Chapter 20 (1/2)

20.UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

Willian was walking at the capital of Arcadia, Arkas, by himself. He actually didn´t have any specific intentions to be doing that. He was simply wandering around to get some fresh air. To Willian, who didn´t like pointless things, this kind of period of idleness was very rare to him. He had too many things he had to think about that his head completely stopped working for the time. It was because of that that Willian was now doing this pointless action.

“”Kail is at his job at the colosseum and Havella is also busy because of the work at her guild. Well, it´s fine… At any point, earlier then at that time….””

“It seems what you are talking about is really serious, but isn´t things of that sort the type that you should ask other people to teach you? People that can do things will be able to them, and people that can´t won´t for the eternity. Whether it is for talent, or for sense, and other things.”

“…You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, are you saying that I have no talent?”

“I´m not saying that. Rather, you have too much of it, or so I think. Well, but you should have been able to immediately get to use it as long as you just had the basic perception of it. Though, saying “get to use it” is a faulty expression, I guess.”

“I don´t get what you are saying. Explain it in a way I can understand.”

“This is impossible. I can´t just let you know everything about me. The opposite would be the same too.”

“…Miser.”

“Sorry. Well, if I was to give you one advice… It would be for you to accept yourself, I guess.   ….No, actually, forget it. This would be too harsh on you.”

“I don´t get what you are saying.”

Willian remembered about his conversation with Kail the previous day. In the end, he wasn´t able to understand anything, but a lingering discomfort remained inside Willian.

“Aa-ah, is it impossible for me to get stronger in an easier way?”

To Willian, in a certain meaning, this was his first bottleneck. There were many deep bottlenecks he had to go through, but after pondering about it, and after putting effort, he would be able to break through it for the most of it. If he needed to learn about it, he would get a place he would be able to study about it, and if he didn´t have enough muscles, he could simply eat things that were very nutritious and have an adequate amount of exercise. He would obtain knowledge and put it into practice. Before, just this sufficed.

“I wonder what I am supposed to do from now on.”

He also couldn´t keep being in the care of the Teirah family forever. Even if it was impossible for him to have a whole house for himself, it was obviously still possible for him to think about renting a place. Since he was a foreigner, him living at the slums would be suitable, and besides, the rent there would also be cheap.

“”No, I would stand out even if I was to cause the smallest trouble, so I might need to go live in an inn… But is it too expensive to be possible in the end? There are some small s.h.i.+tty rooms that are really cheap… but as expected, since I´m not a slave, I would be looking bad in the eyes of society….”

Even for such a simple thing like that, Willian couldn´t think of an answer even after thinking about it.

“”What is it about reputation, this stupid thing. I am really not thinking well right now. If I don´t go back to normal soon, I don´t know what kind of mistake I might end up making.”

Willian scratched his head. Being able to quickly think about things no matter the circ.u.mstance was one of his strong points. At his current situation, this strong point was as good as dead. Even if he was to think about the things he needs to do now, no matter how he tries, those thoughts would lead to [that thing]. That mysterious power spike, and also, the terrifying himself that was reflected on those eyes.

“”s.h.i.+t, forget about it for now! There are many things I need to think about right now!””

But even so, those thoughts kept clinging onto his head and wouldn´t go away.

Willian was in agony.

“That´s troubling, ojou-san. For you to be putting all the blame onto the merchandize I sell… If you want me to sell it cheap for you, I wish you would say it directly to me, you see.”

“No, that, uhm….”

“If my reputation declines, how are you supposed to take responsibility?”

Willian looked ahead. What came to his sight was a crowd of people. Right in the center of the crowd, there was a stall that was selling cloth. The shopkeeper was probably having a quarrel with his client. If it was the usual Willian, he obviously wouldn´t poke his nose onto it. However…

“What´s the problem here?”

Right now, Willian was stressed.

“Yes, it is this client here. She started to complain about my merchandize. She was saying this silk wasn´t made in Nehderks. If this beautiful silk isn´t from Nehderks, then where is it supposed to have come from? Isn´t this unreasonable, onii-san?”

Willian approached the shopkeeper of the stall. He glanced at the customer that had complained about the cloth, but because her head was hanging down, there was no way for him to see her face. Willian also didn´t have any interest in seeing it.

In the end… he only came to vent his stress after all.

“I see, it is a beautiful silk. Can I touch it for a bit?”

The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment. At that instant, Willian was able to know who was the one at fault.

“What, it´s not like I am suspecting you. I have no idea how to identify the quality of cloth. I simply want to have a touch at this beautiful and refined cloth.”

“Ah, yes, of course, be my guest.”

After that, all he needed to do was to bring him down.

“I see, this is a good silk. By the way, owner, this… Do you know what kind of weave is this? No, no, it´s just that I want to have a reference.”

At that instant, the complexion of the shopkeeper´s face changed. The client that had issued that complaint from before also showed a reaction of surprise.

“Something like that dooesn´t matteeer! It has nothing to do with you. Take your hands off it already and just go somewhere else!”

Willian showed a smile. At first glance, Willian looked like an agreeable young man, but…

“The silk of Nehderks is made in satin. This is the same silk, but it is made in plain weave. I don´t have the intention to say which one is of better quality by that, but I would have to say that you promoting this is Nehderk´s silk is just lies.”

Once all the pretence was peeled off, Willian became filled with wicked feelings. His smile was of the devil himself.

The shopkeeper´s face became palid.

“Yo-you said you didn´t know how to identify the quality of cloth…”

“Yes, I don´t know. I have no idea what kind of cloth is of good or bad quality. I simply have some knowledge about it. I know that the silk from Nehderks is made in satin and that the one made at the northwestern side of Arkas is made in plain weave. In terms of selling price… even if both are silk, the price is different by twice the amount, and it should be clear which of them is the higher priced, right?”

The shopkeeper couldn´t even gasp. The crowd of people around the stall were all at once giving angry glares at the shopkeeper. Now that it became like that, he wouldn´t be able to sell anything at this place.

“Well, the plain weave is very firm, so I think that it by itself is a good product. To unknowledgeable eyes though.”

Saying that, he turned away from the stall and walked his way out of the place. He glanced at the shopkeeper, who fell on his knees, and let his mind be carried by the dark feelings of having his appet.i.te satiated.

“”Ah, I feel refreshed now.””

His thoughts were more or less flowing better than before. Defeating others, kicking them down their place and eating a part of their life. After knowing of the feeling of victory once again, Willian got in a bit of a good mood.