《La Puerta de Maltras eng.》 Prologue Prologue: The horrible face of envy. The wind is cold, but that is normal, the change of seasons brought with it a rather abrupt winter weather. I can feel the tips of my fingers becoming numb and my agitated breath leaves a white wake like the snow that falls around me. Staying outdoors in such a climate is not ideal, if possible I would like to be in the classroom, or better yet, in my bedroom, it may be small but the heating is wonderful. Yes, I would like to go to the bedroom; unfortunately, my body does not respond as I want, in fact I can not even move. My body, invaded by a sharp pain and the inclemency of the cold, lies to the side of the main building. I can not even get up, much less walk ... my spine must have been damaged by the fall. Little by little I can feel the taste of iron from the blood in my mouth, and breathing is becoming more difficult. Staying conscious is very difficult, the only reason I am lucid is my great hatred and desire for revenge against the culprits, those damn idiots who yet have the nerve to look out the window. Why did this happen? Envy. This school is one of the best in the country, where only elite students (whether they¡¯re from social, sports or intellectual fields) are accepted. A disadvantage is that "little princes of the world" must coexist with people like me, who managed to enter thanks to talent and effort. It may sound presumptuous but it''s true, those sub-evolved apes would only have a chance to defeat me by resorting to something like this. Well, I''m also to blame for not taking proper precautions, I guess after all, I''m not that smart. One more month and would have been the undisputed winner of the space program.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. To be the representative of the school and be able to witness the opening of the space elevator, becoming one of the first people to contemplate the outer space from it was the goal for which I decided to study in this school. It is worth mentioning that such an event would turn the school representative into a big celebrity and an influential person, something that my competitors wished fervently¡­ So much they killed me. But it¡¯s also an opportunity I''ll snatch from them. Making use of my remaining forces I press the touch screen of my bracelet, which is really a device that I developed myself: Brain. Brain is an artificial intelligence program I made at the end of high school. It flawlessly obeys my orders , plus it can learn by itself and evolve. Brain is my greatest achievement and my greatest secret too¡­ It will encrypt itself and erase all trace of its existence when my vital functions disappear, so I must hurry. "B-Brain ... detective mode... guilty ... classroom ..." By making use of all my will, I gave my last orders to Brain. I got glad the moment I heard the confirmation sound. Just in time, my vitals decayed and it was impossible for me to retain my consciousness. My last thoughts were full of hate and unhealthy satisfaction. ("Their lives will be hell") I just waited for my end. I always considered myself a man of rational thinking, but my death intrigues me ... What will happen now? In the midst of such thoughts, I can perceive another presence (thought) that is not mine. ".......... life ............ actions .......... help ..........." I do not know what it is, it sounded like static, possibly a last trick of the mind. However, as if the cold I feltt was an illusion, my body is invaded by a feeling of warm, followed again by cold, but this time was more like an annoying feeling rather than dread. --Wuaaaaaa ...... Wuaaaaaa ...... Wuaaaaaa. A sound escapes from me, it sounds like the cry of a baby. --Audjfolepods jkdjska dshjfdjsks Words of a strong masculine voice, I do not understand but I feel as if they were happy. --Hj jjsuehd sssj roffysd This time it''s a female voice, I can not understand them either, but they sound just as happy as the male voice. I can not see my surroundings because my eyes are closed. When I try to open them, my eyelids respond¡­ I can see once I focus my eyes. My surroundings are huge! No, it''s me who shrank. In front of me is the great face of a woman who looks at me with great happiness and tears in her eyes ... ("What ... just happened?") Chapter 1 Chapter 1: Mixed minds. "Aruh, it''s time to eat, my love!" (?) My mother''s words catch my attention. Food! I was already hungry! It''s been a year since I reincarnated in this world. Yes, reincarnated. There is no other explanation for such a phenomenon. While this situation contradicts conventional science, experiencing it in person made me realize that it is real. At first I was very confused and frightened, but the ability to adapt is a human quality ... Well, not onlyhuman. "Open your mouth, Aruh. Aaaaaahhhhh" (Mother) My mother in this world offers me a spoonful of a sweet-smelling puree as she opens her mouth as if giving me directions, letting me see her two vampire fangs. Yes, vampiric fangs. My mother is not human, neither my father nor I are ... But we are not vampires either. We are ¡®Naga¡¯. Silver hair, fair complexion, deep blue eyes and fangs a little longer than a human being are the characteristics of the naga breed. I was able to realize the name of my species after being able to recognize the language of my parents, Tovs Hydran and Mura Hydran. I also learned my name, Aruh Hydran. "Here comes another one." (Mura) My mother... Mom smiles happily as she feeds me. A beautiful, warm smile makes her look like the most beautiful woman I''ve ever met.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. My parents in my past life were very different. They met and started a relationship when working in the same company, but soon my mother became pregnant, which brought a "shotgun wedding" and the dissatisfaction of both of them. My mother left her beloved job because of me while my father lost his ¡®freedom¡¯, so the relationship between them and me was rather cold. Over time, it was discovered that I was a genius like few. Since then, their dealings with me changed radically: they tried to turn me into a celebrity and they improved their attitude towards me in public. They also hired tutors and intellectual people to expand my knowledge, which in the end was useful but at the time I felt like they were exploiting me. In contrast, my current parents are the opposite. When I was just reincarnated, I was confused and angry, maybe my parents noticed something different in me but they ignored it. Since my body is a that of a baby, my only form of communication is through shouting and crying, the house became a very scandalous place, but far from disturbing them it seemed that I was worrying them, to the degree that they brought a person to examine if I was in good health. The person who came to see me was not a naga, but a person with long pointed ears: an elf, who in turn was accompanied by a man and a woman of naga race (later I realized that they were my maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother). The elf man was a doctor. My worried parents had brought him to me to check for if I was sick or something caused me pain; The diagnosis was that I was simply very energetic, which pleased everyone present. Since then my tantrums were accepted with love and happiness. Although, at first my mind was flooded with anger and resentment, the unconditional love of my parents erased my resentment little by little until they make it disappear. It is worth mentioning that the instincts of a baby wanting to be loved by their parents influenced my change of feelings. This body and the memories of my past life mingled, allowing new feelings to be born in me. Feelings like love. Well, that occurred sometime ago, today I have become a calm and obedient baby who loves his parents... Mom and Dad. "Do you like your foooood? Mama did it with all the love in the world!" (Mura) I give my affirmation by opening my mouth for more food. "U fu fu. Mama is happy that you liked it" (Mura) I''m also happy. Chapter 2 Chapter 2: Looking around the village (Part One) In this new world in where I reincarnated, or at least in this part of the world, there are other races besides the humans, besides the naga and the elves there are other three. I realized it the first day I came out of the house. "Is this Aruh? He''s so cute!" (Woman 1) "If all the beautiful things in the world concentrated in one place, the result would not even approach his cuteness!" (Mura) "You finally understand the feelings of a mother, Mrs. Mura ... You have a very good mother, Aruh!" (Lady 2) A couple of women carrying weaved grass baskets approached my mother and I as we walked by one of the village trails. With the language I have learned so far, I already know that this village is called Alturi, which is in a mountain range. The buildings are made of stone and wood but not completely processed, they have a very rustic appearance. Not to mention the modern era, architecture looks more primitive than the medieval age from Earth. Density of population also appears to be small, and houses and other buildings are scarcely scattered in the village. That said, it does not mean that we are in stone age: the design of the houses is very well planned, there is a supply of water in the form of wells near each house and also has a septic tank system, which although it is impossible for me to study at the moment, it seems to be effective. "So it''s been a year since he was born. The little one will grow up before you realize, Mrs. Mura" (woman 2) "It''s a complicated feeling. On one hand I''d like to see him grow big, strong and healthy ... but then again, I wish it will take a lot of time for him to grow up." (Mura) What are you saying, mom? I can''t wait to be an adult!. There is so much that I want to learn and discover in this world! Seeing me look energetically at my surroundings, mom and the two ladies let out a slight laugh. "I''d say he prefers to grow up." (Mrs. 1) Not so long after, the two women separate from us and take a different path. By the way, there was something that intrigued me. Both women seem to be around 40 years old, however, the age of each is over 150 years!Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. It seems like the naga have long lives. As I pondered, the sound of metal hitting against metal was heard, catching my attention. Mom stopped. Not far from where we were, there was a hut larger than the other houses he had seen, the sound was coming from there. Dad was outside the building with six other men, all of them standing in front of an anvil, working as blacksmiths. "Dad works hard as usual, why don''t we cheer him up before we go with your grandparents?" (Mura) "Daah" (Aruh) "Well done, I''m sure dad will work happier today." (Mura) Perhaps sensing our presence, dad raised his head, looked in our direction and greeted us. The companions around him noticed that he had stopped hammering and seemed to ask about it, and after dad responded and pointed in our direction they looked and began to congratulate him. But because all the hammering stopped, a man of short stature, large reddish beard and a burly physique came out of the building. "WHY HAVE YOU STOPPED?! THE METAL WILL LOSE ITS QUALITY IF YOU LAZE AROUND!!" (man) The man''s voice was so loud that mom and I could hear him perfectly well from where we were. That appearance, strong voice and passion for the metal ... Undoubtedly a Dwarf! The seven returned to work immediately, distressed. "They scolded dad because of us ... We''ll have to apologize to him when we get home" (Mura) Mom smiled nervously. The dwarf also noticed our presence and greeted us kindly before returning to the interior of the building again. The incident was a bit uncomfortable, but funny at the same time. After mom threw daddy a kiss, we resumed our journey. "Listen, Aruh. Dad''s boss may have looked terrifying but you do not have to be scared, Mr. Fas Nesel is a skillful blacksmith and a very kind person, the naga owe a great deal to dwarves like him, to elves, and especially, to humans. All the inhabitants of the Tulser Mountains must be united and support each other. " (Mura) Naga, humans, elves and dwarfs. It seems that these are some of the races that inhabit these mountains and are quite united. However, I have only seen that dwarf and the elf doctor but no human being until now. Also, it does not seem that they are very abundant in the village. I wonder why. Chapter 3 Chapter 3: Looking around the village (Part Two) The road that mom took reached a small square, apparently the center of the village. There were large buildings around but the most prominent was a large barn in front of which were several covered carriages pulled by animals resembling huge deers. "These are 15 sacks of wheat, 10 of buckwheat and 10 of oat. The order also includes 2 sacks of pepper, but the routes have been insecure and it will take three more days for the sacks to arrive." (Human man) "In that case, we could send a couple of men to clear the routes." (Naga man 1) "I would like that, but the route I''m talking about is that of Sarci to the capital. The holy blessings for the naga would not get there." (Human man) "The route to the west? It seems strange to me that such an important route has been neglected." (Naga Man 2) "Your Majesty has sent troops to take care of the route. Unfortunately, it is not a matter of monsters but of bandits, and some very elusive to tell you the truth. An elite unit has prepared and will march early tomorrow to subjugate them, but for now, goods are taking a little more of time to arrive and that also affects prices. " (Human man) The first human I saw upon arriving in this world acted as a merchant, yet he wore an armor of leather and metal, giving him a soldier or mercenary look, his shaven head along with his corpulent physique accentuated his appearance of a warrior. "Certainly we can not do anything under these conditions, the protection of the great Nagur is only found in the mountains." (Naga Man 2) "Captain Almond ... We finished putting the cargo in the barn" (?) A two-meter-tall lizard man dressed in a thick coat called the military-looking man whose name or surname was Almond. "Well, everything is ready, the next is Tula village." (Almond). "In that case, could you wait until noon? I''ll go out and look for medicinal herbs and I could bring some extra to send them to the elves." (Mura) Mom went and spoke to the group of men as if they were friends. "Mrs. Hydran, it¡¯s nice to meet you again... Herbs you said, to tell you the truth we also... Oh, that''s the little one I heard about?" (Almond) "Yes, this is Aruh. He''s already turned one year old so he can go outside the house." (Mura) So the naga can not leave until they are at least a year old?Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Good for you, little one. You can finally look around the village and join the festivals." (Almond) I would also like to know the mountains and the rest of the world, but it seems that the naga have a problem if they leave the mountains. "Well, now that the little boy can come out means you can return to his work as a collector, Mrs. Hydran. That''s good news for the medicine sector." (Almond) "That''s right. I came to check if there are any orders for the village and when I saw you, I thought it would be a good idea to help you supply the alchemists in other villages." (Mura) "Let me see the orders" (Man naga 1) One of the naga men (the taller of the two) entered the barn upon hearing the reason why mom had come. I have noticed that all naga men have muscular bodies, I wonder if I will also have one when I grow up. "Thank you for your help, Mrs. Hydra. At the moment there are no supply orders for herbs, though ... Mmm, your area for foraging is a kilometer down the slope, right?" (Almond) "That''s right, under the trees in the middle of the Gums hunting ground." (Mura) "In that case, it would be enough with just 3 jars of tree sap... Besides, if you run into a Gum, I''ll pay you for every complete body you bring." (Almond) "That''s going to be difficult, the Gums still do not go out of their sleep period during this time of the year." (Naga Man 2) The Naga man quietly mentioned the behavior of the creature called Gum, but it was not favorable for the captain. Mom apologized for it even though she did not have to. "That''s the way it is, Captain Almond. There may be some who have woken up, but that would only be a matter of luck." (Mura) "It''s a pity but you do not have to apologize, it was only a personal request since I wanted to send to make a better coat for Rordik with its fur. Being a Lizardon, Rordik have some problems with the cold air of the mountains.¡± (Almond) Then, what is he doing here in Tulser? "Despite this, he insists on working in the land of his heroes, the Naga" (Almond) I understand. He''s like a sports fan working for his favorite team. "Here I have orders for the area to the north." (Naga Man 1) The man who had entered the barn came back with a few wood slabs with characters carved on them. The way of doing business is quite orderly, but printing technology is primitive. "It''s not much, I''ll finish before noon" (Mura) "Then the three of us will take a break until then" (Almond) Mom nodded and we resumed our way. As we were leaving, I could see the inside of one of Captain Almond''s chariots and saw a creature resembling a humanoid cat a little more than a meter tall using an abacus. Finally, after about 10 minutes, we arrived at a small house very similar to ours where granny received us. "Mother, I will leave Aruh with you until noon. I will go to the slope to gather herbs, flowers, roots and sap." (Mura) "I''ll take care of him. The car and the tools are in the warehouse." (Grandmother) "Thank you, I''ll take them. I''ll also take the stick in case I find a Gum. It''s a personal request from the captain." (Mura) Mom let me in the arms of granny and gave me a kiss on the forehead. Then she left the house in the direction of a warehouse on the side of the building. Granny and I followed her to say goodbye. "Well, with this will be enough." (Mura) Big was my surprise when mom took an enormous metal mace with the appearance of a baseball bat two and a half meters long and with a diameter of 60 centimeters in the tip. What kind of creatures are the Gum? Or rather, how can mom carry such a weapon as if it were a normal bat? "Say goodbye to Mommy, Aruh" (Grandma) "I''ll be back soon, my love.