After bidding Aidan farewell, they headed toward Asukatei. The sun had vanished, leaving the streets cloaked in deep darkness. Lanterns cast weak pools of light, insufficient against the encroaching night. Moonlight offered little comfort.
"Staying at Asukatei from now on too," Mizuki announced.
"What? My room? You're welcome." Master grinned.
"Separate rooms!" Mizuki corrected, flustered. "Same party, same inn. Convenient."
"True. Try not to cause trouble..." Master trailed off, his mind snagging on Mizuki's declaration about quitting Wind Blade. As Asukatei came into view, a group blocked the entrance.
Wind Blade. Reid, their leader, stood flanked by Cecily the mage, Ayla the priest (Myra's sister), and a hulking warrior Master didn't recognize.
"Coincidence?" Reid asked, his gaze cold. "This is Beers. First time meeting you, Mizuki?"
"Uh, yeah..." Mizuki shifted uncomfortably.
"Hmm. Had a slave named Beers before. Slaves' names are a pain. Called him Beards." Reid's casual dismissal pricked at Master's senses. He glanced at Fam; her expression mirrored his disquiet. He doesn't see them as people. Is that normal here? The unease Reid always sparked finally crystallized.
Master studied Beers. Imposing physique, expensive gear. Third one called Beers/Veers. Female warrior slaves cost 100 gold; males likely similar. A B-rank couldn't easily afford that. The market would collapse. Reid's noble status explained the endless supply.
"No coincidence," Reid stated, eyes fixed on Mizuki. "Waited for you."
Mizuki looked down, surprising Master. He'd thought her fearless. "Reid, I'm leaving Wind Blade. Joining Mash's party."
"May I ask why?" Reid's voice remained dangerously calm.
"Your methods," Mizuki said, lifting her head. "Rushing warriors in as decoys? Triggering traps, scouting? Four died." She gestured at Beers. He's the fifth.Sacrificing them to speed exploration? Master looked at Cecily and Ayla. Do they condone this? Only fifteen days since Master arrived. Too fast. Warrior slaves can't be replaced that quickly. They're stuck.
Curious inn patrons drifted out, forming a loose circle. Murmurs of "Lovers' quarrel?" grated on Master. He just wanted quiet time with Fam.
"I'm in Mash's party now. Not coming back."
"I see. Can't let you leave easily." Reid's smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Stop using warriors as decoys then," Master blurted, unable to stay silent. "Maybe she'd return."
"F-ranks stay out of our methods," Reid snapped. "No time. We continue."
Big mistake, Master realized, seeing Reid's fury.
"Fine," Master pressed. "Just saying. Buying slaves costs money. Unsustainable plan."
"I'm NOT going back!" Mizuki shouted.
"Then we settle it," Reid replied coldly.
"Ridiculous," Master interjected. "If she wants to leave, let her."
"We have rules," Reid countered. "Interfere, take responsibility."
"Law…?" Master began.
"A duel," Reid declared.
A roar erupted from the onlookers. "Tomorrow, noon, arena."
"Hey! We're not accepting!" Master and Mizuki shouted simultaneously.
"Everyone's a witness," Reid proclaimed, voice rising above the din. "Wind Blade versus Mash, Mizuki, and the dog-kin. Boring if it's just about Mizuki. Losers offer their party as slaves to the winner. More exciting." Cheers surged.
Not good! Master thought. He knows he can't lose. Public humiliation.
"Interesting?" Reid laughed. "An F-rank thinks he can win? Looking forward to it."
"Mizuki's involved," Reid continued, ignoring their protests. "The dog-kin's just baggage. Wouldn't be fair otherwise." He glanced at Cecily and Ayla.
"We'll be fine," Cecily said, smirking. "No way we lose."
"Master, I'm fine too," Fam added, her voice firm. "No way you'll lose."
Wind Blade burst into laughter. Fam knew his weakness better than anyone. Her declaration was absurd. Even Master felt a hysterical laugh bubbling up.
"Heard guards gave up on third floor today," Cecily taunted. The crowd laughed again.
