COI C5
Ironno reads the parts of the report. Written by Myrrkei, also known to be called as the rat, told him the information needed after his incident. Ironno found out some description match by his reports. Told about side effects from exposure and their mana flow, nothing could explain by this phenomenon but a curse. Myrrkei's reports added only the suspicions and not yet proven. Now Ironno will be the one to investigate, only the details about being exposed by his dark shadowy figure. In reality it’s made out Myrrkei's ashes, shadow is an easy perspective anyway.
Ironno had already found one and proceed to read Myrrkei's favor. A note slides open from the report
"Ironno, you will thank me later. I observed parts of the city that contained illicit agendas. Because of my incident, I found out more to my surprises that you alone won't deal with it until you have your reasons (eventually). Take advantage what flawed they had and stay in secrets unless something in common with the citizens"
Ironno may face it someday, reading further, his options to do with them were going to be civil as he read.
"One last thing, if these gangsters are willing to join our guild. Don't let them join, the guildmembers have bad impression on the city and their way of life. Hypocrites may they are, but there is nothing I could do"
Ironno reread the mission again, after meeting with the kid who had the aura from a dark red glow. He is thinking of a way to collect the samples and used what Myrrkei wanted. They don't know about the many ways to use the contaminated mana, and with Myrrkei’s knowledge to altered the mana into something to feed on. The reality of neutral mana, the main source of this world's magic.
Straight back to his works, with the students who are being taught the things needed for their quest. Ironno trained one of Myrrkei's suspects and seeing to have their powers being drenched but doesn’t affect them. Their bodies can endure this type of exposure where most Horsin people felt the dread flowing through their bodies. The dark red glow stays its shine, comparing with Reya's and himself, It is easy to figure it out the most obvious in the difference that dark red was just a marker imprinted by other forms of mana. She had met someone before, and his hard hat already found one.
The boy who was with him had a different problem than identifying who imprinted him. Myrrkei didn't even touch him, and more to know that his mana is infested. According from the scholars, there is no report regarding heroes to ever get into trouble toward curses. However, history told that they already did happen and it needed a correct trigger to implode them in the inside. All secrets and mysteries to be seen if he let this infested to die for proof, or it's better to follow the Lord's command until the Foundation is fully used. While the remaining people will face the consequences of Foundation's power.
"Ok see ya tomorrow mister"
The kid waves goodbye after lunch leaving with the others to prepare for the afternoon. Ironno stared at the kid again, and the letter from Myrrkei and further instructions will be delivered to him. Nothing else he could do but to know more about this school, as he reads at the post somewhere he would believe that is written that he could not understand and ask one of the staff "Oh Sir, yes this is Sister's Hope Highschool, I guess you couldn't read our language. Don’t worry we have translators are own devices" "Yeah, thank you" Ironno remained skeptic and only rely to understand by their words that is somehow understood beside their writings.
"Seems like your side missions will be next week, and first of all Sir Edan. You should ask us first before announcing it. We are here for almost a month and we are trying to make a proper lesson on schedule"
The principal invite Haw for being the new substitute teacher that should help them from his expertise, and with Andui on his side where she had a bad feeling about this.
"I have my own limits of talking to other people nicely, Ma'am, I honestly drink some special liquor when I supposed to talk while in my mission"
The principal turned to him that he is not look that drunk.
Andui heard him right in a straight face hidden his intoxication
"Then your friend did the same too?"
"No Ma'am, he kept his attitude straight even I didn't see anything strange about him"
Andui can't calm herself and she was anxious of how the two of the Raker Mawn are the same what Haw said to her. They are a bunch of outcasts, and most cities are like that with ill behavior and ironically good nature when they are serious.
"Haw Edan, I understand what Horsin can bring out to the world. I want to remind you to who is your superior to plan a school event"
Haw never expected this kind of orderly as it called a school. This world education system is freely learned to anyone that have the basics to survive while the rest were fine by anyone who wants to become a work force in a higher civilization. Seeing it now made Haw thinks where both civil and military joined side by side.
"My apologies, most education when I was young prioritized mostly on training. When I heard it included academics, I never would have thought they are needed since fortunes favored it"
The principal understands, but kept it strict and called out to Andui.
"Andui, you recommend us for this. I hope you could teach him more beside bringing him on the spot"
Andui gives of an anxious relief
"Yes, will do. It's kind of late to realize of how long did Sir Edan respond to us and . . ."
