The Normal Farmer - Completed

Chapter 32 – Akatsuki, Master Assassin - part 1

The Guard didn’t say anything more. That answer was more than enough.

When they reached the Guild, Duza dismounted and told Ronald to take the carriage and the mules to the stable. She picked up one wing from one mule and told the little girl to accompany her. Sonja and Conan joined them, while everyone else went with Ronald to help him with the wings.

Ari excused herself and went to the Inn to get rooms for everyone and arrange the baths.

Duza kicked the front door open and entered the Guild with a big Harpy’s wing on her left shoulder, the little girl at her side, and the two special escorts at her back. Every servant and Adventurer at the Guild froze.

Duza walked until she got to the front desk, where a wide-opened mouth was expecting her. She placed the wing on top of the counter and said, “Call the Guild Master. I want to sell this. And retrieve the payment for the Quest to destroy the Harpies’ Nest.”

The receptionist blinked a few times and answered, “I… I can pay you for this; I don’t need to call the Guild Master…”

“If I am not mistaken, it’s one silver coin per wing. The problem is that I don’t have this one only. I have two huge piles like this. I am sure you don’t have so much money with you.”

“How… did you…”

Duza frowned. “Call the Guild Master. I want to have a bath, as do my companions, and you are delaying it. Do you mind not pushing my patience? I am tired and smelly, and my head hurts from all the shouting the owner of this wing made.”

The receptionist rushed to the back office, and she returned a few seconds later, with Dofe Vastal running after her. He climbed to his bench underneath the counter and caressed the feathers of the wing. “This is… Alright, how many do you have?”

Duza asked Sonja, “Anyone counted how many Harpies we killed?”

Conan raised his arm. “I did, at least in the barn. There were forty-three inside, and counting the ones that died outside, I think they were fifty-nine. We cut the wings off thirty Harpies before they died. We have one wing here and fifty-nine outside. Sixty silver coins in total. Plus, the payment for the Quest to destroy the nest.”

The receptionist turned pale, and Dofe Vastal just nodded his head. “I understand. Can you bring the rest here while I go get the money?”

Everyone at the Guild that heard him was whispering among them, and when the noise was getting louder, Duza turned to Conan and asked, “Can you go tell the others to bring the wings inside?”

Conan smiled and rushed to follow her order. Dofe Vastal went to the back office and returned a moment later with a heavy purse. Duza and Sonja stood there in silence, dead serious, without minding the noise around them or the questioning from some Adventurers at nearby tables.

Then the door was kicked open. Conan was the first to enter, carrying an enormous pile of wings on his back. Ronald, Ini, Reylom, Ovaidel, and Taly were following him with more wings. They placed everything in front of the counter and left to get more. Three travels more, and the silence inside the Guild replaced the mumbling, the whispering, and the questioning. They all went to find an empty table, leaving Conan, Sonja, and Duza near the four piles of wings.

Dofe Vastal gave the purse to Duza, and she counted it. She smiled and asked, “It’s correct. Can you do me a favour and call the Cook? The father of our guide, who so courageously guided us to the Harpies Nest?”

While the receptionist went to the kitchen, Duza turned to face all the Adventurers. She stood there in silence for a few seconds so that they could take a good look at her. Then she spoke: “I am Duza Sonanji! My Party destroyed the Harpies Nest that was threatening this City and every person that lived around here. We even burned the entire barn so that not even a bad memory remained of that dreadful place. I hope that next time any of you see a Harpy, you kill her immediately so that this never happens again. Such a huge nest was unheard of. That can only mean you guys were a little too lenient. I know there was a previous attempt to eradicate that nest, but it should have been done before their number was this high. I want to pay two rounds of drinks for everyone, one round in memory of the people that were killed until today, and another one wishing a peaceful future from now on.”

The Adventurers shouted, thanking her for their accomplishment. Some even tried to approach her to congratulate her, but they stopped when Sonja and Conan stood in their way with one hand over the hilt of their swords. Duza excused their escorts for being so overprotective: “I am sorry, but these two don’t trust anyone. I thank you for your kind words, but go back to your seat and relax, okay?”

Five Adventurers turned back, a little surprised by that reaction from that frightening couple. The Cook arrived with the receptionist, and the little girl went to hug him. “Daddy, the Harpies are all dead! On your next holiday, can we go to the forest to get flowers and fruits, like I used to do with mummy?”

