The rock golem was dragging the treant through the city streets. Guardian wanted it at his rented house. A sight of a golem dragging a tree through the city streets was not a usual one, so a guard approached them.

“What is this?!”

“Is there a problem?”

The guard looked at the monster behind the golem and then back at Guardian.

“I do not know what that is, but you are not hauling it through the city streets.”

“Why not?”

“It is a corpse. And no, it does not matter if it is a monster’s corpse. The least you could do is to put it in a cart and cower it.”

“It is slightly too late for that. So are you going to issue a fine or what?”

“Where is this construct dragging it?” The guard ignored the provocation. Guard’s brains clicked in time and he realised that he does not want to upset two massive creatures in front of him, a golem and what looked like an oversized beastman.

“We are heading to the slums.” Cynthia replied startling the guard, he did not see her on the golem at first.

“Oh, I recognise you. You are that famous adventurer. Cynthia was it?”

“It is me, yes! And my trusty companion Rocky.”

“In that case, as long as you stay away from the city centre and as many people as possible that should be fine.”

“Of course.” She nodded politely to the guard.

“Oh and just a friendly advice” he continued the rest in a whisper “I would think twice before associating with him. He sounds like trouble. People have been talking…” Guard was talking about Guardian.

“It is fine, I know what I am doing. Bye, bye.” She waved the guard to go away.

“Thank you for getting rid of him. I can see that renown can be used like that.”

“I might have renown but it seems that you are getting some infamy. I wonder why?”

“Beats me. I do not know.”

The monster corpse was hauled through the slums towards Guardian’s house. This has gotten quite the attention from slum dwellers. Some wanted to see the golem, while other the weird thing they were dragging. This caused quite the ruckus because more and more people have gathered. He understood now why the guard had been upset. He had to chase the people away as they were blocking his path.

Eventually, they have reached their destination and stored the treant besides the house. He took out the swamp critters from the sack and imagined the lecture the guard would have given him about taking feral monsters into the town. He was able to do that covertly because he had done some training with the little monsters. If they moved or made any noise, while in the sack, he would hit them. It took a few lessons but they have learned quickly.

“Ithayiga!” He shouted for the boy.

“Yes, Master.” the boy emerged from the house.

“Your job is to look after these.” He pointed at little monsters.

“What are those?”

“My new pets. Get a stick and whack them if they try to escape.”

“Understood.”

“I have to go away again, but this time I won’t be out for long. You must be starving I will get something for you when I come back.”

The boy smiled in response. He was very hungry indeed, but he was not displeased by being left alone for a day or so. He had no one to boss him around and he was able to visit his siblings. All of them were jealous when he told them about his job and all the food he gets. His father, however, was not very happy to see him. He got all pale then he saw Ithayiga and even wanted to beat him. He did not do so because he realised that the boy is not his anymore. Also, the beastman did not want Guardian finding out Ithayiga visited them. This upset the boy but he understood that he has done something he should not have. Ithayiga learned his lesson.

“I will be waiting patiently. Can I name the pets?”

“Why not, go ahead.” Guardian turned to Cynthia he had to ask for something. “Can you leave your golem here. I need it to guard my loot while I am gone.”

“Honestly, a dead tree and three ugly monsters do not look worthy to be stolen.”

“You would be surprised. It is actually quite valuable.”

“To an alchemist, maybe. Normal people, not so much.”

“I am not sending the core to my apprentice until I know my loot is safe.”

“I knew I had to take that thing away from you then I had a chance. Who will carry me back to the city if not Rocky? I am not feeling like walking.”

“Okay okay, I get It. I will carry you.”

“And I get to ask you for a free favour next time. A favour for a favour.”

“Seems fair. Hop on.” Guardian crouched down for the girl to climb on him.

“Just letting you know, Rocky is more comfortable than you. Your back is too spiky.”

“It is precisely for the reason to keep things like you from climbing it.”

“Onwards!” She motioned for him to go.

He did so, at frightening speed. This was to get back at the girl for using him like her mount. Very quickly they have reached the city centre and the guild houses they needed. Guardian used one of the guilds to send the core and a message what to do with it to Aiu. It had cost him a hefty price of 2g, but it was worth it. The cargo they will be taking was valued many times that price and the roads were dangerous. The guild had to pay for the guards and other expenses, all in all, it was not too much. He has also purchased three wooden cages for animals.

