Chapter 37
A Bad Path
It had been a couple of days after Erin had become able to use magic and the group was going to the city. While the redhead would have wanted to continue practicing the use of magic, she had to face the reality that her group’s financial situation wasn’t exactly the best. Even if Lexton had a good amount of money, he had clearly stated that he was only a temporary member. Once their common goal of taking down Lune was over, he wouldn’t be associated with the others any longer.
Because of this, Erin knew she needed to get some cash for her group. Luckily, Lexton had promised to assist her in doing so. That was why she had decided to put her training in magic on pause for now.
“So Lex, what exactly are we going to be doing at the city to earn some cash?” Erin asked. “We aren’t going to be doing anything illegal, are we?”
“My word! Hearing you say such things about me just breaks my heart, Erin!” the kobold said in a mock hurt tone. “What would ever make you think that I-?”
“Cut the crap. I already have more than enough reason to dislike you. No need for you to remind me why I have them in the first place,” Ryle suddenly said as she glared at Lexton. “Or do YOU need to be reminded that I plan to kick your scaly ass one of these days?”
“Fine. Be a killjoy, why don’t you?” the kobold said with a sigh. “As for your question, Erin, we are not going to be doing anything criminal. We are just going to be selling some small potions that I’ve cooked up in my workshop. They’re a good way to earn some money, as a lot of regular people are willing to pay a good price for them and they’re easy to make.”
“That’s a relief. Also interesting,” Erin said. “What kind of potions are you going to be selling exactly?”
“Nothing major. Just some cures for common ailments, like colds, coughs and itchy skin. The very basic stuff there is,” Lexton answered. “Anything bigger than that would require far better ingredients and would force us to sell at a higher price. However, since these are pretty cheap items and quite commonly used, we should be able to make a good profit with them. There is always a person looking for a cure for a common ailment, after all.”
“So what will we be doing then?” Arkay asked. “Since I’m sure you’ll be handling some of the more business side of things, what should we do to help out?”
“For you and Erin, I was hoping that you would be helping out in promoting our products,” the kobold answered. “Every business needs a friendly face at the front to help sell it, whether at a street stall, behind a counter or in a large business room. That’s something I think the two of you could handle. Also, I could use some extra hands in handling the merchandise and setting up shop as well.”
“And I’m guessing my job is to be pack mule then, huh!?” Ryle complained, as she was pulling a large wooden cart behind her that had all the potions they were planning to sell. “You know, I might be more brawn than brains, but I think you’re pushing your luck with me!”
“That’s a surprise. You can actually think,” Lexton said in a mocking tone. “Besides, shouldn’t you be grateful for me? I’m giving you a job that completely suits you. No need for you to strain that bean-sized brain of yours.”
“I’m gonna shove this cart right up your-!”
“By the way, Lex, are these new outfits also a part of this whole business plan of yours?” Erin asked, cutting off Ryle before she could make good on her threat.
Both Erin and Arkay had been provided with new clothes by Lexton. Apparently, this wasn’t the first time he had been doing business like this with other people. So while the others were busy practicing the use of magic, he had gone to the city to buy some new clothes for them.
Erin had a tight sleeveless black top, loose white pants, red leather boots and loose fingerless gloves that went up to her elbows. Arkay had a sleeveless white jacket with a black T-shirt underneath it, loose cargo pants and a long red scarf around his neck.
“Pretty much. Your normal clothes made you look like criminals, which isn’t exactly all that welcoming to your average citizen. That’s why I had the two of you change into something that’s a bit less suspicious,” Lexton explained. “These outfits make you look like some average youngsters that are trying to earn a bit of cash by helping out at a store. Hope you like the clothes I provided you with. You can keep them after we’re done, by the way.”
“Oh, I love them!” Arkay said happily as he looked over himself. “To this day, I’ve always been wearing clothes that helped me disappear into the shadows. It honestly feels nice to wear something that normal people would wear.”
