After 14 days of travel by cart and camping in the woods, Aether along with the caravan reached the capital city of Baiblic- Matias.

Aether was tired and exhausted; the caravan had not stopped properly unless they had to restock. He smelled even worse now. Even the caravan members were avoiding him. After the caravan goods were checked by the guards at the entrance of the city, the caravan moved to an open place. All the mercenaries gathered up to collect their reward. The caravan head gave them each 500 coppers. Since nothing major had happened during the journey, they didn’t receive any bonus.

The twenty or so mercenaries collected their rewards and started heading towards the mercenary union. Apparently, every Major city had one, the Union provided jobs for the mercenaries.

Aether was pretty happy as he thought 500 coppers were equal to 5 silver but he soon learnt that 1000 coppers equalled a single silver. Aether was totally bummed out. His butt was numb, his body was exhausted and he hadn’t earnt a single silver from the trip. Aether was sad but he had earnt 8 silvers from the mercenaries themselves by defeating them in arm wrestling so he wasn’t completely broke.

He scratched his itchy body and sniffed his armpits, “Ugh! It smells like I took a dip in the sewer!” The pig appeared on his shoulder with a ‘poof’. “I keep telling you that you smell like shit but you don’t listen to me at all.”

“I guess I do need a bath after all,” Aether said feeling his sticky and greasy hair. “Let’s look for a place to bathe in”. Aether asked the mercenaries if there was a place they knew that was nearby. Unfortunately for him, it was the first time the mercenaries had come to Matias themselves.

Except for Aether, everyone was taking in the beautiful architecture and the long and huge tower in the centre of the city. One of them walked up Aether to talk to him. “Is it not your first time visiting this city. Aren’t you surprised by the buildings and the tall tower? It’s the tallest tower I have seen in my life.”

“Hmph, it may be tall but isn’t as tall as Burj Khalifa,” Aether said. He wasn’t surprised or fascinated with the place. It did look otherworldly and stuff but he had seen better in his own world.

The other man laughed out loud. “You’re a strange nut Aether, I guess you’re what they call puberty. I’ve been to this city before.”

“Huh? Do I look like a kid who's going through puberty to you, you old fart?” Aether asked.

The mercenary ignored Aether’s remark, “If you’re looking for a place to stay you should go to the Keaton. It’s a pretty welcoming place.”

“Ok,” Aether said before he walked away.

The mercenary looked at his disappearing back in the crowd as he shouted “Hey! I didn’t tell you where to go!”

By this time his friend shouted at him “Hey Marcus! We’re heading to the Union hurry up!”

“Yeah, I’m coming!” Marcus shouted back at his friend. ‘I guess the kid will figure it out’ Marcus thought while he walked to his friends.

Meanwhile, people strayed far away from Aether as he walked the street searching for the hotel. “Damn, that old man didn’t tell me where to go.” Aether grumped. “more like you didn’t listen to him,” The pig said.

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“Why are all these people running away from me when I try to talk to them?” Aether asked. He had tried to ask for directions multiple times but people ignored him and walked away with disgusted faces. A kid had even walked up to him and given him a copper coin before running away to his mother and complaining that he smelled like a fart.

“It’s cause you smell like poop and your face is black with dirt. Your hair looks like chicken noodles, except the noodles, are burnt black.” The pig said.

“That’s kind of harsh, you know. I don’t smell like…” Aether sniffed his body again “ok, maybe I do sniff like poop. It’s probably worse.” Aether entered the main street and found carriages and people running around everywhere. There were some street vendors selling fruits as well. He walked up to an apple vendor and bought a few apples to eat.

“Hey old man, do you know where the Keaton hotel is?” Aether asked the grandpa that was selling the apples while eating one.

“Huh? Oh yes, I do.” The old man said. “It’s right around the corner……” the old man went on to direct Aether to the hotel. “Now hurry up and get lost, you’re going to rot my apples.”

“Geez, alright I’ll go away old man, chill down,” Aether said. He was surprised by the old man’s behaviour. At one moment he was fine with him and then suddenly flared up at the next.

