Chapter 56: Fun Times

Nathan decided to hold off Belle explaining anything, he would return later after retrieving everyone.

Leaving Belle behind, Nathan left only to find, Anais had stayed behind to wait. She was standing outside when they exited the building. Why they walked Nathan explained their conversation.

Anais: “That sure was along talk for nothing, but to meet you.”

Nathan: “Can’t blame him, the Hero showing up to your door, asking for a job, well, at least I got a look at a map.”

Anais: “And discovered, you can’t read it.”

Nathan: “Don’t make sound like I’m all around dumb.”

As Anais and Nathan, prattled on, Iris set on Nathans shoulder, Matthew words replaying in her head.

Anais: “What’s wrong with you?”

Iris: “Ah, nothing, I’m just tired.”

Anais: “Does it have something to do with that massive surge of energy from earlier.”

Nathan: “You felt that?”

Anais: “Along with everyone else around, it was huge pressure for a split second.”

Iris: “I’m sorry, it just the things he said.

Nathan: “Iris I asked him to. Besides any rational person would think the same way. Though I’m am curious to about what he was talking about (About those nations moving), but any rationale mind person would definitely have similar views about the situation. I’m pretty sure, I hear even worse things in the future.”

Iris: “I understand that, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy hearing them.”

Nathan: “Thanks for getting mad for me, it means a lot.”

Nathan rubbed the top of Iris’s head. her face flushing ever so slightly.

Nathan: “(But in all honesty, I didn’t like the way he looked at Iris.)”

Iris: “Master, why did you tell a lie?”

Nathan: “Lie……….ah that?”

Anais: “What did you lie about?”

Nathan explained about Dyrek woods and the Twelve Horns.

Anais: “We were invisible and undetectable almost that entire time.”

Nathan: “Yeah, so I didn’t technically lie, I just didn’t tell him every little detail.”

Iris: “But why?”

Nathan: “Were figure it out in eight days, heheheh.”

Nathan cackled evilly, much to Anais and Iris’s discomfort.

Nathan: “Anais where are we going anyway?”

Anais: “Ash said he treat us to dinner before we head back to Ramol’s.”

Nathan: “I’ll pass, don’t need it.”

Anais: “Ash said you’re not allowed to bail.”

Anais quickly grabbed Nathans hand and pulled him along

Anais: “Let’s go, free meal awaits.”

Anais lead everyone down the street, more people filling the paths as they continued. Most of the people about seemed to be Therian, unlike the human and Pristyne, the Therian didn’t try so needlessly to avoid him, but the amount on eyes on him didn’t change. As more people crowded the street, it became a lot more difficult to move without bumping someone.

*Bump*Snatch*

Nathan: “(Huh?)”

*Snatch*

Thievery +7

*ding ding*

Conditons Met “Pickpocket Lvl1” Now Active

Nathan stopped walking and looked back, looked down at the small bag in his hand, jiggling the bag he snickered.

Iris: “Master, is everything okay?”

Nathan: “Oh nothing, just remembered something.”

Anais: “What ya standing around for, move people.”

Nathan: “I’m coming.”

Nathan placed the pouch in the now free slot on his side and hurried after Anais.

_

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?????: “So cool, I can’t believe you just did that?”

?????: “Forget the praise beat, check to see if someone notice her.”

Beat: “Don’t boss me around Jazz and of course there no one.”

Jazz: “Another clean heist, eh Viola?”

Viola tossed the bag of coin up and down, smirk on her face revealing her two front teeth.

Viola: “Is there any other kind.”

Jazz: “So how much did we get?”

*jingle**Jingle*

Viola tossed the bag to jazz, who wasted no time emptying the contents into her hand.”

Jazz: “What, is that it, a few lousy silvers?”

Beat: “We gotten more robbing the nobles.”

Viola: “Forget it, it’s not about the money, who else can say they robbed a Lycanian. More than that, I don’t feel like dealing with Bernard and his little dog pack.”

