Back to the dark.

It’s already been a few days and I’ve lost all my energy to move. Whelty was right. This dungeon of that damn king’s does starve you nearly to death until the last moments of life flashing before your eyes.

Not that this is anything new. In fact, it’s nostalgic. This has already been done to me once, but this place was much less comforting. It’s dark, damp, the stone floors are cold just the way I love my hard surfaces to sleep on. An extra bonus are those droplets of water sounding in the dark playing a lullaby to put me to sleep.

Ah… I’m so hungry. You know, I’ve come to realize I should appreciate food. My arms and legs are bounded so even if I wanted to eat the weed growing in the corner of the room, I can’t move myself there.

Gosh Arden! This isn’t the time to repent! I just need to cling on to this worthless life until a chance arises. My plan to have Whelty retrieve my stuff from Dane and Granny was already a success. I don’t have to worry about smuggling my otherworldly goods and those illegal recipe books. Besides, food and sleep are for the sane.

But I can’t move a muscle… did the king forget about me already?

*Clunk clank

I hear something. My vision’s too blurry to make out the figures lifting me off the ground. I eventually blacked out when I saw light enveloped my eyesight.

-

-

“-up!”

What was that? Some kind of a bird call?

“Get up!”

I was suddenly threw into the ground and the shock was enough to wake me. It’s bright. I’m starving. Where am I? A red carpet. White marbled room. This place looks familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it. I could come up with a better guess if I could lift my head but I’m too exhausted to do that.

“You damn degenerate! Get up!” A knight kicked me, forcing me to roll on my back.

Ah. This is the throne room isn’t it? I recognize that beautiful chandelier hanging above me. I wanted to blow up. It’s just there, waiting for me to get my hands on some explosives.

“Five… more minutes.” I groaned as I close my eyes- then clenched my empty stomach when I felt a kick. “Oof! Do that a little harder would ya?”

“Enough.” A gruff voice displeasingly echoed across the room.

Standing above the throne is the almighty king. Good, I love those types of eyes. Pity me, it only makes me quiver in pleasure.

“Arden Charles, I ask of you. Why?”

What do you mean? I wanted to ask but my throat was too dry to produce any type of noise. The most I did was to put on a strained smile.

“Of course, how inconsiderate of me. You must be incredibly famished.” The king clapped his hands. “Someone, fetch him a cup of water and bread. Make sure to soak the bread so it goes easy on his throat.”

I was so weakened somebody had to lift my head up and slowly poured water in my mouth. Before any substance was given to me, I performed an analysis on the food.

Dammit, still gibberish. This appraisal thing is useless to me until I learned to read this world’s language.

Once I drank all the contents provided and ate the moist bread the servants were ordered to bring me, I felt some strength returning to me. My legs were too shaky for me to walk properly but I managed to keep my weight upright.

Then suddenly the King held a flask in his hand. The bottle was crystal clear for me to see a clear solution being swished within it. I’ve saw a several diagrams from Granny’s books that I can take a guess what he was holding.

“I’ve poisoned you. If you wish to have this antidote in my hand, I suggest you to wisely answer my questions. Otherwise you will die at the end of today.”

Of course. You wouldn’t give me a speed potion after all, but did you really give me poison? You didn’t execute me when I helped Whelty escape, killing many soldiers in the process. How stubborn are you to think I have the same powers as my ex-comrades? Either ways if he did or did not, I can’t just escape. There are guards littered everywhere in this room and they’re staring at me~. Too bad I didn’t plan a show to perform with an audience I did not expect.

“I was reported you are very proficient with a dagger. I find it a shame to find a man talented capable of producing cunning tactics is unwilling to serve my kingdom.”

“Hello~, remember that I don’t have a crest.” I pointed to my hand. “The other ‘heroes’ will out power me in no time.”

“Indeed, but having an experienced pawn this early in the war could give my people an advantage over the other kingdom when their heroes are unnurtured.”

In other words, he doesn’t want to be at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. The King is aware he’s already lost an important piece from the game as I don’t have a crest. He wants to be efficient with me until I become useless to participate in the war, is that it?

Maybe I could use this as a ticket to escape this hell hole. I’m a natural schemer so I’ll probe on any topic that might get his attention.

Firstly, let’s make a scene. I doubt the King would struggle against my wits and it just happens I have a crowd on standby I need to appeal to the king. I need to somehow make the knights around me to argue me with emotions, to put some pressure on the King.

“Doesn’t that mean you’re scared of the other kingdom?”

