Chapter 32 - Oddity

The road is already dim at the current hour. Two people walk along side by side towards an upwards hill. One of the people is a burly man with a tailcoat. While the other one was a gray-haired man wearing a cloak. The two tapped their feet as they climbed up the hill where the high-class district is located.

Nobles and rich folks live in this particular district. They are prattling around the streets, chatting leisurely as the eyes of the guards gaze upon them from the watch towers. The two individuals passed over the nobles. Women who rather liked their men elegant and strong looked upon the burly man with the tailcoat.

Blushes appeared on the faces of the ladies as they like the strong and leaned figure of the man wearing a tailcoat. The other noble ladies glanced at the gray-haired cloaked man. He seems nothing of value, quite average but one thing in particular about this man was his rather frail appearance. Not because of his level of beauty, but because simply of his appearance. It wasn’t normal for such man to be this fragile looking. Even the most handsome nobles the ladies saw were quite different compared to his strange creature lost in the world.

But the ladies were still not interested in such a frail looking being. Like mentioned, they like their men strong and responsible. Commanding men with sculpted bodies makes the nobles ladies moist down below. They are of a much higher class, so seeing such burly man with elegance make them fell.

The two, especially the one stared at the most didn’t bother with the stares. They moved within the cobblestone paved roads and walked to a building. This building was more of a villa, and the two entered.

Inside the burly man with a tailcoat pointed at the gray-haired cloaked man to sit in the living room. He looked like was going to scream as he sat on the couch of the living room. He tidied up his cloak and leaned his back on the couch. He made a slow breath, and turn towards the door.

He thought that maybe he can just get out of the place. But he remembered the face of the owner who forced him to follow the burly man wearing a tailcoat. He didn’t like it but he had no choice at all. He really doesn’t want to be in this place. Death seems like it lingers upon this house.

After all, the last time he went inside this humble abode. He almost died by the fangs of a dire wolf that could penetrate his skull in one swoop. His fear is natural because of that event. So the gray-haired, cloaked man could only vexingly complain at the way he is here now.

If he is told he would be fetching things again. The obvious choice he would make is to refuse strongly and leave the place. But the problem for him is that he is inadequate in dealing with anyone, simply, because of his inability to speak the language of the land.

Thus he sighs helplessly.

...

Meanwhile, on the room located up in the villa. A woman with black hair, red eyes, and black frilly dress stared at the burly man with a tailcoat.

“So the same man who delivered the crumpled flower is working again? Can you tell me why are you letting such incompetent man work here again?”

“Because I think he is the only one who could not harm milady.”

Gundry answered, remembering the frail young man.

“And why would you think that?”

“Because milady could probably defend herself against this young man, plus he is someone whose morals are different from the people. How can I say this, he feels like he belongs to a different world?”

The Lady named Aubrey frowned and said:

“And you expect me to just agree? Gundry, the man cannot even speak the language of the land. He is mostly a mute, and you are telling me that you somehow think this man, is morally upright?”

Gundry bowed his head and explained.

“I played with the man. Observed him before even thinking of letting him work again, and what I found is an average normal man. But do you know what I saw during my investigation?”

Lady Aubrey was intrigued by her servant’s words.

“What is it?”

“He is an Oddity.”

“That’s all?”

She was quite disappointed by Gundry’s reply.

“He is simply an odd one milady. You know that I have been traveling the world through galleon ships. I scoured the world for forty years and saw many nations. I observed their lifestyle, culture, and habit. And seeing this little odd one, that seems like he was lost, made me conclude that he is an oddity. His way of thinking doesn’t correspond with the commoners, and his language is something that I have never heard. Not to mention that weird flashing tool, made me wonder what this man is.”

“Flashing tool?”

She raised a brow at the certain words.

“Ah, it seems to be a tool of some sort. I observed it, but I have no idea how such things works. But my instincts tell me that he is truly an oddity milady. And...”

Gundry glance sideways at the surroundings outside. When he was ‘investigating’ the young man, he saw a scene that made him conclude that he is a person that can be slightly trusted. He saw the young man crying under a tree, near the river banks. Seeing such scene, made Gundry feel that how such fragile man could cry with so much emotion.

He observed him for three days. And in those three days, he would always go to that certain place to sit and watch the flowing river. In that place, he would cry his heart out, as if he is missing something.

Gundry found such scene odd. In this world it is unusual, no man would ever cry with such passionate emotions. It is not like he is an exception, but the fragility of that young man when he cried, made Gundry think that he is some lost sheep. And because of that, he concluded that he is an oddity that could not hurt the lady.

“Your instincts huh?”

Lady Aubrey looked at her servant and thought. She always has relied on him since the day her parents died, hence she completely trusts him.

“Very well...If your instincts say so then I will agree. I do not trust that man, but even with that. I am still quite interested in that flashing tool.”

“Thank you, milady.”

Gundry bowed his head.

“Don’t make me regret this Gundry.”

“I am sure milady won’t.”

Gundry said. He then left the room immediately, leaving only the lone lady inside.