“Yeah… It looks nice as well,” Ryle said in a dreamy voice while staring at the cat boy, which earned her displeased looks from both Erin and Lexton.
image [https://i.ibb.co/vhy890r/Ch-37-Pic-1.jpg]
“Would you mind and put such thoughts away, before you end up crashing the cart into something?” Lexton asked in an annoyed tone. “I’d prefer to be able to sell my merchandise intact. Thank you very much.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll do my job. Don’t twist your damn panties,” the blonde grumbled in response.
“Speaking of outfits, you have had a change of wardrobe as well, Lex,” Arkay pointed out. “What’s with the new look?”
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Like the cat boy had pointed out, the kobold was also wearing different clothes. Instead of his regular outfit that made him look more like a merchant, he was now wearing dark gray robes that covered most of his body. He also had a hood that he had pulled over his head, hiding his face from view.
“Oh, this? Don’t you mind it. It’s just… my merchant persona,” Lexton answered. “I’m trying to be the mysterious medicine seller that brings miraculous cures to the needy ones. Don’t you think that sounds good?”
“In all honesty, I’d say that people would rather buy from a person that is willing to show their face,” Erin said as she walked up to the kobold and leaned in to pull down the hood. “Now let’s just-”
Instead of being allowed to pull the hood down from her small companion, the redhead was stopped by a scaly hand slapping her hand away. Not only that, but for a very brief moment, Erin could have sworn that she saw Lexton be scared.
“NO! I mean… There’s no need for that, I assure you,” the kobold said, trying to mask his nervousness. “Let’s just get going and set up shop, alright? This stuff isn’t going to sell itself, after all.”
“Ummm… Okay?” Erin said awkwardly, still somewhat taken aback by the reaction she got from him.
“What’s up with you?” Ryle asked, having noticed the weird outburst. “I thought you’d want to appear all proper for your customers so you could-”
The blonde stopped herself, as her eyes suddenly went wide with realization and a big grin spread across her face.
“Oh, now I see,” Ryle said with a mischievous tone. “No wonder you want to hide your face, huh?”
Both Erin and Arkay looked at the blonde in confusion, before looking at Lexton, who was trying his best to hide his face. The two then turned their attention back towards Ryle.
“What are you talking about?” Erin asked. “Why does Lex want to hide his face?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Remember what he sold to us when we first met him?” Ryle asked as she began chuckle. “I’m willing to bet that we aren’t the only people he has sold useless junk to. He’s afraid that some of his other customers might have found out about what they really got and are not exactly happy with him. Am I right or am I right, huh?”
“Yes! You are correct! Happy!?” Lexton said in a quiet, yet angry voice, clearly not happy to be talking about such a subject. “Look, you need my help and I’m sure you wouldn’t want some pissed off mobsters to come after me while we’re trying to sell our stuff, right!? So just let me keep a low profile and we’ll get through this a lot richer without any problems!”
Erin could only let out a sigh, wondering if this was such a good idea, while Ryle only kept laughing to herself.
The group soon made their way to the city and began to look for a good place to set up their shop. As they walked through the city’s busy streets, they came upon a crime scene at a restaurant. The area had been closed off from the citizens, as police officers were either guarding the premises or investigating the place. One could see signs of a battle just from the outside of the restaurant, as bodies were being carried out.
“What could have happened here?” Erin asked as she looked at the crime scene. “It looks like a war zone.”
“That’s not far from the truth, to be honest,” Ryle said. “There are quite a few criminal groups in the city that are not exactly on friendly terms with each other. Judging by the smells coming from that place, either a disagreement between some of those groups got heated or the menu is made of some REALLY nasty ingredients.”
“Yes, well, whatever happened there doesn’t really involve us, does it? So why bother gawking at a crime scene where there is nothing for us to do?” Lexton said. “I say we leave this to the police and just keep on moving. We have work to do.”
Just as the group was beginning to leave, Erin noticed something shocking. She recognized one of the bodies that was being carried away. It was the same wealthy man they had met when they had gone to visit Lexton’s store.
Realizing that this was most likely not a subject that should be voiced out too loudly, the redhead waited until there weren’t too many people around them, before walking up to Lexton in order to talk with him.
