“What are you doing here?” asked Bagulv.

“Hmm… you can go ahead, Ziraf. I’m gonna talk to him a bit.” said Cain to Ziraf.

Ziraf just shrugged and went to his group.

Bagulv invited Cain to sit with the Kingsmight. “Do you want a drink?” he asked.

“Not now.” Cain replied.

Cain sat down with the Kingsmight members on the long wooden chair. Unfamiliar faces. Cain just assumed they were Bagulv’s squad member. 8 Kingsmight members were there, including the Captain.

Bagulv sat across from Cain.

The table was empty, no food, only 8 half empty mugs of beer were there.

Beil jumped from Cain’s hand to the chair, yawned, then slept.

“You don't hate us, do you, Cain?” asked one of the Kingsmight members. He was a serious-looking man.

Cain frowned. “Why would I? I only hate those seven as human beings, not because they are Kingsmight. It would be dumb to justify their action as the entire Kingsmight member’s action, right?” responded Cain.

The man smiled. “Wise, the King really taught you well.” he said.

“Speaking of him, I met the old man and the Vice Captain Ivela at Farferis.” said Cain.

“You met the King and my sister?” responded Bagulv. “Ah, I think I heard the news, Farferis became a slave-free Kingdom as the late King fell, and Arozora was invited to the Coronation Day of the new King. Also, there’s a young man who assisted the Sun Knight Order, together, they toppled the late King, and he fought toe to toe with the infamous Old Beast, the young man raged his blue flames, resulting death of thousands from the opposing side. Then, this young man was granted a Master Honor title by the new King for his bravery. And you said you were there? Do you happen to have this ‘Master’ title, Cain?” he asked curiously.

All of the Kingsmight members were looking at him.

“No…” said Cain. “... It’s only valid in Farferis. And that thousands of death part is exaggerated.” he smiled.

They chuckled.

“Quite an achievement, huh?” said Bagulv.

Cain just smiled. “What’s Kingsmight doing here?” asked Cain.

“We’re on an expedition. More than that, it’s classified.” said Bagulv.

“But why here? I mean, this is a Hunter Guild, this is why I’m here.”

“Ah, I forgot you are a Hunter. Well, this bar is open for public. Besides, I heard they have the best grilled Saberfish here.” Bagulv replied.

“Where is our food anyway?” asked one of the Kingsmight members.

“We just ordered it 10 minutes ago, maybe they’re still cooking it.” said another Kingsmight.

“Where are the rest of your squad?” Cain asked Bagulv.

“Classified.” Bagulv replied.

“Okay…” said Cain.

“Your friends?” asked Bagulv. He glanced to the table where Ziraf’s group was.

“We just met this noon.” said Cain.

“Hmm… I’m kinda, I don’t know, amazed? Or just feel weird.” said Bagulv

“What?” responded Cain.

“You know, you handled that incident with rather composed attitude until the end. Even though your dear friends just died, in the next day, you showed no pain, I know there was, but it's like, you’re kinda cold, a bit emotionless,” said Bagulv. “Ah, forget what I said, I’m sure you don’t want to talk about it.” he continued.

“That’s okay. I can talk about it,” Cain smiled bitterly. “The pain, it’s still here even now. Cold, huh? Yeah, I have some of that. But I’m not born with it, I’ve been tempered, and hardened by it.” he said.

“You sound like you’ve been through something like that.” said Bagulv.

“More than once, but that was part of the training.” Cain replied.

“Training? You mean your training with the King?” asked one of the Kingsmight members.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m also wondering, how did our King train his disciples?” asked Bagulv.

Cain laughed lightly. “Your sister also asked about it when we met,” said Cain.

“That’s Carals for you.” said another Kingsmight. The Kingsmight members laughed.

“Well, I don't know how Kingsmight’s training regiment is, but to me, the training given by the old man was ruthless, physical that is. The mental training? It was nightmare.” said Cain.

“One day, he gave us pets. I got a little bird, Higa got a monkey, and Lexa got a kitty. The old man told us to swap our pets every month, he also said to take care of them with love, so we did that. Then, after a year, the monkey was found dead, we cried and refused to train for 3 days. When we finally out of our room in the fourth day, we found the bird dead, and the cat a week later. Then, Igo gave us other pets a month later. It just repeated, our pets died again. Our hearts were broken. Then the old man came clean, he said he was the one who killed the pets. Of course we asked why, he said to train us. Do you know what he said after that?” asked Cain.

