Kano wandered through narrow stone alleyways. The walls around him shimmered with gold—every door, arch, and lantern gleamed with the precious metal. It was a city buried deep beneath a mountain, lit only by the dim glow of floating magic crystals that hovered above like artificial stars. The air pulsed with the rhythmic clang of hammers striking metal, mingling with the sharp scent of molten gold. Dwarves bustled in every direction: blacksmiths hawked their weapons, traders bartered over gems, and children played by fountains sculpted entirely from pure gold.
But what drew Kano in most was a dark tunnel at the heart of the city. He stepped closer, peering into the shadows—and there they were. Boots. Enormous boots, crafted from red dragon scale, with metallic inlays glowing faintly crimson. He reached out to touch them. The moment his fingers were about to brush the surface, everything vanished.
Kano gasped and jolted upright. Cold stone pressed against his back. He wasn't in the dream anymore. Instead, he was lying on the floor beside the bed he was supposed to sleep in—where Elgot had sprawled out instead, still clutching an almost-empty bottle of wine.
"What the...?" Kano grumbled, pushing himself up. Scowling, he turned to the mage and barked, "Master! Get up, it's time for training! I've been waiting for an hour!"
Elgot flinched at the yell, rubbing his temples.
"Why are you shouting, you idiot? My head is splitting. Shut up already!"
Kano noticed the mage visibly wincing from his voice. He grinned inwardly and pressed on.
"Mentor, when are we going on real adventures? You promised you'd make me stronger!"
"Oh, my aching skull... Will you just stop talking?" Elgot groaned, shaking the bottle. Finding a last sip inside, he eagerly raised it to his lips.
Kano's voice cut through the air again.
"Master! I want to become stronger than you! Help me do it!"
Elgot froze with the bottle in mid-air. A twitch ran down his eye. He lowered the bottle slowly, set it on the table, raised a finger and said:
"If you don't shut up, I'll turn you into a toad. You'll spend your life gulping mosquitoes in a swamp instead of surpassing me. Got it?"
Kano nodded without a word, but inside, he celebrated a tiny victory. The mage was clearly suffering—and it was all thanks to him.
Elgot slumped at the table, eyeing the bottle in silence.
Do I finish this divine wine... or train this disaster of a boy? Hmph. I'll bring it along. It'll help me cope with his idiocy.
He shoved the bottle into his bag and declared, "The coliseum's off-limits. We're training outside the city."
Kano paled.
"But there are monsters out there!" he cried. Instantly, his mind summoned the horrifying image of the half-boar, half-rhino beast that a beastman had once dragged into the guild hall.
Seeing the horror on Kano's face, Elgot waved him off.
"Relax. I'll be there."
He took another sip and added nonchalantly, "If things go south, just fire up your flame magic and scare the hell out of everything."
Kano muttered under his breath, "I'm definitely gonna die. Some monster'll eat me while you lie somewhere passed out drunk."
A knock at the door interrupted them. Naira peeked in playfully.
"Are you two awake already?"
Elgot turned to her and casually remarked, "Corset again today, huh?"
Kano dropped his gaze to the floor. Naira blushed furiously, her cheeks turning crimson.
"Perverts!" she shrieked, covering her chest with her arms as she stormed out of the room.
Kano looked at the mage, disapproving.
"Why would you say that?"
Elgot sighed.
"It's fine, kid. That's just how orcs are. They flaunt their bodies, their muscles, their strength. The women? They flaunt their curves. That's why they always wear clothes that, well… emphasize. You'll get used to it."
A few moments passed in silence. Then Elgot glanced at Kano.
"So... you remember what happened yesterday?"
Kano nodded slowly, his voice distant with thought.
"I remember conjuring a flame in my left hand," Kano said quietly. "And I remember getting angry at you. Then… I lost control."
"That's it?" the mage asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
Kano sighed, hesitated for a beat, then added, "I saw a strange vision. But it was probably just nonsense."
Elgot took a small sip of wine and waved his hand.
"Come on, spill it."
Kano described the bizarre underground city—the dwarves rushing about, selling weapons and gold, everything glittering, and the boots lying in the dark tunnel that looked eerily similar to his helmet.
Elgot frowned, muttering to himself.
"Dwarves... Dwarves... Dwarves..."