¡± (Mura) After saying goodbye, mom left with a large two-wheeled cart, a basket, a short sword, and the mace. I was really surprised, I was speechless (regardless of being a baby), but at the same time I was very excited about the future that I will have. Chapter 4 Chapter 4: Six Years Later / Knowledge of the World. Six years have passed since I reincarnated, I can speak and understand the language, reading it and writing it too. Although there are not many books, knowing how to read and write is an important part of the inhabitants of the kingdom, and thanks to that, the illiteracy rates are quite low. Given that there are not many schools in the Tulser mountain range, most of the infants learn from their parents. Although the information is limited, I have learned a lot from the history of this country and a little of the known world. The name of this world is Maltras, the name of the kingdom where I live in is Eralgia, which is a very prosperous kingdom where several races coexist in peace and harmony. Eralgia was once a small kingdom inhabited mainly by humans surrounded by tribes and small countries of other races. The conflicts between these countries or with Eralgia were not few, the only exception being the Naga, who were a tribe sheltered in the fearsome mountains of Tulser, also inhabited by voracious and powerful monsters that made practically uninhabitable the region for outsiders; but the monsters in turn were the prey of the Naga, which made them the strongest and most feared species. Several incursions from several countries, including those on the east side of the mountains, always ended in failure. Everything changed about a thousand years ago. An elf girl married the king of Eralgia of that time in spite of the rejection of the nobles and high officers of the kingdom. Nevertheless, the ability like rulers of the king and the queen was extraordinary, not only were they able to purge the nobility of the useless and make it more competent, but they improved the living conditions of the inhabitants in general. Thanks to a military reinforcement and technological advance, the tribes that surrounded the kingdom began to fear and to avoid Eralgia; however, the foreign policies were not for military incursion but by political and commercial means. Soon the races began to tire of conflict and wars and began to open to the kingdom, until finally they chose to join the prosperous realm and this one expanded quickly, always obtaining the necessary governability to avoid being crushed under its own weight. In only 40 years, the kingdom had managed to expand more than 5 times its original territory, but shortly after having achieved it, the king passed away. Though the queen, the nobles, and the whole kingdom themselves wept for his death, the queen did not let the government of her beloved fall into disgrace and continued to establish policies and care for the kingdom until her own death. Many were dubious that if the new king, son of the former rulers, was an able heir, but their low expectations betrayed them: the young elf king managed to surpass his parents and to improve even more the kingdom that they did... and his greater feat was to obtain the annexation of the elusive Naga.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. How he did this was actually quite simple but risky at the same time: Together with his best and strongest knights, the king set out on an expedition through the mountains of Tulser to begin diplomatic relations with the Naga. After a week, his troops were decimated by the monsters, but he achieved his goal of peacefully contact the Naga, who in turn felt respect for the king... but this would not be enough to annex them to the kingdom. The things that managed to conquer the naga were the gifts that he brought for them. The king was quite intelligent and loved to learn new things, one of his greatest hobbies was to learn about the different races and cultures of the world, and among his research he got to know a little about the Naga. The king''s gift to the naga were spices, cereals, alcohol and a pair of chickens. These products were to enhance the offerings of the Naga to their protective spirit, the mountain serpent, Nagur. The naga loved Nagur, therefore, offerings that would improve their rites were well received. After some negotiations with the heads of all the villages, the Naga joined the kingdom pledging loyalty not to betray it. Since the Naga could not leave the mountains, or else they would lose the blessing of Nagur, the king asked them for their help to tame the region as much as possible, to extract resources and protect the kingdom from the threats that came from the east. Thus, thanks to the king''s feat, the Naga became part of the kingdom and allowed the entry of humans, dwarfs and elves to settle in the mountains of Tulser and also offered their protection against the monsters who inhabited them. This takes us up to the present time, the kingdom has not expanded again, yet it still has conflicts with some of its neighbors, but nothing on a large scale. So it remains stable. As for me, since my third birthday I started my combat and hunting trainings under the guidance of dad and mom, who, even when they are caring parents, also are frightening teachers! "Lift up the direction of your strike! (Tovs) "HAAAAAAAA!" (Aruh) Following dad''s instructions, I threw a heavy blow with my wooden sword but it was easily blocked. "Do not support so much weight on the right side of your body!" (Tovs) Dad softly deflects my attack and I lose my balance. My breathing is agitated, and tiredness keeps me from getting up again. "That will be enough for today. You have improved a lot, Aruh! At your age, I could barely raise the two handed sword, not to mention being less skilled..." (Tovs) When I looked up, daddy was next to me and lifted me up to sit me next to him. "Tell me, would you like to be a hunter? Or guard of the village? There is also the option of moving to Korka village and become a sentry of the Tulser mountains." (Tovs) "I ... I would like to be a blacksmith." (Aruh) "Blacksmith? Like me? That''s a compliment, Aruh! Ok, then. When you turn twelve, I''ll introduce you to Mr. Fas Nesel." (Tovs) My words put dad in a good mood, however, although following his steps is one of the reasons I''m interested in blacksmithing, there is another one. "But until you reach the age of twelve, you will have to continue your studies. Even if he is a blacksmith, a naga is a naga. Therefore, strength and fighting skill are indispensable" (Tovs) "Yes!" (Aruh) "Aruh! It''s mom''s turn now!" (Mura) Mom approached where dad and I were. In her hands she was carrying two large bows along with their respective sacks with arrows. Really? But if I only had a few minutes to rest! "Be strong, my champion!" (Tovs) Do not try to look great even if you are, dad. Oh, my current parents are also exploiters... Although, I do not feel that it bothers me. Chapter 5 Chapter 5: First hunt. Today begins the first day for hunting Gums. Like all nagas from the age of six, I can join the hunt group, it is also part of my training. Obviously, I received a previous training on how to hunt Gums: first the animal is blinded and its legs are weakened with arrows or rocks, and once it¡¯s on the ground, the skull is broken with a mace. That said, although only one naga can do it on his own, as I am only a beginner, my job will be to assist dad and others with the attack with arrows; The bow I carry is a little big and the rope is hard to pull, even with my strength. And speaking of my strength¡­ It is amazing! Magic exists in this world, just as in fiction stories. There is a flow of energy known as "Hetros", which is present in everything that exists, whether it¡¯s a living being or not. The Hetros is a neutral energy and through manipulation, one can create a "phenomenon", like balls of fire, thunder or water, among others. However, getting the hang of it is not an easy task, only 1 in 10 people can do it. A unique case (and the reason the Naga are so famous), is that, unlike the other races, the Naga can not use magic at all. Instead, thanks to the blessing of spirit Nagur, the Naga are able to make the Hetros flow through their bodies, giving them total control of a superhuman strength, endurance and abilities. Thanks to that, Naga can lift objects 250 times their own weight and resisting falls of more than 600 meters without being injured, and at the same time, being able to hold objects like ceramic vessels, or "caress" their partners even if they¡¯re from other races. When I first started to use my abilities, I was in so high spirits that I was literally up in the clouds. If I had to define how Hetros feels, I will say that it¡¯s similar to goosebumps through all the body. And yet, my strength is not fully developed. I¡¯m already at the level of a superhero.. However, even with my strength, it¡¯s difficult to completely pull the bow thread. Certainly it must have an immense attack power... the arrows are a few inches thick and they¡¯re made of lead coated with bronze. Certainly, the Gums must be very strong monsters to require the use of such weapons. The hunting area to which dad takes me is in a deeper area where mom usually picks up herbs and other products. As we enter the forest, the trees separate and become taller, yet there is not enough light passing through the treetops¡­ Well, not that it matters, Naga have very good eyes that they can see even in dim places. After five hours of walking, the terrain changes and turns flat, the trees also let in a little more light. There is a group of seven people camping and preparing for the hunt, five adult children and two children. Among the children, I¡¯m the youngest. ¡°Tovs, you¡¯re early. We will not leave until dusk... Are you nervous because it''s Aruh''s first hunt?" (Hunter) "No, Mr. Flounds, Aruh has a great dexterity and he¡¯s very mature for his age." (Tovs) "That¡¯s right. Aruh has been very smart since always and learns quickly." (Flounds) "I''m the proud son of my great parents after all." (Aruh) "Well said. Hey, Jupero, you could be like Aruh and respect me more as a father." (Flounds) "When you stop being so smug, old man." (Jupero) Serpero Flouns is the chief hunter and Jupero is his son, a boy of fourteen years of rebellious attitude yet responsible character. The rest of the team consists of Goto Vipen, Komo Jat, Tarj and Bobo Levra, and the youngest member after me, Kober Jat, eldest son of Komo. All of them are experienced hunters, including Kober, who is only nine years old. Preparations for hunting are important: maintaining weapons and tools to dismember prey, tgo to the bathroom without forgetting to spray a chemical that eliminates the aroma, cover oneself with the same chemical to also hide the body scent, prepare hiding places and secure positions, etc. There are many steps, but I managed to learn them all. "... tie the ends of the branches well and... ready!" (Aruh) "Well done, it''s your first try yet you built an excellent hideout, I''m afraid the one who will inherit the post of chief hunter is not me." (Jupero)The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "My plans are to become a blacksmith as dad, so you do not have to fear" (Aruh) "Why a blacksmith? With the dwarves in Tulser, I do not see why the Naga have learn to be blacksmiths." (Jupero) "But there are not many dwarves in the village." (Kober) "Dwarves do not usually live at high altitudes and most prefer to live in cities below ground, one of the few exceptions is Mr. Fas Nesel, and it is only temporary. In twenty years he will return with his people." (Aruh) "Oooh, I see!... I still think that you would be better as a hunter. But being so smart, I doubt you¡¯ll have problems learning to be a blacksmith. When you do, I want you to make me a weapon to hunt." (Jupero) "Good thing he did not come between you and your father, right?" (Kober) "Shut up!, I want to be the chief hunter because it''s an important position for the village." (Jupero) Although he tried to deny it, Jupero''s red face betrayed him. Kober and I laughed. *** We finished the preparations shortly before nightfall and everyone went to take their positions. Dad was next to me, he would give me instructions after finding a prey, after that I will continue hiding while he finished the job. "Do not yet pull the string, just regulate your breathing. (Tovs) In the distance, I could see several silhouettes moving in our direction. The light of the moon filtered from the treetops, more than enough to give me a good vision of the preys. The creatures that were approaching were enormous bears with ten feet of height, covered in black fur and with a row of thorns on their backs. Are those the Gums? Now that I think about it, I have never seen a whole prey, the hunters dismantle them to the degree of leaving them unrecognizable, even the parts offered to Nagur. The Gums are quite intimidating, with their muscular body and movements as a herd, they must be very dangerous creatures. "They are Impalator Bears, shoot to the three that are backwards. Kill them with a single shot, Aruh" (Tovs) Apparently they are not Gums but a monster called Impalator Bear. Following dad''s instructions, I fired three arrows and each hit a bear''s head. Other arrows fired by the rest of the hunters kill the rest of the bears. Only one survived and ran away to where he came from while grunting in fear. Wow, they''re more timid than I thought, or maybe they''re smart creatures. With the rest of its comrades dead, it would be very silly for it to try to fight alone. "Gums are coming. Get ready." (Tovs) Dad points to where the bear fled, who is then suddenly dragged away into the darkness. The screams of the bear become stronger, as if they were shrieking¡­ Then silence, and then came the sound of something chewing. I feel a chill for a moment, the scene was scary. But what came after was worse. From the darkness, hidden behind the trees, the Gums appeared. Ten-meter-tall creatures that moved on four hairy legs, numerous tentacles growing from their backs and two huge elephant-like tusks growing from their huge jaws. They looked as if a huge octopus had mounted on an elephant to move ashore. There were ten in total, who came up to the bears¡¯ corpses and began to devour them without worry. I could describe it as an atrocious sight: the gums tearing the bears with their tentacles. Entrails and blood covered the floor around the Gums, and the sound of bones breaking when chewed was the only thing that could be heard. Two of the Gums began to fight over one of the bodies, causing the bear''s head to fly away close to where I was. Dad gave the signal. I aimed calmly and shot the two yellow eyes of the appointed Gum, and remembering the next step, I fired the spot under it¡¯s knees, causing the monster to collapse. The other hunters did the same. In less than twenty minutes, all the gums were laying on the ground, and the adults (along with Jupero and Kober) came out of their hiding places carrying huge maces. "The hunt was better than expected ... I suppose it would not hurt to let you help to take the lives of the Gums." (Tovs) "S-sure" (Aruh) Although my part ended with the attack with arrows, dad thought it would be a good idea to help finish the job and gave me a long knife to dismember the bodies and also a mace. But just as we came out of the hiding place, I felt a presence behind us and something dragged me into the darkness. "ARUUUUUHHH!" (Tovs) I saw the landscape pass quickly in my surroundings. Due to the force when first pulled, my hands dropped the mace involuntarily. This was the same thing that happened with the bear. Apparently, a gum remained hidden and survived the attack, if this continues, I will become it¡¯s food. Luckily I still have the knife. Before reaching the jaws of the monster, I drew my weapon and cut off the tentacle that held me and managed to avoid my death. The Gum continued its attack and threw several of its tentacles against me. I am surprised by the calmness with which I am reacting, I evaded each one of the attacks while counterattacking by cutting its tentacles .. Dad and the others will soon come, but it will not hurt to get some merits. This time I wait for one of his attacks and instead of cutting it, I grabbed the tentacle and pulled the monster with all my strength. Back then, my standing was not ideal, but with the power I have, the Gum was not the big thing and so managed to get it out of balance. The tentacle ends up breaking but I got my goal of having the gum off balance, so I ran to one of it sides and gave it a big cut... which barely manage to perforate its thick skin, but with a second cut I managed to go across the fat and muscle, reaching its organs. This knife has a very good sharpness... There are several branches scattered on the ground, so I took a large one and inserted it through the wound. The gum collapsed from the pain. Finally, I killed it by burying the knife all the way down at the base of his neck the place I was told its brain was, but the reach of the knife is not enough so I kicked it hard... Sinking it completely into the Gum¡¯s body. The beast writhes for a moment but ended up succumbing. Immediately afterwards, dad and the others arrive to find me in front of the monster''s body. It must have been a surprising act, for they were astonished watching me from a distance, or rather, since I am covered with the blood of the Gum, I must look quite frightening. Dad just stands still for a second and throws himself into me and hugged me. "A-Aruh ... Aruh ..." (Tovs) It''s the first time I''ve seen dad crying, so I hugged him back to comfort him. Once things calmed down, we resumed collecting the Gum¡¯s materials but dad remained alert all the time. Everyone present, especially Jupero and Kober, praised the fact that I killed the Gum on my own under such conditions. Some children use to die during their first hunting. I was said that when we get to the village, there will be a party in my honor. SS 1 SS1: The guardians *Third person POV* A pure white light illuminated the sacred enclosures built with marble. Beautiful reliefs and angelic sculptures would be the envy of every artist. A monument to beauty and wealth. The temple of Waltanica, also called "The palace of the Arc". In front of a huge pillar, the source of the sacred light, a young woman dressed in white and gold silky clothes, was praying with both hands in front of her. "More than seven thousand years have passed. Bravery... no, the insolence of the demon king is something to be feared." (?) A young man dressed in clothes similar to those of the maiden approached her. Contrasting the atmosphere around the young woman praying, which could be described as that of imperturbable waters, the boy was like a merciless sword.