Pico runs up to a flower and finds a bee.

"Arf Arf...!"

"Pico, don't stray too far."

"Arf...." The dog barks back whist running around his 2 companions.

The three are currently on the mountain path of Mt. Shirei in order to gather herbs. This was all because they needed some ingredients for Pecora, the guild blacksmith.

Hego unconsciously reaches to his back. Nothing was there. It feels pretty lacking without his mana sword. It's almost as if he was ... naked. That was very uncomfortable for Hego.

"Ah... You missed your big and pointy thing already?"

"..."

"It's need some polish from time to time, you know. It was starting to get bumpy."

Hego stares at Asta in disbelive.

"Why the djiit you acted like a proper lady in the guild, yet you fools around with that language out here? Which one are you really? The lady or the potty mouth?"

"Who knows?" Asta blows a small and cheerfull whistle.

"Why does a blacksmith requires herbs anyway." Hego questioned as he pick up a pretty flower. "Aren't their jobs making swords and stuff?"

Asta sighed. It seemed that she knew how much effort it took just to forge weapons from scratch.

"We're not making swords." Asta smiles. "These herbs are for the orphanage."

"Oh right, Doctor Bjorn is working there, right?"

"Yeah, he has been pretty busy lately with the kids."

"I haven't had the chance to drop by the orphanage lately. I hope the kids are ok." Hego nods. "Speaking of which, why haven't the 2 of them tied the not yet? They have been together for years now."

"Hm... I don't know for sure." Asta stares in the distance. "I heard that he asked her but it was Pecora who turned him down, though."

"...She turned him down, but still making us picking up herbs for him?"

Asta looks at Hego. "It's more complicated than that."

"What's complicated? They obviously care for each other."

"Arf!" Pico wags his tail in agreement.

"Ehh...Grown ups. I don't really understand either." Asta answered.

"Well, may be Doctor Bjorn tells too many dirty jokes, just like you. Pecora couldn't stand it." Hego deadpan looks at Asta.

Asta looks back at Hego. Silence starts filling the air between them.

"Yesss. Please punish me, o stranger. I have been a really bad lady"

"Oh please stop!"

"Punish me with your big, girthy instrument."

"O Mother's love. Please save me from this woman."

"...Arf!"

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

........................................................

"Hmm...The Back Market Key, I always forgot which once it is". Says Asta.

"You forget it too often it starts to rhythm."

Hego and Asta stand in front of a wall. It was a back alley, a deadend. They can hear the sound of the tavern over the wall. Sound like someone is about to fight. A drunken fist fight.

"They sound fun over there." Hego notes.

"Oh! I got it." Asta lightens up. "3rd brick from the left, 4th row from the bottom up."

Asta pushes the brick in.

The wall collapses in front of them, reveals a hidden market.

"You know, there is nothing magical about that wall. In fact, we can just knock it down like everyone else." Hego complains.

"Arf!"

"See? Even Pico agrees."

"But it's more fun this way." Asta answers. "Plus, it would be easier for us to put it back up if the bricks aren't damaged. We have to put it back up on our way out anyway."

Hego deadpan looks at Asta. That is thesecond time today.

"Now, lets go the blacksmith."

The 3 walk through the market. The name is the Back Market, yet it is more of a bazzar than a market. There are too many vendors sellings all kind of goods. It is said that anything from anywhere in the Kingdom and beyond can be found here. There are stalls where people can eat bizzare foods, some other stalls selling curved blades from the Eastern Sea. There are even vendor who sell dragon scales. Armors made from dragon scale are said to be inpenetrable, making it a must have for any Seeker. Hego pictures himself wearing the dragon scale armor.

"Djiit, that would be nice."

"What is nice?" Asta breaks him out of trance.

"Nothing, nothing really."

"Oh. Are you dreaming of punishing this bad bad lady o stranger?" Asta leans in to Hego.

"Yeah. In your dream." Hego sways his footing, gently shake off Asta.

"O stranger, please don't go. I will let your big pointy instrument do things with my..."

Hego cover his ears, sings aloud. "Lalalalalalalalalala....I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING."

Asta laughes out loud then run after him. "Now you are so cute."

Hego looks around the market. A certain wagon catches his eyes. A crimson wagon train with the insignia of the Red Lotus. They are very secretive about what they sell and who do they sell to. The Tellus Iter has not entered their inner circle, but Hego sure does wish too. He heard that they have intricated mana engines for sale. Hego think of what he can do with a brand new engine, perhaps he can make a small arship. That would make his travel more enjoyable, with the wind blowing his hair. That would be a nice feeling. The last time he was on an airship, he was trying to run away. He had never has the chance to enjoy flying. He can have the chance now, if he can get in to Crimson Lotus selling circle, that is.

After a while, they arrive at the end of the market. There is a small forge with blackened chimney. The forge filled with blue light emited from the mana forge. There are a lot of equipments laying around: shields on the wall, rusted swords bundled in barrels, pieces of plate armors laying here and there.

And there is the shadow of the person they are looking for. Hammer hitting away at the anvil.

The shadow stops.

"Is this all ther herbs that I asked for?" Asked Pecora.

"Yes." Asta answers with her hands full of various flowers. "And the ones we picked last week, did you use them?"

"Not even close to enough." Pecora sighs. "Children in this time of the year are proned to all kind of sicknesses. Nothing really serious, but given the fact that there are close to 30 children in the orphanage..."

"Yeah. That would be a handful for Doc."

Pecora turns back. Her frame is small, yet her muscles are clearly defined. Her skin, dark and shiny, reflects the blue flame of the mana forge. It was a sight to behold. She then takes off the mask she wears over her face. A single eyebrow rises upon seeing the person before her eyes. A large mane of red hair falls down on top of her head. It was stunning as a waterfall made of raging fire.

"Hego, your mana sword needs some more works done. I could give you back as it was, but it won't do you no good on the field. You experienced it, did you?" Peroca asks Hego.

"Yes. The rate it drains the mana reserve is unsustainable for longer skirmishes."

"I see. I am making some modifications, ...or upgrades you can say. Bottom line is, it needs a little bit more time to be ready." Pecora affirms.

"I agree. Thank you very much Pecora." Hego nods in a formal manner. "Please it the best you can."

"Noted. I have 1 more errand for you 2...3. You three." Pecora looks at Pico, who is trying to pull down the hammer from the top of the anvil. "Please bring these herbs to the orphanage for me. Also tell the Doc. he should take care of himself better, or else I will have to do it."

"Affirmative, madamn."

"Also, for the payment..." Asta tries to chime in.

"Yes, I know. Put it on your guild's tab." Pecora puts on her mask and turns back to the forge. "Tell your father the tab has been rather long."

"Thank you very much, Pecora. We could not express our gratitudes enough."

"Don't mention it. The Doc. and I own your old man our lives. Now take the herbs and go. This sword will be ready by the time you are back."

The sound of hammer fills the shop once again.

"We're leaving." Hego says as he picks up his bags of herbs.

"Good luck!" Asta waves goodbye. "Take care of yourself."

"Arf arf...Woof woof."