“The King, frightened!? Blasphemy!” One of the soldiers shouted. “How dare you insult our beloved King!”

Hey bud. I wasn’t insulting anyone, I was actually trying to state some facts here. Actually, I’m thankful you spoke up.

And if that wasn’t enough, the knight kicked me onto the floor and leaned his sword beside my neck.

“Stop! You are rude to the person I am negotiating with!”

“But your highness he-.”

“Are you questioning me?”

I heard the knight reply with a Hrk! The face he made was hilarious. If I has my phone, I would’ve taken a picture to add to my collection. Serves that knight right, I toss a mocking smile at him.

“Ow! Ow! Ow! My sides!” I suddenly screamed. “It hurts! O’merciful king, may you be benevolent and give this helpless rat mercy!”

“Stop acting! I didn’t kick you that hard-!”

“I demand silence!” The King pounded against the arm of his chair. “You there, step out of this room this instant! I have given you many warnings and yet you disgracefully ignore my commands! You are fired!”

“But I- He-.” Without another word, the Knight was forcefully escorted from the room by his companions.

That was a huge load off my shoulders. If I acted without removing troublesome whiners like him, I can’t bargain my way out of my situation.

Now then, how should I proceed this?

“Arden Charles-.”

“Please call me trash.” Oops, that was reflex but it doesn’t seem like the King noticed.

“Will you not consider joining the cause and bring victory to your comrades and my kingdom? I assure you will be generously rewarded with fame, riches, women, property anything within my power.”

“Does the throne count?”

“Oh? You wish to challenge me for the throne?”

“No, ruling a kingdom is too much work. I just wanted to sit on it whenever I want.”

I could see the King having the same face when I first introduced myself. He gave me a blank stare and sighed as if he was speaking with a toddler.

“Surely what you’ve stated was just a façade. What do you truly want in order for you to serve my kingdom?”

“But I don’t want to serve someone. It’s a pain to do other’s bidding. I just want to roam free without those stalkers you sent tagging behind me. I want my freedom!”

“It cannot be helped. Your comrades stated you are a criminal in your previous world. My trust is wavering from the idea to allow you to wander freely isn’t something I can easily give, especially when you are in my kingdom.”

“Only when I’m in your kingdom?”

“A few days ago, you and that escaped prisoner took many lives. Wherever you go, I don’t believe I am unable feel relieved.”

“Fine. What can I do to earn my freedom?” I boldly stated. “I want to go outside this city.”

The King suddenly waved to his servants and brought a pair of bracelets, parchment paper and an quill, ink set.

Words were written faintly on the paper as it brought closer to me.

“Arden Charles-!”

“Call me trash.”

“You wish that I leave you to your device, but you have caused a ruckus in my kingdom. I have decided to grant that wish of yours on a set condition you must fulfil.”

I found it. The ticket to help me escape. Unfortunately, there’s one last hurdle.

“A contract?” I recognize the layout of words but as I chose to have the angel remove my ability to read letters of this world, I might have to take a risk.

There’s not a single sentence of gibberish I can understand. However, I can’t tell him I don’t know how to read, this will give the king the opportunity to add unlisted requirements.

“Get someone to read this for me. My poor eyes just came out from four days of darkness and I’m having trouble adjusting to the brightness.”

In the corner of my eye, I made sure the king did not add any unnecessary gestures as he called his servant to read the contents aloud to me:

I will not bring harm the king or his property. (Obviously the king wants to prioritize his safety). I will have to eliminate two enemy heroes in exchange for my freedom. (This means I will no longer have any affiliation with the king after I complete my mission).

Wait, hold on! That means when I get some explosives I can’t blow up this chandelier!? God fucking dammit! Yes, I’m angry that I won’t be able to blow up that chandelier. Do it. Judge me.

“These are my requirements if I am to grant you your freedom. Do you accept?”

“You’re sending me on an assassination mission?” I asked disappointingly as I pouted.

“Seeing as you have two options, serve me or fulfil my request, does it not please your smiling face?”

“Hehe. You saw right through my mask. I’m starting to like you~. I’ll gladly accept it, but you’ll let me borrow some gear to accomplish my mission. Right?”

-

Unfortunately not. Like it’d be that easy to get free stuff in this world where the king doesn’t even put trust in you after employing you.

Not even a dagger lent to me, but he even confiscated my decoy belongings and money. On the plus side, I got a visa to pass the gates, a new rusty bracelet and those damned handcuffs were taken off. The bracelet on my hand ensures the contract is still in effect.