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. They both belonged to the same race. A feature they both shared was the pair of beautiful white wings growing from their backs. The Arc, apostles of the gods. "That''s not all, Ertt" (Young Priestess) "Mmm?" (Ertt) "A soul that should not exist. A seed of the demon king, his legacy, has been planted in the world." (Young Priestess) "Then one of his daughters survived... I thought we had killed them all. Which of them is and how did she escape?" (Ertt) The young man, by the name of Ertt, remained calm, but clearly he was annoyed. A frail person could even die by being seen with those eyes. "There are a lot of things I do not know about in this situation, and that bothers me. That time we kill all of his descendants, there is no doubt about that. The irregularity I feel is different from the souls of his daughters, a new soul." (Young Priestess) "Then I suppose I''ll have to go down to look for that irregularity and kill it." (Ertt) The young priestess did not answer, only nodded softly. This response made Ertt smile, softly smile. No matter how many times he saw that expression in the girl, regardless of his long years of life, that look on her seemed adorable as always. Following the orders they had both decided, Ertt prepared to leave immediately. "Before you go ... Visit the inner sanctuary." (Young Priestess) "It¡¯s useless, I have not been able to handle ¡®it¡¯ since that time." (Ertt) "At least its protection will guide you on your journey" (Young Priestess) Ertt nodded and shifted his way to a descending stairs. "May the gods and the sword of Templates guide your steps." (Young Priestess) Chapter 6 Chapter 6: The Angel of Love (Part One) Three months have passed since my first day of hunting. After returning to the village and telling what had happened, the villagers (including my mother) showered me with praise. That same night there was a feast, even though it was not the beginning of the month. I say beginning of the month because in Eralgia, the years are divided into lunar months of 30 days, and at the beginning of each month, a celebration is held in each village, town and city. During the celebration in my honor, the adults began to talk about my future, and the looks of the children, both younger and older, were full of admiration towards me, some of them even asked me to be their teacher. I had to refuse, since I was still an apprentice. The village blacksmith, Mr. Fas Nesel, agreed with the others that I would be better as a mountain sentinel or a hunter, but he also believed that a warrior capable of forging and maintaining his own weapons was an example among examples and approved to be my tutor when I reached 12 years of age. Well, it¡¯ll take some time for that, so I decided to use it to improve and conduct experiments. Today, I decided to make something that does not exist in this world and I missed from the Earth: the soap. I don¡¯t miss toilet paper, as there is a plant with leaves with the same texture and properties that is imported to the region. Its name is Fufran, which is also the secret of the septic tanks. The Hetros is present in everything that exists in this world, that includes plants. There are a variety of plants with different properties, many of them are used in medicine as ingredients for potions that have effects far superior to the medicines on Earth, like closing wounds instantly. Fufran leaves are used in various medicines, but their main use is in cleaning organic waste. When a septic tank is built, the soil is filled with soil mixed with seeds, which will grow and feed on the feces while at the same time producing a fragrance that eliminates bacteria and have no harmful effects in people. Truly a fantasy world. Now, while there is a good sanitation system, soap seems to be non-existent. Not only is it unknown to the nagas, but when I asked Captain Almond and his men if they knew it, they replied that had never heard of it. The only known form of cleaning is water, and that is enough ... That''s why I gave myself the task of making soap, so far I have used some antiseptic plants but their smells are unpleasant. Since I don¡¯t have the equipment and the necessary ingredients for the elaboration of the modern soda, I¡¯ll need to use potassium hydroxide.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. As it is a dangerous chemical process, safety equipment is indispensable. Gloves made with Ripper Frog skin, transparent lenses of Metal Cicada wings, and a mouth cover of Jumping Panther thin skin. Rudimentary, but safe enough. After getting the hydroxide and mixing it with animal fat, I managed to obtain the soap mixture, with which I could make some bars. As for fragrance, I used a well-known plant: lavender. I am curious why it exists in this world, but there are also other plants and grains of the earth, such as wheat. Perhaps they are interdimensional organisms. My first soap bars after arriving in this world. Tonight I''m going to sleep with a clean body, but why wait till night? Maybe it''s time to take a bath in the river. After leaving the materials and equipment in a safe place, I went to the river in high spirits. Half the way to the river I felt a stare on me, that put me on guard. "Who''s there? Get out of where you are." (Aruh) It was not the presence of a monster but I felt a strange hostility, and it was not someone from the village. Since some time ago, even before going hunting for the first time, I am able to feel presences. To be more exact, it was since I started to manage my hetros. When I asked mom and dad about the reason, they both replied that it was a very rare talent among the Naga. I feel as if I was born with lots of good things... In counterpart, I can not leave the mountain range, however being so big I doubt to stay without things to discover. Anyway, thanks to this ability I can locate monsters and differentiate them from the inhabitants of the village or other people, that is why I can also feel that this presence is strange since it¡¯s a person¡¯s, the weirdest thing is the kind of feeling it¡¯s using on me. "Over there! Show yourself!" (Aruh) I aim my bronze dagger in the direction I feel the hostility. But my training is little. No, no matter how much training I had, it would be impossible for me to deal with such a situation. "He, he, he, Surprising! You were able to feel my presence despite how hard I tried to hide it!" (?) Behind a tree, a person appeared with a roguish and cheerful gesture. Naga? Human? Or maybe something else ...? "You even knew my exact location, and those words ... How cool!" (?) Celestial blue hair and silky clear skin without imperfections. A little older than me, maybe eight or nine years. Their clothes are characteristic of the naga but it does not appear to be one. Not to mention their hair color, their eyes are different: one blue as the Naga and the other is golden. A feature that does share is the two adorable fangs that show between their lips¡­ A girl¡­ An incredible cute girl! "Ah ... Em ... Huh ..." (Aruh) What''s going on? Why is it so difficult to talk? Or rather, why is my brain so messed up? What is this feeling? What is this sensation? What is it? Without realizing it, my dagger escapes from between my fingers and buries itself in the soil. "I see ... Even you." (?) Seeing my reaction, the joyful gesture of the beautiful angel in front of me is darkened with a little sadness. I do not want that! "P-pretty ... how p-pretty!" (Aruh) Those words slipped out of my mouth! Seriously, what is happening? Apparently, she heard my words. Her smile returns and even increases in intensity, I can also feel some mischievous air around her. Is this what a hare feels when being cornered by its predator? "How pretty, huh?" (Girl) In an instant, she approaches me and throws herself towards me, giving me a hug. "So you think I''m pretty... You are so cute!" The problem in my mind gets worse and I can feel the temperature of my face rising. This angel is going to drive me crazy. Chapter 7 Chapter 7: The Angel of Love (Part Two) "My name is Naku, my full name is Nakureshta Snakia, but just call me Naku." (Naku) The cute girl accompanied me to the river, how I got this situation is unknown to me. Even now, my mind is a mess. "Hey, that thing you were doing, what is it?" (Naku) "I-it¡¯s soap, it¡¯s for washing things" (Aruh) "Something more than just water to clean things? Can I see it?" (Naku) "Y-Yes..." (Aruh) Naku took the bar of soap I gave to her and began to smell it. "It smells like wildflowers, how do I clean with this, Aruh" (Naku) When I heard her mention my name, the temperature of my face increased. "You moisten it with water, and you rub it... Ah, and you should not touch the eyes nor can you eat it." (Aruh) Despite the state of my mind I can still respond appropriately without forgetting the important points. Well, at least I am not totally defective. While we talked about simple things, we arrived at the river. Immediately, she began to undress, while I stood in the distance to avoiding seeing her. "What''s happening? Aren''t you going to take off your clothes?" (Naku) "Aah, m-me..." (Aruh) "Ah, may it be that you are ashamed? U, fu, fu" (Naku) Looking through my reasons, Naku giggled and pointed to some bushes. "You can undress behind that bush. I''ll bathe first." (Naku) I just nodded and hid behind the bush. My heart kept throbbing as I listened to Naku take a bath. "Incredible! So much foam!" (Naku) Naku was quite impressionable and curious describing each of her thoughts. "This soap is magnificent, what is it made of?" (Naku) "The ingredients are dangerous ... So it''s a secret." (Aruh) "I see, you must be smart enough to use dangerous ingredients at such a young age." (Naku)The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ... After Naku finished, it was my turn to take a bath. The conversation between the two continued around our personal lives, as the name of our parents, our favorite foods and what we like to play. "I''ll be living here starting today. I would love to be able to be close friends." (Naku) "Me too." (Aruh) Having finished bathing, we headed to my house. "This village is quite pleasant. It is peaceful and there is a lot of freedom." (Naku) "The thing about ''freedom'' is questionable, my parents'' training is quite strict." (Aruh) "But at least it''s better than in the village of Korka, there ..." (Naku) "Hello, Aruh, did you go to to river? Hey, who is the girl you are wi..." (Jupero) Jupero (who we meet on our way to my house) tried to greet me, but when he saw Naku, his face began to lose color as if he had seen a ghost. "Ah ... Ah ..." (Jupero) The way Jupero started acting was very similar to mine when I first saw Naku; In my case I was surprised by her beauty, it is not surprising that the same thing happened with Jupero. I would not be surprised if he had fallen in love with her... Does that mean that I also fell in love with Naku? "A thousand apologies!" (Jupero) Jupero bowed and ran away. It''s not that I do not understand how he feels, even at this point where I feel calmer around Naku, I¡¯m still nervous. Looking at Naku, I saw that her expression had turned sad again. "Do not ... Do not feel bad. Jupero is rude, but he had no intention of offending you." (Aruh) "Yeah, he looks like a good kid." (Naku) "He must have been surprised to see how cute you are." (Aruh) "You are a gallant gentleman, Aruh!" (Naku) "I-I''m not flirting, I just gave my opinion." (Aruh) "No. That counts as flirting." (Naku) Naku hugged me again with good spirits. We both headed to my house because Naku wanted to know where I live and also to meet my parents. "That''s my house ... Dad is outside, he must be waiting for me to start training." (Aruh) Training is my parents favorite pastime. Morning, afternoon, and before bed, whenever there is opportunity we are always training. Fortunately, having a child''s body gives me enough energy to endure such a routine and also allows me to play or go outside to explore. You can feel dad''s craving to start training from where we were. "Aruh, you''re late. Your body is going to atrophy at this rate!" (Tovs) "I was doing an important experiment! ... And also ... I was also talking to Naku." (Aruh) "Naku? The girl with you? ... Huh?" (Tovs) Dad''s reaction when he saw Naku was very similar to Jupero''s, no, it was more intense and immediately fell on the ground, as if bowing. "Da ... Dad?" (Aruh) "Honey, is Aruh here yet? Wow, what''s going on?" (Mura) Mom left the house and was a bit puzzled to see dad bowing, but when her eyes saw where Naku and I were, her expression became surprised too. I''m already worried. "Save Her Greatness! We are not worthy to be present before the oracle." (Tovs and Mura) Oracle? Do you mean Naku? "You can rest assured, Tovs Hydran and Mura Hydran, that I, Nakureshta Snakia, oracle of the great Nagur have come with news for you two, for Aruh Hydran, and for the rest of the village. Lift up your heads!" (Naku) Something had suddenly changed in Naku, her cheerful and flirtatious personality changed drastically by a majestic and imposing attitude. Dad and mom looked up, they were very respectful to Naku. "Wait a moment ... What do you mean ''oracle''?" (Aruh) My words might have sounded rather impertinent, but it was because I was confused. Why did Naku hide me that she was so important to the Naga when we first met? "I am the avatar of the spirit Nagur, an incarnate fragment of It... Sorry for not telling you, Aruh ... I hid it for a selfish and personal motive." (Naku) Naku''s gesture softened as she apologized to me, I felt feel some sadness in her eyes. "Listen, Aruh... No, listen the three of you and tell it to all the inhabitants of the mountains of Tulser... From today on, I am the fiancee of Aruh Hydran." (Naku) Elements of magic Elements of Magic. In Maltras (or at least in the countries with a developed magic education) it is known that people can produce phenomena that mimic those of nature. The scholars of Eralgia, classify the phenomena into 7 elements: -Fire -Water Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.