The building next to the tavern started to have a mission board outside on the same day I got back, this board was completely covered with papers wanting people. Some missions were simple like picking specific herbs and others involved man-eating monsters.

Apparently, this new idea was supposed to allow the poor to earn some money as before this they weren’t able to do anything. They couldn’t afford weapons so they obviously wouldn’t be able to do some hunting.

Those in poverty could work their way up from the easiest quest, earning money for future investments.

Of course, we wouldn’t be doing the easier missions.

“Hey, Alexandria to your right!”

“Got it!”

In one large swing, she cut one of the many magic hounds.

These magic hounds were capable of using magic, Alexandria told me that the pupils of the hounds had magic symbols on them thus allowing them to cast magic spells although not very strong.

I shoot a couple down which concluded this mission, these magic hounds have been terrorizing the town nearby, they’d eat the sheep and cattle at night and people have been reported missing around this area.

This mission was labeled difficult but to be honest we breezed right through it, and by we I mean Alexandria did most of the work, I just got the ones trying to flee from her.

We traveled back into the city and in front went of the buildings, I just now found out that the name for the building you turn in missions was the adventurer's post. We got in, confirmed that all the hounds are gone and each got a sack of coins.

We’ve built up quite a stash, I don’t really have things I want, the only times when I spend my money is for food and fixing up my clothes.

I glance at Alexandria.

Maybe she’d want something? Well there’s not really much you can get in this city but maybe in the inner city, there might be some nice things. Well, we can’t go in without human supervision and I don’t think we'll have some any time soon.

So we'll just have to find another place. I asked the girl across the counter about other places in the monster empire. Apparently, the monster empire has three major cities this one and two others.

This city and one other are occupied by humans but the third isn’t, because of no human control the city was able to stay stable and poverty rates were able to stay at a minimum.

I buy a map that showed the whole monster empire territory, the three cities, and many other towns and villages were also shown.

“Alright, Alexandria we're going to another city!”

“Um, but why?”

“Don’t you want to explore?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s go!”

I quickly drop off at the tavern to turn in my room, I won’t be staying here for a while.

This city is the capital of the empire so we’ll probably be back at some point.

The city we’ll be going to is quite a ways away so we’ll need to buy some kind of transportation, we’ll also need to stock up on supplies.

“Alexandria we’re gonna need some way to get to the city so maybe a wagon?”

“We don’t need a wagon.”

Wait does she know how far this city is?

She took the map out of my hand and started to look over it, she then rolled it back up and started to draw a magic symbol and what could be seen was a city.

Oh……..forgot about how she can make portals.

We both go through the portal and we were now in another city, this city did not have anyone sleeping on the streets and the building didn’t look run down.

The people that walked by wore proper clothing and merchants traveled with large baskets of goods. This was a very different sight from the last city.

“So Antonio why are we here?”

“Well, you’ve been working hard lately and I wanted you to go buy something for yourself as a reward.”

“R-reward I don’t need one serious!”

“No no no it’s fine, go buy some new clothes some more casual ones.”

“I am a dark king I have no need for casual clothes!”

“Doesn’t it get tired wearing armor all day? And besides, you’d look good with casual clothes.”

“F-fine! If you insist.”

I see some kind of female clothing shop at the distance.

“Let’s start with that shop over there.”

The ground was paved in stone and some of the building was also made of stone.

Upon opening the door to the clothing shop a small bell rang and a spider lady came to welcome us.

The spider lady was truly a sight, not only did it freak me out the spider lady also wore some really nice clothes.

“So what would you want today miss?” She asked Alexandria.

“I don’t really know.”

I have a suggestion.

“How about try on whatever will look good on her?”

“Great idea!”

The spider lady grabbed Alexandria and pulled her all the way to the back of the building.

The shop was filled to the brim with very feminine clothes, dresses, skirts, hats, and all other colorful accessories. Looking at each one I imagine Alexandria in them and to be honest, she’d look good in anything.

The store manager came out with Alexandria, Alexandria had on a purple lace dress and a large round hat with a feather on it.

Like I said she'd look great in anything.

The store manager stands next to me and whispers something in my ear.

”come on say something, you're her husband, right?”

Husband…….does it really look like that?

”I'm not her husband.”

”oh whoops sorry.”

Alexandria pulled down her large hat covering her face.

”Alexandria you look good, hey manager we’ll take this and maybe some sleeping clothes.

“alright! That'll be 10 gold mecilliles.”

Hm prices are quite high in the city too, but no worries I've got money to spend.

I hand her the money and make a hand gesture to Alexandria signaling her that we were leaving.

”hey Alexandria, where'd you put your armor?”

