We buried Hashi in the south part of the town. It was in the afternoon, so it was cold. There lay a graveyard surrounded by flowery field. I’m sure this place would be beautiful if it was in the day. It was actually surprising to see that there was such a beautiful place in this town.

Hashi would have loved to see this…

We made it to be a decent grave. We wanted it to be at least pretty enough just like the flowery field. Though it was costly, Hashi did left a lot of money he saved. It was his money, so we used it for him.

By now, everyone knew that Hashi wasn’t going to come back yet we couldn’t accept it. It was hard for all of us especially Fuyuki. In her entire life, she had known Hashi. They must have played together, ate together, went to school together, watched movie together and many more. Now they were all just memories, memories of someone that was never coming back.

I’d only known Hashi for about a month and I genuinely felt that he was my friend. I’d never experienced how it feels when somebody died but all I know was that it hurts.

It really hurts. I wanted to curse the world why this was happening. I hated the fact that no matter what I did, there was nothing I can do to bring him back and I absolutely hate that life was still moving as if it didn’t care that somebody actually died.

How did people get through this? How can they accept that somebody will never come back? And why the hell is the sun setting now?

These feelings were already frustrating and sorrowful but I can’t even fathom what the others were feeling especially Fuyuki.

They’re the ones that have been with Hashi the longest.

“Hashi, you see, today, I asked everyone to give you something meaningful, so you wouldn’t feel lonely here.” Fuyuki said. Her voice was already breaking. “I actually brought what you gave me during my 8th birthday,” She brought out a cat keychain. “At that time, I thought that you were weird that because I didn’t even have a key of my own but I was still thankful. I’m giving this to you to know that I’m always here.” She placed the keychain on the tombstone. She head back and I can see that she was crying.

I wanted to hug her as she cried but at the same time, I didn’t want to do that because I felt like that it wasn’t right. Instead she went to hug Merry in which Merry was surprised but nevertheless let her.

It was Kihana’s turn and she placed a flower on top of his grave. I didn’t hear what she said but she was also crying, the same as Fuyuki. And just like Fuyuki, she went to hug Merry, too. Cats must be really comforting.

It was Takana’s turn and he placed nothing on the grave. Just like Kihana, I couldn’t hear what he said but when he returned, his face was full of anger.

It was my turn and I went to his tombstone. There were a lot of things that I wanted to say to him but I only promised him that I will return someday.

“Merry, it’s your turn.” I said.

She looked a bit reluctant. I guess she was not used to this kind of things but nonetheless still went to pay her respects. As far as I knew she wasn’t close to Hashi but I wondered if she thought of him as her friend.

We said what we wanted to say. What now? Do we just leave? Just like that?

“Hashi always said we should stick together, right? And…and he also said we need to help each other, right?”

I don’t even know what I’m saying at this point. How does Hashi do it?

I tried to alleviate the depressing mood but I guess it was hard when you’re not feeling up to it. Besides, I’m not like Hashi who was great at talking to people.

Didn’t Shakna say that I’m dull? That I’m mediocre? Yeah, no way I can do what Hashi does.

Takana turned around and said “No point in staying in here.”

“What?” Fuyuki said bewilderingly. Even I was surprised.

“He’s dead. That’s all there is to it.” He started to walk.

“You stupid Takana!” Fuyuki angrily shouted.

Takana didn’t say anything back. He just kept walking on the on the path that can only be seen because of the setting sun.

I followed him, not really knowing why I followed him. I looked back to the girls, they were watching us as we walked back to town. Since Merry was there, I wasn’t really worried about anything.

We made it all the way to the tavern where we usually hang out. The place was lively as usual. Takana sat down on an open table. I also sat down in which he clicked his tongue.

“Why are you here? Don’t you know when a man wants to be alone?” Takana furrowed his brows.

”I don’t have anywhere else to go.” I said as I sighed.

“Fine.” he snapped his fingers and ordered two beers for us.

“…I don’t really drink alcohol.”

“Why are you so dumb?” he crossed his arms. “The tavern is a place where you drink alcohol, if you won’t drink it then I’ll just have it.”

I rested my elbow on the table, hanging my head on it. “Okay…but is this really the time to drink?”

He looked me as if I’m some idiot. “Of course, this is the best time to drink! Seriously, everyone in this place loves alcohol, why are you so different?”

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“I don’t really know myself.”

The two beers came and Takana took it all by himself.

“Man, this is depressing,” He said after jugging one of the alcohols. “I don’t even have a pal to share my drinks.” He said as his cheeks turned red.

“You’re already drunk after drinking one beer?”

“Yeah!” he slammed his jug on the table. “Even I’m confused. What the hell is wrong with this world and what the hell is wrong with Hashi?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why the hell did he made you the leader? It just doesn’t make sense. I was with him before you, why didn’t he made me the leader?” he said after he drank the second beer. He then snapped his finger again and ordered two more.

“Even I don’t know why it was me…”

Why did he choose me? Was it because I was the one that was seated next to him?

“Right?” he paused for a minute. “Look at you. You’re skinny and weak, why chose someone like that?”

“Well, I’m not exactly skinny.”

“Yes, you are.” he grabbed my hand and waved it. “I can break your arm with one hand.”

“Alright, alright, now stop waving my hand.” I took my hand back.

He drank his third beer. At this point, He was now swaying.

I haven’t drink before but do people really get drunk at their third jug?

“But I guess it’s not really your fault,” He said as he looked downward towards his mug. “I know to myself that I’m really dumb and full of shit. So Hashi’s decision wasn’t really stupid.”

“Is that why you were angry at his grave?”

“Angry?” I didn’t know if he was confused or what because he wasn’t even looking at me.

“I’m here,” I slapped his face.

