I travel back to Slothub after gathering everything I can in Siocas Plains. I spend another half day gathering more loot and end up with 9 gold worth of money, this is almost a 3-month worth of living for a family of four.

Other than gold I also gather other stuff like rings, jewelry, crystals and potions. For the jewelry and rings I will sell them in other countries or kingdoms that I will visit. I’m not planning on selling them in Slexor just to avoid any complications or problems.

This is the second day of my trip and I haven’t seen any monsters yet. This is probably because of the large-scale march that happened just the other day. Monsters will be startled on those large movements and they will flee their nest just to ensure their safety.

In addition to that, I also gathered some plants.

I’ve been carrying a makeshift backpack since I left the Siocas Plain. That backpack is full of mustard colored flowers called Dungdung flower and an eight leaves purple grass called Octalion grass. These plants are natural monster repellant that I pick up along the way. However, these plants really stink, but I cannot afford not to pick them up, especially since I'm a lone man wandering the forest.

I need to keep myself safe in whatever means possible especially Cole is just an average mercenary.

It took me three days to arrive at Slothub, I didn’t encounter any monsters but I really stink that the gate guard even called me out. People at the entrance even give me their evil glare but I cannot do anything about it.

While entering the city.

My feelings slowly change, even though I know that this city is dangerous. I still feel… safe.

But I cannot let my guard down, there are several threats in this world that can easily kill me.

Bandits.

Monsters.

Nobles.

And of the course… the Titans.

I nod my head and move into the city.

Those past days were not relaxing at all. Even though I know that there will be less monsters due to the large scale march and my grass collection. I still cannot put down my guard especially, I only have one life.

But still, while traveling in the forest I tried to remember as much information as I can about the books… and an idea came to me.

I should secure all the information… A.S.A.P.

The priority will be the main story line.

It is not because I wanted to become the Hero.

No!

Instead, I don’t want to intrude in the main story at all and I want to avoid ‘them’ at all cost.

I want the main story line to be intact.

The second on my list are the side stories, I’m still debating myself if I would use the information I have on those side stories and use them for myself or I will also steer clear on those stories altogether.

And lastly, I tried to recall the other books such as Bestiary, Magic, Titan List, etc.

I tried to cram as much information as possible until I arrived here at Slothub.

Slothub is a border city governed by Duke Nicolas.

It is divided into two districts.

Noble District, for nobles or people with high standing.

And Lower District, for people with lower standing.

The two districts are different in so many ways.

The noble district has a clean environment, fix paving and cleaning looking stores. There are plants and bushes on the side street that give the noble district a fresh looking vibe, the buildings are similar to the cities on Earth, they have different designs but they are not ‘medieval’ looking buildings compared to other novels, although they only have as tall as 5-floor buildings.

If I wake up in the middle of the city, I would assume that I am still on earth.

One of the differences if you compare this to earth is that there is less advertising signage here. There are no big televisions or bill boards here. There is only signage near the store or the employees will invite you to enter their shop.

The other difference is their clothing. The way people dress is similar to the ‘medieval’ era.

However, the luxurious and beautiful architecture of the noble district will not be seen in the lower district.

There are no plants and trees, the air stink and the houses are simply made of woods and stones with no architectural design.

Most fantasy novels are like this and Titan is not an exception.

The only good thing is that you can walk around on those two parts without any restriction however, as a commoner, you should be careful in encountering nobles in the area. Most nobles wanted to show their power, and the city is their biggest stage and the commoners are the usual ‘actors’.

So Cole’s common sense suggests avoiding the noble district completely.

However, right now, that kind of common sense doesn’t apply.

Due to the war, some part of the so-called noble district is also occupied by the soldiers from the other parts of the kingdom. These parts are now treated as lower districts.

Being an ‘ass’ noble will only get you into trouble if you make a scene in this place.

Usually, Cole will have to go around the city just to get home but now I’m passing through this area freely.

Right after arriving in Slothub, I went straight away to the shops located in the noble district.

Most people look at me or start to look around their area, when I pass by, of course I know the source of their gaze and confusion. However, I wanted to secure everything first before going home. So I prioritize going to the shop.

I went in front of the shop. The shop has a large glass window that has several items displayed in front of it. I walk towards the door and open it.

Ting! Ting!

“Welcome cus… (cough) (cough) customer.”

The owner looks at me from head to toe. Of course, I know the reason why he did that but it didn’t bother me at all.

I put my bag and weapon down on the side of the store and went straight towards the thing that I needed.

I approach the notebook on the stand and try to grab one of those but as soon as I reach out my hand I notice my hands are dirty. I slowly go back to my makeshift bag to grab some clean cloth.

I open my bag and on the top part of it, is the unfinished hard bread that I eat during my journey. The hard bread is half covered by cloth. I carefully put the hard bread down because I don’t want the bread crumbs to scatter on the floor.

Then I look at my bag.

(Tsk, why did I put the clean cloth in the bottom?)

I feel irritated.

I whispered.

“So hard…”

I gently pick up the next item, I don’t want my loot to suddenly fall down and create unnecessary noise.

It is the heart of the adventurer and again, I carefully put it down to the floor.

“Gasp!”

I looked at the owner of the shop, and he was surprised.

(Damn! I don’t want any trouble. He might report me to guards if I didn’t hide the fact that this is a human heart.)

“Pig’s heart…”

I said to the owner of the shop.

Then I finally picked up clean cloth and slowly and gently put back all the items inside the bag.

Time to grab what I need.

(Sniff)

(Sniff)

I am looking at the man that just entered my shop.