Beat: “I guess, well we can get something to eat, who’s hungry?”

Viola: “Yeah dinner sounds good, lets head back.”

Beat&Jazz: “Right boss.”

Viola: “I told you to stop calling me that.”

Beat and Jazz followed after Viola out of the alley. She was in a good mood, the Lycanian hadn’t been here, more than a few days and she had already left her mark. She loved robbing people more than anything, it wasn’t the treasure, it was the rush that gave it purpose.

Regret wasn’t in her vocabulary, her philosophy, if it could be stolen, then consider it gone. After she report this, she was sure to move up in the Theives Guild. The person who said mutts will always be just that, would soon choke on their words.

She, a Therian was the first to steal from the Lycanian race, in five thousand years. Besides, sporting such a flimsy pouch the Lycanian was asking for it. If they really wanted to keep it safe, they would put it out of sight like she does.

*Pat**Pat*

Viola: “Eh?

Viola patted her side, her face going pale as she searched herself.

Jazz and Beat watched as Viola begin to pat herself all over, reaching into her clothes indiscreetly fondling her assets. Several people took notice as at her as they walked by. Even as a “Rodentia” she was not at all unpleasant to the eyes and though not as well-endowed the curves were still as enticing.

Jazz: “Viola, what’s up with you.”

Viola ignored her friends and continued her search, there was no way she dropped it, so the only conclusion, the item was lost amongst her clothes. In thus, she began to disrobe. Lifting her shirt, her plain white bra came into view.

Crowd: “OOOOOOOH!”

Jazz and Beat went wide eyed, over the same matter but for difference reason. Jazz wondering what was wrong with her boss, Beat mind in sync with the crowd of men around.

*Poke*

Beat: “MY EYEEEEESSS!”

Jazz pulled he fingers from beats corneas, as she hurriedly went over and pulled Viola’s shirt back down.

Jazz: “Don’t look, you assholes, Viola, what are you doing in the middle of the street?”

Viola: “It’s not there then it must be-”

Viola didn’t even finish her sentence before she tugged her pants half way down, exposing her butt. Unless her chest, that was nothing special, her butt was threating to burst from her pants. Another collective hoot from the crowd and Beat alike, as they cheered her on.

*Poke*

Beat: “MY EYEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!”

Jazz grabbed Viola, before they both turned into a shadow and vanished, leaving the crowd wondering where they are. A moment later they appeared in alleyway not far from where they were. Beat arrived as Jazz finishing force dressing Viola, tears in his eyes from being poked repeatedly.

Jazz: “What were you doing in the middle of the street?”

Viola: “……………………………………Gone, it’s gone.”

Jazz: “What’s gone?”

Viola: “Our money……..it’s gone.”

_

_

Anais: “What the hell is going on, we’ve been waiting for twenty minutes.”

Ash: “It doesn’t usually take this long, I wonder what’s up.”

Ena: “This is unacceptable, I’ll make them hurry up.”

Ash: “Don’t do that, it just a busy night, look this place is pack. On the way here, I saw a bunch of other places, they’re all packed.

Ash: “Must be cause of the tournament, it always like this around this time.”

Anais: “So, I saw people come in after us already get served.”

Nathan: “Your all forgetting one thing.”

Nathan pointed to himself, prompting a few enlightenments.

Anais: “Oh right, forgot about that.”

Nathan: “I can leave, you’d probably get some service.”

Ash: “Denied.”

Nathan: “Its fine, I told you, I don’t need to eat.”

Ash: “As weird as that is, it’s not the point, I said I was treating you so let me.”

Ash tried futilely to get someone’s attention, they just didn’t want to approach Nathan. Outside the restaurant, Nathan could hear a conversation with a group who wanted to get a table, but the table were all full.

Nathan notice that a few tables in the corner, with grills and fire pits, but no one seemed to want to sit there.

Nathan: “Hey ash, what’s up with those tables?”

