The pressure of countless gazes glaring at Kairos continued to build. In this situation, he depended on his most reliable teammate, Aisa. It’s convenient that the dragon had never left Relestia’s side, waiting for the devil within her to surface.
Dragons are well-known as the king of beasts, and Aisa is one of the strongest of her race. She let out the tiniest silver aura showing her displeasure and immediately every creature that has fur turned into a fluff ball.
They scurried back hurriedly but refused to completely part away.
“The great one! It’s the great one!”
“The great one!”
“He is looking over at us!”
“I wanna go closer to take a look.”
“You’ll die! Didn’t you get warned?”
“But… It’s there great one! Look, he’s so close!”
It isn’t strange for magical creatures to speak, fortunately Aisa was quick enough to send a blanket message into the minds of all the creatures around and hush them before the people can hear.
She secretly breathe a sigh of relief, the creatures had been softly whispering after they were frightened by her presence and magicians and Aura Masters are not like Cultivators who have better hearing than normal.
The people were left there confused and surprised.
While everyone is looking around for an answer, someone spotted Kairos from afar.
A group of young men and women from every race, except for the dwarves, came walking over.
Kairos took one look at them and raised an eyebrow.
Leo had just been telling him about the girlie and her new friends, and now they bumped into each other.
Aisa who is hidden inside Kairos’ scarf, pulled at the fabric, tugging it twice; her signal to say that she senses wickedness in those approaching.
“Which one?”
Kai~ All!
“What… no way. Even the girlie?”
She has become much worse than before.
As Aisa explained, people are usually neither perfectly good nor completely evil, but a bundle of different emotions. The burly merchant’s daughter had been a shade darker than the rest of her family, but it didn’t make her a wicked person. Yet, now…
Kairos could only shake his head at the bad company she found.
At this time, the leader of the group – a young human male – stepped right in Kairos’ face and said, “So you are Kairos the brewer?”
“Who’s asking?” Kairos said with a slight frown.
“Who I am doesn’t matter. You, however, better start answering my question,” the young man said arrogantly. It is obvious from the way they dressed they are definitely rolling in gold, and the man’s attitude speak volumes about how he is used to ordering people around. However, that doesn’t work with Kairos.
“You’re right, who you are doesn’t matter, and whether to answer your question is better or worse is for me to judge.”
On the side, Relestia puffed up her cheeks to stifle a laugh.
Linda turned and looked at her father and softly asked, “Daddy are they bad people?”
Leo had to quickly carry her to stop her from asking more questions.
Fortunately, the other party did not seem to hear.
At this time, the burly merchant’s daughter came over and smiled at Kairos, “Kairos, sorry we were abrupt. My friends heard how wonderful your ale was and just wanted to try.”
Kairos nodded at her as a greeting but otherwise did not speak, only for the young man to continued, “If you understand now what we are here for then you should quickly take your ale out before it is too late.”
Kairos shrugged slightly without a respond.
The girl sensing the awkward atmosphere spoke, after all this situation is partly caused by her, “Kairos I know you keep your drinks in your item box, why don’t you take them out and let everyone know how good you are?”
She quickly added with a smile, “My friends here all have powerful backgrounds, the kind you cannot afford to offend. If any one of them likes your ale, you will quickly become rich. At that time, you better treat me to dinner.”
Kairos shook his head slightly, “I’m not interested. If you are curious about my brews, when I put them up on the market, feel free to purchase a bottle.”
His reply instantly garnered the dislike of the whole group. The young men and women, with the girlie included, looked at Kairos as if he was a fool to turn them down.
Feeling their arrogance being rubbed wrong, Kairos couldn’t help but think that the whole incident back on the road could have been the girlie’s fault.
Kairos had thought that it was the young man he killed that first approached the girlie, and when denied his advances he tried to bankrupt and kill the burly merchant and his family.
But now, seeing the type of crowd that the girlie likes to frolic with, Kairos had another idea.
It seems that everything that happened wasn’t unprovoked like he believed. This girl is a troublemaker.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Kairos sighed again, internally.
Meanwhile, having been rejected twice, the young man was red-faced and about to lash out.
A female gnome who was standing on his side, spoke up at this time, “A mere peasant like you have no rights to decline. I know you are ignorant so out of the kindness in my heart let me teach you just where you should stand. Other people like you would pay handsomely just to be in our presence. It is your fortune for us to be the slightest interested.”
Another human girl in their group said, “You really have no choice in the matter. In fact, it is already too late for you. If you had known your place at the start, we might’ve put in a good word for you if the alcohol you made are really as good as rumoured.”
“But now,” she shook her head disappointedly, “You can only hope for some damage control, otherwise you can forget about starting up a brewery.”
Relestia was about to blow up, but Kairos looked at the gnome with interest while the words she said seemed to have flew past his ears. Seeing this, the princess curbed her temper, but her face had turned red. Linda, however, pushed against Leo who is carrying her, wanting to jump down and give the baddies a piece of her mind.
Kairos remained quiet. This is the first time he saw a gnome, the past month he had been cooped up taking Master Edgar’s exam and had not met anyone, even the gnomish senior student Glittersprout. The words she said seemed to have flew past his ears, as he looked carefully. Smaller than a dwarf at knee height, large eyes, round face, and a strong scent of unknown flowers. Otherwise, she is no different from a human.
The tallest of the group, a male elf looked at Kairos snobbishly and said, “You said to purchase one? Well, I have lots of money. More than you’ll ever see in your life. I’d like to order a fruity ale. Do you have one?”
Likewise, the elf piqued his interest. This is a beautiful race indeed. Fair skin, pointed ears, tall and slender body, and delicate features. Unfortunately, the arrogance on his face took away at least half of his beauty.
