A Mythical Journey To Remember - Chapter 30

Chapter 30 - Bruiser

"This is supposed to be a big port. What kind of business are you running here?" I frowned at the captain, growing increasingly frustrated. This was the eighth guy I had spoken to, and he said there were no ships sailing anytime soon.

"The ships are under repair," the captain explained with a nonchalant look.

Taking a deep breath, I calmed down my emotions and forced a smile onto my face. "Thanks for your time," I replied politely.

With that said, I turned around and left. As I walked away, every pore of my being was filled with anger, anxiety, and fear.

It wasn't a coincidence that no ship could leave; there was something involved here. If I were a betting man—which I am—I would wager that the monster was involved. The creature possessed enough intelligence to understand that if news of its existence spread, it would be in serious danger.

Still, it puzzled me why the monster didn't sink the boats. Perhaps it was concerned about cornering some merchants and putting them out of business. But why would someone like that care about the city's economic state?

As I contemplated these questions, the thought occurred to me that the monster might be someone powerful who wanted the city to prosper, like the king. After all, he was sick, so maybe he resorted to taboo practices in an attempt to extend his life. He might be Herakles' foster father, but I didn't know much about him. It was possible that he was a deranged man longing for immortality.

Regardless of the situation, I realized that complaining about it for longer wouldn't change anything. Instead, I needed to protect myself from a monster like that. Joining the guards to confront the monster directly was not something I was brave or suicidal enough to attempt. Still, being completely passive and letting events unfold without involvement would also be dangerous. This dangerous situation could easily turn bad for me too.

One idea that crossed my mind was offering healing potions as a means of assistance. I could even adopt a secret identity for this purpose. But as soon as the idea emerged, I dismissed it. Even with a monster on the loose, I shouldn't underestimate people's greed. The people in this city were not as trustworthy to me as the villagers who knew me my whole life.

Moreover, the monster was intelligent. If it discovered that I was supplying its enemies with healing potions, it could turn against me. Even in these dire times, the MMORPG rule of "kill the healer first" might still apply.

Choosing not to get involved was also an option, but I couldn't know where that would lead. Would the city be filled with vampire servants? Of course, that assumption relied on the belief that the monster was truly a vampire. Because in Greek Myth, there were many things much worse than vampires.

If I ended up dead simply because I sat on my ass and didn't intervene, I couldn't die a peaceful death. I had already spent more than enough time being idle in my previous life. With a mythological world to explore, I couldn't stay inactive.

With my mind now made up, I had one final drink with Budas and Auto. Afterward, I went to the palace located in the corner of the city. Before I could even approach, two gate guards intercepted me.

"What are you doing here, civilian?" inquired the first guard.

"The king isn't receiving any visitors at the moment. If you have a complaint or dispute, consult your local lawman," the other guard explained.

They appeared average, and I couldn't judge them solely by their appearance. So, I remained cautious and raised my arms. "Excuse me, fellow men. I am a newcomer to this city, and upon hearing about the monster, I want to enlist in the army."

Hopefully, that sounded heroic enough. C'mon now, I was the perfect naive prospect with a heroic heart. There was no need to be suspicious of me.

One of them frowned. "You look too young. Lady Camilla prohibits youngsters from joining."

Oh? It seemed that the lion-killer girl had a soft heart, which was quite rare in these times. People my age were typically considered adults. Also, what the fuck? Why did I have to encounter someone with a kind heart to make things inconvenient? In these times someone with power who was an ethical person was rarer than finding a needle in a hay bale.

"I'm not joining as a guard. Just look at these scrawny arms; I can barely lift a table," I joked, but the guards didn't seem amused and maintained their expressionless faces, so I clarified. "No, I plan to join as a medic."

They exchanged glances and communicated silently. Finally, one of them turned to me and said, "I will escort you to the guard quarters, where Lady Camilla will decide if you're trustworthy enough to join."

The guard barracks were situated within the palace, which felt like a whole different city exclusive to the rich and powerful. Guards were stationed at every corner, and pairs patrolled the perimeter along every wall.

Sneaking in and out of this place would be impossible. If I needed to escape, the most reliable plan I could come up with was to use transmutation and escape underground. However, that would require an excessive amount of Kar and would be almost impossible to accomplish. So, the best option was to avoid offending anyone important.

The guard barracks stood in stark contrast to the rest of the palace. While the surrounding buildings were adorned with marble, the barracks were constructed with stone bricks, resembling a three-story tower.

Once inside, I stood out like a sore thumb as the only one without a uniform. If I needed to escape, the most effective strategy would be to disguise myself as one of the nobles.

With thoughts of escape in case of danger running through my mind, I was escorted to a solitary office. The guard knocked a few times before entering, revealing a peculiar scene that left the guard unfazed.

Camilla, the woman renowned for slaying a fierce lion in three attacks, lay on the ground beneath a pile of paperwork. The room, unexpectedly, didn't smell of paper but rather an overpowering fragrance. Each breath left an aftertaste of perfume on the back of my throat.

She glanced toward me and sighed. "If you have more paperwork, I will kill you, and then kill myself. A life dedicated solely to paperwork isn't worth living!"

The image I had of her as an elegant and strong woman was shattered at that moment.

"No, Lady Camilla, he's here to join us as a medic," the accompanying guard explained. He didn't linger around and after patting my shoulder, he exited the room, closing the door behind him.