The last thing he had to get was some food. He wanted to buy some grain for porridge.

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“Is that all you are feeding your servant with? So cheap!”

“He does not complain.” He also ate the same stuff as the proper meals were expensive. He missed the forest and easy access to the meat, not to mention the home cooking.

“Still… You are so odd. I know you have the money, just look at your robe. Yet still, you live in slums and eat like a poor person.”

“I just do not want to waste the money.”

“It is not a waste if you enjoy what you get. Let me cook for you and that boy today.”

“Only if you insist.”

“I do. You are buying the stuff, however.”

Cynthia directed him from stall to stall, buying all sorts of stuff. His light pockets have gotten even lighter. He was actually nearly out of coins.

They went back to his place. He was happy to find his monster where he left them. The golem did a good job at intimidating the people away from his property.

“Master you are back.”

“I have brought you food as promised.”

“I am very hungry. Where is it?”

Guardian took the foodstuff from his bag. There were three extremely large fish with various vegetables and some ale to wash everything down.

“Wow, this looks expensive. I am eating this?”

“You are joining us kid. What was your name again?” Cynthia asked.

The beastman child reminded her of his name.

“Ithayiga, help me to prepare this. Can you cook?”

“No, miss.”

“Do not call me that, it feels weird. Call me Lady Cynthia, hehe.” No one actually called her a miss or a lady before.

Guardian glared at her, she was beginning to sound like a spoiled noble would.

“Okay, just Cynthia will be fine. You can help me by cutting the vegetables, you know how to do that.”

“Yes.” The boy answered hesitantly. He had done it only a few times because it was his mother or sister who cooked for their family.

“Then let’s get started.”

Guardian excused himself, he was not into the cooking. He took out the cages and set them in the corner. The cages were made to keep domesticated wolves so they were large and sturdy. The swamp critters will have more space than they needed.

“Boy, did you name the creatures?”

“Ah yes, Master.” Ithayiga took a moment away from cutting the vegetables, all of them were cut in wobbly misshapen pieces.

“This is Scar.” He pointed at the one who had its mask missing, its face was slashed terribly. The wound hasn’t healed yet properly either.

“This is Scoundrel, he tried to escape so I beat him with a stick.” He pointed at another one. It had an injured leg and many bruises.

“And this is Whimpy. It has been very noisy, it got quiet only then you came back.” He pointed at the last one. It was smaller than the others.

“Those are good names. Bring me my salves I need to tend to these creatures.”

Ithayiga passed him his stuff and went back to help Cynthia. All three of the creatures had various degrees of injury, if he wanted them to stay alive he had to tend to it. He mended the wounds of the critters and put them in their cages. Swamplings were terribly scared of him, shaking and trembling when he handled them.

Then he applied another layer to his chest. It was healing nicely, people would hardly believe at his healing speed if they knew how it looked yesterday.

His next task was to disassemble the treant. He pried open the rest of its body and collected the remainder of its sap into two large jugs. Then he borrowed Rocky to snap its body into smaller pieces so it is easier to store. The enchanted bark and treant’s inner wood were extremely hard, normal tools struggled to cut it. By the time he was done the food was ready.

Cynthia’s cooking was very good. All of the food disappeared very quickly and any of the scraps were fed to his pets. It was getting late so Cynthia asked him to contact her then he has a potion and went on her way.

The very next day he transported the monster materials to the guild houses to sell them off. In the guild, he has found out that treants sap can be used to make mana potions. The enchanted bark was used in armour and shield making as it was a good replacement for metals and a lot lighter. The enchanted wood, once cleaned and properly cut was used in making magical staves for wizards.

The guild houses were extremely happy to get these ingredients as it was not often people found or even killed a treant. Besides the core, its wood was the most valuable part and irreplaceable ingredient in making the staves. He negotiated to get a free stave once the stave maker processed the wood.

All in all, he had made a good fortune of 20g, but he knew that he will have to part with half of it. Cynthia needed her share, also the golem was damaged too and needed repairs.

