Night couldn't have come any quicker!

And so far… nothing!

The little girl left a couple of hours after following me when a few merchants and civilians shooed her away.

I returned to the inn that evening to find the one who called himself Pyson Taro sitting at the counter where he was yesterday with a mug of ale in his hand.

"Over here kid."

The inn isn't as busy as yesterday but it's got a good haul.

"..."

Walk over to the counter. I need something in my belly, now!

"Have a drink with me."

What does he want now? Was his warning supposed to put fear in me or something, to give enough an incentive for me to leave?

"Sit!" his expression suddenly takes a turn and he whispered sternly.

What should I do? Ignore and just head up stairs… after I get some food. Or listen to what he has to say…? … Might as well hear what he has to say if I'm going to wait to get something to eat.

Take the stool beside him.

"Barkeep, another over here!"

"Coming right up!" Allora responds and disappears into the back.

He takes a mouthful of his mug before turning to me.

"So what do ya think? You scared enough to want to leave?"

"… No!"

"No shit…" He lowers the mug about reaching his lips. "So I should look forward to our fight…? Don't disappoint." He ended rather ecstatic; a smile on his face as he raises the mug for another swig.

"…How sure of you that I'm the one they seek?"

"Honestly I'm not sure. And I really hope that ain't the case. But, as far as I know you fit the bill. Maybe it's because I've been itching for a real fight for so long, but… it's just a gut feeling, an intuition. And so far my intuition ain't failed me, yet." I really don't understand what he's saying. There's clearly no logistics to that.

"… Why do you think they want me?"

"Like hell if I'd know. It's not like they going to exactly tell you every detail… A contract, come here to do some extermination of someone who had not even showed up, till now. Sucks if you ask me. With that fortune they paying for ya, who ain't want to come and have a crack at ya? It's enough to set anyone for the rest of their life." He says a bit cheerfully. "To tell you the truth those instincts are running wild, that you are dangerous, telling me to kill you right here and now." He added sounding solemn. "I trust my instincts, but I'd never let go of a chance to battle someone strong, be it a kid or a dying old fart." He continued, picking up his previous mood.

For a moment there I thought he was going to give me some sentimental speech about the immorality of killing a person, the preciousness of life and crap along those lines. Such childlike mentality and heroics are not things that would help anyone survive in this depraved world. Only a fool would cling on to such shallow ideals and that alone should mean they have accepted death.

On my part, I just don't care! It's not like I could anyway.

"..."

"Here you go." Allora sets a mug before me and quickly he grabs her hand. Holding her hand in both of his:

"Well, well little missy sure ain't seen this side of you. You look mighty gorgeous. Didn't know ya could change like this. Sure everyone in here is thinking the same." Slightly turning his head he takes at the people staring at her so intently, amazed, lustful. She also saw their stares and gives a nod. Is this what it means to be a Casanova? I've heard this word so many times.

So people don't know this form of hers? So why show it now if she'd always kept it under wraps?

He releases her hands and she walks to the other side of the counter to continue her work, cleaning the empty mugs from under the counter… and soon moving into the back.

"If you value your life, you'd leave."

Value my life?

"… No!"

"Oh well, your funeral kid. Just so you know I won't hold back even though I like you" he takes another gulp.

"… What is it with this place?"

"… Nothing much, probably just as you've heard I supposed. But something's shady about this place, if you know what I mean."

"..."

"Anyways I'm done for the day I'm going to hit the sack." He downs the remaining ale and slaps the mug to the counter.

With his left hand he reaches into his pants' pocket and pulls out something. He places a gold coin and a folded paper on the counter. Then he slides the paper to me.

"You should read that."

I reach for the paper just as Allora walks over to pick up the coin.

"Both. Keep the change."

"Thank you." And she left us.

"I'm off…" he stands and heads for the door. Behind me he stops "I look forward to our fight… See you when I see ya."

From the corner of my eye I watch as he walks out the door catching him crack a grin. Then turn to look at the paper in my hand.

"How was your first day in our little town?"

"..."

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to—"

"… Eventful." I say casually.

"… I see… Um, would you like something to eat?"

"Yes… Like before…"

"Right away." She disappears into the kitchen.

Just like yesterday I feel the scornful gaze of the men in the room. I turn my head and give them a look, they immediately turn away from my gaze trying to hide their malice but its stench overpowers the booze… and back to the counter.

There is a party of four, two men and women, with the light protective gear the two are wearing, no doubt they are hunters and the other two are in civilian clothing sitting at the corner of the room when I turned. The way they are hurdled up together I can only assume they are plotting something. I focus my hearing on them ignoring the 'words' the others are sending my way and the idle chats:

"We do it tonight?"

"I can't take this anymore!!"

I can tell from the weight in their voice that fear is gradually replacing every single fiber of the being.

"How do you propose we do that?"

"I don't know but no matter what we'll try till it works and we won't leave that spot until we get through."

"Are you in or not?"

Turn my head just a little and from the corner of my eye the civilian man nods.

"… Yes" The civilian woman is hesitant but replies.

What are they talking about?

A few moments later Allora returns with a bowl on a tray. She drops the plate before me before returning to the kitchen to return the tray.

I empty the mug and stand up placing the paper in my pocket. Grab the bowl and exit the inn before Allora returns.

○●○

I place the bowl on the small table and fall into the chair in my room taking the paper out of my pocket.

Unfold it.

It reads:

" Request:

Skilled hunters needed. Rogue hunter is on the rampage, tearing down anyone and anything in his path. He is currently on route to a town, a ruin to the south-west in the Lamoa Sea; north-west of the port town of Erndt. We call upon you to aid in bringing down this barbarian before more damage is done.

