Pfffttt!
Seeing Ritsuka group reaction, Derrick burst into laughter and patted Ritsuka and Aoko's shoulders.
"Hahahah!"
"Henry, did you see these kids faces?"
"Hahaa...Relax kids, we are not bandits."
'Is this guy nuts?'
Jalter gave an inexplicable gaze towards Henry who shook his head as if agreeing with Jalter's thoughts.
"You can take it and sell it on your own or you can leave it to us after giving us your details."
"We will transfer the credits into your account."
"How much will this be worth?"
Derrick rubbed his chin, glanced at the corpse, and looked at Ritsuka's bright sea blue eyes.
"Ritsuka... this could be sold for somewhere around 25,000-30,000R, however...."
"You see all those damaged legs...You have destroyed the outer fur on its knees and head which had many uses. In this condition, it will only fetch around 10-15000R."
Hearing this, Ritsuka and Jalter gave side eye to Aoko who didn't tried to look at them.
'Why...just did I have to overdid again.'
'Alice was correct...A person should remain calm and level-headed. I halved the price of the hunt.'
Aoko wiped away his virtual tears and pondered.
"I will leave it to you. You can take 10% of the earnings."
Ritsuka only trusted them because of his experience with many people. He can tell those guys aren't bad guys. Infact they are really honest and good guys. Aoko agreed with Ritsuka.
Snap...
"Hey, kid look at me."Derrick snapped his fingers and pointed at his face.
"Do, I look like a person who needs a tip."
"This much money amounts to nothing."
"Still, thanks for your kindness."
"You are a good kid but being too kind will cause you more trouble in the world, especially the place where you are going."
"Remember my words, Horizon is not a play centre to enjoy. It's a wolf den."
"You are going to be devoured if you are too kind. Your seniors will take advantage of you. Be aware of those people."
'I don't regret showing kindness in my life but I will win. I believe in my strength and control.'
Ritsuka wondered how the conversation ended up here, but still, he thanked him for the advice.
"We both passed out from Horizon so he tends to be sensitive when it comes to anything about Horizon," Henry muttered while Derrick went towards the corpse and pulled it into his storage.
"Did he have a traumatic experience while he was in the academy?" Ritsuka asked
"Was he bullied?"Aoko asked.
"No, he got it worse."
"He ...was used," Henry answered.
"wait ...what?" Jalter
"His ex girlfriend used him as money bank. She already maintaining few more money banks." The group's eyes widened and their gaze alternated between Henry's serious face and Derrick's back.
Henry, Aoko and Ritsuka gave Derrick a pitiful look.
They understood each other's thoughts and prayed silently for the brave broken heart warrior Derrick.
They gave Ritsuka group a ride towards Ivan and parted from him near the city gates.
The soldiers guarding the gates checked people before letting them pass through but with Derrick's help, Ritsuka group skipped the procedure.
Most of the inn closed their door so they had to look for the one where the mercenaries stayed.
They saw the food shops on the streets but decided to not buy them due to low budget. Maybe they will try when Aoko get the money she hunted this morning.
Jalter stopped them for a moment.
"I gotta sell few things from this backpack. This girl have useless stuff. I don't use them anyway. I can get money atleast. Stupid books" She went to Novel shops.
Now they are alone waiting for jalter near side of the road. No one can see them clearly.
Ritsuka looked at Aoko and says
"Aoko, you can stopping acting tough."
He spoke with a beautiful smile look on his face, and Aoko immediately hugged him.
'He saw through me. Well, that's my man'.
Aoko finally let her act drop and hugged Ritsuka tightly. They hugged each other tightly. As they missed eachother.
Aoko had happyness on her face.
Their hearts beating fast. But they didn't notice it.
"You really can't control yourself when you are happy. You suddenly lunged at me, I feel happy that you missed me like I did."
"Well, that's..."
Ritsuka says and teasing his girlfriend while Aoko tried to say something. Contrary to her hesitant words due to embarrassment, her arms around him tightened even more. The fact that she couldn't say it clearly here was probably the reason she was shy.
Love can change everyone.
"Yes, Ritsuka. I was so happy..."
Although her voice was getting quieter, Aoko tried her best to tell her feelings.
"Same, I'm so happy to see my lady."
"Hehe.."
They relaxed after talking honestly.
'He is trying to relax me by talking playful way like he always does.'
Even through she is older than him but in his arms she is like a child.