”My armor is made of magic, I can re-wear them by drawing a magic symbol on myself.”

Magic is quite an interesting thing, in learning new things about it every day. I'm gonna need to learn about this magic stuff as well.

Alexandria kept holding down her hat covering her face.

”why are you still covering your face?”

”well it's embarrassing, I don't really wear this kind of stuff.”

”don't be embarrassed, you look good.”

”Alright, I'll take your word for it.”

She's really feminine even when she's trying not to be.

A couple of guys walked up to Alexandria, I can already see where this is going.

”Hey, pretty lady why don't ya hang with us? Your alone right?”

A second guys spoke.

”we've never seen you around before, you new?”

And a third.

”since you seem new we could show you around how about it? We've got plenty of money.”

The first guy had angel wings, the second bat wings with large ears and the third was a tall guy, real tall but he was also very thin almost like a twig.

The three guys looked well dressed and were adorned with all types of jewels and gold.

All three also had the same face tattoos so they might be affiliated with work kind of gang or organization.

The tattoo was just a dark shade on the side of their faces nothing fancy but they did look pretty intimidating if I was just a normal person without any gang background id shit my pants, but I've seen all kinds of gang people, some way worse than those guys.

The tall stick guy put his large hand on Alexandria's shoulder and the angel went behind her.

She smacked the tall guys hand away and threw a quick and hard punch right to his face.

It didn't knock him out but it did disorient him, she must've gone easy on them, he'd be dead if she was really serious.

Alexandria looked pissed off and threw the angel dude on to the tall guy.

After that, they started to run but they did yell something as they fled.

”were part of the biggest gang in his city! You guys are so fucked once our boss hears about this!!!

Biggest gang in the city piques my interest.

”I'm sorry Antonio, I've brought trouble to you.”

”Don't worry about it, this guys deserved it anyway.”

Now we need to find some kind of hotel because it's getting a bit late, I'm guessing that tall building in the distance is what I'm looking for.

Alexandria spoke.

“We should get something to eat shouldn’t we?”

“Good idea I’m getting a bit hungry too.”

We went to a nearby cafe and we ordered small dishes.

Alexandria ordered quite a bit of dessert.

She notices what I was thinking.

“In order to be a strong warrior you must eat, and so that’s what I’m doing.”

I don’t think eating sweets counts though.

She ate every last crumb on each plate leaving nothing behind, well I don’t mind, today is a break for the both of us.

Instead of me paying she insisted on paying herself, and I let her and by letting her I mean I had no choice. She can be very stubborn at times.

After eating we traveled to the hotel, this city looked quite advanced compared to the other one.

I walk up to the monster receptionist.

“Two rooms please.”

“Wait! Antonio! That’s way too expensive, isn’t it? Are there any rooms with two beds in them?”

The receptionist confirms

“Then we’ll have one of those rooms please.”

“Hey, no……”

She turns back giving me a menacing look, one sound and she might rip my head off.

I decide to go along with it, another fight with her and I might be a goner, I barely got away last time we fought.

The receptionist hands the keys over to Alexandria and we navigate our way to our room.

The inside of the hotel was still mostly wood but some parts were made of stone and some kind of metal. The doorknobs were also made of some kind of metal.

Alexandria stops

“Here we are.”

She unlocks the door and inside were two beds, the place was kept clean and there was a window peering out into the streets.

There was a closet and a toilet, albeit not a modern one, just a hole in the floor leading to who knows where.

We're gonna have to work quite a bit more next week.

Outside had gone dark and torches were lit up. Even in the dark, there were still people wandering about in the city, it was also still a bit noisy.

Feels like a hotel in New York City, no matter where you are your still gonna hear the bustling city.

Since there are no laws about carrying a weapon everywhere you went I put my BAR at the side of the bed.

“Alexandria if you need to change, change in the bathroom.”

“Got it.”

I take off all my clothes except for my underpants and get in the bed next to the windows.

Alexandria enters the other bed near the door in her Pyjamas.

A thought had just popped up in my mind, two adults of the opposite gender sharing the same room. Well, I don’t really care and I don’t think she cares either.

I glance towards her and she has the back of her head facing me.

I don’t think our relationship will go the distance, I think we’ll just stick being friends or comrades for a while.

I relax my body and drift off to sleep.

……………………….

I wake up in an unfamiliar place, this place was definitely not the hotel, it was a dimly lit room and it was a bit cold.

Instead of a bed, I’m sitting on a chair tied up and without a shirt or pants only my underpants. Alexandria was on the chair next to me in her Pyjamas, we seem to have woken up at the same time.

Where are we? I really don’t have a good feeling about this.