Chapter 33: Portia Part 1

Portia.

The port city leading to the Mercantile continent. It’s a place famous for its sea delicacies and tropical seafoods. From the outside I can see a large slim building, protruding out of its gates, that pierced the skies. Emily told me it’s the “Lighthouse.” Something the sailboats used to guide them at night.

It’s also a different kind of livelihood here compare to Bilford. In here, rugged men fills the area, loading goods and crates to be transported in and out of the city. There’s still some stalls, but even they are quite lacking in number.

Nevertheless, the wide blue ocean spreading outside of the port is so much beautiful. Like how August imagined, the main attraction of this place is the beach - where pretty women show their skin by wearing revealing swimsuits - and its restaurants. How wonderful. It seems like it’ll be another meaningful journey for the Berthold household.

Bon Voyage!

As soon as we entered the city, we went to the stable. This wagon and horses were conveniently supplied by the adventurer’s guild after I took the request. Since our next trip is off land, there was no need to bring them with us any longer.

“Here’s the return slip. Bring that back to the guild and they’ll reimburse your insurance money,” the worker said, handing me a small sheet of paper with his signature and stamp with it.

“Thank you, but how much can I trust this piece of paper?”

He snorted. “Lose it and you won’t get your money back. It’s that simple.”

I returned a snort of my own. “That simple indeed. Anyways can I leave the products here until I have a talk with my client to pick them up?”

“Sure, just don’t forget to do it before sundown or you’ll pay an extra fine.”

I nodded. “Understood. We’ll return before sundown then.”

Damn. It was totally understandable, but I still had to gripe at how much money I could potentially lose. I ran my fingers through my hair and blew a small sigh as we exited the stable.

“Master, what is our next course of action?” August asked worriedly. However I knew it was nothing but a facade so I could shoo him away somewhere.

Once this fatso obtains his freedom, he’ll start gawking at the girls on the beach. Even though we have more pressing matters to attend…

I pressed a palm on my temple. “It’s fine to do what you want, but remember to come back here before sundown.”

“Really? Fantastic!”

August squealed and ran off somewhere. It wasn’t that long till I lost sight of his back in the busy crowd.

“I’ll decide for an inn then,” Emily suggested.

“Alright, that sounds good. Lepust can accompany you.”

“Eh? But, there’s no need for protection,” she whimpered.

“You see, I don’t like to share what’s mine, Miss Emily. And if I were you, I’d buy some robe to cover those damn thighs on the way, alright?” I smiled, but I could feel my eyebrows twitching.

“Yes sir,” she grumbled and rolled her eyes at me.

“Good girl.”

Christ. For the short time we spent together so far, I never understood what made Emily so damn alluring when she acts like an obedient girl. Did it have something to do with my current mentality? I shook my head. She did questioned me once if I get off watching her eat. For her to say that, there must be something wrong with me lately.

“Leave big sister to me,” Lepust nodded and tapped the scabbard of his sword when I turned to have his confirmation. “If any guy tries to hit on her, I’ll be sure to dispose of them with a single swipe of this sword,” he declared, puffing his chest in pride.

“Good.” I stroked his head. He seemed to like it when he was recognized before, so he couldn’t let this chance of getting acknowledged slipped him by.

As I gave my instructions to Lepust, Emily leaned forward and gave my cheek a swift kiss. “Until sundown?”

I smiled and returned the kiss on her forehead. “Until sundown. I’ll see you two later.”

She rubbed a hand on her forehead then glanced up to me. The dimples winked into her cheeks followed by a hint of blush, so I kissed her there - on the surface of her hand - again. Damn. Out of all the oddities I’d been feeling lately, that was probably one of the best.

After finishing our small business in the stable, I then start walking to enter the more commercial part of town. Since losing this return slip equates to me losing my hard earned cash, I decide to head to the guild first. With the guild’s distinguished logo, it isn’t that hard to find.

Murmuring adventurers, a crowd of manly men populating the bar side, and a busty receptionist - that is the adventurer’s guild. Though it might look like a rough area at first glance, most of the people around here offer decent help as long as long as you have the appropriate money to pay for their services.

However even this place has its moral rules. Basically just use your common sense and you can more or less have an adventurer do any type of job for you.

“Hello~ Welcome to the adventurer’s guild! How can we help you today?”

Miss Receptionist, who looks like she’s in her mid twenties, greets me the usual greeting I’ve always gotten back in Bilford. Seems like there’s a uniform greeting and a uniform suit for them to wear. On her case, it’s one that emphasizes her bust size. Thank God I’m into the smaller variety.

“Hi, nothing much. I’m just here for my reimbursement.”

I reach to my pocket and give Miss Receptionist the small slip I received in the stables.

