Chapter 25 : Strange Portents (Part-1)
by fnovelpia
Cotton fell into despair.
It was strikingly reminiscent of the time when Eden had witnessed his NASDAQ stocks plunge catastrophically overnight, leaving him reeling from the shock of sudden financial loss.
However, he realized that he couldn’t remain in this state of dejection indefinitely.
Fortunately for Cotton, amidst his troubles, he retained a small collection of gemstones that he had cleverly hidden away in his pocket, providing him with a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dire situation.
With these valuable stones, at least the threat of starvation looming over him wasn’t an immediate concern; he would have some means to sustain himself for the time being.
As his thoughts swirled with the weight of his circumstances, Cotton turned his attention toward the entrance of the tavern, where a barbarian was making his entrance, drawing his interest amidst the gloom.
“Uh, you said you were heading to a city, right?”
“Mordelan,” Eden said as he brushed the dust off the table.
“Five servings of whatever you have.”
“Would stew be all right?”
When Eden gave a nod of acknowledgment, the tavern owner swiftly vanished behind the counter.
The stew had been quietly simmering away ever since the tavern first opened its doors—a truly perpetual stew.
“…Mordelan, huh.”
Cotton murmured softly under his breath, his voice barely audible amidst the chatter and laughter that surrounded them, but Eden didn’t pay him any attention, completely absorbed in her own thoughts and conversations.
It wasn’t something he needed to care about anyway, in the grand scheme of things, as his opinion had rarely held much weight in their interactions.
Yet, in a habitual motion, Cotton naturally dragged a chair over, the legs scraping against the floor with a slight rasp, to the table where Eden and the others were sitting, making an earnest attempt to join them and insert himself into the lively atmosphere that enveloped the group.
“Five servings? Expecting more people?”
“I’m going to eat three bowls myself.”
“…Boss, make that one more bowl, please.”
Realizing that Eden had only placed an order for himself, Cotton quickly took action and added an order for his own stew to the request.
Before the food had a chance to arrive at their table, Cotton made an effort to strike a deal with Eden.
“Hey, brother,” Cotton said, rubbing his palms together and smiling slyly.
“Mordelan’s the closest city from here, right?”
When Eden nodded, Cotton clapped his hands loudly and exclaimed as if it was great news.
“Then! Would it be all right if I tagged along? Just think of it as saving a poor soul.”
“Why should I?”
“Well, you wouldn’t even have gotten that axe if it weren’t for me, right? Please, I’m begging you.”
Eden simply stared at Cotton without uttering a single word, his expression a mixture of curiosity and contemplation.
Cotton swallowed nervously under that intense and penetrating gaze, feeling the weight of Eden’s silent scrutiny.
However, Cotton was also filled with desperation, overwhelmed by the pressing circumstances he faced.
He had to find a way to sell his precious gems or secure some form of employment.
His primary goal was to make his way to the city, a place that held the promise of opportunity and change.
And if he happened to unexpectedly encounter a group of bandits during his journey and ended up losing his precious gems in such an unfortunate incident, the consequences could be dire; he might even lose the very will to live itself, feeling as though all hope had been extinguished.
To prevent finding himself in such a perilous predicament, it was imperative that he seize this rare opportunity to embark on a journey alongside a formidable barbarian who appeared to have emerged directly from the pages of a legendary tale.
Eden offered a slight smirk as he cast his gaze upon Cotton.
“And what can you even do?”
“…Well, believe it or not, I can handle a sword a little.”
Cotton briefly shifted his gaze towards Eden’s massive axe, noting its size and imposing presence in the surroundings.
However, that particular observation was not the focal point he ought to be concentrating on.
“I’m great at keeping watch, I can pick locks, I’m good at pickpocketing—uh, I mean, I’m just good with my hands. Don’t get me wrong!”
Cotton quickly glanced at the paladin who was seated at the same table, feeling the weight of his gaze, and hurriedly felt the need to explain himself to alleviate any misunderstandings.
That was indeed a very close call.
As the atmosphere in the room began to grow increasingly tense and charged,
Cotton wiped the beads of sweat forming on his forehead in a nervous manner and scrambled to think of other skills or talents he could offer to diffuse the situation and regain a sense of control.
What, what else could he possibly say to redirect the conversation or showcase his worth…?!
“Ah, right! Earlier, didn’t the village chief say he was preparing a wagon to head to the city? I’ll go and see if we can get a ride!”
