episode_0015

Philgreah East Continent.

This land, accessible from the Philgreah Central Continent by crossing the golden desert known as the “Gold Road” or by sea, was once a land where many large and small tribes gathered, aiming their weapons at each other.

In order to seize better land and wider territories, tribes fiercely risked their lives in wars. It was an era of great warfare and chaos, with blood rarely ceasing to dry.

In that era, a man who would later be called the ‘Flame Emperor’ raised arms in revolt. He recruited 8 scattered sects and 5 smaller forces, compared to the dominant powers of the time, as his collaborators, and spread like a spark in the chaotic battlefield.

They honed the martial arts of their respective sects and forces amidst the war, gradually growing stronger.

Thus, they unified the chaotic East Continent and established a nation under the banner of “Flame,” which is none other than the Flame Country.

“It’s nice to be in the Flame Country, but…”

“Hmm…”

“I didn’t expect to be captured like this, you know? Don’t you think so, White Lotus?”

“Hahaha…, Young Master, I told you before, even I didn’t know.”

And White Lotus and I, having arrived in the Flame Country via the fastest route, the sea route, were captured by the military.

* * *

[About 1 hour before being captured by the military]

The biggest characteristic of this place called the Flame Country is its firepower.

As if to prove the nation’s name includes the word “Flame,” fire plays a significant role in the local diet.

For example, most of the cuisine here falls into three main categories: grilled, fried, or steamed.

Of course, there are dishes that don’t fit this pattern, but most of the main courses tend to be this way. Therefore, some people may find the food greasy, but the strong-scented spices that counteract this greasiness are another characteristic of Flame Country cuisine.

“Ah-it’s good.”

“Finish what’s in your mouth before you speak, Young Master.”

Having enjoyed greasy foods like fried chicken and pork cutlets even before coming here, I found the Flame Country’s cuisine even more to my taste than the food I had in the Central Continent. Thanks to that, I overate a bit…, but since my current body has a higher basal metabolic rate than my old one, I don’t have to worry about gaining weight even if I eat as much as I want, so it’s a relief that my body doesn’t feel sluggish.

“Haa, now it feels like I’m living.”

“Hehe, I’m glad you seem to enjoy the Flame Country’s food.”

“Well, a gourmet trip wouldn’t be bad, but I didn’t come here just to eat.”

“I know.”

The sole reason I walked all the way to the sea to get to the Flame Country was for…

‘MegaCockRing.’

I came all the way to this Flame Country to fix that damn Leon’s micro-weenie.

Of course, delicious meals make me feel good, but that can’t be the goal.

“This place is one of the hubs where various merchant guilds gather and disperse in the Flame Country. Especially, many goods from the Central Region come in through here, 【Shinyun City】.”

“Hmph.”

“Surely, if it’s here, I can find the MegaCockRing, or at least get a clue even if I can’t find it.”

Indeed, I can see various merchants gathering to trade goods and load/unload them.

I see not only people of similar Eastern appearance but also people who have come from the Central Continent like myself, and also…

“…Elf?”

“Huh? Ah, you mean Wood People?”

“Wood People? Do you call Elves Wood People?”

“That’s right.”

Men and women with pointed ears and golden hair reminiscent of brilliant sunlight.

I also saw Elves.

Did Elves come here too? I don’t think I saw Elves in the game?

“Why are the Elves here?”

Elves mainly gather in the Western Continent of Philgreah.

They live there, dealing with various powerful magical beasts that gather due to the World Tree’s magic, so they rarely go outside the Western Continent unless it’s a special case. If they do go outside the Western Continent, it’s one of two things.

Either a crisis that threatens the world’s destruction has arrived, or their fellow Elf has been captured as a slave.

“Well…, I’m not a Wood Person, so I don’t know well…, but I’ve heard they come here regularly.”

“Hmm….”

Looking at the Wood People…, the Elves don’t seem to be here for a serious reason.

Rather, they seem lighthearted, like… they’re on a school trip?

“Well, it’s nothing I need to worry about.”

“Ah, that’s right. There’s one thing I should tell you, Young Master.”

“?”

“There are people called Beastmen here. They tend to be very competitive…, so try not to clash with them if possible.”

Beastmen.

They are basically those who inherit the blood of mystical creatures called Divine Beasts, which reside in the Eastern Continent.

Their characteristic is slight physical peculiarities that differ from ordinary people.

For example, having animal ears or a tail. If not that…

‘Distinctive hair color is also a characteristic.’

I looked at White Lotus’s hair.

It’s black hair, but white spots occasionally stand out.

She herself doesn’t know it, but she is a Beastman who inherits the blood of the Divine Beast ‘White Tiger.’ The Baek family she belongs to is a family that inherits the blood of the White Tiger. Among them, White Lotus is a woman who directly inherits the blood of the White Tiger.

In other words, her mother is the White Tiger itself, and Red Devil attacked the Baek family to steal the power of the Divine Beast White Tiger and captured her.

The White Tiger was forced to be captured by Red Devil in order to save her daughter, White Lotus, and the surviving daughter, White Lotus, searches for Red Devil for revenge…, well, something like that.

“Anyway, I understand. Don’t clash with Beastmen, right?”

After finishing our meal roughly.

White Lotus and I got up from our seats and walked around here and there.

