Alone again, I, once again, delved into my search for a way home. It was the only way for me to stay focused, to stay sane. It seemed that every time that I became happy, every time I stopped searching, I would be forced back to it, my happiness, taken away by someone, by something unknown and unseen. That someone forced me to move forward, not to stay in one place. I - someone with a power to rival a god, was played with and controlled like a doll.
On the day Aurora almost died, I made two oaths to myself. First was to always move forward, not settling in a place for more than two weeks, to constantly strive for more and more and to finally fulfill Alex's will. The second was to never get attached again. Nothing can ever be taken from you if you have nothing. I just couldn't bear the pain no more.
Keeping my first oath wasn't easy, my inherent laziness always thwarting my plans, but I persevered. In the eyes of the people of this kingdom, I became a legend clad in blood - someone with unimaginable power, someone that punished the evil with a heaping toon of even worse evil, someone that, if asked, would purge the sinful for a price. That price being something inherently precious to the asker. They called me - 'God's wrath'.
Why the weird payment, you ask? Taking things that people cherish from them, seeing their crushed expressions made me feel just a bit less miserable about the things that I lost myself. Not the best coping strategy, I know…
The second oath was holding strong for around six months. Because around two years after entering this cursed world, I met them…
It was a warm summer day in the south-western part of the Cheliyan kingdom, in a small town that the author doesn't have the brain power to name. The town, while in the boonies, was prospering due to having fertile land and a lot of 'farming equipment'. I just got here, I was traveling south towards the demon kingdom, planning to raise it to the ground for fun. My hands - still covered in blood, my poison stash - almost depleted, my head - almost clear.
This was bad - majorly bad. If I couldn't find some more 'three step death' or a poison of similar strength - all the memories, all the sorrow and despair would come crawling back in like a swarm of ten foot long cannibal cockroaches with laser vision. I had to prevent that at all costs.
I rushed through the gates, frantically searching for an alchemy shop, there was none. I looked for anyone with an assassin vibe around - none to be found. It wasn't the market day yet, so the merchants were scarce. None had what I needed. Damn this stupid little town that only does agriculture!!! Then, an idea struck me, this town, this world - while medieval in many aspects is quite modern in some others. For example, in one of the books from the library of 'Babel', I read that they actually have herbicide and pesticide here. I am in a farming town, those tasty, tasty chemicals are used in farming, that means…
I rushed to the nearest farming supply store, my head, getting painfully clear. Soon, just a little more… I found what I was looking for, kicked down the door and rushed inside. There, I was greeted by a frightened old lady and sacks and sacks piled on top of each other.
I didn't even look at the hag and just went for the closest pile, my mouth salivating. I unsheathed one of my short swords - chipped and banged up over the years of extreme usage, and slashed the sack. Rice… I found rice. Next pile - more rice. The third one held wheat, then I found barley, then some more rice. Do these people sustain themselves entirely on rice?!
Finally I turned to the owner. "Where?! Where is it?!"
The woman seemed mortified. "What… What do you want? Just don't hurt…"
"Where's the good stuff?!" My mouth was drooling, saliva was dripping from my mask onto the floor at an alarming pace.
The woman bent down under the counter and retrieved a small wooden box. She seemed frantic while handing it to me. I opened it with anticipation. To my great annoyance, the box was filled with coins. I threw the damn thing to the ground, shaking with furry.
"Don't play with me! Where is it?!" I shouted.
"It-it's in the box! I swear that's all I've got." The lady protested.
"That's not it! Where is it!" At this point, It was becoming hard to make full sentences.
"Then, what do you want from me!"
"The… The weed killers and pesticides, Where?!" At this point, I was foaming at the mouth.
"What? Why do you want that?"
"WHERE!"
"It-it's in the back."
I rushed past her to the room behind, breaking down the door in the process. There it was, there, in clean, white bags, sat my salvation. I slashed one of the bags, kneeled to the ground and began eating the powder by the handful. The taste was awful - so bitter and metallic, but it was like the best wagyu steak to me. The old lady just stood behind me, watching some cray cray devouring enough chemicals to protect all the fields around the city from vermin and weeds for a year and yet, not dropping dead.