Reward:

      100,000 gold coins.

Participation reward:

100 gold coins for food and

accommodation expense.

Registered and approved.

Time limit: After a month of postage contract will be closed and no one may be allowed to undertake."

I see… That's quite a lot.

He was right. 'Enough to set anyone for the rest of their life' is an understatement. It could last generations.

So my previous assumption was wrong.

Why so much for me?

Am I that much a nuisance?

Or am I important to them?

I don't know how it works but letting out something this much is nothing short of suspicious. I wonder if they ever considered that possibility, let alone get such money in a place that is basically falling apart.

The contract is obviously the work of the demon.

But why and how?

How did they even get the chance to request for t? Unless… a medium (?)

I don't remember doing anything in particular to this 'person' or gone on any rampage to want to have me dead. Maybe they took my hunt indirectly and want to stop me since he thought it might affect him?

What still bothers me is how they knew about me coming to this town…

None of it matters though. If he truly was one I needed to encounter I would have, eventually.

… Lamoa sea? Erndt?

I'm not sure I remember the names of places in the old days but seems they'd already been label to suit the new world. So it's obvious that there might be a place, somewhere out there which is a tad bigger than here, than the places I've been and rather organized just like I suspected.

Indeed, it has changed since I woke up, when there was nothing but small settlements wherever I went. There are still so many places I haven't since I have no sense of direction.

I'd have to make my way there, wherever it is, maybe a clue or the answers I need might be waiting for me there, in the masses where stronger and knowledgeable demons may reside.

I relax my hand to my thigh turning my head and looking out the window to the night sky.

What really is going on here?

Why am I valuable to this demon?

I have an idea as to why but I'm certain if it's that or why it is that.

Morning in the ruin:

The sky is clear without a speck of cloud.

Everything is lively. People rush in from outside to have their breakfast.

The streets are busy with merchant shops now opening to a horde of customers. It looks like some new people are in town. Or rather people I hadn't seen the day before.

I can hear the smith hammering away on his anvil, making the finest weapon for a new customer.

Allora is having a chat with the owner of the Inn, an old male Troll. I feel her eyes occasionally checking on me… She's still in her human form ever since.

It just seems too lively today. Too off for me. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Three days has passed since the incident of me washing the dishes at the inn.

My investigations to find the Demon here is at a road block. My senses haven't been of any use to me since the scent is evenly distributed around the ruin; still I have my suspicion as to where they may be.

The town's people all seem to be scared of talking. I asked a few merchants but they just had nothing to say or completely ignore me.

Or maybe my questioning skills are even worse than I imagine?

I've had a few run-ins with some thugs at the inn and elsewhere, pestering me, trying to pick fights and ran me out. I was right, they aren't as perceptive as Pyson Taro, and they couldn't tell who I was—not that I know myself. But all I had to do was ignore them. Even when they threw fists at me I just dodged and walked in the opposite direction. If they weren't after me because of the bounty then what's their reason to want me away? Maybe they thought I was also here for the bounty, so if they run me out the less chance of someone else getting what they want—that amount of a bounty is enough to sway anyone. And seeing as they think I'm a kid, they think it'd be easy to scare me away.

With that in mind I have to be more aware. If Taro was able to tell me out, there still might be more who have noticed my presence. So why haven't they made they move yet?

Are they trying to scope me out first to find the right moment? Doesn't feel like it though.

The only one I've had time with was the little girl I gave the money. She's been attending me anywhere I went without so much as a word ever since I stopped those thugs from having their way with her.

It's rather a bother!

It's my fault rather to put it, first the money and then the whole saving thing… but I couldn't restrain myself from not doing so. I just don't get it.

Today isn't any different…

Here I am sitting at one corner of the inn about to have something to eat and before me is the little girl, still silent. The only thing that separates us is the table.

The minute I entered the inn she poked her head in, saw me sitting, walked across the room trying to make herself inconspicuous as possible and sat right in front of me.

She sways her little legs back and forth as she surveys the room, her eyes half closed.

It was just a one-time thing, though.

So, why is she here, again?

What have I gotten myself into?

I doubt she'd answer too since she still hasn't spoken a word.

"… Hey, little one." She looks up at me. "Why don't you go bother someone else?" Without so much as an expression she returns to her former state of observation…

A few eyes look our way but quickly avert their eyes when they meet my gaze.

I see the waitress, a human girl with shoulder length chestnut hair, who took my order earlier heading for my table with a plate and a mug on the tray in her hand. She has a smile on.

"Here you go."

She sets the plate before me then the mug and stands straight with both hands on the tray resting softly to her front.

"Feel free to call me over if you need anything."

Ignore her…

Hearing no answer, any expression or even looking at her she moves on to the next table. The other girls are clearing tables, taking orders and serving the customers present in the inn.

My food is flat bread rolled and stuffed with meat—you know the one—and the mug had warm water which had turned green from the three small leaves that soaked in it.

As I take the first bite I catch a glimpse of the little girl take a glance at me but turn away when I look back at her.

Just like all the people food: it has no taste in my mouth. It feels like I'm eating clay.

Ever since waking up, as long as I can remember I had no taste for people food rather for something more flesh—fresh.

No, I can't eat. It has no taste.

But it will go to waste if I don't eat it, though… What of my little guest? Maybe she's hungry too.

I set the bread back on the plate and give her another look as I slide the plate and mug before her.

"Hm?"

When the sound of plate on wood reaches her, she lets out a faint questioning hum, before looking at the table to the plate.

I don't think she was expecting that.

She looks up at me then back at the food before grabbing the bread—it looks big in her hands— to take a bite with her little mouth.

I don't get it. Have they already forgotten…? After what happened yesterday. They're acting like nothing happened.