[A/N: Alert! this chapter is a slice of life.]
"We made it," I muttered, clutching the small cat in my hands. Emotions threatened to overwhelm me as someone threw a rope in our direction, offering assistance.
"Hey!! Grab it! I'll pull you out!" A feminine voice called for me as I grabbed the rope with my right hand while keeping Blaze in my left hand.
As I clutched the rope, the person from the other side pulled me with great strength and then...
"Kugh!" I gasped in the air as I was completely pulled out of the water, landing on my back. I looked at the face of the person who had rescued me.
She had blue hair and... animal ears like a Demi-human.
"You okay?" She asked, extending a hand to help me up.
"Yeah... I'm fine," I struggled to get up, accepting her hand.
...Silence...
"?" Suddenly, the girl went silent. Her eyes widened, her pupils dilated, and her face turned pale as a ghost. I followed her gaze, looking down at myself and finding the reason for her shock.
I was naked, with my dragon hanging freely in the air, and my clothes barely covering anything. The belt holding my Mithril Sword only added to the awkwardness, making me look like a walking fashion disaster.
Blushing furiously, I covered my face with my right hand. "I-I'm sorry, I have to go now. Thank you for your help!" I dashed away, too embarrassed to look back.
"Man, how embarrassing," I muttered, hiding behind a nearby barrel at the harbor. Blaze, sitting in the hood of my robe, remarked lazily, "You're packing quite a lot down there, huh?"
Hiding my face, I muttered, "System store."
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STORE LVL:1
Blood Points: 5550
Storage Void: Currently Unavailable
1) Mana Potion: 50 Points
2) Healing Potion: 50 Points
...
...
6) Orb of Illusion: 1000 Points (Unit: 1)
....
11) Plain Robe:100 points (∞)
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"Buy a plain robe," I immediately requested, and a plain grey hooded robe appeared in my hand. I draped it over my body, placing Blaze inside the hood.
With my new attire, at least I'll have some modesty. Though I'll still be a walking joke if anyone sees me like this.
"It's a good thing it's nighttime. Otherwise, you might have been mistaken for someone with eccentric fetishes," Blaze chuckled, capturing the absurdity of the situation.
After calming my racing thoughts, I left the barrels and headed towards the city, taking advantage of the empty streets in the midnight hour.
"There!" I spotted a small tavern, but I had no money on me, and I didn't want to enter looking like a clown.
Sneaking from the shadows, I secured a few pieces of cloth that had been left to dry outside houses—a loose grey shirt and a pair of green trousers.
"Secured? Didn't you just steal someone's clothes?" Blaze reprimanded, but I had no other choice.
Now fully dressed, I searched for a small, less crowded tavern and entered it.
Clink!
As I opened the door, I found the tavern empty, with only the receptionist behind the counter.
"Welcome~" she greeted me with a melodious voice, turning her face towards me.
"Hey-hey," my voice cracked, unaccustomed to conversing with civilized people.
'Hey! Are you saying I'm not civilized?' Blaze scratched the back of my neck from the hood.
"Oh, I'm sorry. We don't have any leftovers to give you right now," the receptionist apologized, returning to her registry.
"!?" Confusion filled me as I tilted my head. Leftovers?
"Hmm! Like I said, we don't have any leftovers to give right now. Please go," she repeated, not even glancing at me.
"I-I'm not a beggar, miss," I insisted, feeling slightly offended.
"Huh?" She finally turned to face me, clearly surprised by my response. "We don't serve beggars here," she stated with disdain.
"I'm not a beggar," I retorted, trying to maintain my composure despite the embarrassing ordeal.
She scrutinized me from head to toe. "If you're not a beggar, then why do you look like one?"
"I... had an unfortunate incident, but I assure you I'm not here to beg. I would like a room for the night," I explained, hoping to make her understand.
She sighed, still skeptical. "Fine. But you'll need to pay in advance. We don't tolerate any funny business here."
Reaching my waist and pulling out the sword, making the receptionist flinch, I said, "Here, this should cover it."
She looked at the sword, nodded, and handed me a room key. "Certainly, sir. These are the keys to Room 207, upstairs. Two nights, and please don't cause any trouble." Her tone returned to politeness as she took the Mithril Sword from me.
