24 Deliveries (1/2)
”Roaaar!”
The rock monster let out an inhuman howl.
”We are screwed,” Jae despondently uttered.
”Wait! It's not moving!” Scarlett realized.
A majority of the monster's body adhered into the cave walls. It could only growl furiously at the trespassers without being able to take action.
”I would assume we are safe, however, the fact the exit is blocked still stands,” Clara scrutinized the squirming monsters.
Avoiding the rock monster, the children began to search for another way out or a weapon to use.
Scarlett squinted, ”I see an entrance to another room next to the big rocky armadillo.”
Jae noticed as well, but considering how the monster was swinging its stubby arms and legs haphazardly left no opening for the trio to take advantage of. Pebbles flew everywhere from the monster's rampage.
”Could we use something as bait and dash in while it's distracted?” Jae suggested.
The trio glanced at the three bags in their possession.
------
At the moment, Melody and the others somehow ended up as witnesses in a court. Unlike the courts of their previous world, the courts in Alkbestia were straightforward and cost next to nothing.
Supposing a beastman presented a case or problem, then the local authorities will form a makeshift court. In the first place, the laws of Alkbestia were simple and if any were declared violated, then the accused and accuser would fight in a duel.
If the accuser won, then the accused would be punished in accordance with the law. On the other hand, if the accused won, then the accused would be set free from retribution. Only in Alkbestia would such a rule exist since all beastmen were born with powerful bodies. Furthermore, either side could recommend a fighter to duel for them.
The sole time the duel does not apply would be serious crimes involving life or death of the victim or a crime against the country and ”humanity”. In that case, the perpetrator would be sentenced immediately to capital punishment.
”I have irrefutable evidence that my husband had committed several affairs! The children are my witnesses! According to the twenty-fifth law of the Alkbestia, my husband will be castrated and sentenced to half a year of torturous labor!” The rat beastwoman claimed.
”Darling! It was a mistake, please believe in me and our three...or was it five? Uh, five years of marriage! They were the ones who lusted after my body in the first place!” The rat beastman countered.
The elk beastman judge repeatedly nodded to their testimonies. Actually, the beastman was so old and senile that he nodded to whatever the duo said. Meanwhile, the other beastmen simply ignored the ongoing court session and did their own activities.
”This has been going on and on for hours...,” Bridget sighed.
”Can't we just take the bag and go?” Nora whispered from Wendy's sack.
”Stealing is bad~,” Wendy scolded. Behind her, Melody was resting her weary soul. She really could not care about the entire incident.
”But, it was our bag in the first place...Oh wait, it seems interesting now,” Nora observed the couple.
The wife equipped a pickaxe while the husband held his hoe. On the judge's signal, the two clashed without hesitation as if they had done this for years. Both were ordinary beastmen, but far more skilled than the children. With curiosity, the children studied the moves of the duo.
Their weapons acted as an extension of their bodies. Fluidly dodging each other's attacks and countering with quick swings, the farmer couple seemed like they could read each other's minds.
If there was anything that the children learned from examining the bout, it was the fact that none of them knew how to use a hoe or pickaxe. Well, except Alexis.
”If farmers can do all that, then what about the actual beastmen warriors? What is this feeling? It's like comparing my slow otaku self to an athletic jock,” Nora pondered.
Soon, the wife tripped and the husband tossed his weapon away to catch her. The duo glanced at each other with gazes filled to the brim with love. It was as though they never fought in the first place.
”Honey~”
”Darling~”
They embraced while Melody facepalmed in the corner.
”This is the dumbest romantic comedy I've ever seen,” she complained, ”We wasted six hours to recover the goddess forsaken bag!”
”At least, they're done with whatever family problems they had. Isn't that great?” Bridget said.
”That court session was quite odd. I doubt the other countries have the same system,” Nora commented.
Jade approached the lovey-dovey couple, ”May we have our shipment back?”
”Sure, sure, just take it away!” The wife half-heartedly replied. Actually, she had forgotten why the children were there in the first place.
Jade checked the returned shipment and confirmed it was the correct bag.
”Where did we need to deliver this again?” Melody asked.
”Bestie's Tavern,” Jade responded.
------
Huff. Huff.
Exhausted, Scarlett dropped onto the ground along with Clara and Jae. By using one of the bags as bait, the children managed to bypass the rock armadillo and into the secret passage.
Luminous mushrooms with a violet tint overflowed the cavern walls. Miniscule purple crystals were embedded on the surface of the mushrooms' cap. There were two paths which diverged from the current open space they were in.
”Do you think these mushrooms would sell?” Jae asked.
”Let's gather them!” Scarlett plucked as many as she could fit into the remaining two bags, which were already half-filled.
”So, which path should we take? Left or Right?” Jae inquired. Since the last two paths he had decided upon landed them in misfortune, he was not going to attempt a third try.
Clara thought for a moment before asking, ”Which path do you think we should go, Jae?”
”Uh, left?”
”Then, we shall take the right path,” Clara declared.
------
”Listen! There are only three hours until the most important guest of our puny lives visits! It's an honor for such a gourmet to come to this sh*tty place! It is time for the last spurt, maggots!” The sheep chef yelled.
”Yes, sir!”
Sounds of ingredients were being chopped rhythmically. Water boiled in preparation for the ingredients to arrive. Some chefs would check the taste of sauces and spices, while others would fry a variety of meat and vegetables.
”What the f*** are those deliverymen doing? We need those ingredients immediately,” the head chef screamed at an unlucky assistant.
Disregarding the shouting, Iris continued to grill sizzling steaks with golden juices. Natalie swiftly decorated the dishes with delicate designs. All the chefs were in a hurry to finish the dishes to their utmost perfection.