Black Cat Chapter 68: Market

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 Immediately after parrying the staff strike, I ducked a spinning kick that came at me with the wind in my face by backstepping just in time.

 

 The backward kick of the further pursuit snatched my ear that I ducked.

 

 

“That was close…” (Nyango)

 

“You dodge this too… pretty much…” (Shure)

 

 

 The morning after our meeting off at the base, I’m immediately engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with Shure.

 

 The staff I am holding is a shortened version of the one Kevin used.

 

 

 The staff that Shure is holding was originally used by Kevin.

 

 The front yard of the base was muddy from yesterday’s rain, but we were able to hold the hand-to-hand combat without any problems because I was using void magic to create footholds.

 

 

 I think Shure probably hasn’t even put out half of what she’s capable of yet, but I was on the defensive and couldn’t even find an opening to attack.

 

 If I had to describe Shure in one word, it would be “very dangerous footwork”.

 

 

 There was no sound, no preliminary movements, the distance vanished, and an ever-changing kick came from an unexpected direction at an unexpected distance.

 

 No matter how small a catkin’s body was, I never expected that the kick I thought was coming as a leg sweep would leap up toward my head the next moment.

 

 

 Shure was holding back, so I just barely managed to avoid it, but if she had been serious, I would have been kicked away like a soccer ball.

 

 

“Nyango, you can use your magic.” (Shure)

 

 

 I responded to Shure’s words with a small shake of my head.

 

 

“Nyango is stubborn… but that’s good.” (Shure)

 

“Meow!” (Nyango)

 

 

 Just after her words ended, Shure’s front kick was thrust out like a spear, and with the momentum of the kick, she stepped forward and a knee kick was coming at him.

 

 As I dodged the knee kick just in time and tried to jump closer, I was hit by a downward swing of the staff, followed by another front kick.

 

 

 It was as if I was dealing with a small tornado, and my whiskers kept twitching.

 

 The staff in my hand was too busy parrying Shure’s attacks, and I had no time to unleash either a thrust or a cleave.

 

 

“Take this… Meow!” (Nyango)

 

 

 The staff caught a front kick that I couldn’t evade, but I was kicked away without being able to decrease the force of the kick.

 

 I rolled over in a ball and tried to get up quickly, but Shure’s staff was at my throat.

 

 

“I give up.” (Nyango)

 

“Fufu, now I have the right to sleep with Nyango tonight as well…” (Shure)

 

“Meow! I don’t remember making such a bet…” (Nyango)

 

“Losers follow winners…” (Shure)

 

“Gnuu…” (Nyango)

 

 

 Last night, although I enjoyed the bath alone, I was captured in the middle of getting ready for bed and brought into Shure’s bed.

 

 The bedding was damp, the dust mite powder smelled funny, and I had to spend a very disorganized night.

 

 

 I washed the sheets as soon as I woke up and spread the futon out on the roof to dry, but I’d rather sleep alone tonight if possible.

 

 I’d rather go out and buy my own futon.

 

 

“You guys are so energetic in the morning…” (Serge)

 

 

 Serge, yawning loudly, peeked out of the first-floor window.

 

 I’m sure he didn’t drink too much last night, but he still looks as if he hasn’t slept enough.

 

 

“Serge, you smell like an old man…” (Shure)

 

“Hey! Nyango, let’s go buy breakfast.” (Serge)

 

“Yes, I’ll go get ready.” (Nyango)

 

 

 I use [Step] to get up to the roof and enter the attic through the skylight, which I left open to let the humidity out.

 

 I wiped off my sweat, changed my clothes, put on my backpack, and jumped out through the skylight.

 

 On the way, I land in the front yard, killing my momentum with [Step].

 

 

“Your agility puts monkeys to shame.” (Serge)

 

“If you ask him to do something like a night raid, I don’t think there are many people who can match Nyango.” (Shure)

 

“It’s true if he wears black clothes, he won’t stand out at night.” (Serge)

 

 

 I don’t know if there are any requests for night raids, but it looks cool, like a spy or an agent.

 

 If I had the chance, I would love to do it.

 

 

 Serge took me to a market on the main street.

 

 The warehouse district where our base is located is a bit far from the market, so there are various goods for people living in this area.

 

 

 We stocked up on bread, milk, eggs, cheese, bacon, sausages, leafy greens, and wine.

 

 This is enough food for two days for Chariot’s members, but for four large adventurers plus me it’s still a lot of food.

 

 

“I’m sorry. I should have brought Laius with us.” (Serge)

 

“I can carry it, so it’s fine.” (Nyango)

 

 

 I put the items I bought on a cart that I made with void magic and pushed it along.