‘The Keaton’ whatever it was, was actually a two-storied building made completely out of wood. Aether walked in headed to what looked like the reception.

At the same time, another person headed to the counter. The person was hooded. Both of them simultaneously asked the woman at the reception.

“Can I get a room and a bath too please”

“I need a room”

Aether and Mr. hoody looked at each other. Mrs Roose the middle-aged woman who was the receptionist was in a tight spot. She smiled awkwardly. “Welcome to the Keaton guests but I’m afraid we have only one room left. If you would like you could share a room, they are quite spacious.”

Aether was about to agree but, “What? Share a room with a peasant who smells like poop? Why don’t you ask him if he has the money to afford a room first?” the hooded person said.

“The room would cost around 20 coppers a day sir,” the woman said starting to doubt whether Aether could afford the room or not.

“What did you say?! I ain't-a peasant alright! I might smell like poop though….” Aether said frustration. He really needed to bathe. “I can afford a room alright? Here, look” Aether took out his pouch of money “see I even have silver coins.” Aether showed, Mrs Roose his money.

“You are a peasant too you know.” Said the pig. “Shut up,” Aether said.

“So what if this peasant has a few silvers? I can offer you more money” the hooded person said. He was starting to get a headache now. He just wanted a room to stay but all the good Hotels and places were booked out. The only place that looked like it still had a place to stay was this one. He didn’t want to search even more.

“Hey lady, you have some work ethic, right? You can’t take extra money for something that isn’t worth it. Besides, this person seems shady as hell. You don’t want some strange person to stay at your place, right?” Aether said trying to persuade Mrs Roose.

Mrs Roose was in a sticky situation. She didn’t know what to do. “Why don’t you two just share rooms with each other?”

“NO” both of them denied immediately.

“Peasant, have you heard the saying- people who can’t be convinced with words need a beating? Maybe you need one too?” the hooded person said.

“Hah! Do you think you can beat me? Why don’t you try you asshole?” Aether mocked. “Call me when you finish fighting,” the pig said and disappeared with a 'poof’.

The hooded person swung his fist and hit Aether in the face. Before Aether could react, he was knocked back.

“Uh- oh,” said some people who were watching them. There were tables and chairs near the reception where people were eating and drinking beer. They were shouting and having fun but everyone started laughing when the fight started. Now usually, this kind of people would enjoy a fight like this. But what was the point, it was going to end soon anyway.

“Hahaha, look at those two fools!” said one of them.

One of the men who was eating asked “Why aren't you encouraging them to fight? Don’t you want to see it?” Another guy who had been to this place before sighed and answered “you’ll see soon enough” and continued with drinking his beer.

Aether retorted by swinging his fist at the hooded person but he ducked and dodged his punch. The hooded person quickly threw two other punches and knocked Aether back further. Aether was seriously pissed off now. Clearly, the other person was a lot stronger than he originally thought.

“Demonic change,” he said as his whole arm turned dark. “I always wanted to try this out but I never got the chance you know,” he said. “But why not add a little spice? Lightning fist!” he shouted as he punched towards the hooded person.

“The fuck? Do you think you’re the only one who knows magic? Fire fist!” he shouted and punched towards Aether, his whole fist wrapped around with fire.

These two could damage the hotel if they clashed right now, but before their fists collided someone appeared between them and caught both their fists in mid-air. The lightning and fire disappeared and left Aether and the hooded person in shock.

“Now now, no fighting inside the hotel ok? See there’s even a sign there.” It was actually Mrs Roose.

“What?” said the hooded person with shock.

‘System what is this woman’s level?’ Aether asked the system.

Calculating the level of human female……

Level calculated

The human female level is 54.

“Shit…….”

The pig laughed from inside Aether’s space. “I told you that you would get in trouble because of your appearance and smell, Hehe. You have made other people’s nose suffer now you suffer! HAHAHAHA!”

Aether gulped looking at the middle-aged woman’s face. Her previously awkward face was replaced with a creepy smile.

“Now shall we talk about all the things you two broke?”