The Kingsmight members were looking at him intensely.

“If only on the second day you were out of your room, you would have prevented the second death of your pets. While you were weeping in your rooms, I snapped the bird’s neck, and strangled the cat with some vines. What he said. He also told us if we lost something, never lose the sight of what we have left.” Cain smiled bitterly.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

“We hated him for that,” Cain continued. “We did not come to the forest to train for a month. But we finally came to the forest after our anger subsided. He was there, waiting for us for the entire month. Before we asked why, he told us when he lost his wife, he lost his way, he was at his weakest, vulnerable. He said, if only someone had challenged him then, he would have lost the control he had. We didn’t understand the last part. But we knew, the old man in front of us had been through far worse than what we just had, he wanted us to be prepared for it because bad things will eventually happen to us or to the people around us, and at least, let us tasted it, so when the second one hit us, we could face it better. That was just the beginning, he gave us more that kind of training after that. Thankfully we managed to keep our sanity, because we had each other, I guess.” said Cain.

“Shit, that’s deep. And that kind of mental training is brutal. The King forced you to get used to the mental pain as a part of the training.” said one of the Kingsmight members.

“I know he lost the Queen, but I never thought our King felt that way, he has those cheerful smiles all the time, damn it!” said another Kingsmight.

“It’s not a mask, if you mean by that. He is a kind person, but when he trained us, he yelled a lot.” Cain laughed a bit.

“So, let me get this straight,” one of the members frowned, “With that kind of training, do you feel lesser pain? I mean like, you become a heartless person?”

“No, it’s not like that, I wept for my dead friends, no heartless person would shed a tear, right? It’s just because of that training, I have a better control over my emotion, that kind of emotion that could make me do something I would regret later.” responded Cain.

“Hmm… I see… that’s why the King just responded like that when he knew his two disciples were murdered,” said Bagulv. “I don't know what I would do if something happened to my family. To think you and the King were still thinking straight right after that, must be a damn high mental resilience.”

Cain just smiled. He took the sleeping Beil and stood up. “Looks like your food is coming,” said Cain as he looked to the waitress with a 6 feet long grilled Saberfish that was coming to them, it was enough to feed all of the Kingsmight members, or even too much for them. “Well then, good luck on your expedition.” he added.

“You won’t join us, Cain?” asked one of the Kingsmight members.

“His friends are waiting for him.” said Bagulv to the Kingsmight, then he looked at Cain. “You too, Cain. Good luck, wherever you go.” he continued. The other Kingsmight members smiled and nodded to Cain.

After Cain ordered some food and a glass of cold red tea to the waitress, he went to Ziraf group’s table.

He sat with them, and put the sleeping Beil on his lap. The table was already filled with their food.

“Cain! tell me! Are they Kingsmight!?” Vigel asked in a low voice with a serious face.

The others were also eager to know.

“Yeah… they are Kingsmight,” said Cain. “What? Are you guys their fans or something?”

“We are!” said Ziraf. They looked so excited.

“Hoo… well, it’s your lucky day, do you see the one with silver hair?” said Cain without looking at the Kingsmight members. He had his back on them.

The Hunters tried to peek without being seen as an excited group.

“Yeah, yeah, we saw him! What’s up with him?” asked Rollei, no less curious.

“He is the Captain of Kingsmi-”

“The Silver Ogre!?” Ziraf cut Cain’s words, of course with a low voice. He was wide-eyed.

“Holyshiiittt! That’s why he’s the only one with three blue stripes!” Vigel hands were on his head.

“We saw you talking to him. How do you know him?” asked Rollei.

The waitress came to them with Cain’s food.

“... Why don’t you say hi to him? He’s friendly.” Cain ignored Rollei’s question.

“That’s a good idea! It’s a rare chance to meet the Silver Ogre!” said Trom.

“Let’s go!” Ziraf led his group to the Kingsmight without further ado.

