"Ughh..." Yadrith uncomfortably opened his eyes, "Did I pass out?" He looked at Oliver sitting next to the bed.
"Yes, fortunately I was able to get accommodations here, though I promised the innkeeper that I would take care of an errand." He sighed, tapping his finger against his thigh, "Also, we'll have to reunite with Mahaya."
"Huh? Why, what happened?"
Oliver fiddled with his long hair, looking off into the distance through a window next to Yadrith. "You were about to succumb to the heat, and a horde of demon beast happened upon us." He looked back into Yadrith's eyes, "She stayed behind to handle them, so I could rush you here."
"...Is she okay?"
Oliver nodded, "Lizardmen aren't exactly dangerous if you've handled them before, Mahaya, who's even stronger than me... She probably cleaned that horde up in less than ten minutes."
"Then, the problem is that we have to find her in this city?" Yadrith spoke.
"Well, I would say that. But finding a miniature spider in a massive city like Telbak is nonsensical, she has to find us." He stood up from his chair, "The problem is that we're on a time constraint... The errand I promised the innkeeper is that I would protect their caravan from danger when it leaves tomorrow."
"Is that so? Then what are we waiting for?" Yadrith got out of the bed.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"I've been better, but finding Mahaya takes precedence over my health. I suggest we split up and walk around the city. If she's looking for us, then we'll probably find her if we just wander."
Oliver smiled, "Alright... Just remember, Telbak is a rather large city, let's make sure to meet back at this inn at night. If we don't find her by then, we'll look together."
Yadrith prepared himself, slightly happier with the added appliances of the inn. Then formally headed out. 'It seems Oliver, already left.'
He looked left and right, a bit overwhelmed by the amount of people walking by. Both humans and demons, Telbak was much more populous than the last city they were in.
'Speaking of that city, what was its name again?'
He forgot, but it's been almost a month since he first landed in this world. It seemed like a nostalgic thought already. Technically speaking, it was one of the first experiences he's had, if you consider the fact his memories of his experiences on Earth were gone.
A small boy suddenly approached Yadrith.
"Are you an Adventurer?"
Yadrith suddenly recalled the guild that Oliver had spoken of.
"No, I'm a traveler. One who is journeying, if that makes any sense."
"Could you come tell my sister some stories? She's sick and wishes to someday experience the world."
Yadrith suddenly felt a hint of sympathy.
"I've only ever been on this journey, but I've experienced some odd things. I'm willing to talk to her, where do you live?"
The boy smiled, "Across the city, is it misters first time coming here?"
"That's right, I'm Yadrith, what about you?"
"My name is Belk." The boy spoke.
"Tell me about the city while we walk." Yadrith spoke with a kind voice, 'If we walk across the city, Mahaya might just find me, anyway,' He said in his mind.
"Telbak? Hmmm.." The boy tapped his lips while walking. "The city is most known for its auctions and gambling rings, that bring aristocrats even from overseas." Belk sighed, "Because of that, a lot of unsavory folk pass through."
"Unsavory folk?"
"Slavers." Belk spoke in a low voice, "They often enslave people with no connections or family that they can get away with slaving... Demons are the priority, but us humans as well get enslaved often."
"That's terrible..." Yadrith looked at the boy's back with a frown, "Is there anything positive? Any good sights?"
Belk suddenly slowed down, clearly in thought.
"We have infinite water, just like those from Vestriam and Pelsac."
'That is right...' Yadrith remembered there being taps in the inn's bathroom, unlike the bucket from the last one. The toilet also didn't use lava, it had a conventional flush. 'I didn't think twice about it earlier.'
He looked at the boy, "Do you know anything about how it works?"
"Yes... The Lord's lineage has a special Regalia that allows them to purify it. At least, that is what I have been told."
Yadrith nodded his head, impressed by Telbak, 'Then from my current information, Vestriam is a continent... Pelsac might be one too? I can probably infer Vestriam is in an entirely different technological period than the Land of Demons.'
He smiled, looking at the boy.
'This is valuable information.' He thought about what to ask next, "Have you ever left the city?"
