Free Web NovelChapter 367: Roadside Slumber ( 367 )
Few days later.
Kroooh! Kroooooh!
A heavy dwarven cart rumbled past, its wooden wheels creaking under the weight of iron ore. A group of dwarven miners walked alongside it, their boots thudding against the dirt road.
One of them paused and glanced to the side, where a certain human was sprawled out on the grass, sleeping soundly against a wooden fence.
"By the forge... ’e’s at it again, innit?" one dwarf muttered, stroking his thick beard.
"Aye. Right there, sleepin’ like a sack o’ potatoes," another replied with a shake of his head.
"Shh... don’t wake ’im now. Or ’e’ll start talkin’ to the air again," an older dwarf warned, waving his hand.
One of the younger dwarves snickered. "Crazy human, that one. But harmless, I’ll give ’im that."
"Come on, move along. Let ’im rest," another said, nudging the young dwarf forward.
They continued walking, some chuckling, others shrugging, leaving Hazuki to his roadside slumber.
Pop!
Hazuki stirred slowly. His eyes fluttered open, squinting against the morning light.
He sat up with a groan, scratching his messy hair before letting out a long, exaggerated yawn. He rubbed his stomach, feeling the familiar emptiness.
"Oi, Ridan. Why the hell didn’t you wake me up?"
Hazuki glanced around and noticed Ridan was still nowhere in sight.
Sigh...
I guess he’s still sulking about that noodle incident from weeks ago..
He scratched his head.
But damn... he didn’t need to leave me just like that. What a pain in the ass.
He narrowed his eyes and glanced around suspiciously.
I’m sure that purple spirit is watching me from somewhere, laughing, grinning with that stupid annoying smug face of his...
He clicked his tongue.
Hiding and waiting for me to beg him to come back or something? As if.
Hazuki scratched his head again, then stood up, brushing dirt off his clothes.
I guess I’ll just leave him be for now.
He crossed his arms, frowning.
But damn... sulking over a noodle?
Just because I accidentally sniffed and the noodle went back into the bowl before falling into the soup? It’s not like I did it on purpose! He acted like I committed some kind of crime against cuisine.
Called the soup ’contaminated’ and ’dead to him.’ Made me order a whole new bowl just because of one little noodle accident.
After brushing the dust from his clothes, Hazuki glanced around and started walking, passing by a dwarven patrol as he stuffed both hands into his pockets.
I wonder what I should do now?
Since Ridan’s still sulking, I guess I’ll just pause the special herb gathering quest for now. No point running around dangerous places without that annoying puffball watching my back and nagging me about directions.
But man... this is boring...
I already handed over those... err... what did Ridan call it?
Ah, yeah... Icy Leaf or something.
And I still don’t get why the dwarven girl at the guild receptionist’s eyes went wide when I dropped a few pieces on the counter like it was nothing. She looked like she’d seen a ghost. Stuttered through the whole payment process.
He pulled out a small coin bag, opening it to peek inside. A few gold coins sat at the bottom, glinting faintly, alongside a handful of silver.
I didn’t know that herb was worth that much...
He shrugged, pocketing the bag again as he continued walking.
Since Ridan is still sulking over the noodle...
A dark, mischievous grin spread across Hazuki’s face.
I think I’ve got a way to annoy him even more... ehehe~
"Yosh!"
Hazuki stretched his arms high above his head, arching his back with a loud groan before rolling his shoulders. He planted both hands on his hips, puffed out his chest, and glanced around the street with a loud, casual voice.
"Time to get a new quest! Hahaha!"
A few dwarves passing by glanced at him, then quickly looked away, muttering among themselves.
"There he goes again..."
"Aye... the crazy human’s at it..."
"Best keep yer distance..."
Hazuki grinned wider, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he strolled toward the guild hall, humming a tune.
After a while.
Hazuki leaned forward, one hand rubbing his chin while the other rested on his hip, scanning the quest board with a bored expression. fгeewebnovёl.com
Hmm...
This one... hunting monster boar... danger level... low... Nah... not interested.
He glanced at another parchment, his eyes skimming the details.
[ Helper needed: Requirement: high HP, high resistance to poison and magic. Reward: 2 silver coins. ]
Uwa... what a lame reward... And I don’t like standing around doing nothing... Nope, pass.