Haw brushed aside on Andui and hold her shoulders
"It's ok Andui, I've done worse than this. Because you know what Principal, I respect your security but it’s better to see how these students get along. I saw what your guilds had done where I save them"
The principal already knew and stay quiet and letting Andui explain things to him, but those moments left him to say something for Haw.
"Then please, don't let those mistakes ever come to my students. I'll say this, I was kind of lucky having you to be the trainer for them"
The principal complimented him, where Haw noticed about her phrases
"You mean other locals are training other schools too"
"Oh yes Edan, that's . . ."
Haw changed his expression in a serious tone and ask her more
"Are they really going to train them?"
Andui seeing him seriously as she quickly answered when the principal saw his expression.
"Of co course Mr. Edan, the people of your world are training them"
"Like what?"
The principal answered him with the details he had remember
"Information about this world, from monsters and the region's biomes. They also include physical training"
Haw's face shows a skeptic look and reply to them both.
"They're scamming, basic information such as those won't do any good unless experience first-hand. Alga's light will someday change it"
The principal didn't know about that
"But it's your people have the experiences"
"Either if you believed them or they somehow have their own reason to help currently"
The principal and Andui were confused and tried to understand what he said
"Then Sir Haw Edan, please explain then"
Haw shows his training journal
"If they really going to train other schools in this city. Then this journal will give a thorough explanation. Principal, please update me for any differences by my training from them, ok?"
The principal takes his journal from how serious he is, he seems to have his reasons.
"I heard your guild are all serious and never take something to slide off. Why did your people acted that way?"
"Everyone is serious regarding on mana. If you ever noticed that our world had an endless stream of mana and yet my people had scarce of using it, and you will find out why when these new teachers are taking advantage of something"
Andui never thought of the autonomy of this world and as a healer from another world, she never wondered what limits these people had. The principal is thinking of employing them, but it's better off to trust him a bit.
"I was planning of hiring them, would you like to be the employer for me"
"I'll just give you an advice principal. Hire only who done missions on your city, and don't try ask questions that you didn't know about"
Haw takes his leave, leaving Andui and the Principal behind
"Is Sir Edan acted like that?"
"If you ignore the rude sides of the guild, they are very obedient to their Lord. But I do believe in him since he was with me the entire of my life and death experience near Rune Isles"
The principal is not so sure about him, but neither would she trust those people who might turns against nor the people who wished to help because of what happened before.
"He will be a great man if he doesn't have that bad impression"
"Edan is kind of is, and he is already proven right about the situation"
She pulls out her device and check any news about his statement, and she doesn't like it to see it either
"See principal, there is already a gossip about it"
News, Hidden stash of mana batteries smuggled. The information about a stack of batteries heading to the Foundation to be teleported somewhere. One of the examples is coming from near one of the schools.
"If we followed his advice Ms. Andui, we might not get involved with the scandal then"
"Agreed"
The Isekai City have grown new forms of crime lately. The investigation was already settled that mana is the most important resource, and everyone can use it in their own free will between creations and destructions. Words around the streets where other districts were forced to nullify the mana users and rely on devices to kept them going. More and more troubles from the outside borders by the outlaws, and they are only more of them to the east. Calls by the other side by the police HQ and other guilds to join along to settle the chaos. There will be more, when the locals bring their own crimes to them . . . maybe.
It is finally night time where the two Raker Mawn members meet.
"Haw, where the drunkard are ya?"
"I've been learning about the school rules, and my stunt of planning go to the forest have some complaints by the higher ups called principal"
"Then there's rules in this city more than any of the Lord's rule eh. You will be on your own for tonight. I'm heading back to Stranding Island and filed a report to our guild"
"Thanks, and please added about the city is hiring from the city states"
"They might already know, it's better off not to get involved with those false preachers then"
Ironno walks away were the women who's with them are heading home in their tired state. Seeing Andui and Reya together having a stroll, it's just normal yet he stays suspicious. An entire day of knowing some little secrets really hard to connect. Haw went to the guild center to made a request mission for next week. The guild center is one big facility where many guilds come and go. Haw seeing a lot of them with all the get up they are wearing, mostly in the sight of cosmetic and he has nothing to appraise their items because of his lack of skill of understanding any of them. Like how others look more fictional than he believed.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Haw wonders to where the quest creation district, until he was greeted by two staffs.
