Chapter 35 – Channels (Start)
Rumont and Yvette exited the city together.
Appleseed city’s eastern direction’s Pastor Field1 gulf, was an exceptionally delightful scenery———of course, only the Earthling Rumont saw it this way. As for the large majority of the city dwellers, Pastor Field bay was way too shallow. So much that comparatively larger boats wouldn’t be able to enter it. Also, when the climate was once again the summer period with the excessive rains, the moist sea winds would supply Appleseed city great copious amounts of rainwater. To the residents of Appleseed city, it was at this time when the seafood on the dining table would cause them to think of the beach.
Currently, Rumont and Yvette followed along the small road between the groves. After passing through some up and down hills, the pair arrived at Pastor Field gulf.
Rumont was quite fond of this place. An exquisite white sandy beach, the light blue skies and deep blue ocean waters enhancing each other’s beauty. The ocean waves crashed along the coastal reefs, producing a huahua2 crashing sound. As for the often calling seagulls, it fitted in with harmony; at the extreme end of one’s vision, the horizon had white specks of fishing sails.
“I almost thought that I had returned back to Earth.“ Rumont deeply breathed in, as his mind thought. The air had a salty taste brought by the ocean winds, causing people’s spirits to lift.
Yvette did not at all understand the whatever reason Rumont was so fond of this place, however, from the several years of entertaining the crowds, she really did have a favourable impression of Rumont. She enjoyed watching Rumont’s figure standing by the beach. She always thought: this youth in front of me isn’t that old of a man, but acts like a matured man with a past.
Furthermore, there was still a very strong potential.
“Rumont,” Yvette opened her mouth, “the affairs of the Black Market, I’ve asked daddy about it. However, you need to tell me. Why did you inquire about all of this?” her voice was a touch nervous. If Rumont didn’t speak out a satisfying reason; then she wouldn’t speak about the obtained information out.
The Black Market matter, in fact, a majority of Adventurers would make contact with it. Just think about it, two squadrons of Adventurers encountered each other in the jungle, because of some reason they fought. Eventually, one of the squads attains victory. The winners would obviously obtain the advantage of spending the belongings of the defeated; as to make use of these belongings. It would then be absolutely necessary to request the help of a Black Market.
However, speaking of Rumont, because his belongings had came from some group of Thieves, in that case, those channels that were generally presided by the Thieves in the Black Market, couldn’t be trusted in anyway.
Therefore, a Rank 5 Warrior and a former Adventurer, the current boss of a pub should be able to access some other different channel. Even if they couldn’t, Rumont could still go ask Mage Alex, or perhaps converse about with another caravan; it would eventually be possible to find a way. Certainly though, being able to obtain the information from the mouth of the current loveable Yvette would be the best possible outcome.
“Yvette, it’s cause you’re concerned for me right?” a smiling intent floated within Rumont’s eyes.
Yvette beautifully blushed, she brushed off Rumont’s hand, turning her body away: “others are concerned.”
The bashful girl would often care about her own aloofness, however in a flash, she was smiling again while sizing up Rumont, noticing his age: “who’s the one that’s actually blushing huh. Little Ruddy3.”
Seeing Yvette’s incessant excitement, Rumont didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Although his soul was transferred to this youth, currently though, his age was 16 years, compared to her it was still younger by a year; it really was too young.
“Yvette, we’re still talking about serious things. It’s like this……” Rumont told her in a low voice the events back at Ricca town, where Tax Officer Barcas utilized Thieves to frame him, together with his counterattack; obtaining a pile of goods. Even the jealousy of Priest Dennis was told.
The horizon from the beach was extremely wide and empty, with the huhu of the wintry sea breezes on top of it, Rumont was not at all worried about what he said being leaked out.
“Rumont……” the maiden finished listening to Rumont’s account, was silent with nothing to say.
The huhu sounds of the wintry sea breezes, the ocean sprays broke down into fine mists. The pair at the beach, their thoughts were both endlessly chaotic.
“Rumont……” Yvette’s voice aroused him amidst his contemplation.
“The business of the Black Market is like this……”
From amidst Yvette’s narrative whisperings, Rumont came to understand a rough outline of his affairs: Old Waylon, as expected, grasped a certain Black Market channel. Even more crucial was that this channel had none whatsoever relationship with Thieves. Instead, it was part of another even more secretive organization; it was only natural that Yvette was not at all too clear towards this. However, Rumont was able to, from her bit by bit narration, deduce this point. Merely, there were still 2 problems to solve. One, was that the Black Market that Yvette spoke about was held once a month, this month’s had already passed; needing to wait for next month’s convention.
The other one, was that the transactions at the Black Market required another’s recommendation. Old Waylon did indeed possess this qualification, only, he was afraid the commodities he put forth at the place wouldn’t sell. At the time he ransacked the Thieves Guild, a large amount of money was obtained. The goods had included 10 rolls of new cloth, 6 sharp newly made dagger, 5 leather pouches, a set of elementary Thief skill book, an expert’s scroll on toxins, a small case filled with various kinds of toxins, as well as tools to specifically pry open locks.
Rumont scratched his head: luckily there was still almost a whole month’s worth of time to plan and prepare. Entering the market and selling goods would take a bit of effort on this person who had passed-through.
“Yvette, let’s practice our sword work.” Rumont thought the Black Market matter could again be planned when he returned. Currently, it would be better to have a round with Yvette, to improve his mood by venting off.