"I've never left... Though someday, I wish to adventure with my sister and learn the secrets of Rekh."
"Rekh, huh? I'm sure you'll be able to learn."
The boy suddenly froze, and began frowning, "Do you perhaps know Rekh, mister?"
"I don't, but I'm in the process of reaching the First Step... Or, simply learning it."
"Oh." The boy smiled again and started walking.
Yadrith continued to talk to Belk, learning a few more interesting things about this new world. Even the name of it, Ixia. Somehow, nobody had never mentioned it around him. Also, he pondered about another fact of his life.
'Why did I even agree to Miel's quest to leave the Land of Demons? In actuality, I have no reason to leave this place.' He shivered, 'And why was I so calm and relaxed, despite her terrifying appearance and aura?'
By his human from Earth standards, Miel was literally a horror. This led him to the fact that she must've used some form of the power they call Ethra, to influence his mind.
'It's a bit of a strange situation.' He recalled that Miel had asked about his origins. Despite calling him something that disgusts her, she quite literally humbly offered him his daughter.
'When she read my memories and received a shock... Something changed.' He slightly narrowed his eyes, 'Also, what about me had interested her in the first place? Was it the fact I was disgusting, or was it something else?'
"Haha, we're here, mister."
Yadrith woke up from his inner thought and looked around. It was a part of Telbak that was decrepit, by obvious glance he knew what this place was called.
The Slums? The Back Alley?
He smelt the air, filled with the smell of feces and decay.
'God... I was so out of my mind following this boy, I didn't even know where he was leading me.' He noticed that there was not a single person in sight besides the boy. "Belk? Why is this part of town so-"
"So disgusting? Run down? It's simply because they consider us trash." Belk's expression was filled with resentment.
"That's not what I meant, I was going to say. Where are all the people?"
Belk covered his mouth, "Oh. Sorry... As for the people, the area around my house is a zone where the sickness my sister has is contained, so not a lot of people pass by."
"I understand." He felt his eyes burn, 'Then that decay, must've been the dying people?'
Belk opened the door and stepped to the side, gesturing for Yadrith to enter.
"Please head on in, sir."
Yadrith tried to see inside, but it was covered in a dark veil. Which was odd, considering it was daytime and light should be pouring in to illuminate the inside.
"A-alright~." Yadrith stepped inside.
Immediately he covered his mouth, and his face twisted to one of horror. A putrid smell, one so nauseating that he nearly lost his balance, assaulted his nose with no mercy.
Bzz!
He heard the sound of flies.
He covered his nose, "Belk... What is this sme-"
he felt a leg hit his back, and he was kicked further into the building.
"Ah! Belk?!" He turned, seeing the door slowly close. Momentarily, he could see Belk's face, which was emotionless and cold.
"Haha! It seems my younger brother has brought something good!"
The darkness filling the house vanished immediately. No light source suddenly appeared, it's simply that the darkness was unnatural to begin with. A product of the power he had been told about since he entered this world, and only seen once or twice.
Regalia!
A woman with dark hair and brown eyes stared down at Yadrith. Her outfit was rather revealing, made out of a dark leather, leaving most of stomach area exposed. The type of outfit you would see on a rogue in a ridiculous video game. The most odd thing is that she was sitting on a throne of decaying corpses.
He frowned, looking at her and the two people surrounding her.
Left of her, another woman, with a dark cloak on obscuring her features. The only thing Yadrith could see was a blonde strand of hair. To the right, a large man also with a dark cloak on, the only thing Yadrith could see was his dark skin.
Behind him, a shadow loomed over his body.
"Yadrith was it? What an odd name, for now on you'll be... John."
Yadrith turned back around toward the door, and another hulking man stood obscured by a cloak, stood over him. He took a few steps back and drew his sword.
"Hahaha? You plan to fight back, John? Yet, your hands are trembling!" He covered a laugh with his hand.
"..." Yadrith silently stared at the man and calmed himself. "You're right, I'm scared." He smiled.
