Almekia Kingdom
46. Zircon - Encounter

I woke up in the afternoon because my stomach was starving. After bathing and cleaning myself, I left a message for Jasper and Saphir who were still sleeping. They both slept without pillows on a doble-size bed.

Inevitably I smiled seeing the pillows they used as a barrier that divided the bed into two parts separating them.

I purposely wear desert clothes with simple pieces. Clothes with loose details and thin made from Goldy's gift last time in Westline. I want to blend in without looking too conspicuous in this region.

I left one of the room keys on top of my message and then I went out and locked the door. Don't forget I ordered in the message that the two of them also wear desert clothes as well if they want to go out of the room or go around the city.

I walked alone out of the gear hangar plus our inn, towards the town of Bloody Hell. The city looks very gloomy even though the afternoon weather is very sunny today. The plan was to look around the state of the city, find information about Uncle Obsidian, as well as the main purpose of filling the stomach.

My first impression upon entering Bloody Hell was a sense of awe. This Bloody Hell is a great City despite all its depravity and opacity. All buildings in this city are square, square or rectangular from brick or clay.

All buildings have wide air vents with fabric curtains waving in various colors. The shape of the building is very suitable for this super barren desert area. The buildings are multi-storey and connected by a rope or wooden suspension bridge from one building to another.

Some of the other buildings that tread the ground are made of elongated iron shaped like train cars or containers.

I don't know why I'm imagining Diamond and Opal sneaking around would love to live in this town. They will definitely love to fly and jump from one floor to another and come here and there, playing hide and seek. But they're not actually here. We are separated and in a different hemisphere today.

Along the road that I passed a lot of people look rogue from various age groups. They openly commit crimes such as drug dealing, drunkenness, theft, pickpocketing, robbery and plunder. There were even a lot of fights, vandalism and gouging everywhere. Inevitably I had to increase my vigilance while here, otherwise it seemed like I could be doomed.

I enter a shabby carriage with the name of a tavern. The pungent aroma of beer and the sharp smoke of cigarettes billowing filled this place. Although still this afternoon tavern is full of visitors, ranging from people who are drunk, gambling, making love to those who just eat and chat.

I took a seat in front of the bartender and ordered food and drinks.

“Jam as soon as rame yes sir?” I asked to taste stale while eating my ordered food that has been served, the bartender just snorted to answer I was not interested.

“You know a person named Obsidian Nightray?” ask me again while giving 10,000 gils.

“You're new?” ask the bartender to investigate. It seems to have begun to show interest in talking to me, quickly took the money I had just offered.

I just nodded in response to him.

“Everyone in this sinful land must know the great general Obsidian Nightray. The only person who managed to create the basic rules that are obeyed by all the people,” he explained.

“Not this area bebeas rules?” kukorek had more information from him.

“Indeed, for minor crimes no one will punish us. But anyway we are still set primarily on murder and persecution. General Obsidian and his men will crack down on all the culprits. That's why the area that was once like hell is now slowly starting to be comfortable inhabited.”

“Where can I meet him?” I'm straight to the point of trouble.

“Hehehe you really don't know anything about this city apparently. General Nightray lives in the middle part of this city center that no one can go to. There's no way you can meet him, he just wants to meet tough people, especially a gearmaster. Never mind young man, just undo your intentions, you can't possibly meet him.”

“How can he know the toughness of someone he will meet?” ask again.

“There is a tournament to determine strength. Only the strongest people could enter the midle part area, the city center that was closed to the wider community. I hear it's very clean and tidy, no crime and no job as guaranteed as it wasn't in Bloody Hell."

"If you win several matches in the tournament and enter the quarter-finals. You will definitely be allowed to enter the midle part. You can go to General Nightray's residence and meet him there”

“When and where will the tournament be held?”

“At the exam hall, tournament hall. The largest building on the right wing of the city. The next tournament will be held later this week, 3 more days,” the bartender was appreciative.