-Wind -Earth -Health (or healing) -Thunder -Darkness A person with the ability to perform magic can only manipulate one element, without confirmed exceptions aside from legends. There are debates about the existence of three other types, but an agreement about them being recognized has not been reached. And these elements are: -Plant -Body -Death The reason why total recognition is denied is because that those elements can only be used by monsters (for the three of them) or by an spirit protection (for the first two). And even, there is an element that no one has noticed its existence since its effects are similar to lightning, health and fire ... The Light element. Chapter 8 Chapter 8: Engagement Naku and I were alone, sitting opposite each other inside of my house. Outside, I could feel the presence of more people approaching the house. Father and mother had obeyed Naku''s command and gave the news to the villagers. It will soon spread to the rest of the region, and after a while, throughout the kingdom. My gaze was on Naku, who had returned to the personality with which I met her. "Wow, your house is quite cozy..." (Naku) "..." (Aruh) Naku was trying to start a conversation, but I was silent. While it may seem that I am being rude to the naga''s benefactor spirit, I do not care now. Appearing and proclaiming herself as my fiancee, that left me quite perplexed. I understand that maybe he had a reason to hide her identity, I''m not so childish as to bother me ... Even if I¡¯m a child at the moment. My mind is working wildly. Naku, a pretty girl like her as my fiancee, that means that we will have d-dates ... and that in the future we will get married, right? Or rather, there may be a political motive for this, but why a villager like me? Is there any reason for it? Or rather, if it is, I have to work harder and become a decent man ... "Sorry." (Naku) Naku apologized while I continued having ideas, it seems that she took my silence as anger. "I wanted to enjoy everything I could before telling you who I am ... that''s why I did not tell you when we met." (Naku) "Enjoy?" (Aruh) "It was so much fun to be with you, Aruh. I had the best moments of my life so far..." (Naku) Naku paused for a moment, she closed her eyes for an instant, as if she were looking back at her past. "Tell me, Aruh, how much do you know about the oracle of Nagur?" (Naku) "Not much. I know as much of Nagur as mom, dad and all Naga do... But it''s the first time I hear about the oracle." (Aruh) "And you know why that is?" (Naku) "No." (Aruh) "That is because, since the Naga began to inhabit the mountains of Tulser to date, I am the very first oracle of Nagur." (Naku) The first Nagur oracle of history. My knowledge of the Spirit of the Naga is like those of others: about how It welcomed the nomadic Naga over 7000 years ago and gave them Its blessing, about the festivities and how to pay tribute to It. But neither father nor mother... None of the villagers had mentioned anything about an oracle. But even so, everyone seemed to know her by just seeing her. And I do not think that it was only hidden to me. "The news about my existence will only be public until I reach the age of 23. Until recently, only my parents, the priestesses and a few elderly people knew about me, but as you will have noticed, just by seeing me the Naga know who I am and involuntarily show me respect and devotion. " (Naku)The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "That includes my own parents," Naku whispered. Now I understand why being with me seemed so much fun. Oracle or not, Naku is still an 8 year old girl but there is no one to treat her as such; Even for her parents she would be an object of worship instead of her daughter, I can imagine why a simple talk is so great for her. But that explanation leaves a great question. "Naku, when I saw you I did not feel that feeling yet I found you cute. Is that why you chose me as your fianc¨¦?" (Aruh) Naku let out a cheerful laugh, it seems my question sounded like flirtation. "You are too adorable, there is no doubt that that influenced... Although in truth, there is also another reason¡­" (Naku) There was a brief moment of silence as she looked at me, as if she were checking something in me. "Do you know the term ''oracle''? Aruh" (Naku) "Do not." (Aruh) I did not lie, I know what an oracle is on Earth, but I do not know what it represents in Maltras. But from what I hear during his proclamation in front of my parents, it must be a similar concept. "An oracle is a gift from gods or spirits, it may also be a manifestation of themselves. However, after the condemnation of the gods and the war of the demons 8,000 years ago, where the vast majority of the older spirits died, the oracles are only born when a disaster of great level approaches. " (Naku) "So ... The fact that Naku was born means that a great danger approaches the mountains of Tulser?" (Aruh) "Not only to the mountains of Tulser, but to the whole world." (Naku) "To the whole world? In that case it would be better to announce something of such magnitude to the kingdom." (Aruh) Why keep the secret of the existence of an oracle if something so serious is coming? "Then there would be a big problem, since, although a danger is known, there is no way to know what it is about. The power of the spirits is not as strong as revealing the future as a whole." (Naku) "Ah, such a thing would only sow fear and worry in people." (Aruh) "That''s right, there''s just going to bring chaos and make things worse." (Naku) "So, the reason for our commitment is related to this disaster?" (Aruh) Naku nodded slightly. "Three months ago, I had a dream. In that dream I embarked on a journey to face a powerful enemy, however, when I found it I could not do anything against it and ended up being cornered. Just before being defeated, a knight dressed and armed with the light of the moon, and followed by a legion of warriors, he cut off my enemy, allowing me to defeat it. When bathed in victory, the knight and I contracted nuptials... "(Naku) It seems that the dream was embarrassing for her, Naku''s face flushed. "T-that knight was a Naga, and some of the actions in the dream were very romantic, something that no other Naga would be able to do with me ... Following the instructions of Nagur I came to this village and ... I met you. " (Naku) Naku''s words make me blush too. We both remained silent for a moment. But one point she had mentioned caught my attention. ".. W-well, now I understand the reason for the engagement... But I still have a question. You mentioned something about a trip, that is to say, we will leave the mountains of Tulser, right?" (Aruh) "Yes. Following the prophecy we would have to leave the mountains of Tulser in search of the threat ... That meant you¡¯ll the blessing of Nagur." (Naku) It seems that she thought that was what bothered me, but it''s another matter that worries me. "After all, we must inform the kingdom about the prophecy and the existence of the oracle." (Aruh) "That can not be, was it not clear why it should be hidden?" (Naku) "Naku, how much do you know about the world outside the mountains?" (Aruh) "The world outside the mountains?" (Naku) "Yes, I am referring to its political and social condition, culture, currencies, the advancement of its technology, among other things, much of what we know from the outside has been granted by the kingdom, yes, there are humans that settled down in the Tulser mountains, but relying on information from a small group is very risky... That is why I suggest the assistance of the kingdom, or at least some reliable officers to be able to resolve the threat that is approaching." (Aruh) Naku remained silent listening to what I said. "Yes, you are right in that. I will seek the consent of the elders and priestesses ... But are you not concerned with the fact of losing the blessing of Nagur when you leave the mountains?" (Naku) "If I lose my strength I will get a weapon that will empower me, if I lose my resistance I will get a more resistant armor than the mountain. I will train until feel worthy of my own skill and get the knowledge to protect you, Naku. " (Aruh) Letting myself go for the moment, I rise and proclaim with impetus. As she listened, Naku''s eyes got wet, which worried me. When I approached to try to comfort her, I was embraced by her. "N-Naku?" (Aruh) She did not respond to my call, she just kept hugging me. It is a bit shameful but it is a pleasant experience. Chapter 9 Chapter 9: Commercial success begins with a good idea. After the conversation between Naku and me, our engagement was made public. One of the priestesses who accompanied Naku received orders from her to inform the rest of her followers about me and about the idea of informing the kingdom. As for her lodging, a house was built close to mine with an amazing speed. After that, playing and dating Naku became part of my life. My fame among the villagers increased even more, but not close the veneration they felt towards my fiancee... towards Naku. I must say, being with Naku is extremely fun. We share a lot of tastes and we both have a big curiosity, but when we are together our minds work in a strange way and we do silly things only crazy people would do. Like when we tried to break the record of cliff jumping to the river, and as when we stole some honey from a honeycomb of giant red bees and they chased us. Also,I must also recognize something... Naku is much stronger than me. Not in physical power, in fact, strangely enough, despite being the oracle of Nagur her physical strength is similar to that of a human being. However, her golden eye allows her to see the flow of all attacks against her, whether short or long distance. In addition, her fencing surpasses father¡¯s and mother¡¯s, as so the rest of the Naga. You could say that, if I am a genius, she is a super genius. But they are not things that I dislike, on the contrary, the more I know Naku the more I like her. However, nobody knew due to Naku coming to live here, but I already created a technological revolution at that time. In fact, it wasn¡¯t until my grandmother realized, that the gears started to move. It all started one day when my grandparents visited my house: "Even so, it¡¯s strange that an oracle of Nagur was born. It did not happen even when a plague broke out in the east 200 years ago, it means that something worse is coming." (Grandmother) "Do not say such things, mother. I feel worried about the future of Aruh, who is her fianc¨¦. Things may change and blessings may come instead of a catastrophe." (Mura) "That''s too good to be true. Although I do not think we have to worry about Aruh, no matter what obstacles he finds, he will solve them." (Grandmother) "You¡¯re right, he''s smart enough and skilled for his age¡­ And he will only grow better." (Mura) "Mom, grandma, I''ve finished bathing." (Aruh) The bathroom of the house is in a small wooden tub that is filled with an aqueduct that enters through a window. On the other side of the window, a family member helps heating water and adds water to the aqueduct. In this case, grandpa is the one who helped me. This method is quite impractical, there is not much problem thanks to the strength of a Naga, but other races must have problems with this method. Perhaps I should implement a method of extraction of water by pressure and also a heater. I wonder what the best method will be. When I finished taking a shower, it was someone else''s turn, so I told mom and grandma. "Thank you Aruh... Um? You smell very well, did your grandfather mix flowers with water?" (Grandmother)This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. "No, I used soap to wash me ... Oh, I forgot to show it to you!" (Aruh) Silly me, I wanted to show them the soap since the first day but I had forgotten it so far. My mind has been very focused on Naku lately. ¡°This is what I used.¡± (Aruh) Mom and grandma took a piece of soap each and looked at it with curiosity. ¡°What is this? It feels sticky when touched." (Mura) The bar Mom had taken was a bit wet and was generating foam. "Not to mention how good it smells. Is it some kind of flower paste?" (Grandmother) "No, it''s soap. It serves to clean by wetting it and rubbing it in the body, it should also serve with the clothes." (Aruh) "Oh, that sounds pretty good. Do you mind if mom and grandma use it?" (Mura) ¡°Sure, I''ll give those to you. (Aruh) Intrigued by the new product, mom and grandma took a shower each to use it. When it was grandfather''s turn to bathe, his reaction was quite similar to theirs¡­ Also was dad¡¯s later that day.. It seems that soap is the most innovative thing they have seen in their lives ... I will also make one special for the dishes. Two days after presenting the soap to my family, several people began to come with the intention of buying it. Due that the village is small, making enough soap for all the villagers is no problem. As for the time invested in its manufacture, I used the time between morning training and the dating hours with Naku. "Greetings, young Aruh, oracle Nakureshta. May I take some of your time?" (?) When Naku and I went to the forest, a person called us. It was Dr. Spencer Lakestream, the elf doctor of the village. "I am surprised at your alchemical ability, young Aruh, you are a genius among geniuses!" (Spencer) "True, plus he has a lot of potential in other areas." (Naku) I should tell them that it was not me who invented the soap but brought it from another world... But that would be to reveal my identity as a reincarnated person. "The mix is pretty simple, so I do not think it''s that great." (Aruh) "Do not be modest. It''s good to take credit for personal achievements." (Spencer) "Yes, I also remember that you said that the preparation was dangerous. It takes skill to achieve success under such conditions." (Naku) "Okay, I understand, and what can I do for you, Doctor Spencer?" (Aruh) Shame makes me change the subject as soon as possible. "About that, you see ... Among the elves there is a formula for the soap but it is quite difficult to produce since the algae we use to manufacture it only grows in some lakes in the west of Eralgia, on its border with Maputtu. In addition, it does not even come close to the amount of foam that this version of the soap can produce ... "(Spencer) Wow, so there are already naturist versions of soap in this world. "For these reasons I would like to ask you two questions... Is it possible to produce it in large quantities? And, could you share your recipe?" Obviously you will be compensated for it." (Spencer) Wow! A bargain offer! It is not that I look for monetary wealth, the Naga are not so ambitious in that part, but to obtain some funds before traveling outside of the mountains of Tulser is something important. In addition, I could also ask for some extra rewards that are not money. "It can be produced in large quantities, and there are other methods other than the one I used in its manufacture. And as for sharing the recipe, can I specify the reward?" (Aruh) "Of course, I also offer 50 gold eralgic coins as extra to your order. What are your terms?" (Spencer) F-fifty ?! That''s lots of money! Currency conversions in Eralgia are: Poor metal = Lower value coin. Low bronze = 100 coins of poor metal. Bronze = 50 low bronze coins. Silver = 2 bronze coins. Gem coin = 5 silver coins. Eralgic Gold= 10 Coins of gem. Having wheat as an example (which is imported to the mountains of Tulser) a bag with one kilogram costs 15 coins of low bronze. That speaks of the value of the payment. "What I want is knowledge.I would like to get magic books and alchemical recipes, as well some of herbal medicine and any other related subject... If possible, I would like you to teach me." (Aruh) "Uhm, well, there''s no problem for me ... Unfortunately, I need to inform you that you need talent for magic and that there are many recipes where you have to use healing spells to create them. I heard your intentions were to become a blacksmith... Have you regretted it? " (Spencer) "No, I still have the intention of being a blacksmith, but I also seek other knowledges. It does not matter if I do not have the necessary magical ability, knowledge it¡äs strenght... I promised someone that I would be strong." (Aruh) A few tears came from Dr. Spencer, who seemed to have been touched by my words. "What a beautiful philosophy, a fervent spirit and hungry for wisdom, I will gladly teach you what I know about magic and alchemy." (Spencer) The doctor wiped his eyes and offered me his hand to seal the deal. "Thank you, Dr. Spencer" (Aruh) For my part, by sharing the soap recipe, I hope it will become popular and distributed in the kingdom. Better hygiene, better lifestyle. As I looked at Naku again, I noticed that she was looking at me silently with reddened cheeks and an expression of happiness. If you look at me with such a cute expression as that, I will blush too, Naku. Chapter 10 Chapter 10: Lessons of medicine and magic It was agreed that Dr. Spencer would teach Naku and me. Because I mentioned my desire to improve myself to help her, Naku became more affectionate towards me and asked Dr Spencer to teach her too. "This is a" Magic Gem. It is obtained by crushing magic stones along with normal rocks, I usually use red rocks. The mixture is put to boil in water with a few drops of monster¡¯s blood, and we only wait for the gem to form in the liquid " (Spencer) Dr. Spencer gives us one of his basic lessons on how to make the most basic compound of alchemy: the magical gem. The magic stones that Dr. Spencer mentioned are an internal organ and not a mineral; All animals and monsters in the world have an organ attached to the stomach, which allows them to hold their magic power, is called stone because it crystallizes when it comes into contact with the air. Without that organ it would be impossible for monsters as large and heavy as the Gums to move over land or for giant bees to breathe and fly ... In other words, the magic stone is the reason for the existence of creatures that defy everything I learned about biology on Earth. It is worth mentioning that the stronger the monster, the higher the quality of the stone, and this affects the results for which it is used. I have the hypothesis that Naga, humans and all other races must also have a magic stone, but for religious reasons the subject has not been touched. Being an organ, it is normal that it is very difficult to control and only some people are able to do it at will to create spells. "Magic gems are the basis of all alchemical process, it is what allows us to extract the potential of ingredients and turn them into magical substances ... And not only used in alchemy, but also in the manufacture of magic wands." (Spencer) ... The days continue like this, Dr. Spencer''s lessons are easy to learn even though there are times when he uses terms I do not know. However, the lessons seem to be a bit difficult for Naku, who was saddened for being of not much help. I obviously my best to comfort her, and in the end, she came to the conclusion that she will train her fighting skills to be unbeatable at combat. I do not know what kind of training she decided to do, but since then, the difference in combat between the two of us has been widening day by day in her favor. She still continued to attend Dr. Spencer''s classes, but decided to limit herself to the application of first aids and the use of medications.