"I've never once fought another human, though I've once fought off a wolf. However, to me scum like you are no longer humans." He took a glance at the stacked bodies in the corner decaying. 'Horrifying.'
The woman smiled, "Don't worry about the bodies, we don't plan to hurt you." She jumped off her throne. "Go ahead, give it your best shot. John." She laughed once more, "I'm joking, come on, Yadrith."
He clicked his tongue. She had asked for it, so he turned away from the man.
'Don't underestimate me!'
He may not have achieved the First Step, however, his mastery over the blade had continuously improved over the month. If it was just a vile rogue, he was confident! He charged toward her at full speed.
With her standing just a few steps away, reaching the woman in mere moments, he raised his sword high, Preparing to cleave the woman in half. He was nervous—killing a person... He had never done it before.
But not nervous enough to allow himself to be killed. Infusing his intent to kill into his blade and projecting it into the world by the name of defending his life. His blade fell, but in the instant his blade lowered, his vision went dark.
"Ughk!"
A powerful palm hit his chest, causing him to be winded.
However, it was not enough. With this blade he called his life, he would not be stopped by losing his sight or something as insignificant as pain! He raised his blade once more, even his sense of sound seemed to be gone.
To swing a blade, there was no such rule that it required sight or sound!
His sword descended once more! However, it was another failure. A powerful bind restrained his body, like threads wrapping around all his limbs. Or perhaps, even a spider web.
The darkness vanished, and his vision appeared once more.
Belk's sister had her hands raised with nearly translucent threads coming out of her fingertips. The threads were finely entangled with Yadrith, restraining his every movement.
They were discussing something, then a second later his sound returned. The threads tightened, and his sword fell from his grip.
"Hah... You were more impressive than I thought. The combination of our Regalias is no joke, but you nearly severed my head with that second strike!" She grabbed her neck, "Such a capable man, with a handsome face. Selling you Yadrith, makes me feel sort of regretful."
"Selling me?"
Suddenly, the conversation he had with Belk about slavery returned.
'That little bastard!'
Oh well, all he could hope for now is to be liberated by Oliver or Mahaya.
"Of course, to sell you, we need a bit more information. What is your full name?"
Yadrith felt the corner of his mouth lift, "John."
"Ha, how funny." Her face had no signs of amusement, "Yadrith, what is your last name?"
He thought for a moment, staring into her eyes. 'People react to Jubel, so I wonder what they will think?'
"Jubel. Yadrith Jubel..."
She frowned and then moved her fist, sinking it deep into his stomach.
"Auhk...!"
"I'm being serious, what is your last name?"
Yadrith was speechless.
"I wasn't joking, it's actually Jubel."
She turned around and looked at her other female companion.
"He's not joking, he's serious." She spoke.
Belk's sister's mouth parted, and she turned back to Yadrith.
"Is that your companions Regalia? How convenient."
"Shut up... What is an Imperial Son of Pelsac doing here?"
"I have not lied about my intentions once, I came to tell you a story... But, it seems you're not sick." Yadrith was secretly beaming, 'It worked! The Jubel name might be my best card yet!'
She went silent, staring at Yadrith.
"That wasn't my question." She suddenly smiled, "I've never tried selling an Imperial slave, have I?"
"You dare threaten this young master?" He spoke in an enraged and pretentious tone.
"Haha, then Kelda, is he truly a 'young master'?"
The cloaked figure with blonde hair shook her head, "That was a lie."
'Fuck.' He cursed. 'I overplayed my card...'
"So, just a commoner with a fancy last name? No true Imperial Son would be without Rekh, and also shameless enough to say something like 'You dare threaten this young master?' What a joke." Her emotionless eyes met his, and she clenched her fist, tightening the threads.
'Ugh... It feels like my limbs are going to be cut off. What a terrifying Regalia!'
"Alright, Yadrith Jubel... What does your Regalia do?"
"I don't know."
"Kelda."
"He's telling the truth."
"How odd... To not have unlocked your Regalia at your age? You seem like you're on the verge of adulthood." She shook her head in disappointment and picked up the stone sword.
"This odd thing, where did you get it?"