 

 

“I did not know you can even do that. Nyango, you are too convenient.” (Serge)

 

“If you are a big person, you can carry it on your back or with both hands, so this is not surprising.” (Nyango)

 

“Don’t be silly. If it wasn’t a surprise, people wouldn’t pay so much attention to it.” (Serge)

 

 

 It is true that people passing by look back in surprise, but that is probably due to the fact that the groceries are floating in the air.

 

 The reason why people are surprised is because of the unusualness, but the number of things I am carrying is not that much to be surprised.

 

 

 Well, if I get serious, I can carry an entire orc.

 

 The day will come when I will show my real strength, and I will surprise you.

 

 

“Thief! Thief, someone catch him!” (Voice)

 

 

 I had just left the market after settling my account and started walking toward my base when I heard a loud voice behind me.

 

 I turned around to see a deerkin shopkeeper had just run out of the market.

 

 

 Ahead of him, a dirty catkin was running with his hands full of bread.

 

 I deployed my [Shield] and almost tried to block the front, but I couldn’t.

 

 

 The catkin carrying the stolen bread jumped into the narrow gap between the buildings where the deerkin couldn’t enter, and ran away.

 

 Turning our backs to the frustrated deerkin, I pushed the cart toward the base.

 

 

 We turned down the street toward the base, and just as we were out of sight of the market, Serge spoke to me.

 

 

“Do you know him?” (Serge)

 

“I don’t understand… Well, probably…” (Nyango)

 

 

 He was dirty and thin, but he was probably my second brother, Fawkes, who had left home in the spring.

 

 I had been concerned because the snow had melted late this year and he had left late for Ibouro, but since I hadn’t heard from him or seen him back in Atsuka, I assumed he was busy working.

 

 

“There’s a slum in the other direction. I guess he lives in the slums because he looked very dirty.” (Serge)

 

 

 Serge, an archer, had a good eye, even though he had only seen him for a short time.

 

 

“It’s not safe there, is it?” (Nyango)

 

“Well, to put it mildly, it’s the worst. If a decently dressed person enters carelessly, it’ll be not unusual if their clothes are peeled off even their lives might be taken. I’m warning you, stay away from the place. Listen, this is not a joke. Stay away from the place.” (Serge)

 

 

 Serge reminded me again and again, sticking his right index finger up to his nose.

 

 Serge’s steadfastness compelled me to nod.

 

 

“If you want to find that guy, you’ll have to catch him as he comes out of the slums. You may think the odds are against you, but if you have a connection, you have a chance. Remember, never set foot in there yourself.” (Serge)

 

“I understand.” (Nyango)

 

 

 

 I’m sure Serge, who usually seems so flirtatious, has a good reason for being so serious.

 

 And I may have been mistaken in thinking that he looked like my brother, and it could have been somebody else.

 

 

 In any case, this is not a place I would carelessly approach, so I’ll have to gather more information.

 

 The cart, which had been light a moment ago, felt unusually heavy.

 

 

 Back at the base, Serge started to cook breakfast with the ingredients we had bought.

 

 Gad cut the bread, and Laius brewed a pot of Calfe.

 

 

“Shure, pour me some milk, the cups are on that shelf over there. Nyango, get that plate over there.” (Serge)

 

 

 Serge, Gad, and Laius are all preparing quickly and efficiently with familiar hands.

 

 I wish my father and brother at home, who do not do any housework at all, could learn from them.

 

 

 This morning’s menu consisted of a fried egg, a thick slice of fried bacon, daikon radish sticks, carrots, cucumbers, bread with cheese, milk, and Calfe.

 

 There is no dressing for the vegetables, the fried eggs have pieces of shells mixed in, it’s a very rough man’s cooking, but the bacon is sprinkled with pepper, and there is a strange sense of attention to detail.

 

 

“Yummeow! This bacon is yummeow!” (Nyango)

 

“Well, the bacon at that market is delicious.” (Serge)

 

 

 The surface of the bacon is crispy, but when you bite into it, the fat that has been melted by the heat seeps out.

 

 The sweetness of the fat, the flavor of the smoked meat, and the aroma of pepper combine to spread in your mouth.

 

 

“Yummeow! And if you add cheese, even more, yummeow!” (Nyango)

 

“I’ll let you eat this much anytime you want, so shut up and eat.” (Serge)

 

“Fufu, eating with Nyango is yummeow…” (Shure)

 

 

 The bread and milk are much tastier than the ones we had in Atsuka village.

 Since I was hungry after working with Shure in the morning, it must have tasted even better.

 

 

 Dealing with tough opponents, shopping at the market, eating a delicious breakfast… If it weren’t for the commotion of the catkin thief, this would be a great start of the day, but the gaunt and dirty profile of the catkin is in my mind, casting a dark shadow over my heart.

 

 

 

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