This time, Kairos no longer waited for more to speak, “Ale, I have none for the lot of you. But, you can try to snatch it.”
As he spoke, a pot of ale appeared in his hand.
“Are you challenging me to a fight?” the elf suddenly shouted.
Hearing this, the girlie quickly jumped out to stop them, “Please, don’t fight.”
She looked at Kairos with a strange glint across her eyes. The elf in this group is the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. In fact, she joined their group to get closer to him. But, somehow or rather, Kairos is just as attractive. The biggest difference between the two men is that she could easily approach the elf whenever she wants, but Kairos felt like a wondrous sight to be seen from far. Somewhat… like how one would view a raising dawn.
Regardless, she wouldn’t want to see them bashing each other and spoiling their image.
Kairos smiled and said pointedly, “She didn’t tell you I am Aura Class 9?”
Everyone’s faces turned grim and pale. The merchant’s girl quickly waved her hands and said, “I’ve heard about it from my father but didn’t think it was true.”
“Well, we all know how peasants love to brag,” the young man said, however, the elf remained quiet this time. The elves lived in the forest accompanied by dangerous magical beasts. His racial traits allowed him to acutely sense danger and avoid them. Just now, when Kairos said he was Aura Class 9, there was a dangerous flash across his eyes that frightened the elf.
This man is like a ferocious beast that survived a culling, the elf judged. Such creatures are cunning and savage, a moment’s carelessness will cause it to pounce.
In every world, and this one included, might makes right. Those that climbed above many are indeed mighty, as well as those born into high status or those who are rich.
But in some places, it is cultivation, others, the strength of magic or aura.
When the elf found out that the girl had heard about Kairos being Aura Class 9, he no longer wants to be part of this and stepped back.
However, this place is not the battlefield. Even if Kairos is truly Aura Class 9, he cannot act as he pleased. There will be guards here in a couple of minutes if blood is shed, and there are no less than ten fighters that equal Aura Class 9 situated in the city.
If one truly need violence to resolve their differences, there are combat stages set up all around that allow fights to the death.
Of course, none of the young men and women dare to challenge Kairos to an actual bout. Instead, there are plenty of other ways to bring a warrior to his knees.
A few of them are already considering how to sabotage Kairos’ brewery.
The girlie spoke again, “Kairos, you seem to have plenty of money, and besides your ale, I’ve heard that you got selected to be Master Edgar’s student today. With such a bright future, surely you won’t be a miser and refuse us just a sip?”
After she spoke, the others finally see that everyone in Kairos’ party are wearing multiple item box devices. To afford such luxury that is constantly draining mana crystals is indeed a show of wealth.
Kairos smiled at her, “News truly travels fast. However, who among you do I owe a favour to share what I have?”
The girl was surprised to hear him say this. When she heard from her father that Kairos saved them, she looked at him like a hero. How could he act so pettily?
Thinking back, Kairos did not interact with her much in the past either. She was giving him inviting glances back when they were travelling towards Blacken Soot City, but he had never responded. At that time, she was rather shy to see such a young and dashing hero, and dared not approach, but now hearing such words… perhaps he never considered her at all?
The girl fumed and was about to rebuke, but Kairos added, “If you want a drink, it’s not impossible.”
“You finally understood who you are messing with,” the gnome said.
Kairos ignored that and continued, “There is a combat stage where we are allowed to place prizes. If I win, I never want to see any of you within ten meters of me and my friends. If any of you win, all the ale I make are free for you to drink.”
Instantly everyone went quiet.
Although someone said Kairos was bragging, no one really dared to fight him. They are young and rich, and still have a good life ahead! Going up that stage, even if they survive, what if they broke a leg or something?
The girls started calling Kairos names like savage and brute, but Kairos did not react and waited patiently.
Finally the elf spoke, before his rash human friend jump onto the bait, “We don’t have to act like uncivilised people, baring our fist the moment we fail to agree. There is another option in this place.”
The elf paused a little to look on the end of the emporium, “There is a crystal egg gambling store over there. Why don’t our groups each pick a few eggs and the party that end up with the higher value wins?”
Kairos looked over to the end, his eyes slightly shining as he saw a strange shop that is a glass box completely filled with all kinds of crystal eggs. Each gem had a number attached, obviously for shoppers to select. The eggs are of all sort of colour and size, but no one can tell what is within because of the glass.
Although Kairos did not use his Soul Perception, he can read the signs on the shop from this distance and saw that the grand price is a manticore – a flying creature with barbed tail that could sent out poisonous flying spikes.
Kairos looked back at the elf and then nodded, “Let us try that then.”
The girls, Aisa and Linda, suddenly smiled mischievously. They had been terribly curious to get their own magical creature companion. Furthermore, this is a gamble. Who knows what would they pick?
A mysterious smile played on the elf’s lips. These few people are obviously travellers. Unlike them who have played this game of choosing eggs to the brink and back. They know the owner well enough to be let in on which crystal is in fact the grand prize. The win is already in their pockets.
Since he is assured, the elf decided to raise the bid a little, “Instead of just a drink, why don’t you come work for my family if I win? You may also name what you want if I lose.”
The others with him immediately protested. Kairos is an Aura Class 9 fighter with a talent in blacksmithing, and from the way the girl described, his ale is definitely top-class as well. If they are all gambling, how can the elf alone get Kairos?
Kairos became quiet for a moment then he said, “If you win, ale, blacksmithing or combat, each of you can make me a request and I won’t say no. But if I win, I want the elves’ magic manual, the gnomes’ herbalist secrets, and the humans’ aura art book.”
All of them immediately turned deathly pale. These are all racial secrets. Although there are leakage now and then, but the penalty is death!
The young men and women looked at each other. This time, there is fear in their eyes.
On the side, Relestia clapped, “A wonderful idea.”