The warm air passing through them. Aoko is happy to feel this again. She will experience this slowly.
"You remember your promise right... So help me like you always do. My man."
"Ofcourse, my lady. I will take full responsibility and happy to be with you in this journey too."
"But I really feared that all the memories we created will be disappeared. All of it. With you and jalter."
"Guess All ends well"
'Guess this is my gift from the world. To be with ritsuka.'
then two of them grow closer. And then their lips meet. It was their second kiss since they started dating, and it was somehow sweet again.
They parted away their lips after awhile.
"I will not forget our second kiss too."
"You bet"
"Cough...Hmmm"
They broke the hug. Jalter stood looking at Ritsuka with anger.
"Let's go." She says and step on Ritsuka's foot while moving forward.
"Ahhh it's hurts"
Aoko gave a side eye to Ritsuka.
They followed Jalter and Ritsuka decided to talk with her later.
Finally they an Inn with two beds and the first thing they did after going into his room was to soak himself in water one after another ofcourse. Then Ritsuka washed the uniforms.
"It was only yesterday but it feels as if I have been here for months." Ritsuka pondered with an amused expression.
"Because our souls started to adapt to the body." Aoko says looking at Ritsuka and jalter come out in normal dress.
Seeing Jalter, aoko gave a side eye to Ritsuka so he can talk with her.
Jalter looked at Fujimaru and went to mirror. Fujimaru took this chance.
"What are you doing? You... Shameless guy...?"
Ritsuka hugged her from behind.
"...Thank...you... Jeanne alter"
"Wh-what... Do you think I will forgive you if you say that idiot!!"
"You give me the strength to move forward...to win... as the time passes I'm moving closer to the abyss. I did kept gritting my teeth and keeping forward...but my mind doesn't lie...my nightmares are proof..."
"I missed you...a...lot...in the journey"
"And a friend gave me silly dream to see you again. I'm happy to see you in dream..."
"But... U... Are with me in my memories.... I never forget... about you...."
"And You really... Hurt me... Leaving me alone with pain...like you always said...."
"Master Chan"
"But you helped me to be strong... you made me push beyond the pain you gave like everyone... With everyone helps... I was able to win... I kept my promise... Alter"
"It's not my name..."
Jalter face shows the proud, happy, sad many expressions at same. When her words are different but her heart is honest. Her hands grab Ritsuka hands as to never let it go.
"But I'm very happy to see you again my Titania. I'm glad I fought until the end to see you again."
Jalter blushed when Ritsuka told that she is his Titania.
".... Don't dare to try to see my face now. I will not forgive you Master chan."
Jalter face is red as tomato. She is the happiest woman now. They stood hugging eachother. They can feel the strength and feelings of each other. They are one with total understanding.
It was a miracle for jalter to be alive. This is fate and destiny for Ritsuka and jalter to be together. It was one in billions reality. It's a miracle which cannot happen again in anyway.
This is the match made in heaven.
Jalter was happy to get such beautiful chance.
They went through so much and they got the reward.
Aoko, jalter and Ritsuka, they got the reward for the journey which is gone.
It was fate.
"Jalter, can I see your face now"
"Wh-"
Jalter turned her head back but Before she can speak Ritsuka kissed her lips.
They enjoyed the pure love kiss for awhile before parted away.
"Well, It looks like you are in a bad mood cuz of morning incident. So..."
Ritsuka says with his smile.
Jalter turned her body face to face with him. Her face is full of red.
"It's... it's because you're always like this!! Master chan"
She hit his chest lighting. Ritsuka smiles at her cuteness.
They heard the sounds of Aoko coming out of bathroom. Jalter rushed towards another bed. Leaving Ritsuka infront of mirror.
Aoko looks Ritsuka with smile. Ritsuka nods. She understood what happened.
Dressing plainly, Ritsuka stood before the mirror to take a look at his current self.
"Ehhhh!"
Ritsuka was startled for a moment as he saw the mirror.
He rubbed his eyes, pulling his brows up and down.
"Is this guy a zombie?"
With a sunken cheek and eyes, there were two large dark circles underneath his eyes similar to the Pandas.
His bones were visible through the skin and one could count his ribs by sliding fingers through them.
His figure was similar to a skeleton.