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ... Five months passed without us realizing and Naku''s birthday was approaching, so I decided to give her a gift. As Dr. Spencer had warned me, I am not capable of making magic potions because I have no talent in healing magic ... or any other element, so I can not cast any magic spells. However, these studies have not been a lost cause: thanks to the lessons, I have managed to overcome the limits of my ability to control the blessing of Nagur, in fact, apart from my strength and ability to feel presences, I am recently acquiring a new skill that makes me able to feel the condition in which someone is just by touching them. So far, it only works if I concentrate a lot, but is improving day by day. Unfortunately, when I investigated the doctor''s manuscripts, I learned that this ability was common among the demons, so it was considered taboo... I decided to keep it secret except for Naku, who in turn promised to be my accomplice. In addition, although I can not create potions, I have gained much knowledge about many ingredients and their uses. The same thing happens with the production of magic wands. In fact, my gift to Naku is related to this. The uses for wands are like that of fantasy tales on Earth: they are weapons that wizards wield to expand their powers. The body of a wand consists of a wooden cane carved with different characters called ''Magic Formula'' and a magical gem on the tip. The operation is simple: the magician fills the magic formula with hetros and it is distributed to the gem, which stores it for a brief period, during which the magician evokes the spell. As a result, the spell can be up to twice as powerful as it usually is. Now, thanks to the teachings of Dr. Spencer and the manuscripts he has shown me, I have succeeded in developing some hypotheses about the workings of magic. To begin with, the magic formula is quite similar to binary programming, but more primitive, alchemists just add random numbers and no logic gates. This cause several problems: the hetros flows irregularly, the wood re-absorbs the energy accumulated in the gem and then releases it to the outside, losing it, etc... After some experiments, I managed to create two things that I think would completely revolutionize the concept of magic: the "magic battery" and the "spell cartridge". The magic battery is a component that gives energy to the ''magic circuit'' (the magic formula I designed) to create a device that emits light. It is worth mentioning that the most I could achieve is equivalent to 45 volts of energy and can last up to 30 days without receiving a magical recharge. I hope that as time goes by, I can find a way to increase both values. The spell cartridge on the other hand, consists of a tiny but effective magic circuit that can magnify up to 15 times the power of a spell (in theory). It has the defect that it is disposable, but it is easy to produce and the ingredients to make it are common... ¡®Easy¡¯ only if you know how to elaborate the circuit. Because both could be used against us, I have decided to keep this knowledge in a total secret and share its existence only if it is strictly necessary. Now, to avoid generating problems for Naku, her gift will be a version of a magic device that does not arouse suspicion. I carved a chip of wood and spiraled around a small round stone, causing it to emit a dim blue light, in other words, it¡¯s magic spell. "I wonder how I should give it to her... Like a cool guy or a nice guy? What''s the best time to give it to her?" (Aruh) As the birthday date approached, my mind began to digress into the method of giving my gift to Naku. Frustrated by my indecision, I decide to hurry and start training with dad. SS 2 SS 2: Dilemma and joy of an elf teacher. * Dr. Spencer''s POV* My name is Spencer Lakestream, an elf who works as a doctor in a small Naga¡¯s village called Alturi. Being a pioneer village with the aim of extending control in this area of the mountains, the number of inhabitants is low, and therefore, my work as doctor is peaceful. Although I am of the elven family, my father was a human man, and it was he who gave me my name and inherited me his last name. Many have been the jokes of my friends and acquaintances that my name does not sound elvish at all. Now, my name does not bother me, and since I settled in Alturi no one has commented on that. To tell the truth, I miss the colleagues who used to joke with my name. Marcel, Leurio, Tonse, Ragaste, I wonder how those boys will be after having taken separate roads. I hope fortune smiles upon them. The only one of my friends with whom I still have contact (if little) is Allan, who decided to become a merchant after graduating from the Capital¡¯s Academy. His full name is Allan Dewell, an optimistic man of good nature, features not very compatible with the trade industry, where only the ambitious and the evil succeed. Fortunately, I have not received any news that he has been swindled and turned into a slave. On the contrary, it seems that his business as a peddler has been fruitful and he has even bought a house, contracted nuptials, and formed a family.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. A family ... If only my son took the time to visit me. Bah, there''s nothing I can do now. As for Allan, what was the name of the place where he lives now? M ... Mo ... Mo ... Molse? Yes, I remember, the town of Molse in the Waterloud region. I need to get in touch with him as soon as possible, there is no one more reliable than him to start with the sales of this new product: High foam soap. A mixture of a special salt, fat or oil, and a touch of fragrance. Who would have imagined that such a simple mixture would create such a spectacular product? Its creator is a Naga child without any training in alchemy, how he came up with such an idea is a mystery, he even knew about the harmful properties of salt and took precautions about it. The best-known legend among the elves is about when the god of wisdom appeared to a woman during a difficult birth and told her that the child was having trouble being born because he was receiving a part of his knowledge. That child will grow into the father of alchemy. Perhaps that is the case with the young Aruh, and the reason why he was chosen by an oracle as his betrothed. No, rather, I''m sure that''s the case. Curiosity and desire to learn, as well as a great mental ability. Is a pity that lacks the magic required for alchemy, if he had it, he would already be enrolled at Capital¡¯s Academy... Ah, right. Being a Naga, he can not leave the mountains of Tulser... In any case, it is best to contact Allan and tell him about the soap for now. SS 3 SS 3: North''s situation *Third person POV* The northern region of Eralgia: Bancera, a prosperous land like the rest of the kingdom. According to the opinion of many, the winter in this region is colder and longer, but it¡¯s not so bad in the eyes of the other kingdoms further north. Especially to the border neighbor, the kingdom of Timancera, a land of crude winters, a characteristic of the north of the continent. Although it¡¯s not that poor and with completely infertile land like, far was from the abundance of Eralgia. That is why on many occasions Timancera looked with envy at the gifts of the land its neighbor had. The relations between the two kingdoms was not good, there were many conflicts and battles that were unleashed at the slightest provocation. For this reason, both countries have built several fortresses in their borders. One of them was Gau, property of the kingdom of Eralgia that protects the most important strategic zone of the region. "We have arrived, Commander, you can appreciate the fortress from there." (Young knight) "Yes, I can see it." (Commander) Surrounded by dense forests, a stone-built castle stood intimidated against any aggressor who thought to attack it. With thick and high walls from where one could throw stones, arrows or spells, and an interior built in the form of a maze. The fortress of Gau had the reputation of "unconquerable". "This is the first step of my promotion ... It will not be long before I acquire the rank of general, or rather, lord of the region." Commander An ambitious smile was drawn on the face of the man of burly physique and wild gaze. "Your uncle will be glad to bequeath you his post." (Young knight) "That old man can only be useful in the tomb. His methods are as decrepit and cowardly as himself. If you want to keep an enemy a line you have to teach them a lesson by force, not to hide under the ground like a snake." CommanderThis book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Be careful what you say, Commander Jarader.¡± (Young knight) "You are right. I will be better start acting like the brave and virtuous nephew he hopes to have." (Jarader) Jarader Doma, nephew of the lord of the region, Owen Doma. Astute and messed up for those who knew him well, he was a good actor who behaved as an honest man. Perhaps because he came from an important military family, his skill in combat was unparalleled and that had conferred him several war merits, allowing him to ascend from a young age in the ranks. Currently, at the suggestion of his father and with the permission of the court, he and his squad would join the defense forces of Gao, at the command of his uncle. This may represent a breakthrough in his career, if everything went according his plans, he could inherit his uncle¡¯s position, if not, he could return to the capital with more merits. Both were very good scenarios, but for someone who loved violence as much as he did, the position of his uncle was more appealing. ... "According to Mr. Owen''s latest reports, a number of 3,000 timancerite infantrymen have left the fort north of here towards an easterly direction." (Young knight) "3,000 men ... That''s 12 squadrons, what about heavy units or cavalry?" (Jarader) In addition, according to the information given by the lords from the neighbor regions, that is the only fort that has dispatched the men at the moment. (Young equestrian) "That''s why I do not like the ineptitude of these geezers. That¡¯s not something difficult to decipher. Timancera had a bad harvest in that region and keeping too much mouths is unnecessary. (Jarader) Jarader and his close aid talked quietly as the unit marched toward Gau with tranquil pace. It would be bad to arrive with tired troops. ¡°Cavalry and heavy units consume a lot of resources. Would it not be better getting rid of these?" (Young knight) "That is only if you plan to extend this conflict.... It is likely that the timancerites try to make us believe that they have weakened so that we become overconfident and march against them, leading us to a trap.They must have a counterattack plan that depends on mobile units to decimate our forces, and siege weapons to attack our fort. " (Jarader) "But that could increase hostilities and unleash an open war between the two kingdoms!... In addition, in any case, your uncle uncle would prefer to keep the defenses instead of attacking." (Young knight) "Like a hungry monster, a person, or in this case, a kingdom, could take a big risk in order to get food¡­ Even starting a war. Famine must be worse than ever." (Jarader) Jarader began to reflect a little, thinking in the reasons how the Timancera kingdom could provoke his uncle so that he will make the decision to attack. In addition, if they are withdrawing troops it is because they are waiting for something. "The cowardly attitude of the old man will help Eralgia right now, but that would be boring and bad for me ... Whatever plan they have, I hope it works, Timancera¡¯s bastards." (Jarader) Chapter 11 Chapter 11: The Merchant Princess (Part One) My luck is terrible. Although my intentions were to hold a birthday party for Naku, my plans were ruined. It was nothing exorbitant or anything of the sort, but at least I thought in doing something better than the traditional way of the Naga to celebrate birthdays that¡¯s giving the feted only an embrace (I will also do that too!)... I will cook her a hare. I wanted to bake her a cake, but white flour is expensive and hard to get, sugar is even harder. Besides, no matter how much I know about chemistry or how many times I reincarnate, the ability to cook eludes me ... The most I come to is roasting prey in a bonfire (in both worlds). But why did this happen? Why was she called back to Korka? It must be something important, since Naku was asked to meditate in order to get a prophesy. Twelve more days without her ... Ahhhh ... "You must feel so alone without the great oracle." (Kober) Woooahh! Since when Kober has been here? "You do not have to react as if you''ve seen a dead man walking." (Kober) "Yeah, sorry, I''m kind of thoughtful." (Aruh) "And to be thoughtful is due to the great and merciful avatar of Nagur?" (Kober) "Shut up! It¡¯s none of your business. Did you come here to laugh at me?" (Aruh) "Come here? We''re in the middle of the road. I dragged you out of your fantasies because you''re blocking the way." (Kober) Now that I realize, I''m in the middle of the road, a couple of girls walked past us smiling at us. "If I didnt had to help my father bringing the milk,, I would use you to convince the other children that I have the power to control people. It would have been fun to see their expressions of fear, ku, ku, ku.¡± (Kober) "You no longer settle for bothering Jupero and now you want to become a lord of darkness or something, right?" (Aruh) "Like you, Aruh, I intend to improve day by day." (Kober) ¡°Your intentions to improve are heading in a strange direction.¡± (Aruh) "I''d rather use the word ''unconventional." Well, it was fun talking to you, Aruh, but my father will scold me if I take too long to bring milk. It has yet to be turned into cheese to be ready for the festival. " (Kober) Oh, yes, the autumn¡¯s festival. I was so focused on Naku''s birthday that I had forgotten about such an important celebration. The first day of the next month is celebrated the beginning of autumn, and with it, the beginning of the harvest season. In seven days to be exact. "You have to help as well even when you are the Naga¡¯s prodigy." (Kober) Kober gave me one last warning and continued with his work, I just nodded. Well, Kober is right that I should not waste time... Twelve days for Naku¡¯s return will pass quickly, right? Meanwhile, I will take advantage of my studies and training; Obviously, I will also help in the festival¡¯s preparations in order to have many stories to tell to Naku when she arrives.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ... "You can take a break. Here, I made you an appetizer." (Spencer) While I was studying one of the scrolls, Professor Spencer offered me a sandwich consisting of a slice of black bread with creamy cheese on top, and a cup of herbal tea. The bread is hard and a bit bitter, but the tea facilitates its consumption besides having a pleasant taste. The cheese is made in the village, its flavor and texture is very similar to the ricotta but is very durable at room temperature, perhaps because one is made from milk of a domesticated creature: the cierviro. "Thank you, Professor Spencer. A little food will help me to focus." (Aruh) "Ask if you have questions, the Rasitto method to extract the oil from the leaves is a bit misleading." (Spencer) "Yeah, it¡¯s good that you mention it. On the pressing part, aside from using only monster saliva, Would it be better to use water with... Huh?" (Aruh "What is it, Aruh?" (Spencer) "There are several human presences in the village that I do not know." (Aruh) Seven in all, none of the presences are similar to that of Captain Almond or one of his men. The strange thing is that Alturi is not yet ready for human settlement. There must be a good reason for them to go through several dangers to get here. "Oh, Could it be that...?" (Spencer) Dr. Spencer looked a little annoyed. He surely knows something about them. "Do you know where the group is?" (Spencer) "They just entered the range of my perception, so about 800 meters from here, towards the square. It seems they are coming here." (Aruh) "Allan, that idiot... I''ll have to give him a good sermon." (Spencer) "Do you know these people, Doctor?" (Aruh) "It is more likely that he is an old friend of mine, but we were to meet in village closer to the base of the mountains." (Spencer) Judging from the expression Prof. Spencer has, his acquaintance must possess a somewhat problematic personality. "He is an old friend of mine, a merchant whom I offered to help distribute the soap outside of Tulser, but I did not think he would dare to come here." (Spencer) "I see, he must be a very passionate merchant and a very good friend to take the troubles to come here visit you, Pof. Spencer." (Aruh) "Right, he''s a good man ... Tell me, being the creator of the soap, would you like to meet him?" (Spencer) It may be a good option to expand my contacts. Besides, being the one who introduced the soap to this world, it would be irresponsible of me if I did not try to at least solve the doubts of someone involved to this degree. On the other hand, it looks like it''s going to be a troublesome affair... No, I must be responsible. "Although my friend is a peddler, he handles some exotic items that might get your attention." (Spencer) "I will ... Huh?" (Aruh) "Well said, ambition and curiosity are important traits for a researcher." (Spencer) It was a coincidence that I accepted when bribed! I looked like someone who is carried away by their desires. "But remember that you must not let yourself be driven by desire or you will end up ruining yourself." (Spencer) "Yes." (Aruh) I could only nod. ... After a brief wait, a large carriage reaches the front of Prof. Spencer''s house, so we go out to greet them. The cart is pulled by two horses and there is a group of three riders wearing leather armor and armed with swords that escolt it. It was very daring to have come here with only three escorts... They may have been accompanied by some Naga and they separated before I could perceived them. One of the escorts, a young woman with long red hair, approached us to where Prof. Spencer and I were. "Good afternoon, are you Dr. Spencer Lakestream?" (Girl) "That''s right, where''s my good friend, Allan?" (Spencer) "One moment, please." (Girl) The young redhead looks at her other companions and the driver of the carriage and nods, a gesture that is answered in the same way. "We have arrived, Mr. Dewell." (Driver) The driver of the car came down and opened the door to the people inside. "Spencer, my friend, you have not changed at all!" (Man) A tall, stout man greeted Prof. Spencer as soon as he got out of the car. "Allan..." (Spencer) On the other hand, Prof. Spencer smiled nervously. "Wait, there''s someone I want to show off." (Allan) The man went back to the car. "Come on, honey. We''re here with my friend Spencer." (Allan) "Finally! The trip was very long and exhausting." (Girl) Eh? Eh? Eh? Who is that girl? It''s just as beautiful as Naku!!! Her race is human, there is no doubt, but she has a beauty similar to that of a fairy. Exquisite features with a slight arrogant air, green eyes, long golden hair combed in two braids of corkscrew. Her age must be around mine, and with that lovely pink dress made from some vegetable fiber, she looked like a princess. What is this? No, not again. I already have Naku. Chapter 12 Chapter 12: The Merchant Princess (Part Two) Be strong, Aruh Hydran! Phew... Phew... I will not fall easily. Due to I gaining some experience with Naku, I am able to suppress this emotion. Yes, this girl is cute, but I already have someone I like, and I will not grow up and become a womanizer. "This is your friend''s village, Papa? When the guards who accompanied us said it was a dangerous area, I thought it really was... But it looks peaceful. " (Girl) "This village is peaceful because of the Naga, but getting out of it is dangerous, Fortuna." (Allan) Fortuna, is that her name? Sounds nice and difficult to forget ... "Such a beautiful daughter you have! How did a bear like you manage to have her?" (Spencer) "My seed is of high quality, Spencer. It is an obvious result that my daughter is exceptional." (Allan) Spencer''s friend, Mr. Allan, took his daughter and sat her on one of his shoulders; The two of us approached to where we were. "Mr. Dewell, we solicit permission to give water, food and rest to the horses." (Red haired girl) The young redhead girl made a request as she got off her horse. The rest of the escorts also dismounted. "Do you mind if I let my horses rest? It was a long trip of several days and it was exhausting, I''m going to pay you, of course. " (Allan) "Do not worry about payment. What kind of friend would I be if I asked for compensation?" (Spencer) "Thank you, Spencer" (Allan) Mr. Allan gave an order to the redhead girl and she walked over towards me. ¡°Hey, slave¡­ Bring us to the stable.