Day Forty-Two: Work
1929 Words
"Good Morning, Sir Count" I greeted the count.
It's been three days already since the tea party with Goddess Reil. My body is fully healed, but the scars remained.
At this times, I really wish Rabbit was still here... That guy could remove the scars as if it was never there.
But, I don't know where they are right now, I don't know which village they went. Plus I'm here at the capital already, my supposed starting place...
I can't leave now.
"Kaiser. Good Morning, how is your body?" the count ask, his face tinged with worry.
But I know that he's still angry at me...
Three days ago, after the tea party with Reil, I woke up and the Count is the person that I saw, when I opened my eyes.
He had a haggard appearance at that time, his already messy hair became much more messier, his fancy and elegant clothes were wrinkled. And his eyes bloodshot.
That's the first time that I saw someone like that, even back in my real world, I didn't saw anyone like that. And it's also probably the first time that the count got angry-no, angry is an understatement, resent should be the proper term.
His eyes showed how resentful he was at me.
And at that time I knew, I f*cked up.
He probably discovered that I was the reason for the church's collapse.
That's why, I lift my wounded body and sat down and bowed my head deeply.
I apologized to the count, and promised to apologize to his niece and her friend.
Thankfully, the count accepted my apology, I told him what happened and the reason I was punised.
"I was curious about the soul stone, that's why I examined it using my ability... But I didn't know that would happen, I'm truly sorry..."
Is what I said, bowing my head as deep as possible touching the mattress I'm sitting at that time.
I also told the count that I didn't have a soul stone, that was why I examined it.
He was truly surprised hearing my words. As Regarde said to me back then, Soul Stones are like the ID of the people of Ashura. May it be commoner or royalty, everyone is given the same kind of soul stone, showing their Identification as a citizen of Ashura.
Apparently, I can get one at the church. That's one the few reasons I had to go at the church at that time, besides begging for my dear life.
Anyways.
"I feel fine. It hurts sometimes, but thanks to the healing potion that you've given me, I was able to recover quickly" I said, as I bowed my head.
"Once again, I truly apologize and I'm grateful for what you've done for me, Sir Count"
"It's not for free" he said "You need to pay for the potion. Of coarse for the 100 silver coins that you've use as well"
As I thought... Even if he accepted my apology, he wouldn't be able to remove the grudge. Oh well, the 100 silver coins, is to be repayed anyways.
"Of coarse, I'm really grateful. If Sir Count had said that I don't need to repay them, I would be too worried to even stay here" I joked.
"Well, you're free to leave anytime" the count said, a small grin showed on his face.
"Anyway. As you have no job currently, and the soul stone identification would be next year. I recommend you to an acquaintance, that would not seek any identification" he added.
"I'm truly grateful, for Sir Count's kindness"
"Enough with the empty praises. Go immediately, Ramon would take you to my acquaintances shop"
"By the way... What is the job you've found for me?" I asked.
I'm not a picky worker, but I would appreciate it if the job isn't doing illegal things. I had my fair share of troubles with those kinds back then.
"Do you take me for someone who would do such a thing?" the count retorted.
My thoughts were read...
"It's quite easy to do actually"
How the f*ck?
"Hahahaha! You haven't noticed?" the count said as he laugh.
"Noticed?" I asked.
Notice what? Does he have a new ability to read mind or something?
"You really haven't noticed...huh?" he said "You're showing much more reactions than before"
I...am?
Wait, is my skill not activating? It's a passive skill right?
Thinking that, I looked at my skill menu.
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SKILLS
-Production Skills-
Blacksmith Lvl 1
Tailoring Lvl 1
Alchemy Lvl 1
Sculpting Lvl 2
Cooking Lvl 4
Butchering Lvl 5
Potion Making Lvl 1
Carpentry Lvl 1
Fishing Lvl 2
Masonry Lvl 1
Wood Cutting Lvl 2
-Passive Skills-
Poker Face Lvl 7
Cold Eyes Lvl 7
Grim Demeanor Lvl 7
Marketing Lvl 1
Administering Lvl 1
Bargaining Lvl 1
Quick Calculation Lvl 6
Ashura's Life Lvl 1
Weapons Mastery Lvl 4
Magic Mastery Lvl 5
-Active Skills-
Dimension Storage Magic Lvl MAX
Plunder Lvl 1
Everyday Magic
- Everyday Fire Magic Lvl 7
- Everyday Earth Magic Lvl 4
- Everyday Water Magic Lvl 4
- Everyday Wind Magic Lvl 3
Stealth-Shadow Assimilation Lvl 6
Assassinate Lvl 4
Fear Conversion Lvl 1 (NEW)
Night Vision Lvl 1 (NEW)
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'Poker Face' and 'Cold Eyes' both leveled up. It should be more potent now, that they levele up, why is it working backwards?
Confused, I thought of the skill names to show their information.
-----
'Poker Face' Lvl 7
A Rare Passive skill that enables the wielder to suppressed their emotions.