We looked at general pharmacies and manufacturing shops, but there was no MegaCockRing or anything that looked like it.

“Should I ask directly? It’s embarrassing.”

“Isn’t it inevitable? There’s no other way but to ask directly.”

“Tch….”

…No matter how I think about it, asking for a MegaCockRing seems extremely…, Gollum-like.

While I was seriously contemplating what to do, White Lotus looked at me and asked.

“By the way, Young Master, is this not your first time in the Flame Country?”

“It’s my first time?”

“But you speak the Flame language so well? It’s so natural that I was surprised.”

“Ah.”

Hmm. I don’t know either.

But if I had to think about it…, it’s probably because of the Sword King’s memories.

Seeing how I do it naturally without even knowing….

“I just learned it from my master.”

“Master, huh?…, Well, unless you’re a monster, you wouldn’t have wielded a sword from birth, so you must have a master of the sword. Was your master a Flame Country person?”

“That’s not the case.”

While saying that and walking down the street, I discovered a quite plausible-looking secret shop in the distance.

Usually, the things I’m looking for are in such hidden places…, I set my destination and entered the shop.

“Excuse me.”

As I entered the shop, the unique smell of herbal medicine from a traditional medicine shop strongly permeated the air.

The fragrance unique to the place where medicine is made while blending various medicinal herbs strangely made me feel a sense of trust in this place.

While thinking that, I moved further inside, and one young attendant scurried over to me.

“What brings you here? Young Master!”

“I’m looking for a medicine, is the owner inside?”

“Medicine, you say? Please wait a moment!”

The young attendant quickly nodded and went inside the shop.

Then, after a short while, an elderly man and one young attendant slowly walked out.

“You’re looking for medicine?”

“Yes. I’ve been looking around here and there, but I can’t find it at all.”

“Hmm…, what kind of medicine do you need that you’re looking so hard for?”

“I need that, uh, MegaCockRing.”

I said, swallowing my embarrassment.

“…?”

“W-what did you say just now?…”

However, upon hearing those words, the old man and the young attendant looked at me with great surprise.

What? Did I say something strange?

“I said I need a MegaCockRing….”

“E-eeh! You crazy bastard! If you want to die, die alone! Get out of here right now!”

“???”

The old man suddenly shouted, getting angry as soon as he heard my words. Why is he so angry?

I looked at White Lotus in bewilderment, but she just shrugged her shoulders as if she didn’t know either.

“Get out right now!”

“No, why are you suddenly doing this! At least tell me the reason before you kick me out!!”

“Do you really not know?! What you’re looking for is!!…”

Before those words could finish, many soldiers rushed in from outside.

“W-what’s going on?”

“I heard there are people here looking for Forbidden Ring.”

“T-they’re here!!”

The old man and the young attendant immediately pointed at us.

….Forbidden Ring?

Could it be that it’s forbidden? The MegaCockRing?

I urgently looked at White Lotus. White Lotus also looked at me with a slightly bewildered expression, as if she was surprised.

“…Hey.”

“Young Master. Think about it. How much would I, a woman, know about MegaCockRing? I think I’ve done my part just by knowing it exists.”

“If you can’t even say that….”

“Arrest them!”

* * *

“Haa…”

Well, roughly that’s how we got imprisoned.

After that, after listening to the story from the guard, he said that MegaCockRing is a ring-shaped pill designated as Forbidden Ring. While it certainly has the effect of enlarging a man’s parts when taken, it also has the side effect of reducing the consumer’s lifespan to convert it all into libido, so the country has banned it.

“….Will they release me? Or rather, if I escape by force from here, will it cause diplomatic problems?”

“As expected, Young Master. Are you capable of escaping this easily? I must learn from you. I don’t think I can escape because of these handcuffs.”

“These handcuffs, you say….”

『Martial Artist Sealing Handcuffs (Unusable)』

『Detailed Explanation: Handcuffs designed to capture martial artists. When equipped, they distort the flow of Qi, preventing the wearer from exerting proper power.』

….I never imagined that putting on handcuffs would be considered ‘equipping’ an item.

Thanks to that, this is just a simple piece of iron handcuffs, so the part that says ‘prevents the wearer from exerting proper power’ doesn’t seem to work.

I don’t know whether to be happy or sad that I can’t use items….

Thud, thud, thud

“Someone is coming.”

“Indeed. I hope it’s someone who can communicate.”

Beyond the bars of the iron cage.

Listening to the sound of approaching footsteps, I turned my gaze in that direction.

There, I saw a man with a haughty expression, bringing his soldiers with him.

“Are you the foreigners who were trying to find the Forbidden Ring?”

“That’s right, but…, I didn’t know it was forbidden…, could you please be lenient?”

I didn’t want to cause trouble by crossing the continent, so I decided to try to resolve the situation through dialogue and opened my mouth.

Perhaps the other party also intended to resolve the situation through dialogue, as he nodded and said.

“Finding the Forbidden Ring is a capital crime punishable by death. I can’t just let you go.”

“….”

Never mind. He had no intention of being lenient.

“Are you strong?”

“?”

However, he scanned our two figures and then opened his mouth.

“If you fulfill my request…, well, I might be able to let you go.”

“What kind of request….”

“If you participate in the ‘Dragon-Phoenix Assembly’ that will be held a week from now, as part of the government army, and win, I might be able to overlook your mistake.”