¡± (Red haired girl) Confused by the young woman''s words, I looked both my right and left, then pointed myself as if she was asking talking to me. The expression of the young woman has become severe at my reaction. "Are you mocking me? Naga or whatever. A slave is a slave. Maybe I have to teach you a lesson." (Girl) ¡°What kind of attitude is that?!¡± (Spencer) "Oh, I''m sorry, Blair has a bad temper when a servant shows no respect. Blair, behave yourself! You''ll cause trouble to Spencer and the Naga!¡± (Allan) Mr. Allan stopped the girl when she took a leather whip from her belt. Phew, saved¡­ I almost broke both her arms... "I know it''s wrong to suggest you this being your guest, but a disobedient slave requires strong discipline." (Allan) "You know nothing about the Naga. Listen, Allan... That child who you are lacking respect towards is not my servant nor slave, but my student... And the creator of the soap I told about." (Spencer)The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Eh?!¡± (Allan) Not only Mr. Allan was surprised, but also his escorts, especially the redhead who tried to hit me. His daughter Fortuna, on the other hand,looked surprised, but also looked as if she found something she was looking for. ... Prof. Spencer took us inside his house where he served some appetizers for the guests. The three escorts and the driver went to leave the horses at the stable, so they were not present. The seventh presence I felt was that of an assistant accompanying them inside the car. "Wow, Spencer had told me you were young, but I imagined you were at least a bit older." (Allan) "I understand how you feel, Aruh is an intelligent boy. At the moment I am his teacher, but I am sure that in a matter of time for the positions to be reversed." (Spencer) "Call me when that happens, I''ll love to see that... Ehem, I think I''m starting to digress... I will start by introducing myself and specifying the reason I came." (Allan) "Yes, that would be for the best." (Spencer) The eyes of both Dr. Spencer and Mr. Allan focused on me. "My name is Allan Dewell, a merchant. This adorable angel is my daughter, Fortuna Dewell The man who accompanies us is a servant of our house, Erick. Then, there are Lou, Bryan and Samuel¡­ And also, I want to apologize for the inconvenience that Blair caused you, I assure you she will receive a proper punishment." (Allan) The man with the appearance of an assistant put an arm at the height of his abdomen and made an elegant bow when introduced. "I am Aruh Hydran, son of Tovs and Mura Hydran. I am a disciple of Prof. Spencer. However, I can not use healing magic. As for the punishment for your companion, you do not have to be so strict with her. It was only a misunderstanding.¡± (Aruh) "I appreciate your compassion. I didn''t bring much with me but you can take something from my cargo as compensation." (Allan) Yes, I got a reward! "Now, I would like to talk about the reason for my visit... As you can guess, after receiving a sample of the so-called soap that you had created, I decided to come and talk to you, young Aruh" (Allan) "Did you come to this village just to talk to Aruh? We could have met at Korka or some other village closer to the base of the mountains safer than here." (Spencer) "About that... Partly, it was because I wanted to see the place where you have been living... And the other part was because Fortuna wanted to look around the home of the person who created the soap." (Allan) "Exactly!" (Fortuna) After listening to Mr. Allan''s explanation, his daughter Fortuna stood and looked in my direction. "Just meeting in person is not enough. A successful merchant need to know that person thoroughly, including where they grew up!" (Fortuna) This girl gives me the chills¡­ And is so smart for someone so young¡­ Is she also a reincarnated person? "I am also a believer that if you find gold once in a land, you can find it twice." (Fortuna) "Your daughter is... Pretty intelligent." (Spencer) "Thanks to her, I made a good decision in a business a year ago and finally I was able to start a company. Now I have enough money to hire employees." (Allan) "Why didn''t you tell me about it? I thought you were still a peddler." (Spencer) "Heh, heh, heh. I''ve been a little busy." (Allan) Ignoring the two adults talking, Fortuna approached me with soft, graceful steps. If she introduced herself as a princess, anyone would believe her. "............" (Fortuna) Standing in front of me, Fortuna only stared at me. "Is there something wrong? It''s a bit uncomfortable for me if you stare so hard, Miss Fortuna." (Aruh) "...You are very handsome." (Fortuna) "Eh?" (Aruh) W-why did you say that? Now I feel like my face turning red, but not for anger. No! She is making my determination tremble, it is time to counterattack... "And you''re also pretty smart on top of that ... Totally my type! Would you be interested in being my fiance?" (Fortuna) This girl will not let me fight back! IShe is equal to Naku in that aspect. Are all women in Maltras that aggressive? "It sounds good. If you join our family, the company would be in the hands of two smart people." (Allan) No... I will not lose. "Already... I already have someone I like... Someone I love." (Aruh) I did it! I have admitted my feelings for Naku, I have said that I love her. I love being with her, it''s fun and I like her virtues and flaws. Her absence hurts me... Huh? I feel as if our roles had been reversed and I was the maiden waiting for her beloved... Ok, the analogy was not the best. However, my feelings are genuine and I will not be seduced. As a man, I must be strong and reliable. "That''s a problem ..." (Fortuna) I''m sorry, Fortuna, but that''s the way it is... "It means that we have to decide who the main wife is." (Fortuna) ......What? Chapter 13 Chapter 13: Combat practice with love in between. I do not know what kind of situation I''ve gotten myself into. Even when I explained the reason for my engagement to Naku and our mission, Fortuna and her father insisted on the second marriage. "You know, the humans of Eralgia practice polygamy under certain circumstances. It is usually the man who has several wives and concubines, but in some cases, like nobility, the papers can be reversed." (Spencer) ¡°To tell you the truth, Blair is the daughter I had with my concubine." (Allan) Both explained the human culture of the kingdom to me. But the Naga are different: they form couples for procreating and raising the children. Naku has a big heart, but she will get hurt if I marry someone else. In the end, we agreed that Fortuna, Mr. Allan, and their servants would get lodging in the village for four days, so Fortuna and I could get to know each other better (I began to call her without honorifics by her own insistence). I will do my best to resist... Well, apart from the talk about marriage, there was also the issue of the soap production. The first point to be discussed was the obtaining of the raw material. At first, I thought that a great demand was going to be covered and that the saline water electrolysis method should be used to extract the soda (which I described to Prof. Spencer as salt formed in bodies of water where lightning falls so as not to describe all the principle behind it, since it would be very suspicious to have such advanced knowledge), but due to the soap being still unknown, we can use the traditional method. The problem comes when it becomes popular. Although the population¡¯s density in Eralgia is not as high as it was in Europe in the 19th century and is widely scattered in comparison, there would still be a strong demand for a company as small as that of Mr Allan and there would be insufficient supply if he continues obtaining soda from the ashes. However, there is the disadvantage that Eralgia only has a small territory of coast and it is very far from where the headquarters of the company of Mr. Allan, are located. The solution came from Fortuna, who suggested building a factory near a saltwater lagoon located near the city where they live, in addition to hiring people who have the ability to use the magic element of lightning. It would require some experimentation and analysis but it was a very good idea. I truly believed that Fortuna was a person reincarnated from Earth like me, so I used some terms known worldwide, but she did not react to any of them. So, the terms were not of her knowledge, or she is just a normal girl with a lot of intelligence. In the end I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and I opted for the second option. ... At dawn the next day, after morning training, I decided to go out into the woods and get some berries. When I mentioned the subject of the second engagement to my parents, they told me that I would have to discuss it with Naku¡­ But that there would be no problem in knowing Fortuna better. Seriously, my parents can be very irresponsible... But they''re right in that I should talk to Naku. On the way to the forest, I feel the presence of Fortuna and somebody accompanying her, it''s the red-haired girl... Blair, her half-sister. The two are walking along the main path of the village, and sometimes stop in front of some villagers. Given their course they took, they may be heading towards my house. Ignoring them would not fix anything and would be rude and cowardly on my part. Very well, if they have an affair with me I will listen to it, after all, I have nothing against both of them. Yes, the older sister tried to hit me but that was a misunderstanding, and the confusion I feel inside is not Fortuna''s fault. Changing my way to a junction on the road, I wait for the two girls to appear, which they soon do. "Miss Fortuna, you really must take care of the way you approach me... I''m just the illegitimate daughter of a concubine." (Blair) "The one you should be careful of as you refer to me is you, dear sister. While we are from different mothers, we share the same father." (Fortuna) Oh, it seems like a family conversation, maybe you should return home and wait them there.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "I would like you to call me ¡®sister¡¯ at least when we are both alone..." (Fortuna) Too late! Fortuna saw me. A beautiful smile formed on her face as she gave me a lovely greeting. "Good morning, Aruh. It''s a joy to meet you on this beautiful morning." (Fortuna) "The feeling is mutual, Fortuna. Did you go out for a walk around the village? I can be your guide if you wish." (Aruh) "The truth is I wanted to meet your parents and introduce myself, but I see you''re busy." (Fortuna) "I was only going to pick up a few berries from the forest, but I can do it later." (Aruh) "No, no, a woman who gives herself to respect can not interrupt the work of a man." (Fortuna) Blair''s expression showed concern, as if anticipating something. "We will accompany you to the forest." (Fortuna) "I knew it..." (Blair) Blair murmured with a slight sigh, must be very accustomed to dealing with her little sister. "This part of the mountains is very dangerous." (Aruh) "But it looks like you can go alone, Aruh. Besides, Blair is pretty strong and could be our bodyguard." (Fortuna) The sight of her sister Blair was more intense, she did not even bothered to hide it. "I do not want to seem rude, but her strength would not be enough." (Aruh) "Oooh?" (Blair) Apparently, my words stung a sensitive spot. Blair advanced a few steps and stood between Fortuna and me. "Yesterday I was quite rude to you, young gentleman Aruh. My sincerest apologies." (Blair) "Maybe you should apologize too, Aruh." (Fortuna) "Huh?" (Aruh) "However, I can not let you insult the fencing style that my master has inherited me ... Young gentleman Aruh, I challenge you to a duel." (Blair) Ok, since yesterday I started to think about this girl in front of me. She is young, with an age around 13 or 14 years old, a little acne on her face accentuates her youthful appearance. Although not as beautiful as her younger sister, I''m sure in a couple of years, lots of suitors will rain on her. The problem is her personality, she is very explosive. When the smallest gesture that does not please her, she tends to make very extreme decisions. Seriously, although we Naga are peaceful, it does not mean that we tolerate aggression, especially me, due to still retaining part of the personality of my past life. Believing that it is okay to hit a Naga, even though they are in an inferior position, is a very silly idea. "It does not have to be a serious duel, just a practice duel." (Fortuna) Was ... everything planned by Fortuna? Her eyes, that seemed to emit stars, made me feel suspicious ... But I think it''s fine. On the one hand, it would be good to give her a lesson so she will not get into trouble later, and on the other hand I would like to see the combat level of the humans before embarking on the journey. "Okay, I accept ... Follow me, I''ll take you to a suitable place." (Aruh) Blair nods firmly, a fierce smile on her face. Fortuna on the other hand looked a bit surprised, it seems that she did not think I would accept so easily. ... Blair and I were facing each other in an open space. We both had a wooden sword and a shield in our hands as well as a helmet on our heads for better protection, making it clear that this was a practice match. "The encounter will consist of three rounds, if one of the two loses their sword or falls to the ground they will lose a point. Is that clear?" (Fortuna) "Yes!" (Blair / Aruh) "Fight with grace and honor! Begin!" (Fortuna) With the signal from Fortuna, Blair rushed towards me. Wow, so slow! Her first blow was directed towards my left shoulder, it was an attack so obvious that it seemed that she wanted for me to defend with my shield, but there is no need for it, I simply ran down her side, and with a quick attack, I striked her wrist making her drop the sword. I had to be careful not to hurt her. But this is quite bad, not only is her speed slow, but also her technique is poor and has lots of unnecessary movements. I think this match will not be useful to get information on the level of combat of humans. Or is this the average level? No, Captain Almond emits a stronger presence, and according to his words, there are many humans stronger than he. Blair may be on the low side of the scale. "Point for Aruh." (Fortuna) Blair shook her hand and took her sword again, clearly annoyed. We both took up our combat poses again. "Second round ... Start!" (Fortuna) Again, Blair throws herself at me, this time, more carefully. She learns quickly. She tried to strike me with her shield and prepared a thrust to to hit me for that I evaded her first attack. I must withdraw my previous opinion... Maybe her technique is not so good, and her body not fast, but she has good reflexes and intuition, plus she has a tactile mind to give continuity to her attacks. Even so, her technique requires a lot of attention if she wants to improve as a swordswoman. After I evaded both attacks, the next attacks tried to connect in my chest and my left side, I but deflected them effortlessly. It would be boring if I do not show initiative, so I also attacked. My first blow hit her leg, making it totter, while my second blow was a feint to the head to make her try to defend it with her shield... But the, I gently kicked her abdomen to knock her down. The combat ends in this way. With two points in my favor, Fortuna declares me the winner. "So it was true after all that the Naga are born warriors... What a humiliation!" (Blair) I thought she meant her pride in being beaten by someone younger than her, but Fortuna told me with herself because she overestimated her own strength. "I am sorry." (Fortuna) "For orchestrating the fight?" (Aruh) "Did you know that and yet you continued with it?" (Fortuna) "It was quite obvious, since yesterday I could see that you are very clever. It was not difficult to decipher it." (Aruh) A slight blush painted Fortuna''s cheeks, enough to allow me to notice and feel a lump in my throat again. "Then why...?" (Fortuna) "You worry about her a lot, don¡¯t you? I imagined I could use a little of a firm hand to make her realize her own limitations." (Aruh) I also had other intentions, but for some reason, I could not say them. "You''re a little naive if you think that will help Blair, you do not know her." (Fortuna) Fortuna turned her back on me, apparently I offended her. "But I thank you for the gesture." (Fortuna) After saying these last words, Fortuna went with Blair to help and comfort her. They''re a couple of problematic sisters, they''re very alike in that... A sensation stopped my thoughts. My ability to sense presences perceived someone important. It was Naku. Chapter 14 Chapter 14: Bloodbath? This is bad... Very, very bad. Naku was supposed to stay at Korka village for another twelve days, but she came early... Wait a minute! Why am I so worried? I may feel like an unfaithful husband, but that''s not the case. I want to see Naku! I want to see her after these days of absence! I must tell her what has happened, introduce her to Fortuna, but make it clear that she (Naku) is the only one in my heart. "Now that it''s clear to us that Aruh has great dexterity, it''s time to go for those berries." (Fortuna) "Wait a moment, I think I made it clear that it is very dangerous for both of us. Besides, as a winner, I ..." (Aruh) "Come on! There''s nothing to be afraid of in the woods if you''re with us. As a fighter, you''ve shown us superiority in skills. Protecting two more girls would not be a problem for you, right?" (Fortuna) Again, I fell into one of her plans ... What¡¯s with that good yet weird logic? Maybe, it''ll be a bad idea to let her meet Naku after all. ... It is useless to prolong the inevitable, so together with Fortuna and Blair, I headed towards my house, where Naku is waiting. "Someone to introduce us to? Will they be your parents?" (Fortune) "They are there too, but the person I''m talking to is related to the subject of our engagement." (Aruh) "Related, huh..." (Fortune) She must have figured who I was talking about, as a smile formed on her face. At the end, we decided to postpone going out to get the berries. During the course of our journey, Fortuna looked like a warrior preparing for battle, Blair, on the other hand, has been silent since the encounter, and every time our eyes meet, she avoids it in a bad mood ... I hope she changes that personality before it brings problems to her.