“If you may know why you live in this hell? What have you done?”

“Better hell free than restrained in heaven” My answer is light with a little ambiguous.

“Hahahha I expected, at least you've killed right? The look in your eyes is so sharp that you will not hesitate to kill people. But think again if you want to take part in the tournament. You could be killed and die silly there.”

I don't want to arouse the bartender's suspicions. Somehow he found out that I had killed people just from my eyes. Well as a military soldier who often goes to war is indeed this cannot be avoided. We must choose between killing or being killed. And we have long disposed of our humanity to be able to take the lives of opponents without hesitation.

Not wanting to waste any more time, I left the tavern after finishing my food and drink and I paid for my food. I walked straight to the right looking for the big building that the bartender said, occasionally turning when I met a dead end.

After a long time I walked, I could not find the building and found myself in an increasingly quiet area. There were only carriages around me, and most of them were empty and unoccupied. This area looks more slum again, like a fringe area that is wasted and unused.

Well I have to admit it looks like I'm straying, I'm completely blinded in this town. I lost the orientation of the wind.

The shape of the buildings in this city that are almost similar all make me lose grip, confused. I decided to just go back the way I came, not to risk going any further.

“Come on miss!” suddenly some burly, star-looking men flew from one carriage to the other above me, seemingly chasing and looking for someone.

“Hey asshole, did you see a girl hiding around here?” asked one of them to me in a rude tone not knowing manners.

“No,” I replied as kindly as possible, not wanting to find trouble with them.

Without caring about me again the questioner immediately joined his friend and went to look for another area. I spread my eyes all over to find the person they were looking for.

Soon I found something strange in the plumbing attached to one of the iron carriages. Something long, fiery red, dangled through the mouth of the pipe. Really bad way of hiding.

After that I ensured the safety around me and sure a group of pursuers had gone far enough from my location. I slowly approached the water pipe that looked awkward.

“They're gone, you're safe, miss” I said as subtly as possible so as not to make anyone who was hiding there scared.

I'm sure a girl would be very scared if chased by a bunch of scary men earlier. Especially to the point of having to hide in the plumbing, which fortunately is dry because of this unused.

Slowly a body came out of the pipe, moved his body once standing in a roomy place. For a moment, but I could feel my heart stop beating to watch the girl.

What a beautiful creation of God, his face is beautiful, his beauty is like an angel, his long red hair on a horse's tail, his skin is as white as a pearl despite living in such a hot area, in stark contrast to the red hair on his head, his long coat and scraft also added to his appearance.

“Basic jerk! Because of you I have to hide in that stinking place longer!” The girl's look was like lightning echoing in my ear.

Is that true? A girl like this can talk that hard? How come?

“You should thank me for saving you” I replied trying to remain polite despite being a little upset and disappointed in his attitude.

“Hah? You fucker! Thank you for saying? Don't dream! I didn't ask for your help, after all without your silly lies I could have gotten away with it easily. Those gibberish can't possibly catch me!” scorned haughty.

“You must apologize, asshole! Because of your stupidity they hang around longer. My clothes smell of moss!”

I really speachlees face this arrogant, selfish, stubborn and sharp-tongued girl. Honestly, this is the first time I have met such a type of girl, usually all I meet are palace girls and gentle, graceful and polite nobles.

“Uhm...Sorry..”I said I finally couldn't stand the piercing look that seemed to blame me so much.

'Shit! But I'm not wrong.'

“Ah fuck you. My time is wasted here!” without saying thank you or goodbye, the girl left.

The red-haired girl left me still dumbfounded. He jumped from one carriage to another with agility and speed, looking at his movements I was sure he had quite high martial arts...

Finally I did not continue my search and instead decided to return to the inn with a strange chaotic and mixed feeling to the ruggedly beautiful girl that I did not even know what her name was...

..._______#________...

🌼Yuuuks gaes PLIIIIS do not forget love LIKE, VOTE and COMMENTS 🌼