“Hey, I recognized one of the people that had died at that crime scene,” Erin whispered to the kobold. “He was one of your customers.”
“Really now? What a shame, I suppose,” Lexton said in a completely calm tone that shocked the redhead. “Luckily for me, I don’t get many repeat customers anyways, so it’s not a big issue.”
“Hold on a second here! Why are you acting like this is no big deal!?” Erin whispered angrily. “One of your customers is dead! Isn’t that the least bit concerning!? Especially when you consider that-!”
“That I sold him useless junk that most likely made him think that he was no insanely powerful and unbeatable? Why should I be concerned about that at all?” the kobold asked in the same uncaring tone. “The way I see it, this was only a good thing not only for us, but the city as well. We don’t have to worry about him ever coming after us for revenge and the city has one less scumbag to deal with. I’d say that’s a good thing.”
“How can you just-!?”
“Oh, don’t you dare start lecturing ME about any morals!” Lexton began to angrily rant, cutting off the redhead and putting a stop to the group. “So a few criminals died! What do you expect me to do!? Shed a tear or something!? Well, don’t waste your time waiting for that, because it’s not happening, okay!?”
“Woah, what got into you all of a sudden?” Ryle asked, having not heard the conversation between her two companions. “What could have Erin said to piss you off that badly?”
“I’ll explain later,” Erin said to the blonde before turning her attention back to the kobold. “Look, I get that those guys weren’t exactly good people, but you’ve sold your stuff to numerous people! What happened back there might not be the only case and the next victim might not be some crook like those guys!”
“Do you really think there were any good people in that place!? The underground lair of crooks and criminals!? Why do you think I was selling my stuff there in the first place!? All of those people deserved to get screwed over, as they do worse things on a regular basis!” Lexton ranted. “Not that anybody else in this garbage pile of a city is any better…”
“What are you talking about? Why would you have such a grudge against everyone here?” the redhead asked.
“Because they’re all the goddamn same!” the kobold yelled. “You think the criminals are the only ones harming others around here? Well, the people in charge are no better! Just like the mobsters, they beat down on people like me and rob us! The only difference is that they do their shit under some made up pretense that is supposed to justify them acting like robbers! And before you have the nerve to say that the regular people in this city are good and honest people, when have they helped!? When a poor kobold like me is getting kicked to the ground, they act like it’s no big deal or find it entertaining! So why the hell shouldn’t I hate them all!? Tell me that!”
Erin was taken aback by Lexton’s emotional outburst, especially when she saw that there were tears falling from his eyes. Apparently, the kobold had faced his fair share of unjust treatment that had left him very bitter and angry at the world around him. He was essentially lashing out at the world around him over the unfairness he had to face on a daily basis.
This reminded redhead of a certain someone and it didn’t end well.
“Lex… I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had to-”
“Save it. I don’t want to hear any halfhearted sympathies anymore. I’ve heard that crap way too many times to ever believe it again,” Lexton said coldly as he turned away from his companions. “Let’s just get this whole thing over with. The sooner I’m done working with you all, the quicker I can cut all ties from you all and go back to working alone, like I should.”
“Hey now! There’s no need for that kind of attitude!” Ryle began to yell angrily, not liking how the kobold was talking to her friend. “Where do you even get off talking to-”
“Ryle, it’s alright. He has his reasons,” Erin said, stopping the blonde. She then turned her attention back to Lexton. “I’m guessing you can’t trust us due to not being kobolds like you?”
“Why bother even trying? I’ve been betrayed by others so many times that I’ve already lost count,” the kobold said in a bitter tone. “The only ones I can trust are my own kind and that’s about it.”
“…You can trust us, you know?” the redhead suggested hopefully. “If you give us a chance, I’m sure you’ll be able to trust us in the end. All I ask is that you give us a chance.”
“...I’ll consider that.”
As the group continued looking for a place to set up their shop, Erin couldn’t help but worry about Lexton. She could tell that he was currently walking down a bad path, one full of deceit, distrust and betrayal. If she could help him, then maybe he wouldn’t end up in such a terrible end.
Hopefully, he wouldn’t end up like Devin and the others.