Ziraf’s group went to them, Bagulv and the others greeted them warmly, he even invited them to eat together.

When the other guests and Hunters saw Ziraf’s group talking with the Kingsmight, they decided to join them. In no time, the Kingsmight’s table was crowded with people. They wanted to see the Right Hand of the Mighty Iligo and the infamous Kingsmight.

“(Damn, didn't know he is also famous outside Arozora.)” thought Cain.

Bagulv glanced towards Cain. Cain just shrugged at him while sipping his tea.

After a while, the crowd finally dispersed. The Kingsmight finished their Saberfish and went out.

“I can’t believe I shook hands with the Silver Ogre!” Vigel was still excited.

“And I thought they would be an arrogant group! Did you see how one of them offered us to eat with them?” said Trom.

Ziraf’s group sat back to their table.

Beil already woke up, he was munching Cain’s food. he sat on Cain’s lap while his forepaws were on the table.

“This is a good day!” said Rollei. “We got a good haul, and we met the Kingsmight!”

Yudey nodded in agreement.

“How do you know them, Cain?” said Ziraf, he was calmer, but there was still a bit of excitement in his face.

“I met them couple of times.” said Cain.

“You’re lucky!” responded Vigel.

Cain just shrugged.

“Hey, how about we take a high reward quest for tomorrow? I get a feeling we’ll get something good! How is it?” said Vigel.

“Yeah! I get that feeling too!” said Trom.

“Alright then,” Ziraf nodded, “How about you, Cain?” he looked at Cain.

“Yeah, you want to come, Cain?” asked Vigel.

“Thanks for the offer, but I already have a plan for tomorrow.” Cain replied.

“Heh, too bad, I could teach you a thing or two about how a veteran Hunter does things, y’know.” said Rollei.

“Maybe later. Well, I guess it’s time to find a place to stay. You guys know any cheap inn around here?” said Cain.

With Cain’s money that he just got, especially the high grade diamonds, he actually could live like a King for a year, but he’s not the type to spend his resource on a whim.

“Duh, we live here, of course we know,” said Rollei. “Come, I’ll take you the best cheapest inn around here.”

“That’s awfully good of you, Rollei!” gasped Vigel.

Rollei just glared at Vigel.

“Alright, if you don’t mind, Rollei.” Cain stood up. Beil jumped to the floor, ready to follow Cain.

“Thank you, guys.” Cain shook hands with the Hunters.

“We often hang out at this bar in the evening, you know where you can find us if you need help or something.” said Ziraf.

“Thanks! See ya.” said Cain.

After he paid his food, Cain went out with Rollei. They walked the night street. Beil followed them. Rollei just walked, no words came out from her mouth. It’s unusual for Rollei to be this calm, thought Cain. But Cain just assumed maybe because her banter-partner wasn't here, or she wasn't friendly to a Grass she just met, Just like this noon. “(But why she’s taking me to an inn if she isn't friendly?... Hmm… she has a foul mouth, but maybe this is the way she shows her good side?” Maybe.)” what Cain had in his mind.

Rollei stopped at a fork in the street.

“Go right, you’ll find many cheap inns around the corner.” said Rollei.

“Okay, thanks, Rollei.”

“No problem.” Rollei just turned around and went back to the direction they came from.

“What? Just that?” Cain frowned. But his words were too far to reach Rollei.

“Meip?”

“... Yeah, let’s go, Beil.” said Cain. They went to the direction Rollei pointed.

After a few minutes. They arrived into a complex filled with violet and red lumines crystals.

“Mhh! A handsome one! And young! How is it, handsome? Want to taste me?” said a beautiful woman who was juggling her breast with her hands. She wore a revealing clothes.

“...” Cain stopped a bit, looked at her, then walked again.

More women asked the same thing as he walked. Some of the women made him gulped. But they were nothing compared to Ivela, Cain ignored them. He looked to a man that went inside to a cheap-looking inn with a woman while grabbing her ass, some even with multiple women, or vice versa.

“(Damn it! This is not what I meant by cheap inn! This is a prostitution complex! She got me!)” thought Cain, he realized where he was.

Meanwhile at the Hunter Guild bar, after Rollei told Ziraf and the rest where she took Cain, they burst into laughter.