Tatsuo and co arrive at a house. Darren skeptically asks whether they are at the right place. After looking at a note that Heymlir provided them, Sharon reassures them the matching address.
As the two bring their attention back to the house, they already see Tatsuo knocking at the door – “Hello~??? Can you open the door~? I’m looking for someone named Veloren Aund Gerfuden! I heard from the mayor that you know him!”
A response comes from the other side of the door, “…Did you say….Veloren…?”
The door swings open. An old man spontaneously emerges with an outburst of joy with both arms spread open.
???: It’s been a long time since I’ve last heard that name!!!
For an old man, his body was physically fit and toned. He wore an outfit similar to Victor with a collared shirt underneath a vest.
???: Welcome to my abode! My name is San, San Roswell!
San eagerly urges the group to come inside his property, making both Darren and Sharon feeling awkwardly uncomfortable.
San: Oh! Where are my manners! Would any of you care for some tea?
Sharon: Uh….no….I think we’re good….
San: Is that so? Don’t be so reserved now!
The group is guided to the living room. Much like the exterior of the house, the interior was classically fancy, insinuating that this man was living a wealthy life. The group settles themselves across from San who seats himself on a big red couch.
San: Now then! Heymlir sent you guys over here?
Tatsuo: Yeah, my name is Tatsuo, and these are my companions Sharon, Darren and Windie.
San: I see…Again, I am San Roswell, previous guild leader of Forest Grump! Just earlier you mentioned Veloren correct?
Tatsuo: Yeah, do you know that person?
San: Did I know Veloren? I’m a big fan of the man!
A surprising reaction for the group. For once the group was about to receive answers to what has been an aimless journey.
San: Veloren was a man that I greatly admired! I’ve even gone on an expedition with him once!
Sharon: What was he like?
San: Hmmm…A pretty hard question if you ask me…But if I had to describe him…He was a man of “good”.
San begins reminiscing himself looking at Veloren from behind, his tarnished hunter-green cloak flowing gallantly in the wind along with his unkempt gray hair that seeps beneath a red cloth that scarfs the top of his head.
San: Back when I met the man, it was during the time when the world was still recovering from the “Doom Period”.
The room falls into silence as the group has no idea about what San just said.
Sharon: Uhm…What is the doom period? I’ve never heard anything about it before.
Darren: Yeah. it sounds like something all of us should’ve known about.
San: That’s to be expected. People tend to repress any memory of the event. The event itself also goes by many different names. It was a catastrophe that shook the very foundations of the world about a hundred years ago….
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
San: Just as the name suggests, the Doom Period was a time when the world was threatened with a global crisis…And the cause of it was the monster king. The Doom Period signifies the period of the monster king’s senseless rampage across Beria. I have no recollection of it since I was young at the time, but it’s said that the monster king at the time –-
San: “Was a dragon.”
[https://i.imgur.com/ijbUBLX.png]
Tatsuo’s body briefly stiffens at the response. Remembering that Tatsuo claimed himself as a dragon man, Sharon warily looks at Tatsuo.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Tatsuo was having an internal dialogue with Henteko. Tatsuo inquires Henteko if he had any relations or recollections to the story San was telling. However, Henteko denies knowing anything about this – Mocking Tatsuo’s intelligence instead for thinking such thoughts, considering how they met each other.
San: Even after the miraculous defeat of the monster king, the aftermath of its destruction left a lingering effect in Beria. Food, resources and money became scarce, the economy suffered. Species went extinct, and kingdoms -- no, countries, were left in ruins.
Darren (thinking): The monster king…I’ve heard mentions about it… If I remember correctly, currently there isn’t one…Which says more about it if no monsters have claimed the title if the stories hold true. I wonder how such a mighty being got put down…
Darren: Wait a minute. It just came to me that you said you were a young child when the Doom Period happened…How old are you…?
San flexes his arm and clasps onto it with confidence: 126 years old and still going!
Both Darren and Sharon’s eyes widen and jaws drop.
Darren: What the – You’re a goddamn fossil! How are you alive, and why do you look like that?!
San lets out a hearty chuckle, “Living the way of a warrior has its perks, kid!”
San: Keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll grow to live even longer than you expect to too.
His words leave Darren puzzled. What does he mean by that…?
San: But it is during those times of peril, selfless people like Veloren shone and were needed the most.
San leans his back against the sofa, “Aaah~! How nostalgic…Talking about the past reminds me of my glory days! Back then our guild was ranked 3rd at the time! Of course, I retired and our guild disbanded afterwards. But we threw a party to celebrate the end of our glorious legacy!”
San: I then came to Argonaut since I heard from Veloren that he came from this city. I decided to settle here in hopes of meeting him again.
San presses his finger up against his bottom lip, “Now that I think of it, it’s odd how you youngsters know of his name.”
San: I believe you said you were looking for him, correct? Unfortunately I have no idea where that man is at the moment, or whether or not he's even still alive right now.
Tatsuo and Sharon (thinking): Guess he didn’t check with the guild hub…This Veloren dude is actually part of a guild and is still alive somewhere….
San with a disappointed expression: In the end, I decided to put my inspiration for the man in the past after waiting for him for so long. I’m afraid he may never return here….
At the back of Tatsuo’s mind Henteko calls out to Tatsuo, but Tatsuo is already aware.
Tatsuo (thinking): Yeah, I know…He’s hiding something.
San’s expression instantly reverses back to his jolly self.
San: With that said, I hope you find your stay in Argonaut to be pleasant, and should you need help or have any other questions, I will be sure to do my best to provide! Although, I should warn you though of a certain local gang that you chaps should be wary of.
*On the streets of Argonaut.
Victor and Mearl are on their way to deliver the core.
???: Hey you two over there!
Victor and Mearl looks to see three thug members.
Thug 1: What’s that shiny thing you got over there?! Looks expensive!
Thug 2: Hey Jorge, I betchu if we sell that thang, it'll be enough to compensate for your lil’ “Jorgeston”! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Jorge: Dangit Philip you perv! Ya still on about that? I thought I told you those jokes ain’t funny! I’ll dump you down the pile of garbage in the scrapyard where you belong!
Philip: Ha! I’d like to see you try!
Jorge turns to the third thug: You know what this dirty creep did about last week? Dude broke the unspoken bro code and used the urinal right next to mines!
The third thug who is bigger and more rugged remains uninterested in the squabble.
Thug 3: If the two of you argue and waste anymore time, I’m going to put both of you in the scrapyard. Let’s just hurry this up before they escape.
Philip: Tch! Time, whatevers…!
The three thug members begin to slowly approach the two.
Philip: You guys must know who we are yeh? Drop the goods.
Mearl lets out a trembling gasp, “oh no…!” – Victor looks across to him wondering why he was acting up.
* Back at San’s house.
San: They call themselves Punk Riot, and they are a group that causes all sorts of trouble around Argonaut. They may seem like ordinary street thugs but…This is coming specially from me.
From his usual casual expression, a stern gaze overshadows it.
San: Stay away from them.
[https://i.imgur.com/UkCd06W.png]