Ash: “Hmm, those tables, there self-serve tables. The restaurant provides you with ingredients at a reduced price and you just cook for yourself. Why?”

Nathan: Perfect, let’s go there.”

Ash: “But, I can’t cook.”

Nathan: “I can.”

Nathan quickly shuffled over to the table, quickly setting up the grill and checking the pots for damage.”

Ash: “How am I supposed to treat you if you’re the one cooking?”

Nathan: “By purchasing all the ingredients.

Nathan told ash of what he needed, he went up to the counter to grab what he needed. Since everything was uncooked, the price was reduce and he could get a couple of extra things.

Nathan saw out the corner of his eye, the group who was waiting outside took their old table and get helped almost immediately.

Anais: “What these dirty-”

Nathan: “Forget it Anais, it’s not worth it.”

Ash: “Here’s everything you asked for.”

Nathan: “Thanks.”

Nathan got right to work, slicing meat into chunks, before seasoning them and putting them on grill. Placing a pan under the meat, he gathered the juices, into another pot, whisking it together with flour and added some water. Soon the pot came to a boil and the smell began to waft around the restaurant. Next, he chopped some vegetables and place them on the grill for a few minutes, before dumping it into the pot, along with all the meat.

Everyone watched as he worked, finishing one task and moving on to the next. People around the restaurant, couldn’t help but take notice. The tantalizing smell drew eyes.

Finesse +4

Charisma +5

Nathan: “Oh, so mundane work as well.”

Anais: “What was that?”

Nathan: “Nothing, slice that bread and hand me those bowls.”

Nathan poured the stew in to each bowl handed one to everyone.

Nathan: “Ah, that was fun, eat up everyone, it’s been so long since I did that.”

Everyone took a bite of the food and eyes lit up.”

Anais: “So good~”

Ash: “I never had or seen food prepared in such a way.”

Nathan: “Really, this is an everyday meal, where I come from.”

Ash: “Are you kidding, the stew in this place isn’t even as good as this.”

Nathan: “It that what was being served here?”

Ash: “Not this good, I kinda glad we didn’t get served.”

Nathan watched as his dishes were demolished. What he prepared was a meal one would eat at an outing in his world. To be held in such high esteem, was a bit surprising.

*ding*ding*

Title Acquired: (Cooking Hero)

Nathan: “(New title not bad)”

Nathan looked over his new title.

(Cooking Hero)

Finesse +8

Stat Booster

Nathan quickly switched to the new title. Higher finesse made every move he made, more refined, so every attack was a lot more precise. He didn’t get the “Stat Booster”, when he looked at his stats nothing had change. He would need to experiment to figure out what it meant, but that could wait until later.

Nathan looked to his shoulder, Iris was staring down at the food prepared by him. She couldn’t eat right now, seeing as how, a floating food disappearing into nothing would be too suspicious and incredibly scary. Thinking about it again, it sounded extremely funny he was tempted to do it, but ultimately decided against it. Nathan put some fairy sized portions in a bowl and then sent it along with a bowl for him into his inventory, Iris watched him and confusion.

Nathan: “We can both eat later.”

Iris smiled and silently thanked him, neither needed to eat, so waiting for a meal wasn’t at all bothersome as it was for everyone else.

Nathan: “Hey Ash, you know that little sound that happens when you level up?”

Ash: “You mean “God’s Text”, who doesn’t know it.”

Nathan: “Well, I received a new one, it said Condition met. I have a vague idea of what it meant, but could you feel in some blanks?”

Ash gulped down some ale, clearing his throat of the food.”

Ash: “Yup, I know that one, it’s a little different from normal task. You know your second sub screen, where all your lesser skills and abilities are located. Some of them you can’t use or see, right?”

Nathan nodded in confirmation, his Legacy had several abilities he couldn’t use, see or for that matter figure out.