"Hello . . ."
These two were acted like kind of play in front of him, seeing them two women acted all lovely where slowly understand what they are portraying. In his own thought
"If the guild women ever see them acted out like this, they were going scream out of their own prideful remarks as women. Even more if I understand them"
He ask them where to find to make a quest and the two show him the way. He reaches the office and began to make the quest.
"Ok this is a school quest for the students. The guild will only let your school to do this quest"
The two girls who are bringing Haw to the office ask him a question.
"So, you are not an ordinary adventurer, are you?"
Haw shakes his head while he tried to finish the paperwork.
"Then you must be those people who did like on the news"
Haw picks his interest before they talk about it
"You know, those people who are stealing mana in the city. Did you know about it?"
The receptionist on the counter heard them and also join the conversation "Yeah, I didn't know that mana is really scarce from other cities" Haw hearing their thoughts that is further than the truth, but can't help him to stay silent.
"Did you hear about the most crime committed are mostly mana related activities?"
"That's even stranger when they talk about this kind of mana and how rare they are"
Haw finished the paperwork and given it to the receptionist and talk to the two girls who with him.
"Let's talk somewhere that should not disturb them, ok?"
"But the receptionist wants to hear it too"
"Then you don't have a chance to talk with an Enders Bridge citizen then"
The receptionist was in awe and convinced the girls
"Go ahead, I'll hear the rest when you guys are done"
The two girls saw her expression and go along with him. They are headed to the waiting rooms where most of the chairs are empty. They took their seats
"Ok now, what do you know about this city?"
"Yeah that"
The two girls who work here heard so much about the locals who are doing business, but from what they say differs what he was told
"There's something that the city is smuggling mana"
"Strange, I heard that those smugglers are from one of ours"
"No, it’s a bit off. Our security is too great to easily found out it was them"
"Yeah, and how the securities are that stubborn to chase that man in the dark. It was the main article back then"
Haw wonders why he is part of the conversation, so decided to ask
"Why are you trying to let me join your conversation?"
"A little talk won't work, but we sure need to have a little friend from the other city states. We just like to talk other people on this boring job."
"Alright?"
Haw pauses a bit seeing the two just like to talk, he continues
"About those mana cases, I heard only just recently"
"What?"
"What a letdown"
"Wait, let me finished . . . Do you expect it's coming from the east mountain"
"That place!? I don't think so"
"Well it's just assumption for both of you, but last week it was dark in your city and now it has lights"
The two started to think and they nod at him.
"Which means, their own ways to powering up their bases. They could leech the city"
"Yeah, but the article we read is coming from heavily dense areas anyway"
Haw is making idea from all of it, while the two started to tease him a little.
"Oh yeah, you mention about from Enders Bridge. Your city leader did a big hassle during the first day of the tournament"
"I don't know why he acted like that, it's like he was fighting someone before and indirectly warned them"
The two gives a feeling of some drama
"Then do you know something about it?"
Haw smirks and they noticed.
"Are you flirting with us?"
"No"
An instant reply, as they almost react to disgust.
"I might know, and more so"
"Like what exactly?"
He just stares back at them as they slowly intimate from how he looks.
The girls are hinting on him seeing the expression by the two. Haw didn't even understand but he is sure to check.
"About him and Enders Bridge, it was more like a survival fort going through to survive and collect what it remains . . ."
The girls change seat next to him while he talks about his city. He is not that type of alluring person, but for them, it was enough. He stops as he turns to look at both of them
"For a quick chat to have this moment. Are you trying something"
"Oh no, did we already get exposed?" "Giggle* we just want a little fun"
The two were mesmerized of how serious he was, and he himself stare at them suspiciously yet tempting for him.
They both lean on him.
"Alright, but let's be acquainted and more honestly. I am not slow, but impatient"
The girls thought it was an invitation and went along with him. Their excitement went along and listen to his questions.
"Are you two a couple?"
"Yeah, sort off"
"I think of the same too giggle*"
"From how you two being together around me. I should've guessed it wrong"
"How do you know? you were just writing on the paper?"
"Care to find out? You two stops chatting as I just look at you"
He stared at them again, leaving the two took turns to see his eyes.
He began holding their waists. Both of them starts to feel it and moan
"Ahh"
softly to his ears. He looks annoyed
"You just want more"
"About what?"