He scanned a few more, his eyes glazing over as he read through them.
Man... every quest is boring.
He let out a long, weary exhale.
Guess I’ll just head home and rest for today.
He turned away from the board, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked out of the guild hall and into the bustling street, watching the merchants hawk their wares and the dwarven children chasing each other between the carts.
I wonder if Ellyn already made it back home?
A soft, dreamy smile spread across his face.
I kinda miss her. Especially now that I know she’s not actually a child...
A faint blush dusted his cheeks as he stared up at the morning sky.
His grin turned a little mischievous.
Mm~ Can’t wait to meet her again and... ravish her... that sweet, tight pussy, the way she moans my name.
Ah~ love that catgirl. Ellyna... my little kitten in disguise. So cute when she pretends to be a kid, but even better when she’s her true self.
His smile turned dreamy as he hummed a soft tune, his eyes drifting toward the food stalls lining the street. The scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread wafted through the air, mixing with the smoky aroma of dwarven ale.
His stomach growled.
He glanced at a stall sizzling with skewered meat, then at another selling golden-brown pastries.
Mmm... smells good...
Maybe I’ll grab something before heading back...
After buying some food, Hazuki kept walking, munching on a meat skewer while holding a bag full of roasted meat, bread, and other snacks. He passed by a group of dwarven children playing tag, laughing and shouting as they darted around the street.
One of them hid behind him, peeking out from his leg before giggling and running off again, their friend chasing after them.
"You can’t catch me!"
Hazuki watched them with a soft smile, taking another bite of his skewer.
Heh... now I really miss Ellyn...
He paused and glanced up at the sky, the afternoon sun warming his face.
Only three special herbs left to collect. The ones I already got... err... what was it again?
Oh right... Icy Leaf done. Fire Grun done... err... Hidun Grass done... and what was that one from the poison swamp? Hmm... oh, Chusi Flower.
Now what’s left?
Damn! I can’t remember the other three names or even know where they are.
He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Damn that Ridan! Why does he have to sulk over something so small? A stupid noodle accident and he disappears for days? What kind of ancient spirit acts like a spoiled brat over soup!? freewebnøvel.coɱ
Now, because of this, I can’t even go visit Ellyn. I promised her I’d finish all the herb quests before heading to the Beastkin Nation. And now Ridan is nowhere to be seen...
He kept walking, complaining in his thoughts about how dumb the whole situation was. How a little misunderstanding turned into him wandering around without his annoying guide. How he had to pause the quest because he didn’t even know where the remaining herbs were located.
He paused mid-step.
He glanced left, then right.
Then scratched his head.
Err... where’s the way to my home again?
Meanwhile, in the distance.
"Sir, we’ve found the human."
"Good. All ready. On my signal, everyone attacks at the same time. Kill him on the spot. After he’s dead, scatter and leave the area. Leave no trace."
"Understood."
They kept watching from the rooftops as Hazuki continued walking, shrugging to himself before taking another bite of his food.
The assassin leader raised his hand, then dropped it sharply.
"Now!"
Everyone drew their poison-coated blades, glinting with a sickly green sheen in the afternoon light. One of their archers nocked a poison arrow, drew the string taut, and aimed directly at Hazuki.
Hazuki turned his head toward the sound, food still stuffed in his mouth.
"Hmm?"
Thwip!
The poison arrow struck his bag, the impact sending his food scattering across the ground. The bread, the roasted meat, everything turned a sickly purple as the poison seeped into them.
Hazuki froze.
He stared at his ruined food, his eyes widening in disbelief.
The assassin leader’s poison blade struck his back, while the others closed in from all sides, their blades slashing at his clothes, tearing through the fabric.
Hazuki gritted his jaw, his expression shifting from confusion to pure rage.
"You ruined my food!!"
He turned, grabbed the nearest assassin by the collar, lifted him off the ground with one hand, and slammed him face-first into the cobblestone road with a sickening crack.
Two more charged at him from the sides. Hazuki caught both of their heads in his hands, gripping their skulls, and smashed them together before kicking them away like ragdolls.
"If you want to mug someone, don’t ruin their food!!" he roared, his voice echoing through the street as he advanced toward the archer on the roof.
( End Of Chapter )