Finally, after having my fill, I stood up, adjusted my mask, and turned to her. "Do forgive me, mam, for the intrusion. I am a customer in need of some farming supplies for… Farming. I apologize for the mess I made, but I am willing to compensate you handsomely. That is, if you are willing to sell me all of this…" I gestured at the fun chemicals. "For double the market price."
"Are… Are you okay now? You seemed to have been…"
"Ah, that… I must apologize once again, for showing you my unsavory side. You see, I have a strong passion for farming, it's so strong that I wish to empathize with the crops I plant and for that, I have to pick the best herbicides and pesticides. In order to pick the very best, I tend to try them out myself. My former outburst was caused by my excitement, since I've heard that your shop carries the very best…"
The old lady beamed with happiness. "Yes, of course, ours's is the best in the whole kingdom…" She bought it! "I'll tell you all about it. It all starts with the proper…" The lecture went on for more than 20 minutes. Fuck, I was too convincing. "And that's how we make it, any questions?"
"No, no, just, please sell it to me and I'll go." She was about to say something more. "You know what? It's getting late and I still have an appointment to make, so just take this." I hurriedly tossed her a bag full of gold, stashed the goods in my dimensional ring and bolted through the door. That was close.
I walked through the town, my head, as light as a feather, yet as heavy as a rock, just admiring the view. There were no stalls that sold food, nor any clothing shops, the houses looked simple - made of wood, mud, hay and shit. Yes, you could smell it on such a hot day… The people here were dressed simply, all scurrying around like ants, all working, some complaining. Not a phone in sight (probably because this world had no phones) just people living in the moment.
I walked while still munching on the stuff I bought. It wasn't nearly as potent as 'Three step death'. so I had to consume it far more frequently in far greater amounts. A sorry sight took my attention, so I stopped to watch. Beast men slaves - the 'farming equipment' I mentioned earlier, covered in rags, some uncovered at all, were carrying heavy looking bags from some house to the wagon.
The smallest of them all - a girl that looked to be around ten, with red hair, a tail and cat ears, was hauling a load that looked far too big for her. She was struggling, sweat dripping from her face, that amused me slightly. She fell to the ground, dropping her bag and screamed in pain. That got the attention of the other 'farming equipment' and the ones overseeing them.
"What the hell are you doing brat?! How dare you throw down that rice? Pick it up and get back to work, I'll inform the master about this, he'll decide your punishment." A man with a hat that somewhat resembled that of a cowboy's, holding a whip said.
The girl tried to get up, but after putting some weight on her left leg, she cried out again and fell back down. "My… My ankle is…"
"What was that, brat? You refuse your orders? I see that you need some more incentive to work…" The cowboy said, with an evil smile, playing with his whip.
"No, please, don't!" Another redhead cat girl entered the fray, this one looking to be no older than 20, pleading for the little one. "I'll do her work for her, she's injured, please, don't punish my little sister, she's everything that I have left!"
"The man smirked. "Tell you what, you can take her work over, but… You'll have to take her punishment as well, just 100 times as severe. Are you okay with that?"
"Please, I…"
"Choose!"
The cat girl hesitated, then patted the little, crying one and said to her softly. "Don't worry, everything will be OK." Then she turned to the cowboy wanna be and said. "Fine, I'll take her punishment." Oh shit, these are such family goals! Let's see how long she lasts before turning back on her word.
"No, sister, I'm sorry…" The little one cried.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine…"
The punishment was a severe whipping. 1000 slashes in total, according to the cowboy. I watched the show intently. First ten slashes - she's screaming after everyone of them, but is still resolute. 50 - she's still standing, I watch with mild respect. 100 - the man that's been doing the whipping was changed out for another guy. the girl doesn't flinch. I almost want to help her.
200 in - another change, the cat girl's back is red with blood, she's still not giving up. I'm in awe. I really want to help her now. Calm down, it's none of your business, stay out of it! 300 in - the girl is shaking as a leaf, but still standing. No, don't go there, it's none of your business!
Another slash is coming in, the cat girl cowers in fear and anticipation. Nothing. "What the… Who are you?!" She hears, turns around to see a man in black, his arm wrapped with the bloody whip. And, I got into it, Fuck…
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