The Cook looked at Dofe Vastal, wanting an explanation. Duza asked the Guild Master if they could continue the conversation in his office. He guided her, the Cook, and the little girl. Sonja and Conan remained at the counter near the Harpies’ wings, helping some servants take all that to the storage at the back of the Guild.

In the office, Duza approached the Cook, opened her new purse, and retrieved from there five gold coins for the Quest. She gave him the purse with the rest of the money from the sale of the wings. “Here. I know this won’t bring your wife back, but I hope you use this money to provide a happy life for this sweet girl and her older sister. I just want these five gold coins for me and my companions as payment for our Quest.”

The man was speechless for a moment. He stuttered after getting over the initial shock: “I… I can’t accept this! I didn’t do anything!”

“You are right, but your daughter did a lot. In this purse, there are sixty silver coins. More than enough for a tranquil life for you and your daughters. You can even stop working, if you want. But I would advise you not to do that; it would be better if you saved this money for the future and didn’t tell anyone about this fortune. Or someone might try to kill and rob you, leaving this girl without parents.”

The Cook slowly shook his head. “Yes… you are right… But I still think…”

“I don’t care what you think about this; just take care of your daughters the best you can, okay? I know very well how hard it is for a little girl to grow up without a mother. My father had to raise me and my sister all alone over the last few years. We turned out alright, but I still dream about my mother from time to time. And you, you cute little girl, grow up and become a fine woman, okay?”

Duza and the girl hugged, with Duza trying to disguise a tear. She then addressed the Guild Master: “I can trust in you for not speaking about this money to anyone? I need to go back to my companions, and I also need to have a bath. I am still sticky and smelly from all the blood of those nasty things.”

The Guild Master made a deep bow. “Thank you, Adventurer Duza Sonanji. And please give my thanks to your companions. You were all a tremendous help; this situation was out of control.”

“Yes, it really was. If you excuse me, I need to go and sit down for a while.”

Duza left, followed by a happy girl and her father. The Cook hugged Duza and went back to the kitchen, with the girl holding his right hand.

Ronald was at the table with the others, with a cup of wine that a servant was serving to everyone, following Duza’s indications.

When she arrived, everyone inside the room got up and raised a cup. A shout came from a table: “May God Seya protect you, Adventurer Duza Sonanji!”

Duza made a slight bow and smiled. She went to her place next to Ronald and swallowed a cup of wine a servant gave her. Right after, she placed the gold coins on the table. “Here, Ini, Reylom, Ovaidel, and Ronald, one for each of us. Sorry, Taly and Ari, I don’t have any for you. I gave the rest to the little girl and her father. But if you want, you can take it from my share of my escort job. Shigure, Conan, and Sonja, I guess you don’t want any, but if you do, Ronald will take care of that. After all, it was his idea. I don’t know about you guys, but I am dying for a warm bath.”

Ari raised her arm. “I took care of that. They don’t have a bathing room where we could all have a bath together, but I asked for a one-person tub for each room. There are not many rooms, but I guess the girls could share one, and maybe the boys. There are only six rooms in that Inn.”

Shigure raised her arm. “I suggest one room for Miss Ari and Mister Taly, one room for me and Miss Duza, one room for Conan and Mister Ini, one room for Red Sonja and Lord Ronald, and the other rooms for Mister Ovaidel and Mister Reylom.”

Ronald shook his head. “I object! I don’t want to be in the same room as this crazy redhead!”

Sonja disguised her sad face and placed one arm over Ovaidel’s shoulders while pretending to be angry. “Who said I wanted to be in your room? I have my roommate right here!”

Ovaidel was opening his mouth to speak, but Sonja covered his mouth with her right hand. “Shut up, you beardy! I didn’t ask for your opinion! That means Lord Ronald will be alone, and so will Mister Reylom. Well, it’s fine with me. Let’s go! I want to take a long and warm bath! Ovaidel, I will count on you to wash my back! Or anywhere you want!”

Ovaidel choked on his wine, and Sonja got up. She was heading for the door, but then she remembered something and came back. “Ovaidel, I need to go meet a little friend of mine and introduce her to Lord Ronald. I will go to our room in a moment, okay?”

Ronald frowned. He didn’t like the way she smiled at him while speaking to Ovaidel.

Duza reminded them that they all should go to the Guild Master’s office to use the Status Sphere to allocate their points. In turns, they went there, and when one returned, another one left.

Ronald stayed at the table with Sonja, Shigure, and Conan, with the excuse that he would do it later on because he still needed to think about what to do with his points.

