Albert seemed to run out of words. He had expressed something he didn't even fully understand himself. But the shame of having said it only fueled his anger.
He didn't want Naruto to look at him like that. He didn't want Mikasa to ignore him. He wanted someone to pay for making him feel this way.
"I'm going to teach you to respect me!"
Albert pulled his arm back.
Mikasa's eyes widened as she realized what he was about to do.
"Albert, don't!"
Mikasa immediately moved at high speed, attempting to place herself between them. But she couldn't get there in time.
Albert had already thrown his punch.
His fist flew straight toward Naruto's cheek.
Smack!
The punch connected with Naruto's face.
( — 0.0.0.0.0 — )