“Two horses and a single wagon? Coming right up.”

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure. Can I help you with anything else?”

Taking the coin pouch from her outstretched hand, Miss Receptionist beams me a huge smile. Due to her bright smile I have difficulty counting the coins in front of her. It just doesn’t feel right to doubt this girl.

“Ah, just some questions—”

She peers at my face all of a sudden, causing me take a single step back.

“Is something the matter?”

“Hmm… Slitted eyes, swept-back black hair, and a hammer on his back… Are you perhaps the esteemed Phantom Fang?”

She says in excitement, and because of her clear voice that echoed throughout the building, everybody’s attention are suddenly directed to myself.

“Phantom Fang?”

“It seems like it.”

“Is he the real deal though?”

“Meh, he’s just a kid.”

Most of the gazes are filled with envy and resentment, making me wonder to myself if I did something wrong. It never changes. It’s always like this for some reason.

Now, after that single time I did a monster hunt by myself, I earned that monster’s nickname. For me it wasn’t anything special, but I heard the monster was notorious in the area. I mean, in game terms, it had the look of a final boss and it did have some lethal claws. So if your beginner forest decided to spawn a monster lord, the game would be broken. However I broke it even further when a no named adventurer like myself returned safe and sound after hunting such a big game.

“You’re a lot younger than I imagined you to be,” Miss Receptionist says, cocking her head on one side.

“Well, I’m only nineteen after all.” I smile.

“So… is it true that you entered the Great Forest and came back alive?”

“Do I look like a ghost to you? Besides that was my second time in the Great Forest.”

“Ehhhh?!”

Miss receptionist gapes at me in pure amazement. To look cool at this moment, I can’t believe myself sometimes. But I understand why she acted so surprised.

The Great Forest is considered one of the most dangerous regions in the central continent. I remember Celes mentioning something about a ward when she first guided me out of that forest,but on my second attempt to traverse the Sea of Trees without her, it was different. I went out and challenge its dangers, to look for her, however my efforts ended up in naught and I barely escaped with my life. Unless one has a talisman imbued by their magic, one can’t find the entrance to Altea.

“Anyways, I was wondering if there’s any extra information regarding sea-dwellers?” I ask.

Miss receptionist presses a palm on her chest and breathes in. Then out. That seems to have calmed her down.

“Sea-dwellers?”

“Yes,” I nod.

“Hmm, they are a very mysterious race with many rumors and legends surrounding them. Which one would you like to hear?”

So it was the same even here, huh?

“Ah, that’s fine. Anything in regards to their location?”

Crossing her arms Miss receptionist narrows her eyes and bites on her bottom lip.

“There’s this rumor that their island is surrounded by giant whirlpools and no man has graced their land for decades. However the exact location of this island isn’t really graphed in the map. So no one could testify how true this really is,” she explains.

“I see,” I murmur, crossing my arms myself.

“Well I’m sorry to disappoint.”

Miss Receptionist looks down. She seems to be the type to take her job so seriously.

“Well, you’re more than helpful. Thanks again,” I reassure her, trying to boost her confidence.

But it seems like what my information broker told me was right. I only have a chance of knowing across the sea. Sighing a long sigh I bid farewell to Miss Receptionist and trudge my way to the bar.

“What do ya need, lad?”

“Some milk please.”

A surprise, speculative laughter instantly ripples when the surrounding men hear me order my milk. What can I do? I don’t like the taste of booze and most especially not at this time of the day.

Another adventurer leans his back on the bar and pats my shoulder.

“So the esteemed Phantom Fang loves his milk, eh?

“Pretty much,” I nod, sipping on the cup of milk the bartender hands me. More men gathers and circles me too. Some are praising me, some are doubting me, but they are all curious to know.

“So, how did you kill Cutter?”

“How? I diced it to pieces and take its arm with me for the spoils,” I answer, sighing.

“That’s what we want me to know. The monster is known for its cunning agility,” he continues.

“Well…”

It’s like time stills for them all as they wait for my answer. Even their breathing stops when I turn to gaze at the man who asked the question. I still. Maybe there’s no reason for me to do this, but it’ll do me well to build up my standing in this place.

“Those who aren’t curious enough to risk their lives can step back.”

That was a joke of course. Kill-Zone isn’t really lethal, but I want to scare them a little. I whisper the skill’s name and let the sinister air leak out, and a different type of murmur spreads across the bar. The large group of adventurers that surrounded me before are reduced to a brave number of three, including the man who originally asked and the bartender.

Soon my sinister skill pollutes the air and they all writhe on the ground, each making a despaired face than the one from before. After a few seconds I stop it immediately and leave the still bewildered group of men. Hopefully, this will teach them not to mess with me for a while.

With another sigh I leave the guild.