Without even pausing to hear a response, Cotton quickly leaped to his feet, his movements swift and determined, and sprinted out of the tavern with an urgency that was hard to miss.
In an instant, his figure became just a fleeting silhouette, disappearing rapidly from view as he exited into the night.
Eden, observing the departure of the eccentric squid-headed figure, allowed himself a dry chuckle, the sound escaping his lips with a hint of amusement.
What an extremely noisy and exuberant individual.
025. Strange Portents
Having failed to secure a ride on the wagon, Cotton grumbled indignantly.
“…I’m sure it was a lie.”
He kept complaining.
“Mordelan’s the nearest city from here, and he says he’s not heading there? Does that sound believable to you?”
Cotton started moving as if he was going to head back to the village and kept talking.
“This won’t do. Instead of walking all the way, let’s just go back and ask the chief—”
“Shut up.”
“…Got it.”
Cotton immediately clammed up, remembering a previous conversation that had ended with, “Unless you want a beating.”
Well, he could certainly comprehend the emotions experienced by the village chief, considering the circumstances at hand.
As the group of party members continued their journey, the capacity of the wagon for carrying luggage diminished with each passing mile, and it was reasonable to assume that they harbored apprehensions about traveling alongside unfamiliar individuals.
Even though those unfamiliar individuals happened to be the valiant paladins who had previously come to the rescue of the village.
Cotton cast an assessing glance over the assembled party.
If he were not in a predicament that necessitated the safeguarding of the precious gem, he would have no inclination whatsoever to mingle with these people.
First, the paladin who appeared as though they had just emerged from the chaos and turmoil of a fierce battlefield.
“Is walking such a refined activity, huh?”
A heavy two-handed hammer, crafted from sturdy metal and adorned with intricate designs, was slung over his shoulder, resting comfortably against his back, balanced by the weight of his protective gear.
It seemed like the concept of casual clothes didn’t exist in his world, as he had not deemed it necessary to remove his battle-worn armor even when setting out on a journey, the gleaming plates reflecting his commitment to preparedness and the rigors of the road ahead.
Next, there was the giant barbarian, whose imposing stature and fierce demeanor commanded attention as he entered the scene.
“It’s just boring.”
Cotton estimated the barbarian’s height to be more than 7 feet tall, a staggering figure looming above most individuals.
If Eden had been privy to that observation, he would have rushed to offer a precise correction, asserting that it was actually 210 centimeters, rather than simply describing it as 7 feet.
The barbarian’s gaze was nothing short of terrifying; the intensity of his stare was so formidable that even someone like Cotton, a person who had endured numerous harrowing experiences and faced countless dangers, found himself hesitant and fearful to lock eyes with him.
This formidable individual was also a creature of immense strength, capable of wielding an axe so large and heavy that it necessitated the use of both hands for others, showcasing his extraordinary physical prowess and intimidating presence.
And finally…
“Well, at least it’s somewhat satisfactory. There will be another chance to ride a cart next time.”
The only member of the party who was traveling by means of a mount—a donkey—was a woman.
This particular donkey was the very one that Eden had purchased in the nearby village.
…She is incredibly pretty.
However, Cotton, showing a moment of humility or perhaps self-awareness, quickly lowered his head in response.
As the old saying goes, don’t look at trees you can’t climb.
With that in mind, the party continued on their journey, making their way along the vast and open plains.
The vast expanse of golden fields, glistening brilliantly beneath the warm embrace of the sunlight, stretched out in an awe-inspiring manner, creating a breathtaking panorama.
For a moment in time, the only sounds that pierced the air were the rhythmic echoes of their footsteps, softly resonating against the ground.
“…Ahem. Come to think of it,”
Finally, it was Cotton who spoke again.
“We haven’t introduced ourselves yet, have we?”
“Wasn’t your name Octopus?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
At the sound of Neb’s voice, Cotton, without realizing it, raised his voice.
Even though Cotton resided in an inland area, he had knowledge about octopuses.
He was familiar with their smooth texture.
“My name is Cotton.”
After hearing the name, Fran casually asked,
“Then why does your head look like that?”
“…Damn.”
An octopus, meaning “Cotton,” muttered a curse quietly.
Fran, possibly joking, let out a small laugh from his helm.
“I am Fran, a paladin who serves the sun.”
“…Then, should I call you Sir Fran?”
“Call me whatever is comfortable. We both worship the same sun.”
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