-Can now be turn On/Off : Off
-----
-----
'Cold Eyes' Lvl 7
A Rare Passive skill that gives the wielder enhanced vision.
-Can now be turn On/Off : Off
-----
...So that's why.
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[Notification]
Do you want to turn. Rare Passive skill 'Poker Face' and Rare Passive skill 'Cold Eyes' On?
Yes / No
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I picked Yes without hesitation.
"Oh? To think it was a skill..." the count said. He must've seen the changes in my aura.
Welp, I won't answer that tho.
"Don't do anything reckless again" he said, as I turned around.
I left the nagging count's office and went outside the manor, on my way, servants greeted me and I greeted them back.
Soldiers and Knights would also say hello. I've been interacting with them sine day one, so they probably knew me now. And the incident about the church was kept hidden, so the servants aren't hostile towards me compared to those shadows.
As I walked towards the gate. A smiple blue carriage was park infront of the gate, and at the coachman's seat, I saw a red-haired man, with masculine features, it was Ramon, holding the reigns of the brown horses.
Ramon is Count Vinceral's gardener-c*m-driver. He work as a coachman whenever the count himself go out of the manor, though that's how I see it during my stay here.
"Sir Ramon" I called to the red-haired driver.
"Ah! Sir Kaiser! Good morning" Ramon greeted me.
Despite his looks, his quite younger than me...
"Good morning, Sir Count told me about the job, but where are we going?" I asked.
"I'm sorry, but the Count forbid me to say anything about the job" he said.
Dang It. I'm truly starting to think that it's some shady stuff.
But what can I do? I need the Count's backing if I'm to enter the palace. I need his full trust so that he can talk about the Heroes as well.
Ahh... But first, I need to pay my debts... Damn bad luck.
"I'm trult sorry, Sir Kaiser" he said, his masculine face showed his anxiety.
He's only 14. And he's taller and much more well-built that I am. He said he was from a family of knights. F*cking genes... That said, why a gardener?
"It's fine" I said.
I'm currently treated as a guess here so polite language is necessary. I'm not good with that one though.
"You said you were from a family of knights right, Ramon?" I asked.
The red-haired looked back from his seat to the open window behind him.
"Ah, you're probably wondering, what a person like me, that came from the family of knights, doing in a garden" he said, then chuckled.
"Haha, it's quite the long story, would Sir Kaiser mind listening to this gardener's story?" he said.
I shool my head.
"Please. I'm quite curious you see"
"Well, I was the 2nd son in our family..." Ramon began his story.
Long story short. He was exiled due to a crime that was passed onto him, a frame-up if I should say. Because of that, he wasn't able to attend the Knight's Academy last year. According to him, He should be a 2nd year Knight apprentice now, and not a gardener, if he was able to attend the Academy.
It's quite a sad story if you're going to hear it in full, but unfortunately I can't be bothered to tell them in full.
The man himself said that his quite contented on his current job and would want to attend the Academy if he earned enough.
He also said that the count doesn't know of his background. Welp, I doubt that, with the shadows lurking here and there, it wouldn't be strange if he knew it. Hell I'd even go as far to say that it's even weirder if he doesn't know the things happening right under his nose.
"Oh! We're here, Sir Kaiser!" Ramon said as he peeked on the sliding window infront of me.
"You know I can't see anything infront right?" I said to him.
Due to this f*cking blinds that cover the side windows, it's hard to see sh*ts outside!
"My apologies" he said, embarrassed.
"If you're going to be a knight, you should fix that attitude of yours" I said "Welp, I'm not one to talk, go on your own phase"
"I'll keep that in mind!" he said, resolute was he that he even saluted me.
Really... I should not talk about fixing attitudes when I myself can't even change...
"Whose inside?"
I heard a strict voice outiside.
'Probably the guards' I thought.
"Sir Kaiser" Ramon answered "He was recommended by Count Vinceral as his replacement on the job"
"Hmm. I'll confirm it first to the minister" the guard said.
Did I just heard some strange words there?
Replacement? Minister?
What the f*ck did that count even put me into?!
"Confirmed, You may enter" the guard said.
Quite lax in the security...
"Ramon" I called the driver.
"Yes?
"Isn't it bad for the security to be this lax?"
"What do you mean Sir?"
"They didn't even confirmed who's inside. What if a terrorist attacked this place using the same tactic?" I asked.
It would bring too much trouble to the Kingdom if they didn't even confirm the face of the person going in. Even if they didn't know it, it's best to confirm the face in-case of troubles.
"They could try, but I don't think they'll last" Ramon answered as he laughed to himself.
Are they that confident on this places' defense? Or are the person residing here that strong?
In any case, I should prepare. It wouldn't be good of a impression if I stiffened up in the job.
"Sir Kaiser, we've entered" Ramon said.
I nodded my head and peeked at the blinds.
Soldiers marching in rhythmic pattern. People swinging swords.
Some even clashing against each other.
"This place..." I muttered "Is definitely the barracks for soldiers..."
Am I going to be a soldier...?
- Writer