"Can I get something to eat?" I asked as politely as possible, not wanting to cause any more trouble. She agreed and said they would send it to my room.
I thanked her and made my way to the room, finally able to relax after the series of embarrassing events. Closing the door behind me, I let out a long sigh.
"Princess, that was quite a scene back there," Blaze commented from the hood of my robe.
"Tell me about it," I muttered as I searched for the bathroom.
The bathroom was not big, but it had everything I currently needed - soap, water, another soap, and a towel.
The mirror above the sink explained why I was seen as a beggar... I looked disgusting.
My hair was a mess, dirt was stuck in it, and I was covered in disgusting blood stains. I also had a noticeable smell. I was glad the receptionist hadn't thrown up after seeing me like this. My appearance had not been my top priority for the past six months, so this was just plain disgusting, and I couldn't blame anyone for their reaction.
I quickly stripped off my tattered clothes, eager to rid myself of the dirt and grime that had accumulated on my body. Stepping into the shower, I let the warm water wash away the filth, feeling a sense of relief with each cleansing droplet.
As I scrubbed away the dirt, I couldn't help but reflect on the events that had led me to this moment. From the trials of the Nightshade Sanctum to my embarrassing encounter at the harbor, it had been a whirlwind of challenges and surprises. Yet, here I was, in a humble room, finally able to take a moment to myself.
After thoroughly cleansing myself, I wrapped a fresh towel around my body and stepped out of the shower. Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, I dried my hair and then proceeded to put on the clothes I had acquired earlier—a loose grey shirt and a pair of green trousers. They weren't the most fashionable attire, but at least they were clean and presentable.
I looked into the mirror before leaving the bathroom and-
"Holy fuck!" I exclaimed as I saw something... much more handsome than before.
'Like I said, you look more beautiful than ever, Princess,' Blaze said.
What I saw was that I looked quite different than before, not completely unrecognizable but still noticeable.
My eyes seemed to glow with a vibrant golden color, making them stand out even more. My skin, on the other hand, had become paler than before, which I wasn't particularly fond of as it made me look like a walking ghost. However, there was a certain uniqueness to it.
"My hair has grown a lot," I remarked, remembering the extensive shampooing and scrubbing it took to wash away all the filth. As I examined it closely, I noticed that a few strands at the ends had turned red, creating a striking contrast of black and red hair.
With Blaze still perched in the hood of my robe, I sat down on the bed and took a deep breath. The weight of the day's events began to sink in, and exhaustion washed over me. It had been a long and eventful journey, and I knew that rest was much needed.
I glanced at the room key resting on the bedside table—Room 207, my temporary sanctuary for the night.
*Knock*
"Sir, here's the food!" Someone knocked on the door as I walked up to open it.
It was a gray-haired old man, holding a tray of food.
"Thank you," I said, taking the tray from him and closing the door. I brought the plate of food to the bed and took a moment to examine the dish—it was chicken.
My stomach growled in anticipation as I sat down and began to eat, savoring the taste of the warm, flavorful meal. It had been a while since I had a proper meal, and this chicken dish was a welcomed treat. The flavors danced on my tongue, providing a temporary respite from the challenges and uncertainties that lay ahead.
As I ate, Blaze watched me with curious eyes, his tail swishing back and forth in the hood of my robe. I couldn't help but chuckle at his amusing presence. Despite the hardships we had faced, there were still moments of lightheartedness that brought a sense of normalcy to our journey.
After finishing my meal, I set the empty plate aside and leaned back against the soft pillows. Exhaustion enveloped me once again, and I knew it was t
ime to rest.
'You got a plan right?' blaze asked as he Nestled.
"Yeah but for now let me sleep." I muttered as drowsiness took over me.
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Back at the harbor, the Demi girl stood there, her ears gently swaying in the passing breeze. A younger girl approached her, concern evident in her voice.
"Hey sister, what are you doing? Let's go back to the tavern!" the girl said, shaking her sister's arm.
But the older girl remained frozen, her face pale and haunted. She could only mutter one sentence, over and over again.
"It was big," she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of fear and disbelief.
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