Just before heading away from the market a particular scene picked his interest. There were a bunch of guards and they seemed to be harassing the foreigners who came from a distant Island. The Islanders were a breed of hoofed beastmen and mostly did their trade and business here. Some people disliked them for one reason or another. Most of the tradesmen liked them, but the nobles despised the Islanders.

It appeared that all of their merchandise was being confiscated; there was a full store worth it. They must have just unloaded it from their ship and brought to the market to trade or sell it directly to the people.

Allegedly, the Islanders did not pay an appropriate tax, hence the confiscation. The foreigners argued this and the fight broke out. Guardian did not want to interfere in this and just observed.

All hell broke loose. The guards hit the foreigners with their batons trying to quell the resistance. One of the hooved beastmen was a fire mage. A number of fire orbs formed around the mage, flying in circles around him. Then the orbs slammed into the guards singing their flesh and setting their clothes on fire. People screamed and everyone started to run. The mage cast another spell raising a firewall and cutting off the rest of the guards from them.

Guardian followed the escaping Islanders. Over twenty five guards were chasing five of them. Every time the guards got close they were forced to retreat; the mage would launch his fire spells at them. If a guard was hit by a spell, the poor man was heavily burnt, if a spell missed it set a house or two on fire just like that. Magic was dangerous and very powerful. One mage managed to stop all the guards.

Eventually, the Islanders made their way back to the harbour, joining with their peers. The guards stopped their pursuit, they knew that other Islanders will defend their kind and they did not want a small war breaking out.

“We will remember this. These five are not welcome here anymore!” Shouted the guard captain.

“Fine! We will remember this too. I know it was the nobles. They will pay for this!” The mage threatened the guard captain.

The ship raised its sails and left the harbour.

“That magic was amazing. I should really consider getting my hands on something like this.” Guardian considered this out loud.

However, the problem was that no one willingly taught destructive magic anymore. Magic was power. Noble families kept their magic knowledge secret unwilling to distribute it to others. The talented and skilful enough would be allowed to learn it, but they would need to serve one of the noble families. Most of the common-blood mages ended up on the battlefield.

Guardian had only one place to go for the information, regardless of how much he disliked doing it. He headed to ever more popular establishment named Slut House. He was always made to feel there very welcome. More welcome than he needed.

He went inside the building and asked for Iustitia straight away. As always Brita the tigerwoman attempted to bother him, but he ignored her completely.

“Guardian you came!?” Iustitia would not believe her eyes that he was here, that was if she could see.

“No need to sound so surprised.”

“So what brings you here?” She hoped that he had some urges she would be more than happy to take care off.

“Not here, let’s go somewhere more private.”

“Yes!” Iustitia was ecstatic to hear that.

“Guardian, you sure you don’t need me coming with you? Two is better than one after all.” Brita offered her services. She was still feeling envious of Shazzara's experience. The lizard did not hesitate to talk in great detail how she enjoyed the night with Guardian.

“I doubt you can do what Iustitia does the best.” He shot her down and walked with Iustitia.

Once in the room, Iusititia wrapped her arms aroud Guardian.

“So where do we start?” She asked seductively brushing her fingers past his belly area.

“To start with I want you to gather some information on rumours about magic.”

Iustitia pouted at hearing this. This was not what she was expecting to hear. Guardian ignored her antics and continued.

“Also, I want you to find where someone can learn it. I would appreciate if you find a person or a place doing this, even if it is illegal. Is this possible for you?”

“…” She was still pouting unhappy.

“Can you do it?” He has asked again.

“Ahh… Only for you.” This was not what she desired but she wanted to repay her savior and she offered to help him with information before.

“Find me then you have something. I will even pay you well.” The information he was asking for was valuable and he was well aware of that. He had to promise the reward.

“I will. I won’t leave you disappointed.” The mention of a reward motivated her and she was not thinking about coins.

Guardian left the room just to be interrupted by Brita again.

“Wow, so quick! Was she no good this time?”

He ignored her completely unsure of what she was talking about. He had no time for this and went straight back to home

“Iustitia, what happened?! Did your pussy finally dry out or what?” Not getting any attention from the Guardian, Brita went to tease someone else.