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. When we finally arrived at my house, the first person to greet us was Naku, who was outside, waiting for me. I felt so good to see her, that for a moment, I forgot the situation I was in. "Aaaruuuh" (Naku) She looked happy too. But when she saw me getting closer, or rather, after seeing the girls who accompanied me, her face darkened with a serious gesture. Oh no! Did she find out? Were my parents the ones who told her? "It''s a pleasure to meet you, young oracle of the Naga. My name is Fortuna Dewell, and the person who accompanies me is my half sister and bodyguard, Blair Jewal." (Fortuna) Fortuna took the initiative, I was too slow. "Aruh... This girl is ..." (Naku) A strange sensation ran through my body, making me tremble, a frightening but yet nostalgic sensation. Fortuna and Blair must have felt it as well as they both stood still. I thought Blair would step in to protect Fortuna but that was not the case. Naku approached Fortuna slowly, like a predator, cornering its prey. "Too cute!" (Naku) "Huh?" (Aruh / Fortuna / Blair) With a swift movement, Naku threw herself on Fortuna and gave her a strong hug as he rubbed her cheeks with Fortuna¡¯s. "L-let me go, you fool!" (Fortuna) "You''re the most beautiful girl I''ve ever seen. Hey, would you marry me?" (Naku) Time froze for a moment for all of us, especially for me... ... "I''m so sorry, Aruh! I said it without thinking." (Naku) Naku was kneeling in front of me, apologizing. What about all my concern? This time I was thinking about how to solve this mess and declare my love for Naku ... "I''m really sorry, the person I love is you." (Naku) H-How can you say things this easily, Naku¡­? "And I... love you too." (Aruh) I told her, not the gallant and cool way I expected to, but I told her. "Aruh..." (Naku) Naku''s eyes wet with tears, I offered her my hand to help her get up and she took advantage of it to hug me. "It was a mistake on my part to have underestimated you, Ms. Nakureshta. It was obvious the other wife would be an incredible person." (Fortuna) Hidden behind Blair, Fortuna flattered Naku for undoing the plan she had tried to put into action... But regaining some of her determination, she touched on the issue of wives. "The other wife? Do not tell me that ..." (Naku) "Let me explain it ..." (Aruh) "You''re in love with Aruh too!" (Naku) I felt as if I had lost my balance and was going to fall. The same thing seemed to happen with Fortuna and Blair... I get to see my parents hiding behind a corner having the same reaction, were they spying on us?! "Ah, I have not introduced myself, I am Nakureshta Snakia, oracle of Nagur. Let¡¯s do our best and make Aruh happy!" (Naku) "Do you agree?! Because of his refusal, I thought you will refuse as well!" (Fortune) "She disrupted the lady''s plans for seducing the young man... Such a frightening girl!" (Blair) "Gaaah! Do not tell them that, Blair!" (Fortune) I guess the common sense I had on Earth will not serve me here... Chapter 15 Chapter 15: Foundations of the Future. Naku agreed that I should also marry Fortuna. At first I thought it was because they were still young and did not understand the consequences of engagement to several people. But that was not the case. "What are you worried about marrying Fortuna too? Do not you like her?" (Naku) "It¡¯s not because of that. I like the adorable side she has, and the kind heart that she¡¯s not afraid to show." (Aruh) Fortuna''s face turned completely red, but those were not false compliments, but what I really thought of her. "But it is unfair to love two people. When you proposed to Fortuna, I felt alone... And imagining that I could make you feel the same, I... That is why, I¡¯m opposed to a second marriage. I do not want you to suffer. " (Aruh) "Aruh ... I would never have someone else in my heart, ehm, it was just a reflex action and only because Fortuna is my type... But the only man I love, the only person I love, is you." (Naku) I thought I heard something weird in those words, but it does not matter, my heart was beating as I was glad to hear them. "Now I understand the reason..." (Fortuna) Fortuna came to me, the wariness she had towards Naku had disappeared. They both saw each other in silence for a moment and smiled¡­ Those were evil smiles! When Fortuna arrived before me, she held my face gently. "My knight, I swear a loyal love forever." (Fortuna) Her lips joined mine for an instant, during which, my mind stopped. "It can be a misunderstanding because of a difference of cultures ... One of the requirements for having several wives is that the man should not divide his love between each woman, but love each one equally and with all the heart." (Fortuna) "F-Fortu... na... I..." (Aruh) Without waiting for my answer, she gave me a second kiss, which lasted for several seconds. "W-wait ... Me too!" (Naku) "Go ahead." (Fortuna) Following Fortuna''s example, Naku kissed me as she hugged me tightly. In the end, I lost against both of them. If that''s what they want, they''ll both be my wives and I swear I''ll make them happy. So they better get ready! ... Once the matter was settled, we made official the second commitment. After scolding my parents, I had them meet with Fortuna''s father and they welcomed him home. The presence of Naku in the room caused a solemn and serious atmosphere, which bothered her. Before starting, my curiosity made me ask about her absence (being happy for her return, I did not ask why she had arrived before time). "Certainly, I must tell you about it, especially to Fortuna, who has become the second wife of Aruh. It is something that concerns her." (Naku) Everyone nodded. Fortuna held her father''s hand, though she did not look frightened, she must really have been. I must be a dependable man on whom she could depend. Maybe she could read my thoughts, as she gave me a smile. "I was called a few days ago due to a dream I had about a war between Eralgia and a country of the north." (Naku) The news surprised Fortuna''s father and his servants. "A war? With which country?" (Allan) "I do not know, my dreams are not so detailed. We have informed the officers of the kingdom but the news will not arrive in time, the war may be about to start at this moment." (Naku) A war with a neighboring country. If it is related to the visions of Naku, it is very probable that we will be involved, and that would also affect Fortuna. I think for her safety, we should postpone the engagement until the conflict or our participation ends, but there is no way to know when and how it will... Not to mention that there could be more dangerous things during our mission.. I will need a very large power to protect my two girls... Should I resort to firearms? ......... No, bad idea, it could make matters even worse than my magic inventions. I need something that can not be stolen or imitated... "Well, if the war is in the north, I think everything will be fine ... We live far from the region, and the lords of this one take good care of the borders. Eralgia has reigned for more than a thousand years without being invaded and I doubt it will happen In the near future." (Allan) "True, and the great oracle did not prophesy the fall of the kingdom... Though..." (Tovs)Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. My father¡¯s expression darkened for a moment as he looked at Naku and me. He also looked at Fortuna for a moment. "How will this influence your journey with Aruh, great oracle?" (Tovs) Even with all his respect and faith in Naku, his concern was notorious. "We Naga lose the blessing of Nagur when leaving the mountains... In the outside, we would not be different from a human... Oh, excuse my words." (Mura) "There is no problem, I know what you mean. Also, as a parent I understand your concern." (Allan) "I do not think you need to be afraid." (Blair) Blair confidently stated as she broke into the conversation, which provoked surprise among those present, including me. "I do not know much about the blessing of the spirit of the mountains, but I think the young Aruh''s ability is authentic, on a level where neither of us would be able to defeat him." (Blair) The other escorts smiled nervously, perhaps they did not trust their techniques... Or Blair may actually be the strongest of the group. "I am the strongest between the three of us and I was easily beaten by him in a training match, if it had been a real one, I would have died before I knew it." (Blair) "That¡¯s true, I heard Naga not only have the blessing of Nagur, but that they were also warriors from birth. Not to mention that Aruh is quite capable in other aspects." (Allan) My parents sighed in relief at hearing the flattery at me. "We were carried away by our overprotection that we had forgotten how skillful our son is... When he grows up, no matter the place he goes, he will make it a safe place." (Tovs) They are overestimating me, I''m not all-mighty, you know... "I also believe that, I feel that I will be safe wherever he accompanies me." (Naku) All right, I''ll have to live up to those expectations! I will put more effort into my training and will seek more knowledge and skills. A fixed stare made me leave my thoughts. Fortuna had risen to her feet and done a triumphant pose. "Do not forget that he has me as a fianc¨¦e. I will take good care of him!" (Fortuna) Fortuna strongly stated. "And with this trip being my responsibility, I will also take care of Aruh!" (Naku) "F-Fortuna, sweetheart... You speak as if you were to accompany them..." (Allan) "Because I''m going to do it." (Fortuna) "Young Aruh and the young oracle Nakureshta have the capacity and the strength, but we are talking about a possible battlefield, it is not a place where the daughter of a merchant belongs." (Allan) I agree with Mr. Allan that it could be very dangerous for Fortuna to be on a battlefield, but he made a mistake by underestimating his daughter. "Daddy, there is no better place for a merchant than a battlefield. Profits, losses, everything is related. Yes, the front can be dangerous for me, but Aruh and Naku need someone to cover their backs from behind." (Fortuna) I noticed that several of those present felt a shiver as they listened to Fortuna. Yes, it is foolish to underestimate her ability. "I ... I agree to Fortuna accompanying us. Mr. Allan, I, as the husband of your daughter, promise to stand by her side and protect her. (Aruh) "I envy your strength and conviction, young Aruh¡­ but I will need some time to think it over." (Allan) "Dad..." (Fortuna) The talk of the conflict ended there, we decided to focus more on the positive side of marriage. Nevertheless, Mr. Allan supported my relationship with Fortuna and even gave me some advice as a man with several women at his side. Also, he decided to extend his stay in the mountains so that Fortuna, Naku and me could spend more time together. So for eight days, all three of us had dates and became to know each other better. Special mention had the fall festival, where Fortuna could appreciate the differences in culture within the same kingdom. I must say that it is very entertaining to spend time with both my fianc¨¦es. Fortuna has a great curiosity as well, and I really like to see her and Naku becoming friends. But due to Fortuna living far from here, the time we could spend together was too small. After a long negotiation with her father, she convinced him to visit the village at least every two months... One day, when I saw my girls together, I came up with an idea. In secret, I talked with Fortuna and informed her that Naku had reached her own birthday and I wanted to give her a gift, so she took me to her father. "A birthday present? I did not know that the Naga gave presents at birthdays.¡± (Allan) "We do not, it''s something I came with." (Aruh) "Fortuna¡¯s birthday is at the fifth day of the third month, I would like you to keep it in mind." (Allan) "Dad!" (Fortuna) Got it! The fifth day of the third month. "Heh, heh, I''m sorry, dear. I only care about you." (Allan) "At Fortuna¡¯s birthday, I''d like you to visit the village. Please!" (Aruh) Ah, Fortuna''s face turned red. So cute. "Well, you can take a look at my merchandise. If you see something you like, I will give it to you." (Aruh) After thanking Mr. Allan, I went to see the interior of the car, accompanied by Fortuna. What a variety of objects! Jewelry made with shells or coral, linen, cotton and wool textiles, skins of different animals, aromatic woods, pots and spices... among many other things. There was plenty to choose from. At the suggestion of Fortuna, I chose a brooch made of coral. The original cost was two bronze coins, but Fortuna gave it to me for one coin and said she would put the other, so the gift would be from both of us. I happily accepted. Before getting out of the car, something caught my eye. It was at the corner, and it was difficult to see, but as soon as I saw it, I was attracted to that article. "Fortuna... What is that egg?" (Aruh) "Oh, that''s a glaron¡¯s egg, a bird that lives in the meadows and is used as a beast of burden, but this one is already withered. It''s been months since dad got it. Maybe we could sell it to an artist." (Fortuna) "I''d like to buy it... How much would it cost?" (Aruh) "I will not charge you. Dad said that he wanted to repay you for the incident with Blair. Though, I think you should ask for something better than a rotten egg." (Fortuna) When I obtained permission from Fortuna, I took the egg and examined it ... With my psychometric ability, I realized that there was still life inside and that it asked to be immersed in hot water. "It''s not rotten ... And it''s not a bird''s egg." (Aruh) ... On the eighth day, Fortuna and his family had to leave the mountains and return home, it would not be until two months later that he could come here again. Obviously, she, Naku and I were sad to say goodbye. Fortuna gave me a hug that lasted for ten minutes as she did not want to me go, neither did I wanted her to. Well, it¡¯s now or never. "Naku, Fortuna, I have a gift for both of you." (Aruh) Naku was wearing the gift that Fortuna and I had given her... But I had prepared one before that one, and in the end, I decided to give it another use. "Here! It''s one for each of you." (Aruh) I made two pendants that glowed with dim lights. A light blue for Naku, and an amber colored one for Fortuna. "A pendant! It¡¯s absolutely charming!" (Naku) Their reactions were different. While Naku looked happily at it, Fortuna had been silent and stared at the pendant with reddened cheeks. "This is an engagement gift from me. I did it with my own hands, I hope you liked it." (Aruh) In response, the two hugged me and kissed me again. "Miss Fortuna..." (Blair) "Ha ha ha ha ha. The youth!" (Allan) It was even harder to say goodbye. It was not until later that day, that Fortuna, her family and her companions left, accompanied by Naga escorts. Chapter 16 Chapter 16: Growing up It''s been two years since I met Naku and Fortuna, my two fiancees. At this time, I love them even more. I may be only eight years old, but I can say those words with certainty, perhaps it is thanks to my life on Earth, I can say that it is the first time that there are this kind of feelings in me. I wonder how I''ll be at age 15, which was the age I died last time. Will I have a curse and die at the same age? I hope not, I want to get married and live with my two wives. I have such kind of worries at such a young age, but I''m not the only one. A year ago, Fortuna came to the village with tears in her eyes and apologized for something called ''The Curse of the Ages''. The term is used to describe the relationships between couples with different longevity. In Maltras, perhaps by the action of the gods, the Hetros, or the evolution itself, the race of a person is determined by the mother. For example, the baby of a human male and a females dwarf will always be a dwarf... If