Suddenly, he stood up sharply, grabbed his bag, and headed for the door.
"Let's go, kid. We've got work to do."
A cozy bakery nestled in a quiet corner of the city filled the air with the scent of freshly baked bread. The shopkeeper, a lively but stern older woman, was arranging golden-crusted rolls on the shelves. Her hands moved with confidence, and her sharp eyes scanned every customer as if she could see straight into their souls.
The doorbell gave a cheerful jingle as Kano and Elgot stepped inside. The mage radiated confidence, his long cloak trailing behind him, and his smile was so warm, it could have melted even the frostiest heart.
"Good day, ma'am," Elgot greeted her with feigned cheer. "Two loaves of bread, please."
The woman turned abruptly. Her eyes narrowed, her face curled into a sly grin.
"Well, well, the most powerful mage of all time! Good day to you. You want two loaves… or maybe you'd like to finally pay back the debt you've owed me for half a year?"
Elgot froze. The smile dropped from his face. His hand drifted awkwardly to scratch the back of his neck.
"I… I swear I'll pay you back. Every coin. Mage's honor."
The old woman gasped theatrically, then burst out laughing—so loudly that several people in line turned to stare.
"Mage's honor! Oh, your elven life is long indeed. You'll outlive generations of men. But me? I'd quite like to see my money before I die!"
Elgot, desperate, raised a finger as if struck by sudden genius.
"Lenor—the Guildmaster—he promised to cover all my debts!"
The woman's eyes lit up with a dangerous smile.
"Did he now? How wonderful!"
But when Elgot dared ask again if she'd still give them the bread, her tone dropped cold as iron.
"Of course not. First the coin—then the loaf."
With a defeated sigh, Elgot waved at Kano.
"Come on, kid. We're not getting anything here."
Outside the city gates, they spotted a gentle stream glinting in the distance. It trickled past the hills, winding between grassy banks and trees that swayed softly in the wind. Kano paused at the top of the hill, breathing in the cool air, feeling just a little more at peace.
Elgot pointed toward the stream.
"Right here. Your first monster training ground."
"Monsters?" Kano asked, visibly uneasy.
Elgot roared with laughter, clutching his stomach.
"Yes, monsters! Don't worry, I'm with you."
Seeing the boy's pale face, Elgot muttered,
"You've got your helmet. Now you need a weapon. Wait here."
He wandered off into the woods to find a stick, leaving Kano alone by the stream. The boy stood nervously, scanning the grass and shoreline, hoping nothing horrifying would leap out at him.
Then, from between the trees, Naira appeared. Her warm smile and graceful stride immediately dissolved the tension in the air. She carried a basket in her arms.
"Hi," she said gently. "I came to make sure you two are okay."
From the basket, she pulled out a few mana potions and a fish sandwich.
"This is for you, Kano."
Kano bowed low, feeling a lump of gratitude rise in his throat.
"Thank you, Naira. You're an angel."
Just as they were speaking, Elgot returned with a long branch in hand. Spotting Kano chatting with the girl, the mage frowned.
"You here to help us practice untying knots?" he teased.
Naira's face turned red. She spun on her heel and rushed back toward the city.
Kano turned on the mage in frustration.
"When are you going to stop embarrassing me?!"
Elgot pretended nothing had happened and handed him the stick.
"Enough chatting with girls. Let's train."
They walked along the stream until they came across a cluster of slimes. They bounced lazily, like oversized blobs of jelly, their translucent bodies shimmering in the sunlight.
"What… are those?" Kano asked, incredulous.
"Slimes," Elgot explained. "Weakest monsters around. People kill them to gain experience and sharpen their skills."
Kano raised his stick, ready to strike—but paused.
"They don't even look dangerous," he said uncertainly.
Elgot watched him thoughtfully. Then a sly grin spread across his face.
"Tell me, Kano," he whispered, "do you know who falls prey to monsters like these?"
Kano blinked.
"Who?"
Elgot answered with a heavy, theatrical sigh.
"Beautiful girls, Kano. Picture it: these slimes ambush them by the stream, drenching them in goo, teasing them with sticky tendrils, dissolving their clothes bit by bit..."
Kano's eyes widened. The image struck like lightning: flustered girls fleeing back to town, crimson with shame. His fists clenched in righteous fury.