He caught my attention immediately, the way he enters my store is like a noble. A person full of confidence. Like he has the money to buy everything in this shop.

However, he is dirty, covered with blood and from what I can see he might be an adventurer or mercenary. One thing is for sure, he is a poor guy.

(Even adventurers or mercenaries are not this poor, they can earn money for a living and they have a good physical body. Surely, they can at least provide for themselves and the way he handles that half eaten bread… and the pig’s heart… like it was a treasured item. It is a clear sign that this person is poor, not just poor, very very poor.)

There is also something that came into my mind immediately when he entered my shop.

(Maybe he is even a homeless person.)

The reason I think about that is because of the way he smells. This shop is located in Noble district, even commoners dress up nicely when entering this shop. So the only reason why this person didn’t take bath or dress properly is because he can’t.

He is homeless…

He is wearing a standard looking brown leather vest, iron pads and iron guard. However, all of his equipment has dry blood on it…

Huh!

I remember something.

Cough! Cough!

“Boy.”

The brown haired young man looks at me with a tired face.

“Did you come from the war?”

He nodded and replied.

“Yes, Sir…”

(That’s it he just returned from the war… but the soldier and other volunteers returned 2 days ago…)

“Did you return with your platoon?”

“No.”

He sighs and it looks like he is really tired.

Huh?

“Then did you return alone?”

He sighs once again, and his shoulder slump.

“Yes…”

(My god… did he return alone… no… did he lose his friends in the war?)

Gasp!

I remember something when he opens his bag. It is obvious that he doesn’t want me to see it but I notice some rings and jewelry in his bag.

(Now I understand… At first, I thought he was a thief, he has those jewelry and rings but he doesn’t have any proper food, that doesn’t make sense. Then I remember the way he handles the bread like a treasure and In addition to that, I cannot even forget about the pig’s heart… his even planning to eat it.)

…

(The reason he doesn’t have any money, the reason he did not sell those jewelry is because they are the mementos of his friends that died in the war.)

(He arrived late without his platoon… because… because he searches the whole battlefield for their body.)

(I didn’t know such a young man still exists in this world.)

Then the young man picks up some items and moves towards the counter, then places the items above the counter.

“Oh! Notebooks.”

(This is surprising, only nobles or people in higher standing will use this kind of notebook. These notebooks have high quality paper unlike those sold in the Lower District.)

“Yes… I just want to record something.”

Then he whispered.

“I don’t want to forget about it.”

(Gasp! This kid wants to record ‘it’, his memories of his friends, before he forgot about them and on top of that he will record it on a high quality paper. How much love does he have for his friends?)

I smiled.

Then the young man put the next item.

“Gasp!”

I gasp and he looks at me with a surprise face.

The thing he wanted to buy next is a bottle of grounded high quality monster core. This item is used by alchemists and highly poisonous to humans if used in the wrong way.

(Did he want to kill himself?)

“Young man, I cannot sell you this.”

The young man was taken aback.

“Hmmm… may I ask why?”

“I don’t want to help anyone who wants to kill themselves.”

Then he smiled at me… but that smile didn’t show happiness at all.

“No, I will not take my life, I just wanted to…”

He stops and looks back at his bag.

“Take care of those.”

He uses his head to point at the bag.

My eyes open wide.

I smiled at this chivalrous young man.

(I see, I’m such an idiot. Of course… high quality monster cores can be used on jewelry to protect them from rust. Though they are not as effective as buying Preservation Scrolls, they are much cheaper compared to those scrolls.)

“I see… I made a mistake, I will sell them to you.”

“Ahm… may I ask how much it will cost? I… I wanted to buy all of them but I only have 3…”

I raise my hand.

He only has 3 bronze… I know what he will do next… He will ask to trade for his services.

(I am a merchant.)

(I will not sell any item below my buying price.)

(That… That is usually the case.)

(But this time I don’t want to burden this young man. He already volunteered to fight for this kingdom, he already lost his friend and he only wanted to remember them by and keep their mementos safe.)

“I’ll take the 3 bronze.”

The young man was shocked.

“Are… are you sure?”

The way he smiles at me seems like he just won the Kingdom’s Arena reward.

He pulls out exactly three bronzes and puts them on the table.

I package the items carefully and give it to him.

He bows at me.

“Thank you… thank you so much.”

“Your welcome, I know it will be heartbreaking to remember the times that you are with your friends but there is nothing more important than cherishing their memories.”

The young man looked shocked.

(Haha! He was definitely surprised that I knew what he wanted to do. Young man you cannot fool the eyes of a merchant. We have faster and keener eyes compared to others.)

He smiled and bowed to me again and left the shop.

JACKPOT!

After I left the store I looked at it one more time.

(I didn’t know there was that kind of event here? Is this a secret event, the novel didn’t even discuss this event?)

I smiled.

(I bought everything that I need.)

The notebook can be bought easily, my only concern from the very beginning is buying the high quality monster core. High quality monster cores are limited and because of that, it is hard to buy them especially in a legal establishment such as this one. They will usually sell these items to alchemists not just to sell products but also to build relationships.

There is also a concern on using the cores to make explosive items and poisonous potions.

However, there is a common yet very inefficient way of using the monster core. It is to prevent rust on metals. That is why I use the sword that I am carrying as an excuse to use the high quality monster core.

(Good thing the owner is a nice guy.)

(He gave me everything for 3 bronze! The estimated cost for all the items are 5 gold, I just want to haggle it first but he gave it to me almost for free.)

…

(Though… why did he think my friends died… in the first place I don’t have any friends.)

(Hmmm… anyway.)

“God bless! Old Man!”