Ash: “Well, those abilities are only usable after you perform a certain action. There is no way to know what kind of action you need to take in order to make it available, it could be as simple as walking backwards to killing a dragon.

Ash lend in close.

Ash: “*whisper* I only have a few based on my existing skills and abilities, but those with Legacy’s have a lot more. Both from the Legacy and from your existing skills.

He leaned back into his seat.

Ash: “But, you have to experiment with a lot of different things, take for instant my Critical Strike has a sub ability “Instant Death”.

Nathan: “Sounds Powerful.”

Ash: “Yeah, but in order to use it, I need to know the targets weak spot and get a clean hit with “Critical Strike” for it to activate. You’d think it would be something like the neck, but no. I found out I had this is power when, I stabbed a “Rock Crab” in the butt and made a crack in its shell.”

Anais: “Pfftt”

Anais did a spit take onto Ena’s shirt, quickly apologizing to the ticked off ogre.

Nathan: “You had to do, what you had to do?”

Ash stopped drinking in stared at Nathan.

Ash: “Do you know what happens, when you crack open a Rock Crabs shell, it explodes with a noxious purple gas. Now imagine the scene, where your sword is stuck, when all that gas leaked out, from the on crack you made at is ass? The gas was so concentrated, the tip of my blade stayed purple. My old party started calling it the Mauve Avenger.”

Anais was out right laughing, while everyone else were trying to hold it in. Ash covered his face, recalling the incident.

Ash: “They said every time I swung it, I was Reeking Havoc on the enemy and them. I had no choice but to throw my sword away because of the smell.

Anais burst in to laughter, nearly choking on her bread. Soon everyone else was laughing out loud as well. Ash flustered and drowning himself in ale, as he recalled the incident that left his sword unapproachable.

Ash: “Anyway, experimenting is the key. But if you can’t figure it out, don’t worry. I don’t anyone has ever figure out every last ability available to them.”

Nathan patted Ash on the shoulder.

Nathan: “Oh Ash, I really hope, my experimenting, doesn’t lead to fart stained swords.”

Ash playfully grabbed Nathan around the neck, as another round of laughter erupted. Nathan poured Ash some more ale, as they continued talking. It was a fun old time, as they made merry. Moments like this, flash through Nathan’s head, but as they continued his smile slowly vanished. He shook his head back in forth, to drive away the thoughts, any deeper and he would have remembered something he wish to forget.

Anais: “Uh, Nathan?”

Nathan: “Huh, what is it?”

Anais: “You haven’t notice?”

Nathan: “It’s the spices right, I knew they were too strong, but cut me some slack, I had to work with what we had.”

Anais: “Not that, look around.”

Nathan realized that several people were now hovering around their table. Even a few of the staff had come over.

Nathan: “Can we help you with something?”

Several people pulled out money and set it on the table.

Customer: “Yeah, how about you make us some of that?”

Nathan was taken aback, weren’t they just shunning him a minute ago? Now they were asking for food he made.

Nathan: “………Y’all tripping.”

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_

Nathan with the girls walked along, they were on their way back to Ramol’s shop. He had generously offered to let them stay with them. Nathan was more than happy to take him up on his offer, he was in no hurry to stay in an plumbingless inn. He found it strange that that Ramol store didn’t stink as well, but quickly got over it, if it didn’t stank, who cares.

Ramol and Ash spilt up after lunch, each having their own thing to do, Nathan told them that Belle was waiting for them, but Ash told Nathan he’d stop by and let her know they would swing by tomorrow. After that meal, as things went, they would all fall asleep during the lecture.

Anais: “Ahahahaha, did you see their faces when you said no.”

Ena: “Serves them right.”

Iris: “After ignoring us for so long, what did they expect.”

Nathan: “That, and it sounded like a demand.”

Anais: “Well, all and all, it was a good time, but I didn’t see you eat much.”

Ena: “Don’t tell me ate before you could get some.”

Nathan: “No, nothing like that, I save myself some along with Iris and Kyr, no reason they shouldn’t eat either.”