As if discovering the greatest enemy of his life, he shouted,
"That's horrible! I'll destroy them all!"
With a cry of pure determination, Kano charged the slimes. His strikes were fierce, fast, precise—like a warrior who had battled monsters for years. His body moved on instinct, every blow a declaration of war.
Elgot, satisfied with the success of his scheme, settled comfortably on the bank. He pulled out the sandwich Naira had brought and wolfed it down, glancing around guiltily to make sure no one saw. He drained the last of his wine and lay back on the grass.
Smirking to himself, he thought,
When he comes back asking about the sandwich, I'll come up with something...
Kano returned, dragging his feet. His shirt was soaked with sweat, his face smudged with dirt and streaks of slime. He trailed the training stick behind him like a dead weight.
When he finally reached the mage, Elgot was reclining by the stream, calmly enjoying the breeze and the lingering taste of wine. He lifted his head lazily.
"So, did you get them all, hero?"
Kano planted the stick in the dirt to keep from falling.
"Yes... all of them," he muttered, each word a struggle.
"And did you collect the crystals?" Elgot asked, wiping a drop of wine from his chin.
Kano blinked, stunned—as if the question made no sense.
"What crystals?"
Elgot rolled his eyes like a teacher facing a hopeless student.
"The ones that drop from slimes. That's our gold, kid."
Kano froze for a moment. Then, as the realization sank in, he dropped to his knees, face twisted in anguish.
"Nooo! You never told me that!"
Elgot gave a dramatic sigh and rose to his feet.
"Yeah, that's a problem. If you don't go back and grab them, someone else will. And without them, your hard work was pointless."
Still kneeling, Kano shot him a look full of exhausted rage.
"I'm dead on my feet! I can't go anywhere!"
Elgot paused, then his eyes lit up with wicked glee.
"Alright, as you wish. I'll just tell Naira you refused to fight the slimes. That you wanted to hide in the bushes and watch them attack helpless girls. That you fantasized about it."
Kano froze. His fists clenched again. He let out a furious sigh, then growled, "Fine! I'll go! But you blackmailing bastard, you'd better keep your mouth shut!"
Elgot couldn't hold back a chuckle as he watched the boy hoist the stick back onto his shoulder and stomp off along the stream, now carrying a small sack the mage had handed him. His steps were heavy, his shoulders slumped, but there was fire in his eyes—the fire of indignation.
This kid's emotions… a gold mine for training, Elgot mused, stretching out on the grass again. He laced his fingers behind his head and gazed up at the sky.
"He'll manage," he murmured, eyes slipping shut.
Kano stumbled back, clutching a few crystals in his hand. Every step felt like a battle. He reached the spot where Elgot lay beneath a tree, collapsed beside him, and dropped the crystals on the grass.
"There. Your damn crystals... My arms and legs hate me now," he groaned, gasping for breath.
Elgot didn't even sit up. He plucked up the crystals and examined them like ancient relics.
"Hm... Pretty mediocre haul. But for an amateur, not terrible," he said, lifting one toward the sunlight. "You actually did alright, kid."
Kano rolled his eyes and sprawled out on the grass. Without even opening them, he muttered, "So… where's my sandwich? Naira brought me one, I remember it."
Elgot suddenly gasped and pressed a hand to his chest, as if struck by a sudden storm of painful memories.
"Ah, the sandwich... That story... it's too painful, Kano," he whispered dramatically, eyes fluttering shut. "I… I must tell you what happened."
Kano cracked one eye open, staring at him, completely baffled.
"Seriously? What kind of nonsense are you trying to feed me this time?" Kano asked, deadpan.
"Silence! This is an important tale!" Elgot declared, raising a solemn finger to the sky. "Listen and do not interrupt. So—while you were fighting off those slimes, I... I decided to rest a little by the stream. But suddenly—from the depths—rose a hideous beast! Huge, Kano! Its eyes burned like twin embers, and its teeth... oh, those teeth! Like swords—they could have sliced through my delicate neck in an instant!"
Kano raised an eyebrow but said nothing, letting the mage continue his dramatic tale.
"It lurked there in the water, waiting for a careless victim. And just as I bent down to splash my face... the creature lunged! Its reeking tentacles almost wrapped around me! The battle was fierce, a clash between life and death! I threw every spell I had—but nothing worked against this horror!"
