SS1 2.1 – Patricians and Plebeians
In the evening Matt and Tim took me to House of Healer. It was located near the center of Karmen while House of Hunter was located near the west gate, so we went there on a Humvee. Along the way, I took my time to study Karmen.
In a glance, it was no different from a small but advance town in earth. It had neat and wide high-end road with proper post lamp to illuminate it. Other than some roll cage Humvees or Land Rovers, a fair amount of nice looking SUV filled up the traffic.
As far as I could see, there were no building higher than four floors, but each building looked as good as modern building in earth. The store, café, restaurants, or other establishment in each side of the road were also bustling with visitors.
“This is a nice town,” I said as the Humvee stopped before a traffic light.
“Actually,” Matt said without letting go the wheel. “If you overlook the absent of high-rise building, Karmen it’s much better than the most developed city on earth.”
After a slight nod I asked, “How do the locals produce electricity and fuel?”
“They use magical science and technology to produce electricity, bio diesel, and everything else. Magical science and technology is the core of civilization and development in this world,” Matt casually replied.
“How good is the magical science and technology if you compare it to science and tech from earth?”
“It’s much better in every aspect. It’s also more environmentally friendly,” Tim who sat in the back seat added. “It’s just that they can’t use it to build major military equipment like howitzer, main battle tank, attack hello, fighter jet, or warship.”
Question mark in an instant popped up on my forehead. “Are you saying they don’t have capability to build military power like country in earth?”
“For warfare purpose,” Matt said. “They can use magical science and technology to develop weapon, armor, scroll, potion, and other individual equipment to hunt and eliminate monster. It’s very powerful, especially the stuff for A-rank and S-rank hunter.
It’s just that people who decide to become hunter is very few. Most of them also has low magic aptitude and have to start as low-rank hunter.”
“Is that the reason why they outsource hunter like us?” I curiously asked.
“Yeah.” Tim paused for a moment before explaining, “To prevent their beginner hunter from getting over exhausted and die young, they hire us to eliminate some portion of low-rank monster.
This way, the beginner hunter will have a better chance to grow into high-rank hunter. Sometimes, we also receive request to assist high-rank hunter in certain situation.”
As the traffic light turned green and we continued the journey Matt added in low voice, “They love to phrase this solution as ‘Low-rank problem need low-rank solution.’”
“Maybe I’m wrong,” I hesitantly said. “But to me, it sounds like they try to down tone our contribution as outsource hunter.”
“Well,” Matt took a deep breath before continuing, “The pay and benefit we receive is excellent, but the public view about us is not pleasant, especially in first-tier city.”
“Without magic aptitude, we will never grow stronger beyond D-rank hunter,” Tim said before letting out a sigh. “In a kingdom where people have unhealthy amount of obsession towards beauty, fineness, magic might, and human supremacy, outsider who don’t have magic aptitude like us are no more than lowly plebeians.”
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“I see.” After a short ponder I asked another question, “If most people who become hunter are people with low magic aptitude, where does the one with high magic aptitude go?”
“People with high magic aptitude mostly are patricians, or being recruited by patricians’ household since young age. After completing their military term to become elite border guard in post town, they return to their household and continue developing their talent,” Matt casually explained.
“And just a friendly reminder,” Tim said. “Be humble if you want to last in this world. And even though most patricians are staying in big cities, some will come to monster danger zone to hone their combat skill. Don’t ever offend them, by all means.”
“Copy,” I firmly replied, while inwardly I got it why all this time Matt drove the Humvee in a very civil manner.
We then continued the journey in silence, until finally we arrive in front of big building with huge ‘House of Healer’ sign on its top floor.
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Tim chose an executive suit for our party tonight. The room was big and comfy, while the furnishing was luxurious. It had nice sofa set, big beds, mini hot springs, bar counter, and buffet table full of delicacy.
Most of all, two super beauty immediately walked over to us as soon as we enter the room. One had long brown hair, while the second one had straight short silver hair with half bang. The two had sweet smile on their beautiful face, around 175 cm high, and with ease I could see they had nice curve and perfect figure under their neat uniforms.
I couldn’t tell they came from northern or southern Europe, but I was very sure about one thing. The two were more beautiful than Ceres and her team. On earth, they without a doubt would become brand ambassador of world class cosmetic company. It was profession that for decades became the epitome of absolute beauty and fineness. Yet, here they only became healer lady for plebeian hunter.
“Welcome, Matt and Tim,” The healer lady with the straight long brown hair happily said, and then she turned her gaze to me, “And this is?”
“He is Berg,” Matt said.
“He just arrives today,” Tim added.
After giving me a sweet smile the young beauty with brown hair said, “Nice to meet you, Berg. My name is Laurie, welcome to Karmen, and I pray you find great success in your new life as a hunter.”
“Yeah,” I happily replied. “Nice to meet you Laurie.”
“My name is Laura,” The young beauty with short silver hair continued the introduction. “Welcome to Karmen, I pray you find great success in your new life as a hunter.”
“Nice to meet you Laura.”
“What do you want to enjoy first?” Laurie said as she guided us to the sofa in the middle of the room.
“We have not eaten dinner yet,” Matt casually said. “A big serving of steak and wine will be nice.”
“Understood.”
Laurie then went to the buffet table. She took two huge chunks of smoking hot tomahawk steak and then cut and arranged it into three big serving plates. As for Laura, she went to mini bar next to the sofa set and took three bottles of red wine and five wine glasses.
A moment later, the two returned and dinner began immediately. We did not sit in the dining table, but it was not a big problem. We just hold the serving plate in our left hand, and put the steak slice into our mouth using our right hand.
In a glance, the steak was not different from the steak I usually enjoyed on earth. However, as soon as I put the first slice into my mouth, it melted right away into an explosion of rich and deep flavor.
Throughout my life, I never tasted such a tender, juicy, and delicious steak. The black pepper sauce that accompanied the steak slices was also on another level compared to black pepper I knew. Before I realized it, I already finished the whole serving.
“Berg, do you want a second serving?” Laurie cheerfully asked.
“Yes, please,” I replied in reflex.
After a smile, Laurie got to her feet and prepared a second serving for me. At the same time, Laura handed over a glass of wine to me.
“Here, it will help you reset your palate.”
“Thanks.”
I happily received the wine and took a sip. Pretty similar to the steak, the wine was also beyond from what I expected. It was crisp clear, smooth, but rich of flavor. With ease I finished the whole glass, while Laurie returned with my second serving.
Honestly, this dinner was too good for a team who just failed to clear their objective. I also felt a sense of guilt to enjoy such good dinner when I didn’t do something useful in today hunting. However, Matt and Tim looked so happy while enjoying their dinner.
They even laughed breathlessly when Laurie skillfully told us a very good joke. In the end, I chose to not ruin the mood and just went with the current.
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