“At least give me back my coat! My pants and underwear too you perverts!” I remember myself arguing for some of my belongings.

Hey, the coat wasn’t cheap from the other world.

Before anything else, I should pay a visit to Dane. I bet he’s freaking out since I haven’t visited after our little scheme.

“Hey Dane! I’m back!” I kicked the door open with all my strength as always, frightening him and the customer he was handling.

“Ge- sorry, I’ll be back.” He apologized to the customer. “Dammit kid, you disappeared on me for a few days! I thought you died in the alley or something! And stop kicking against my door like that!”

“I got into some trouble and I was disappointed it didn’t kill me.” I chided his roar. “Did a person name Whelty, you know, dog person, come pick up my stuff?”

“Yeah. I didn’t think he knew you but after he said your name, like the other heroes did, it was obvious you sent him.”

“So? I see business got better. Does that mean the scheme was a success?”

“Oh boy, do I have a tale to tell you!” Dane put on the ugliest wide grin on his face. “I made a fortune on that day! But I’m going to help this rookie adventurer with his gear first.”

“Right, I’ll help myself to a seat.”

Unlike the first impression this shop gave me, it’s now very well maintained. The rusts were polished off the hinges of display cases and there’s no longer a speck of dust on the counter. Did I just do a good deed in my money-making scheme? Yeah, I think I unintentionally did, but from now on I’ve secured a blacksmith that could probably make the parts I need to make the weapons I lack in this world.

Well, if it’s one thing I’ve learned from the past few days of what I’m doing, I can’t survive alone. Not yet anyways. I need to establish underground and above ground connections like I have in the previous world.

Arms manufacturer. Check.

“Yo, kid! You couldn’t believe how much I made on that day! You were spot on with the first group’s interests, but just as you said, I earned very little from the second group of heroes.”

“That so?” I said as I flicked my jet black hair. “Alright, for my service fee you owe me 50% of what you earned.”

Dane’s face change instantly. His face’s reaction told me he’s having trouble processing my words into thoughts. I am trash, scum, shit but I really like toying to people. I relieve a sigh and decide to not tease him just to collect my reward. For now, I’m thinking about 5%-.

“5-50!? C’mon man, I did most of the hard work! For my shop to continue, I can only pay you 10% of what I earned.”

“Then 10%.”

To be honest I don’t care how much money I have. As long as I enough funds to get by the day any amount above my entertainment threshold is sufficient.

“What?” I frowned eyeing Dane weirdly. I felt he was giving me a ‘who are you’ look.

“I thought you were going to argue.”

“Yeah, I was going to, but I haven’t finished. The information I gave you was worth a lot, so I’ll be counting on you to give generous discounts to compensate.”

“Of course there’s a catch.” He sighed as he tossed me a bag of coins he separated from the large sack behind the counter. “Alright. Seeing how you saved my shop, I could give exclusive discounts to you but not low enough that’ll put my sales into the red.”

“Good! Let’s put that to good use right now.”

Judging the size of the bag he handed to me, there’s a few golden coins, silver and lots of copper. I reached for a few golden coins and put them on the desk.

There are things I want made and it’s important if someone, a blacksmith like Dane, could reproduce these wicked ideas that this world haven’t touched upon.

“Oh? You’re going to waste your earned money on me?”

"Hey, we're business partners from now on. I should throw my money at a store I am familiar with instead of a total stranger’s."

"Keh, that's why I like you, ya fucking schemer. What can I for you?”

"I need you to help me craft certain parts, also I would like to purchase some materials to make my own gear.”

“Alright, help yourself. I’ll see what you get before I charge you.”

I grabbed tanned leather straps off the shelves and some wood crafting tools. I purchased a new sack, some wood and iron ingots to have him craft small pieces of mechanisms, one that I will draw on a blueprint later. I’ve designed it so the key was made so you have to turn and hook upwards at a correct angle to unlock the lid.

I want to give this bag an upgrade and have a secret compartment. The books I got from the apothecary granny were illegal after all.

This is my insurance, an answer in case I ran into bandits or thieves who managed to steal my things. It should be obvious enough that bandits exist in a fantasy world but there was quite a bit of wanted posters in front of restaurants for me to begin worrying the possibility.

“Can you make the parts like this?”

“Let me see… a box? You want to put a box as the base of your bag?”

“The design looks pretty convincing, right? How long do you need to get it done?”

“If I start working on it, probably a day.”

“In that case, I’ll add in an extra order. I want parts for this custom shovel.”