He paused, eyes distant, as though reliving the harrowing memory.
"And then... I realized I had only one chance to survive. I hurled your sandwich at it, hoping to distract the beast. And praise the gods—it worked! It devoured the sandwich and sank back into the depths. I was saved, Kano... but at great personal cost."
Kano stared at him in silence, overwhelmed by the ridiculous grandeur of the story. Then, slowly, he sat up, locked eyes with the mage, and with a completely blank face said:
"You ate it, didn't you."
Elgot looked genuinely offended.
"How dare you say that! After all I've been through…"
"You. Ate. It." Kano repeated, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Elgot paused for effect—then burst into laughter.
"Well, maybe I embellished a few details. But come on—while you were battling slimes, I was fighting off a stream beast! Isn't that teamwork?"
Kano collapsed back onto the grass with a groan, closing his eyes.
"I'm going to kill you someday…"
Elgot just smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"Well then, I have no doubt our adventures will never be boring."
After a few more minutes of rest, Kano rolled onto his back with a sigh, staring up at the clear sky. Elgot, now carefully sorting the crystals into a small pouch, glanced over his shoulder.
"Well, kid? Rested enough? Time to head back to the city. We'll sell these crystals at the guild. Maybe—maybe—we'll even get you something tasty… if the budget allows."
Kano perked up like a wilted flower touched by sunlight. He sat up so fast it was as if the sky itself had spoken directly to him.
"Sell them? Really? You mean for actual money? How much?" His eyes sparkled.
Elgot grimaced.
"Money, you say? Alright, let me crush your dreams before they start floating too high. These fifteen basic crystals? They're worth fifteen copper coins. One copper each."
Kano froze. The glow in his eyes died instantly, as if doused with ice water.
"What? Just a bun? I nearly died collecting those!"
Elgot smirked.
"That's not the whole story. A mid-tier crystal—bright blue—is worth about ten copper coins. Enough for a bowl of soup at a tavern or a short carriage ride. Now, a red crystal, that's rare. It goes for a full silver coin. That can get you a night in a cheap inn or a decent sword from a blacksmith. But the real prize is the violet crystal—ultra rare. Worth ten silver coins. That's your good armor, serious magical gear... if you live long enough to earn it."
Kano listened, mouth open, each new fact hitting like a hammer of disillusionment. Elgot looked utterly pleased with himself.
"And then… there's the golden crystal. The rarest of the regular kind. Only drops from true bosses—the kind only real adventurers can kill. Its price?" He leaned in, voice lowering like he was sharing a sacred secret. "A full gold coin."
Kano just stared, speechless.
Kano, trying to process it all, barely managed to mumble, "And what… what can you even buy with a gold coin?"
Elgot chuckled like a true connoisseur of the world's pleasures.
"With a gold coin, my young friend, you can get interesting things. A dwarven-forged sword inscribed with magic runes. Enchanted light armor. A hefty stock of potions from a seasoned alchemist. Or even rent a small house in the city for an entire month. And of course…" — he paused theatrically, lifting a finger — "a premium service in one of the finest leisure establishments. If you catch my meaning."
Kano instantly turned red—like a ripe tomato thrown into boiling water.
"What?! You... you talk about that so casually?!"
Elgot's grin only widened.
"Oh, my boy, the world is vast and full of wonders. In places like that, you might meet the most exquisite elven ladies—graceful, mysterious... or fiery beastkin who really know how to entertain a guest. Even demonesses with eyes that promise nights you'll never forget. There's something for everyone."
Kano opened his mouth to protest, but all that came out was confused blinking as he tried to digest the onslaught of questionable wisdom. Meanwhile, Elgot took a casual sip from his flask, that smug smile never leaving his face.
"And some say," he added with a wink, "if you happen to own a rainbow crystal… you don't just get pleasure. You get a magical night. One that could change your life. Sadly, those crystals are rarer than honest demon merchants."
Kano was practically steaming with embarrassment now, doing everything he could not to make eye contact.
"I... I swear I will kill you someday," he muttered through clenched teeth, hiding his face in his hands.
Elgot burst out laughing and gave him a hearty pat on the back.
"Well then, I look forward to your vengeance. But for now—onward, boy. Time to head home."