"Why would you say that? I have him you know"
He feels their waist leaving a room for them to feel it. They look at him as he turns his head alternately and finally give in.
"We just want to tease you"
"But doing this in public, you are more than just a virgin right?"
Haw pulls their heads toward his
"If you want keep going then invite me, if not, leave. I will head back"
The two look at each other and proceed to smile. Knowing well how wrong they are, but in this world.
The two introduced them to him.
"My name is Nanami and this is Shinji"
"Hey! you know it against the rule to tell our real name"
"My name is Haw Edan of Mountaiwall"
As they about to argue, they hear something new.
"Mountaiwall? Are you from Mountaiwall"
He nodded
"Do you believed I was born in Enders Bridge? People have their own life. You will be surprised where those people and their lives"
Shinji asks Nanami
"What now? he knows who we are and"
Nanami surprised kiss her and Haw lays back and watch as they did. Then he pulled them apart.
"Are you two really are something?"
"To tell you the truth, we never thought to accept this kind of behavior"
Haw gives them the stare again
"Did I complain what I see?"
They began to look tempted from he said
"Like I never seen those kinds of people having that kind of relationship"
They started to feel it and a twist of their surprised
"But I warn you . . . I will make you two mine"
"Really?"
"Are you sure about that? Nanami, do you believe he could do it?"
The two stared at him with confident they will not be succumbed to him. Yet they don't know him. The three stops what they are doing where more people are coming to the waiting room. Haw publicly show them as he carries them both. Many of them look at them where the two women try to break free and Haw kept them in a firm grip. Whereas the two women didn’t use their actual strength.
They return to the quest creation district.
"So, what did he say to you two?"
"Uhmm"
The two pause but Haw answer her directly.
"It's closer than I ever imagine"
"Ooh"
The receptionist listens as the two panic and rushed towards them.
"There are two problems going close by leaving to a strong temptation"
They tried to pull him in with their magic, but one of them felt an excitement and stops her partner with a grin. Playing along as the three accepted their intension, and Nanami is acting to intervene
"There is nothing to say, let it be our little secret. . ."
"Hey you two, stop it. I want him to explain"
The Nanami and Shinji started to pulsing their hearts of excitement and closer to regret.
“I could tell you that they didn’t know?”
“Ooh, give it to me”
Haw shows few potions on his hands, a different kind, and a solid substance inside. He shakes it and let her see what it reacts. The bottle poured out itself and strange slime coming out of it. Later its slime was remove and expose small robot body coming from it. A pebble size robot appeared in front of her. Haw said to her
“Rune Isles once was a civilization, and this thing is the example of a hybrid both magic and machine”
“Wow!”
She tried to take a picture and noticed it can’t be seen on her device.
“What the? I can’t get a picture of it”
The robot looks at Haw and responds by casting magic on her device. Her device shows the picture of it and the same time freely erasing and recovering the picture of itself on the potion.
“There once a world that robots too can use magic, quite a tragedy huh”
“Yeah”
The two girls at the back noticing it and no one else in their area witness it. Also with their device, they can’t take a picture of the robot on the potion too. Haw returned it back and said
“Try proving your friends what you saw, they might don’t believe you”
“Oh, I really want to boast it about it”
“Yeah anyway, can I ask you something”
“Ok”
"So, you know those two"
"That's right, they are actually a couple. I heard your city don't like those gay and lesbian types"
"No, I heard much deeper meaning. But I am no woman"
"True to that"
The receptionist laughs as both of them enjoying their time. Nanami and Shinji look at Haw with a mix feeling
"Shinji, will we going to make it through?"
"He is giving us the warning, but"
How confused they are, tempted by him where Haw had his own dark side. Ironically, he never acted that way to his rescuees. Maybe because of his short moments of being civil. Haw went out and finished his registration, someone called him out. The same two staff who played on him. They come rushing toward him, and made their decision.
In the district, one of the other receptionists noticed about the potion.
“Is it true that you can’t see that little robot?”
“That’s what he said”
They started to use anything necessary to see that scene. Every scene only sees the receptionist being surprised from a guy show a bottle to her. Not a single one could recover the original scene even by recorded memory. Then the manager stops them.
“That’s enough, go back to work. There’s nothing dangerous about it being able to edit”
They got spoof and began to leave. The manager pulled his device and call.
“Did the researcher already know about it?”
His face starts to frown and laugh at it later on.