Finally, they all left for the Inn, with the Adventurers clapping at their exit. Sonja pulled Ronald towards the Guild’s stable, and they went to the back of it in silence.

In there, Sonja pointed to the Card Box that Ronald had hidden underneath his clothes. “Summon Akatsuki; I want her to meet you. I also have a job for her.”

“Okay… Do you mean this little girl? Akatsuki, Master Assassin… Wait a minute, what? This cute little girl is an assassin?”

“Yeah, Riattus made her for some special situations, where I or Conan would be too much, and Shigure would never do it because it wasn’t honourable. She is also an amazing spy, capable of infiltrating inside the most guarded place.”

Ronald threw the Card to his front, and from the whirlpool, a girl no more than twelve years old appeared. Dressed in a light blue long dress, in a crouching position, with a sharp dagger in each hand. She looked around, and when she saw Sonja, she smiled. “Big sister! Long time no see! What’s the matter? And you… a new Summoner? Where’s Riattus?”

Sonja explained to her what happened, and Akatsuki became sad. She slowly nodded her head. “I understand. I liked Riattus. Can you tell him that I am sorry for not being able to help him so many years ago? If big sister calls you Lord Ronald, I will do the same. So, what do you need from me, Lord Ronald?”

Ronald pointed with his right thumb at Sonja. “She was the one to ask me to summon you. It seems she has a task for you.”

Sonja explained what her idea was. Ronald objected, but Sonja poked his nose and told him to shut up. “You have much to learn about us. Your friend Reylom is someone I don’t trust near you. Every time I see him looking at you, he always tries to disguise it. He is scheming something. I want to make sure he understands that it’s not wise to try anything against you. And the way his eyes shone when we were with that little girl gave me chills. He needs to get a proper lesson, and Akatsuki is the best suited for this task. He will never know what hit him!”

“Okay… As long as she doesn’t kill him.”

Akatsuki made a slight bow. “Of course not, unless he attacks me or you. Big sister, I will do as you ask. Show me my target, please.”

Sonja grabbed Ronald’s arm and gave one hand to Akatsuki. They went to the Inn as if they were a couple and their young daughter.

One servant of the Inn guided Ronald to his room and pointed to where Reylom’s room was. Sonja went to Ovaidel’s room, and Akatsuki stood at Reylom’s door, waiting for the servant to leave.

As soon as he left, she knocked. Reylom shouted that he was in the bath, so she knocked again and again. Finally, Reylom appeared with a towel around his waist and an angry face that softened when he saw Akatsuki. “Oh… Hello, little girl, what do you want?”

She didn’t answer; she just gave a cute smile and pushed the door wide open. She went in, passing between the gap of the opened door and the surprised Reylom.

Inside, she sat on the edge of his bed and waited for him to close the door. He stood at her front and asked, “What is the meaning of this? Who are you?”

Akatsuki smiled and played with the frills of her dress. “Red Sonja ordered me to keep you company this evening. I am here to help you have a bath. After that, you can do anything you want with me. I will play a lot with you, and we will have a lot of fun. I hope you can endure because I am used to older men that can give me pleasure for the entire night.”

While speaking, Akatsuki was caressing her flat chest with one hand while biting one finger of the other hand. Reylom gulped. “I… understand… I will make sure you have a nice night… I hope you don’t mind if I get a little rough… I like to hear young girls screaming…”

“I like to scream. If you pound me real good, I will scream a lot for you… Do you mind removing that towel? I want to see what you are hiding in there.”

Reylom quickly unleashed the towel, and Akatsuki looked very attentive. “Good, a very nice size; the sac is not too big or too small; it’s a little hairy, but I like it… Can I ask what’s up with us, cute little girls, that you like so much?”

“Well, I like the innocence and purity of a young girl who is not yet tainted with the evil of this World.”

“I see… And during your life so far, you never thought that what you did to us, little girls, would be too evil? I am not judging you; I am only curious. Not that it matters what you did so far; I only care about what you will do to me… Go to the tub; I will wash you clean.”

Reylom rushed to the tub, and in his hurry, some water spilt to the floor. Akatsuki approached him from behind and whispered in his right ear, “Close your eyes and enjoy; I will make you feel so good…”

Reylom was almost drooling, but as soon as he closed his eyes, he felt a strong pain in his head and fainted. Akatsuki put on the floor the bench she used to knock him out. “So, let’s begin your lesson, shall we?”