"Did this orignal owner die quite a long time ago causing his muscles to degrade?,"
"Looking you in skinny body feels so crused in my eyes Master chan"
"Yeah, feels something wrong with eyes. No offence, We used to see you in musclar body"
"I too feel same about this guys. I need to hit gym daily. Seriously I should start my exercise from beginning."
Pale white skin, jet black and blue eyes that seemed to be dried without a shred of life.
"Wait Master, I think I got something for you, look here." Aoko put her hand in her pocket to take something important.
"Here take this candy" she throws the candy towards Ritsuka who catches it with both hands.
"It's just a candy. Master Chan isn't kid who wants candy". Jalter says with disappointed look.
"Well, it's not normal candy."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a Calming Candy, which Calms your mind and brings you to a relaxed state making you think you are in heaven."
"...."
His mind was unable to process for a moment after seeing the list of items.
"...I mean it is helpful but.." Ritsuka looks at the candy in his hand and remember the way Aoko described it.
The Calming pill.
It seemed to be useful at first but relaxed state and heaven, he did not know what to say.
"What the hell?" Jalter says
"Aoko, Is this calming candy or drug candy? Are you trying to giving me drugs?"
"What no no! You got it wrong! I thought to help you somehow. I even brought Sleeping pillow so you can get good sleep." Aoko got embarrassed. Tried to tell more but couldn't bring to say that she wants Ritsuka to have less painful nightmares. Aoko takes a pillow from fer pocket to show them.
"I know just kidding. Thanks Aoko" Ritsuka smiles and put the candy in his pocket. He uses it when he wants.
'How the hell did that pillow fit in your pocket?' Jalter was shocked to see Aoko do another trick.
"Anyway, Here take this pillow. This helps you to have a nice and comfortable sleep, making you feel energised after you wake up." Aoko puts it near her bed. She felt jalter questionable eyes looking at her.
"How the hell you put that thing in your pocket?" Jalter says not able to keep her curiosity.
"Surprised! Not only that, I've kept a hundred year's worth of Japanese food from over there in my pocket." Aoko answer calmly.
'Shittt!!! She beat me again! Some Rich Airhead Gorilla' Jalter could only Cruse at her luck.
Ritsuka sat on chair near the table and opened a book which he brought this book in city library while searching for inn. It explains about history of skills in this world. He needs to gather information.
"This world seems to have different skills and all. Here some interesting information guys." Ritsuka started to explain them to Aoko and jalter.
Skills can be bought with money.
Skill can be summarised as a magic spell that the user can cast without knowing any spells or magic.
Mages reigned Supreme for ages while warriors fell short.
It leads to the birth of a Magical Swordsman who knew magic as well as swordsmanship however, they have a fatal flaw.
Not all warriors have an aptitude for magic and a Magic Swordsman needs to divert his attention to both which makes it harder for him to reach the peak.
It was then a Magical Swordsman with the help of his Magician friend worked together which led to the invention of skills.
The Skills are stored in a book or crystal stone and it directly transfers the learnt information to your brain making it readily available for your use.
It allowed Swordsman not only to save time but also helped them to reach greater heights bringing them on par with Magician.
"Wait if skills are made like that then do Mana breathing is skill or maybe just natural born skill for everyone here?" Aoko asks.
Mana Breathing is foundation of everything.
Breathing is the key to sustaining life. Mana Breathing is a powerful technique that can help to harmonise your body and spirit while filling your organs, meridians and acupoints with mana. It cleanses the waste and at the same time washes away the accumulated exhaustion and hastens the natural healing of your body. It have super version skill too.
The breathing technique is the foundation for an awakened one. Without proper breathing techniques, you could not furnish your mana or execute battle techniques.
"Mana breathing is not a skill or maybe it is, I don't know. And There is no much information about 'Art' here in the book. I want to know about art power. It's description sounds like similar to servants Skill attack. I guess we need to check in academy library."
For a warrior, arts matter more than skills so it was let down to not have any art information here.
"Also Ritsuka I got potions from a servant name Circe. She said she wants to thank you and gave me this gifts on my way to here."
"She did that." Ritsuka was surprised to get a gift now.
"I got a lot of them from her. I don't have any use with it."
"Healing potions."
"That's great. With this, I don't have to worry about buying potions."
Healing potions cost a ton and the price rises astronomically with each grade from thousands to million.
And it also depends on the purity and the alchemist who brews this.
He had does know about the efficiency of the ones that were made by Chaldea Circe. he could assume that this might be top quality in this world.