“I see, it’s just a lockpick for Rune Isles”
Later that day
Ironno report, rumors from the city grew wildly. There is nothing else to acknowledge where the locals show aggression inside the city. However, the so-called outsiders are creating a black market regarding about the mana batteries. It was reported by the city regarding about the situation. The assumption goes to the east mountain or coast as it stated. If it does reach to those areas, then ask for the other guilds to the connection of their activities. For Haw, he personally met with the citizens as he was gathering data. He will be doing business in the city guild regarding of his quest.
Furthermore, Myrrkei's targetted mission is in part of this school. Which conclude the instability of the youths because of their power superiority, making it easier to settle this and their connections within the black market. Note:
"The Kinker have been busy tonight, he didn't come to the Stranding Island from the east of the city and already went to his own private life. I'll be adding to this note when he gave his answer when gets here. If not, then it's more of personal thing than I thought"
The report ended there where the reader was not Daygen himself, but someone else.
The Raker Mawn women broke out the report from Ironno, as the others heard about it.
"So, it seems Haw is acting up again to a so-called women, huh?"
"The city has a brothel too, like fire be purge if I visit it. Mountaiwall already has one because of the Gobins"
"That is the only place that has one, those strong man whores"
The women didn't want to believed, but there he is, their expectation of him is sometimes meek and disgusting but he sure found most illicit groups from all in Mountaiwall.
"Once lived in Mountaiwall did come from a good perk"
One of the guild men praises him sarcastically.
"No matter what he did, he only did to people who actually dumb enough to confront that man whore willingly"
The guild women know about his sexual explorations, while the men only respect him for differentiating a whore than a chaste woman. The woman comments him
"Well he is no tempting man and that's for sure"
"Even I as a married woman, who is loyal to my spouse. Never seen such infidelity"
"Ma'am, you are already in your 70s. Back then you women got lucky to have a scarce surviving crusaders"
A laugh coming from the old woman to all around the guild.
"And I live such a wonderful life because of him. Oh, bless him in my needs"
Juela heard the commotions and brings up the report and sent it to Daygen as he returns.
"Juela is bringing me a report. Seems like you don't like their conversation"
"I just don't like people who cheats that's all"
"Still missed your father huh?"
"Please don't mention my father, my mother did enough for her mistakes onto him"
Daygen opens up some past issues for every of his guild members from the time to time, but Juela rarely meet with him let alone of her being a rich girl.
"I'll be taken the report, like there some members show no value to our group working in Isekai City, I presume"
Juela heard more bad news than she initially thought, and her observation back then where she saw promoting monogamy or so-called true love hits her head. Then again, her trust in Enders Bridge is absolute because most of these people she met give more of their honest opinion than the rest.
"Daygen, do you believe anything of Isekai City's culture?"
Juela ask her in a sincere voice and Daygen who have only experienced first-hand with them when reaching the city.
"I only believed one thing, Juela, is that everyone will be good or evil by choice. For entire city itself, it will be troublesome to spot them. Let’s hope that the majority is better than that"
Juela understands what quotes are coming from, and remembering her father who act on it made her hope they exist.
"Back then you were eager to recruit someone, but now"
Daygen put aside of the report
"It's just recently, I found out that their own self ambitions put them to the advantage rather than to cooperate"
Daygen is rather confident than doubt, but Juela didn't comprehend him
"It will cause a divide again like those others who are with the rebellions. Chances to get ours is possible"
Juela didn't understand and only think about the situation of that city will become. Daygen looks at the report again on the table seeking for other connecting stories from this, and further planning for the rest of his plan to go the city in person. Setting up his quests for the new recruits, he waits for the day to come. Juela brings out her own item and give it to Daygen.
"Daygen, If they are really seem to be like Ironno wrote. Then I want the recruit to have a chance"
Daygen picks up the item and nods to her
"There is no favor needed Juela, your mercy gives comfort"
Juela didn't give a positive expression but a worried one, the report gave nothing good and her hope was shaken since her father's passing due to her mother's. Only thing she bears the loving memories of her father's teaching. Her ambitions are true and true in this world, and the Isekai City she never realized seeing a different view that the people there have showed proper civil courtesy. Her sweet nature of believing others is quite frail for her, and she realized something about her change. She is starting to believe that she is having a mother’s intuitions when she reached that city where she saw children beyond the age of know how to survive while they show kindness to a stranger. Madness comes in her heart.