“…Oh yeah,” it was as if he just woke up. “But no, I made that face because I promise to him that I’ll kill the one that killed him.”

I was about to say something but someone interrupted me.

“Hey, you’re the trainees from before.” The soldier that was stationed from the wall earlier said.

“Good afternoon.” I slightly bowed. If I recall, I was a bit cold to him. “Thank you for your help from before.”

“It was nothing, all in a day’s work.” He cheerfully laughed. Now I know why I was cold to him. “Anyway, how did that, you know, happened?”

We weren’t really keeping it a secret and as he helped us before, I didn’t mind telling him what happened.

“That sucks,” he said. Takana was pretty much like a lunatic right now. He was happily dancing with someone I haven’t even seen before.

I guess alcohol really makes you forget your problem, huh? No wonder people like to drink it.

“But I do know that kasak you were referring to.”

“Are you serious? Please tell me!”

He took out something from his sack. It was a paper with something written on it.

“Is this the kasak you saw?”

“It looks exactly like him!”

The art in this world is unbelievably amazing.

The tall kasak we saw with its huge ear, slender body and the curved longsword. Under the art was a name that was written ‘Bladetree’ and under the name was ‘one gold coin’.

“Why is he called Bladetree? And why is his bounty one gold coin?” I said as I looked at the wanted poster.

“Well, Bladetree is notoriously known for killing wanderers and soldiers with the extremely poisonous plant known as Herbun which is rarely found deep within Zone Three. One drop is enough to paralyze a person, two can cause hallucinations and the third or fourth drop can cause extreme severe illness or death though the effect happens after ten minutes.”

“If it took that long, why did people fell prey into them?”

“You told me they came for you after your friend died, right? That’s how their modus operandi works. Bladetree bathes his longsword with the poison and then injures the wanderers. After that, they just had to wait.”

“That does make sense but if he is infamous, how come wanderers are still getting killed by them?

“Ever since the witch was killed, you can think of this town as a starting point of a wanderer. There is only one monster that inhabits the mountain and that is the kasak. They are pretty much the weakest monster out there and thus make them a perfect target for training and battle experience. That’s why even the wanderers in this town are also amateur; obtaining the badge doesn’t make you any stronger. These wanderers often made one mistake because of their arrogance and ignorance.”

“And that is?”

“Their priest.” He looked at me in the eye. I remembered the timid girl, Kihana. “Usually, a priest here only knows one or two ability but often that doesn’t include the ability ‘Expulse’. As far as I know, it nullifies or removes negative status in a person.”

I have to tell Kihana about this. We’ll definitely need this when we fight Bladetree.

“Thank you for your help, Mr. Soldier.”

“Foulk is just fine, I’m the same age as you, you know.” he laughed. He sure was a cheerful person.

“Seriously?” he does look a bit young. “Well then, Foulk, I guess being a soldier stationed in the wall you receive a lot of information, huh?”

“Yup, so when you need something, just ask me. I’m always stationed in the wall.”

“But why?” I tilted my head. “People here usually don’t help you unless you give them money.”

“Being stationed in the gate made me realize just how many people die in that mountain. That’s why I help people by giving them information because I didn’t want them to die. It shouldn’t be weird for someone to help others, right?” he had a kind and genuine looked in his eyes.

I guess I was wrong for generalizing this world. Everyone was unique even in this world. They had their own circumstances and environment.

“Anyway, shouldn’t you be worried for your friend?” he pointed towards Takana.

If you’re wondering what Takana was doing, he was trying to kiss an old lady.

*

I supported Takana as he was very drunk from drinking four jugs of beer. He’s head was spinning as he walk drunkenly.

“Terrin, why, why did you stop me, I was about to kiss Kihana!” he said in a drunken way.

That wasn’t Kihana, Takana.

Some things are better left unsaid.

We made it into the house in the middle of the night. We went to Takana’s room which was also Hashi’s room. I laid Takana down on the bottom of the double-decked bed, not knowing if it originally belongs to him or Hashi.

I guess Takana would be alone now, huh…

I covered him with his sheet and at this point, I don’t even know what I’m doing.

I went back to my room, hoping I can get some sleep.

“Oh, you’re back.” Merry said disappointingly. She was at the top of the double-decked bed.

I can see your face, you know.

It was pleasing to know that someone was waiting for you to come home.

“That kind of hurts.” I said. I went and lay down at the bottom of the double-decked bed.

“You should’ve expected that. No slave wants their master to be back.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

I didn’t really know what we should talk about, so I went silent. Talking with Foulk made me somehow forgot about my problems. I also learn a lot about our new enemies. But somehow, I felt that there were more pressing matters.

“Merry.”

“Please, stop. I don’t want your voice to be the last thing I hear before sleeping.”

“That’s a bit cold. If you don’t want then I’ll just go to sleep, I guess.”

She sighed. “I already expended that much energy. Anyway, what is it?”

This woman…

“Do you think I’m fit to be the new leader?”

I know in myself that I don’t have the confidence and capability to become a leader. Heck, I don’t even know why I’m thinking this right now. Thinking this means I’m accepting the fact that I’ll be replacing Hashi. It just doesn’t feel right to me.

“Frankly, no. You’re slow, weak and you always get yourself injured. With what I can see, you’re like a dog that likes to follow people. Objectively, we’re destined to fail if you’re our leader.”

“Okay, okay, I get your point…”

“But…” she trailed off. “But if there’s someone I’m going to follow, I’d rather choose you than anyone else.” It was loud enough that I heard it clearly.

“W-What does that mean?” I asked her but there was no response.

I guess she slept, huh? But I didn’t expect her to say that… Okay, maybe I’ll give this a shot.

It hadn’t been even day yet since Hashi died and we were already replacing him. Was that just how the world worked?