I stared at the woman as she snuggled amidst the papers, throwing a silent tantrum. She neglected her work, knowing that she would have to finish the paperwork later. She seemed somewhat childish.

But there was no way I would call her out on her behavior. I valued my life too much.

"So, tell me your name and something about yourself," she said.

"I'm Idas, and... I suppose I enjoy indulging in good food," I replied, uncertain how to answer. Her continued presence below, staring at me, proved to be quite distracting.

"Do you have a dream, Idas?" she inquired, her eyes had a knowing look on them as if she could see through lies.

I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't one of those simple questions you'd find on a job application. Depending on my response, it seemed like it would have far-reaching implications.

My knowledge of ancient politics amounted to a mere familiarity with Game of Thrones. In other words, I knew next to nothing.

Despite her demeanor, Camilla had been immersed in these politics since a young age, making it impossible for me to outmaneuver her. However, I wasn't foolish enough to believe that divulging my goals would be a wise decision. Nor did I want to provide any hints, as it would render me predictable.

With a bit of investigation, she might discover my quest for a boat to Athens. Still, she wouldn't know why I wanted to go there.

"Are you going to answer or not?" she asked. Her face filled with confusion.

Screw it, I shouldn't overthink things like this!

"I want a harem full of beautiful women, and so much gold that I could drown on," I stated, and tried to keep my expression even and not show anything.

In truth, the idea of a harem didn't particularly appeal to me; they were overrated and excessive. Besides, if the Gods truly existed in this realm, it would be a missed opportunity not to pursue a goddess for myself. Well, I should at least try, even if it meant facing potential death... If I survived, a simple village girl would suffice.

Actually, upon further reflection, a village girl seemed far less troublesome than a goddess. The involvement of a deity would only increase the likelihood of a disastrous fate through a single argument.

Hence, it dawned on me that a Goddess was not what I truly desired. The risks were simply too high.

Ultimately, women could depart or even harm me, but alchemy would forever remain by my side. Instead of wasting time pursuing women, I should study new alchemical formulas. Moreover, I wanted to test Transmutation limits. Who needed real women when I could have a homunculus?

Okay, that sounded like something someone unhinged would say. Better not say them out loud or people would start thinking I was some kind of insane scientist.

Camilla took a piece of paper and, using an ink feather, began writing. She glanced at me and grinned. "I just wrote down a reminder to include 'pervert' in your military registry."

I stared at her, taken aback by her unprofessional comment.

"That's a joke," she said with a chuckle. "The younger generation nowadays lacks the ability to appreciate one."

"When will I begin my assignment?" I inquired. We were about to confront a mass murderer, possibly a literal monster. Bantering with her seemed ill-suited considering our limited acquaintance.

Perhaps, once I became better acquainted with her and felt assured that she wouldn't tear my head off after a jest...

"Your assignment starts tonight," she replied. "Inform your family, friends, or girlfriend... Oh, I can tell you don't have one. Simply inform those closest to you that you'll be staying overnight here, awaiting patients."

I nodded, disregarding her comment about my single status. She was right; there was no need to argue about the obvious."

...

My first night in the guard's tower arrived unexpectedly, catching me off guard. The once bustling building, which had been teeming with activity upon my arrival, now felt eerily empty, with only a few remaining guards, including myself, on duty.

Although I wasn't engaged in the grand task of brewing healing potions, I found myself intrigued by the command line's functioning in these this time. Contrary to common assumptions, including my own, the military seemed to have a well-defined chain of command and followed orders dutifully. Having a commander who could snap your head off with her bare hands likely played a significant role in maintaining discipline.

Two guards occupied themselves with a game of dominoes, while I observed from the sidelines. They had kindly invited me to join, but being my first night, I opted to remain vigilant and politely declined.

"Oh, shit! We forgot to feed that bastard," exclaimed one of the guards, his eyes widening in realization. The other guard, understanding what he meant by that, sighed.

"Bastard?" I inquired.

"Below this building, there are cells where we keep important prisoners. Nobles, wealthy merchants, and the like. Nowadays, they're mostly empty, except for one person—the former leader of the guards," the other guard explained.

"Whatever. He's a traitorous bastard who collaborated with the enemy and refuses to reveal their plans," grumbled the chubby guard. "He can go without food for a day or two. It's just retribution for the lives lost."

Their indifference was reckless, and not to mention very unprofessional.

"I'll go and feed him then. Just let me know where to find food," I offered.

They gave me directions to the pantry and provided instructions on preparing a simple porridge with the available ingredients. Following their advice, I went downstairs, entering an empty hallway.

The dimly lit corridor had only a couple of flickering torches, and the rows of cells seemed endless, creating an illusion of never-ending confinement. It sent a shiver down my spine. As the guards had mentioned, the cells were mostly vacant. However, the walls bore scratches, dried blood stained the ground, and a putrid sewer-like stench permeated the air.

It was no wonder the guards avoided this place.

With a torch in one hand and a tray of food in the other, I proceeded cautiously. The eerie silence intensified my apprehension. Although the prisoner remained confined, I gripped my spear, prepared to drop the tray and defend myself if necessary. A sword would be more practical in this narrow hallway.

The guards had directed me to locate the eighteenth cell on the left. After a short walk, I finally reached the designated cell. At first glance, it appeared empty like the others. However, as I brought the torch closer, a gaunt figure came into view, huddled in the corner.