Anais: “I didn’t see that.”

Nathan: “That because you were stuffing your face like a piggy.”

Anais: “Yeah, that was great~”

Nathan: “No, no, this os the part when you refute my piggy claims.”

Anais: “Call what you want, good food, is good food.”

Anais stretch her arms out, before letting lets hurry back I’m getting sleepy.”

Viola: “Hey!”

Ena: “Who she?”

Nathan: “Ah.”

Nathan recognize the scent immediately, it was the same as the pouch he was carrying. Earlier today, someone bumped Nathan and stole his wallet. Nathan immediately retaliated, stealing the criminal’s wallet in the same moment. He wasn’t expecting the thief to be a bunch of kids. They were Therian, somewhat like Anais, but they’re ears were a little pointed and the tails were slightly larger.

Anais: “You talking to us?”

Jazz: “I’m talking to the bastard, their, shorties should shut up.”

A vein appeared on Anais’s forehead as she stepped forward.

Anais: “Who you calling shorty, Gaps.”

Jazz: “How dare you.”

Jazz put her hand over her mouth, hiding the small gap between her teeth. She went red from embarrassment and stepped up to match Anais, before Nathan step in front.

Viola: “Jazz, enough.”

The girl back off on Viola’s word

Nathan: “Anais chill, you girls go on ahead, I have some business with her.”

Anais: “You know her?”

Nathan: “Yeah, we met briefly earlier, it will only take a second.”

Anais: …….Fine, come on Ena.”

Ena: “Ah, okay.”

Anais and Ena continued on their way, leaving Nathan behind.”

Nathan: “You too Iris.”

Iris: “But-”

Nathan: “I’ll be fine promise.”

Iris: “Un-Understood.”

Iris took off from Nathan’s shoulder, catching up to Ena and Anais. Once he knew he was out of Anais’s ear shot, he took the bag of money from his pocket. He tossed the bag up and down and his hand, prompting aggravated grunts from the children.

Nathan: “I believe you want this.”

Beat: “He really did take it from the boss.”

Jazz: “I never seen anyone get the drop on the boss.”

Viola: “Quiet.”

Nathan: “Here you can have it back, as soon as you give me mine money back.”

Viola reached in her pocket and pulled out the small bag of coin, tossing it to Nathan, he checked its content. It was the same amount he had earlier, satisfied he tossed their bag back to them.

Viola: “It’s short.”

Nathan: “I use a bit for dinner.”

Beat: “You bastard, how dare you.”

Nathan: “Hey, you’re the one who stole from me, just think of it as retribution.”

Jazz: “I show you some retribution.”

Viola: “Cut it you two, we can’t take him, let it go. Thank you for returning the money, will take our leave.”

Nathan: “Oh, you don’t see that every day, a thief being humble.”

Viola: “Don’t be ridiculous, I heard the rumors and I know it’s not the best thing to mess with you.”

Nathan: “Rumors?”

Viola: “There’s a rumor in Borice that you took out a group of Hunters with ease.”

Nathan: “(Borice, no way, that’s where Beatrice party went, no way they talked about me.)”

Viola: “I tried to steal from you and failed, I want start unnecessary trouble, if you’re willing to let us go. It not being humble its being smart.”

Nathan could to tell how frightened they were at this moment. They were visibly shaking, it looks like they might run at any moment. He could tell it was a sizable amount of money in that bag, he was planning to keep it, but Iris would without a doubt question the money. Well, he did get a new ability, so he wasn’t to upset about giving it back.

Viola: “If you will excuse us, will be leaving.”

The children turned down the street and disappeared down an alley. Nathan sighed walking done the street. He believed that Beatrice would keep his exploits secret. It was surprising, he didn’t think someone would willing vocalized that they lost a two vs five fight. This meant that for sure, they would come after him again. It was just a matter of time and the minute they showed up, Iris and Anais would crush them indefinitely.