"Fam…" Master sent her a sharp look. Don't. She clenched her fists but stayed silent.
"Settled," Reid grinned, clapping Master hard on the shoulder. He and his party left, cheered on by the drunken crowd.
In the inn's dining room, the tension lingered.
"Reid and Mizuki's talk became Reid and Master's…" Fam murmured.
"Sorry, Fam," Master sighed. "Can't abide handsome guys being cruel."
"Sorry, Master," Mizuki mumbled. "My fault."
"Right," Master agreed. "Wanted a quiet life."
"Ugh… sorry," Mizuki hung her head. "If we fight, I'll teach you their tactics. If we run, I'll follow. Protect you."
She's the troublemaker, Master thought. "Mizuki, was Reid pressuring you? Loser becomes slave? Common here?"
"Hmm…" Mizuki hesitated. "He's older. Not interested. Always turned him down…" So this is his chance to claim her. Master winced. Probably older than Reid too. Definitely not her type. Hurting alone.
"Never seen a duel," Fam said. "Normal terms?"
"I… Fam," Master said, turning to her, his voice low. "Take all my assets. Run alone. Find Aidan."
"No," Fam replied instantly, her eyes unwavering. "Staying with Master."
Worst case, roll her in a mat, dump her in Aidan's garden, Master thought grimly.
"Reid's skills?" Master asked Mizuki.
"Never seen. Hidden?" Mizuki guessed.
"He prioritizes strategy," Master reasoned. "Would use it if he had it."
"True," Mizuki agreed. No surprise "Siege" skill. Only Mizuki might counter it.
"They'll send Beers first," Master outlined, thinking aloud. "Hold back while they blast us with magic/skills. Might take Beers out too. Only see Mizuki as a real threat."
"Reid: Level 49. Cecily: 27. Ayla: 28," Mizuki stated. "Can't win normally."
"Age?"
"Reid: 28. Cecily: 25. Ayla: 26." So Myra's older than 26.
"When'd Reid start adventuring?"
"Noble's son from west city. Dungeon crawling for prestige. Started five years ago." Average to Level 50: 12 years. Talented: 6. Magic: double time. If he started adventuring when he began dungeons… talented. Noble likely means swordsman job first. Second job as adventurer? Lets him fight high-XP monsters, level fast. Hard to gauge true strength from level.Noble status explains slave purchases.
"Fam's stronger, but level gap's wide," Master mused. "Mizuki has fatal damage avoidance and infliction skills."
"Mizuki and I can handle it," Fam declared, her faith absolute. Master wished he shared it.
Back in their room, Fam seemed utterly calm, convinced of victory. She scrolled through naked photos Master had taken earlier on his phone.
"Is this really me? Strange," she wondered aloud.
In his old world, this would cause outrage. Here, it felt… different.
"Embarrassed?" Master asked.
"No. Feels naughty… very embarrassing," Fam admitted, a blush rising. She scrolled to his landscape photos. "This is your world? This white cotton… interesting."
"Oh, that's Mount Fuji. The 'cotton' is clouds."
"Clouds in the sky?"
"That mountain's over 3,000 meters. Sometimes clouds sit below. Sea of clouds."
"I'd like to go…"
"High mountains here too. Not need 3,000 meters. Sometime," Master promised.
"Yes," Fam nodded, handing the phone back. Their fingers brushed.
He stepped closer. Fam closed her eyes. He kissed her softly.
"After the duel," he murmured against her lips. "Win or lose, we leave this city. Earlier than planned. Head for Migurt."
"Yes. I'll come," Fam agreed.
"Got you involved. Regret it. Scared, Fam?"
"When we saved that goblin village… I wanted to help. Didn't know how. Master was against fighting, but I made it happen. We saved them."
"Aidan and you saved it," Master corrected. "I fell asleep."
Fam laughed. "True. I'm scared now too. But Master thinks we can win. To save Mizuki and Beers?" Her faith was touching, even if misplaced. Mostly just angry at the handsome guy.
"Yeah. Scared too," Master admitted, pulling her close. He kissed her again, deeper this time. Never want to let go of this warmth.