Yvette, hearing those words spoken by Rumont, laughed and patted her longsword by her waist: “Rumont, don’t snivel if you lose.”
Yvette’s eyes were delicate and wide, it was exactly what the ancient Chinese referred as “phoenix eyes”. Her smile, even though it was of a 17 18 year olds, it still had a peculiar type of charm.
“Yvette, have you ever seen me cry before.” Rumont laughed, drawing out his sword. “Shua Shua” the air was filled with several strikes, a swordsman’s salute was conducted with a solemn and respectful look.
Yvette restrained a smiling expression, as the sword salute was returned.
“Ding!” the duo’s longswords lightly touched before parting.
Yvette settled her sword in an upright position, nodding her head to Rumont indicating that he could attack first.
Rumont took a deep breath in, advancing his foot a step forward like a gale, positioning his sword in a general horizontal position against his heart. Shouting at the same time in a loud voice: “Ha!”
Yvette however did not move. Rumont’s longsword was like a sharp arrow, arriving like lightning.
“Ha! “ Rumont’s eyes had a thread of hesitation, calling once again in a loud voice, he shook his wrist, his longsword was like the common quick snake, overturning its own body.
Yvette’s face suddenly showed a smiling expression that could shake one’s core, it was at that moment where it was impossible to act, she evaded a few steps to the left. Afterwards, she lifted her sword that she grasped in her right hand up. What she had unexpectedly done was use the sword’s blade and blocked it against Rumont’s sword point. “Ha! “ Yvette’s voice resounded, turning her waist, she raised her left hand, forming the shape of a blade.
Rumont swung his head. Yvette’s hand blade which had aimed at the throat still scraped against the right side of his neck. Rumont felt a burst of dizziness, and retreated a step. His offense was disrupted quickly.
“Rumont, you hesitated just then eh.” Yvette smiled, placing the long sword back into the sheath.
Rumont came to a halt, rolling his eyes: you just stood there not moving at all, wouldn’t I be afraid of hurting you?
Yvette seemed to understand what he was thinking, giggling she approached to give him a kiss: “I know that you were anxious about me right. Merely, with your level as a Warrior, how are you going to get a hold of me, a Rank 4 Warrior?”
“Yvette, you advanced in Rank?” Rumont was pleasantly surprised as he spoke.
“I competed with my father yesterday, he said that I had the standard of a Rank 4 heh. Only, I didn’t go to the Warriors Guild to get it officially checked out.” Yvette closed her eyes in a happy manner: “heh also, you don’t have to patronize me, I can see that your current aptitude has roughly reached that of a Rank 2 Warrior.”
“Yeap.” Rumont looked her in the eyes and said, “without the loveable Yvette as my teacher, my sparring partner and guiding me through, how would I have improved so quickly.”
This was the truth, Yvette did not hold back a single trick at all when she instructed him in the teachings of martial skills. At Rank 4 and below, the body’s responses were extremely important. Equally as significant were the movements of footwork. These things couldn’t rely solely on a master to explain with words. An area that was inadequately formed would have erroneous habits; correcting them at a later date would be difficult. These things couldn’t be learnt just from reading books.
In short, Yvette was an even more conscientious teacher than Lieutenant Richard.
“Rumont, you don’t need to be proud about your thrust just then. Let me tell you something, first, your footwork is still too wasteful……” Yvette deliberately put on a wooden face as she explained.
Rumont immediately listened in earnest to Yvette’s accord of the sparring.
Yvette also gradually began to genuinely treat it more seriously.
Two people, one taught, one learnt. The time could be said to have passed flying by.
Underneath the setting sun, Rumont was covered in a layer of gold while practicing with great effort those few thrusting attacks taught to him the day before; under the casted shadow where the sunlight did not reach his nose, this boy already had the vestiges of a real man’s charisma.
Yvette felt a bit foolish of a sudden, she reached out her hand to pull back a messy lock of hair blown by the wind, thinking: if at the time, when she noticed him back at the bar was still due to a type of curiosity, then currently, he had really moved her because of his current meticulous manner of practicing martial arts.
Originally it was just an agreement for being a training partner in a fun type of way, but he was seriously enthusiastic; the manner seemed as if he was pursuing the way of a Warrior hereafter. A Druid was perhaps better regarded as half a caster, yet the Druid apprentices within the city still by far preferred magic even more.
Yvette once again thought about the evaluation of Rumont her father gave: “this kid Rumont, could perhaps do well seriously as a Druid. You must know though, a Druid isn’t solely about servicing the medicinal land herbs and agricultural plants.”
“Go home Rumont ah, we’ll finish up here today.” Yvette yelled out tenderly.
Rumont retrieved his sword, conducting a salute towards Yvette: “thank you, Master.”
The pair laughed, basked in the golden red sunset they returned to Appleseed city.
“Rumont……”
“Mm?”
“Miss Eleni……I mean, your town’s Miss Eleni, she must be really pretty and a really good person right?”
Experiencing the vague emotions from the sudden phrase, Rumont at once felt tingling sensations on his scalp.
1. [帕斯特菲爾德 – Pa Si Te Fei Er De]↩
2. [嘩嘩 ]↩
3. [羅蒙小弟弟 – someone an Onee-san would be saying >_>]↩
Bo~ 