the father is an elf and the mother a human woman, the baby will be human. And in this case, it would be a naga father and a human mother. Now, what is the problem of a long-lived Naga having offspring with a girl with a life expectancy of a third he has? The result would be a child with a lower life expectancy than the father himself. That is the curse of the ages. Well, I had already suspected something about it, so I started to investigate and discovered that there was a way to prolong the life of a human enough to that of an elf, that is, close to that of a Naga: a medicine Called ''Elixir''. If Fortuna drinks this medicine, not only will she live longer, but our children will also. I''ll take care of finding or creating the elixir even if I have to lift the planet''s crust. After a long conversation with Fortuna, I managed to get her out of her depression. She became more lovely since then... Your fianc¨¦ will do his best, Fortuna! And speaking of effort, my training and studies have borne much fruit in these two years. I recently concluded the individual training with father and mother and get to overcome both in combat. Now both of them train me at the same time with the occasional help of my grandparents; The difficulty increased in a short period of time ... And the strangest thing is that Naku is still stronger than I am. As for my studies, I have graduated from the teachings of Dr. Spencer. In his words, the one who must give the classes now is me. As a gift to finish my studies, he gave me several blank scrolls, ink and various equipment to process ingredients. Because he became sentimental after my graduation, I suggested that we could buy more scrolls and continue studying, this time as collaborators, an idea that he gladly accepted. About ink, when I was younger I thought the writing technique was very primitive when I saw the wooden blocks my mother used to fill the orders, but it turns out that these blocks are prefabricated and used to save ink and parchments... Even with all this training I feel that I still have a long way to reach a desirable level. ... "Aruh, would you like to go hunting?" (Naku) "Sure, let''s have a date in the meantime." (Aruh) "If you''re still so cute I''m going to faint." (Naku) Naku and I flirt while heading to the woods to get some preys. I look calm, but every time I''m with Naku, my heart races. There is ... something to mention about the body growth of a Naga. Even from the times before reaching Tulser and receiving the blessing of our protective spirit, the great serpent Nagur, the Naga had the distinctive feature of maturing in two lapses while young, and only becoming old shortly before dying close to the 300 years of age. Calling a Naga ¡®elder¡¯, is just a formality, because all of them look young. A naga reaches puberty at age 10 reaching to their maximum height and also getting secondary sexual characteristics in a matter of months. At the moment, Naku reaches about 1.70 meters in height and has a beautiful, voluptuous body.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. This is wrong, gods! This is wrong, fantasy world! On Earth, if someone saw us flirting the way we do, innocent as it may be, Naku would get in trouble. Hurry to grow up, body of mine! And the strangest thing is that reproductive maturity begins in men at 19 and in women at 23, which is when a naga can be called an adult... But the libido wakes up before that and that gives rise to sex without risk of pregnancy. It is during this period of the beginning of libido and that the naga seek a mate while having several sex partners until finding the one. Although in my case, I already have two fianc¨¦es. "Hey Aruh, how''s the egg you got from Fortuna?" (Naku) "It will not be long before it hatches... Probably in the next three days." (Aruh) "Then you should be careful to be present the moment that it hatches. Animals are especially docile with the first person they see at birth." (Naku) Many people separate creatures into monsters when they can not be tamed and animals when they can be. I am curious to see what classification this creature enters. When we reached the forest, Naku and I prepared to hunt. With me being able to perceive the location of the monsters, it is easy to prevent attacks and to take the initiative. Today''s prey is a group of huge cicadas covered with a hard green shell with metallic luster: Metal cicada. I have some experience hunting them, but it is problematic when there are many together, so it is good to bring someone along. Naku and I parted, while she hides to prepare an ambush, I had to act as bait. After arming myself with several stones, I approach as fclose I can to the cicadas and stoned as many as I could. This attack must not hurt them that much, their shells are quite precious and if I used a lot of strength I would pulverize them. The goal is to knock them out. Got eight out of combat, I''ll go back and eliminate them later. The remaining twelve cicadas take flight to me, emitting a very low hum... So more than listening to it, I feel it. They are fast monsters and can cast air magic in mid-flight, although such magic is weak and does not produce much effect on me. However, as part of a self-imposed training, I do my best to avoid the attacks. When I arrived at the designated place, several stones were hung from the trees held by ropes. I passed between them without difficulty, but the cicadas struck with the stones or were entangled with the ropes. Five more cicadas were left out of combat, and the rest were wiped out by Naku, who jumped down from the trees, and with swift movements, cut the shell of the monsters with such precision that they were dismembered mid-air. As Naku finished his share of the preys, I returned to kill off the other cicadas I left unconscious. The wings and shells have been in high demand lately, the magic stones are small but of good quality so they are also collected. The meat is chewy, so it is usually discarded by burning it with a stinking oil so as not to attract predators, although this time I have decided to collect it as well. "The meat as well? Do not tell me that you plan to eat it." (Naku) "It''s not for me, it''s for the ''little one'' that will come out of the egg." (Aruh) If everything goes well and I can tame it, its help would be very useful to us in the future. Especially now that a war started. Now that Eralgia has entered into combat with Timancera, its northern neighbor, the situation has become somewhat tense. As Lord Allan had predicted, the kingdom of Eralgia has remained victorious and has begun an invasion campaign against the enemy for the first time in a long time, but due to this, many men and women have been called to arms. Even in Tulser, several humans, elves and dwarfs were enlisted in the army, while the Naga increased their vigilance in the mountains to prevent spy infiltration or incursions from other opportunist countries. And it is also due to the war, that the demand for various combat-related products has increased, such as armors made from metallic cicada¡¯s shells. When we finished putting everything together, we left everything that could be sold in the warehouses at the square, and everything else, in my house. After that, Naku and I had a date near the river, where she let me rest in her lap. ... The next morning my mother woke me up earlier than usual. "What is it, mother?" (Aruh) "It''s the egg you bought, it''s hatching" (Mura) Wow, it was faster than I expected. When I went to see the egg, it was moving a lot, but there were no breakings yet. Since the time I bought it, it has grown in size, at first it was an egg the size of an ostrich¡¯s, but now it is 3 times larger. When I touched it, I could feel its need for more hot water. "That should suffice." (Mura) My mother helped me by heating the water while I removed the one it still had. *Crackkk* The egg began to break. "Fortuna''s father said it was a bird of burden, I wonder what it will look like." (Mura) "Mother ... Do not get scared." (Aruh) ""Huh? Why do you say that? "(Mura) A small piece of shell fell from the egg, revealing a completely black eye. As more pieces fell apart, the appearance of the small creature was revealed. "Guuuuuriiiii" (?) A small, humanoid body with deep blue skin and some black parts, gray silky hair, two large and lovely eyes accompanied by three smaller ones .... and a lower body with a spider shape. "This... This is..." (Mura) My mother''s face seems to have cramped. I expected that reaction, without my psychometry, the same thing would have happened to me. A creature half human and half spider, there were some beings like that in different mythologies at Earth. "Guuuuriiiiiiiiiiiii" (?) The little being lifted its two lovely hands covered with exoskeleton in my direction and I picked it up. I could immediately feel a connection between the two of us. "Aruh? Is it okay to hold it?" (Mura) "Yes, nothing bad will happen, mother." (Aruh) "Guriii" (?) It is hungry, I hope it likes cicada meat. They are insects after all. "I must give you a name..." (Aruh) There is one that comes to mind. "Arachne." (Aruh) "Guri? Guri!" (Arachne) That good! It seems to like it. I''ll be depending on you from now on, Arachne. Chapter 17 Chapter 17: Invincible Team. "Naku, harass those who are separated from the group to incorporate them again. Arachne, lead them to the stables." (Aruh) "Understood!" (Naku) Today, Naku, Arachne and I were practicing combat maneuvers, the target was a herd of animals called cierviros, which are beings similar to huge, hairy deers that are domesticated and used in Tulser and other surrounding regions as beasts of burden, and for milk and wool production. The herd we were dealing with is a untamed one and we helped the domesticators to catch it. "Haaaa!" (Naku) Naku was in charge of helping the hunting dogs to keep the herd close to avoid that there were individuals taking other directions, the dogs did well, but there were occasions in which a cierviro ignores the barks and bites and tries to escape; Naku''s speed allowed her to reach them and return them to the group with the help of a very noisy and intimidating whip. "Good boy!" (Naku) The herd was directed towards a bend, if they turn to the right, they will arrive to stables prepared for the domestication and breeding... But if they continue straight, they would enter the forest and we would have to start from the beginning again, besides that we would have to deal with some predators and the loss of youngs. This is where Arachne enters, her mission is to lead the pack to the stables. As the deers began to approach the forest, Arachne emerged from the trees and scared the herd, causing it to go where it should. The work was excellent, the managers took the rest of the work and put the flock in the stables. "You did very well, Naku, Arachne." (Aruh) "My part was small. The dogs did most of the job." (Naku) "Then I have less credit, I just gave orders while following the pack." (Aruh) "Do we agree that most of the credit among the three is for Arachne?" (Naku) "Sure" (Aruh) "?Guriii!" (Arachne) Arachne let out a cute snarl, I wonder why some villagers are afraid of her when she is so adorable. Despite having a human-like appearance, Arachne is definitely a monster, or rather an ''entity'' (a term I use not to insult her); I know it because the presence it emits is similar to one. Although I do not know her species since there is no information about it in the bestiaries of Dr. Spencer or those Fortuna gave me on my last birthday. Actually, Arachne is an asexual organism. As it has no genitals of any kind, yet to It having some small female features, I¡¯m calling Arachne as ¡®her¡¯. She has a high speed of growth, managing to increase its weight and size four times in just one week; is intelligent and possesses incredible hunting and fighting instincts, besides being able to use water magic.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Yeah, she can use magic! Perhaps because she is an entity, her control over her magic stone is superb and that allows her to perform magic. At the moment, she is capable of producing water out of nowhere, launching projectiles of high-pressure water, and produce a very sticky watery membrane to strengthen her already resistant spiderweb. I do not know her life expectancy, but my instinct tells me that she will live for many decades. I was lucky to find her egg, Arachne will help us a lot in the future; besides, she is adorable and caring. "Thank you so much for your help, little Aruh." (Goto) The person who thanked us was Mr. Goto, a hunter from the village who also works as a breeder of cierviros. Not only Mr. Goto, but also Jupero and Kober worked as breeders while not in hunting season. "You don¡¯t have to thank us, Mr. Goto. In fact, I want to thank you and the others for letting us participate after all." (Aruh) "To tell you the truth, we still think we are being disrespectful by leaving such a job to the great oracle of Nagur." (Goto) "On the contrary, I liked to participate. It was fun, and I would like to do it again if it is not too inconvenient for you." (Naku) ¡°T-There''s no way will it be an inconvenience!" (Goto) Mr. Goto bowed, which made Naku feel uncomfortable, but when I took her hand, she regained her composure. "Then I would like you to let me know if you require our help again... I would also like to know if you know of a snowy drake or other troublesome monsters that we can hunt." (Aruh) "Ha ha ha, you talk like Serpera when he was younger. That instinct and desire are indispensable for anyone who wants to run as the hunting leader ... Do you plan to become one after all? Sorry, I remembered you¡¯ll be leaving the village in the future, right?" (Goto) "Yes, it''s just that I want stronger opponents since even gums are easy prey at this point." (Aruh) "Yes, I remember that last night of hunting with you three ..." (Aruh) That time, right? Four nights ago, my father and I went hunting gums like every year with everyone, but this time we were accompanied by Naku and Arachne. I found and ambushed the gums, then knocked them down by cutting off their legs. Naku gave them the coup de grace before they touched the ground, while Arachne caught and killed the ones trying to escape with her nets... 90% of the gums that day were killed by the three of us. "That night was my first time hunting gums. I was a little nervous." (Naku) "You did an excellent job, your grace captivated me that night." (Aruh) "U, fu, fu, you''re going to make me blush, Aruh." (Naku) Seeing a beauty like Naku blushing is one of my greatest pleasures. And perhaps it is due to my experience with her and Fortuna, but lately, I feel more proactive in saying what I think. I could feel the stare of Mr. Goto. "What¡¯s the matter?" (Aruh) "It''s nothing, it''s just that I thought you were very mature for your age, Aruh, not to mention successful." (Goto) "Successful?" (Aruh) "Yes, your skill with aweapons has surpassed that of your parents at such a young age, you are a skillful hunter, you have been trained in the art of alchemy and you have even created the amazing product called soap. It¡¯s not a surprise you got engaged with the great oracle" (Goto) When you put it that way, it sounds like something extraordinary... No, in fact, taking Maltra''s standards behind, it is. Wow, it''s kind of embarrassing to be seen this way. At Earth, my success was seen with envy, not admiration. "You know, usually, a Naga gets a job at the age of twelve... But in your case, I think you could start from the age you have." (Goto) "Really? That would be great!" (Aruh) "IOk then. I will go along your father to speak with Mr. Fas Nesel." (Goto) Yes! Now I have more time to learn how to forge; although it will be a little difficult to adjust my current schedule... It would even mean spending less time with my girls... "Do not worry, I''ll be backing you, Aruh. I''m sure Fortuna will understand as well." (Naku) Maybe sensing my concern, Naku tried to comfort me. "I know all this is for our good ... And if it''s something that you wanted to do before you met me, it¡¯s due to you having seen some potential that no one else has, right?" (Naku) Right on the spot. Naku is as insightful as ever. "So do not worry. We can consider our training as tough dates~" (Naku) No matter how long I get used to spending time with Naku, she always find a way to keep me falling in love... Alright, I will finally put in use the metal knowlege I have from Earth. Chapter 18 Chapter 18: A dwarf¡¯s workshop. The first thing I noticed upon entering Mr. Fas Nesel''s forge was the deep scent of alcohol, followed by the sound of metal being struck. "Good morning, Mr. Fas Nesel, I have brought Aruh to start with his basic training." (Tovs) "Your son, the genius, right? To think he would become an apprentice before becoming 12 years old..." (Fas Nesel) His voice sounded sober and stern, but what caught my attention was that he did not lose his concentration while working with the bronze in front of him. "You''re a little older for a dwarf''s standards, who raise the hammer before taking their first steps, but you''re the youngest Naga I''ll have as a pupil." (Fas Nesel) Mr. Fas''s hands stopped to take a ladle dipped in a barrel to his side, it was the source of the alcohol aroma in the room. "I do not like pupils who whine or complain, you''ll work like the others, understood?" (Fas Nesel) "Yes, teacher!" (Aruh) "Excellent response, brat." (Fas Nesel) With a smile, he offered me the liquid he had taken from the barrel and I drank it. It tasted sweet and fruity, like mead. "Welcome to my workshop." (Fas Nesel) ... Over the next year, I started my training from the bottom. Before starting with the metal, it is important to generate hand dexterity, and the best method is the treatment of skins (in fact, I started as a cleaning boy and with errands, but the handling of skins is what I consider the beginning). Cleaning, cutting, drying, using treatments, Mr. Fas Nesel made me repeat and memorize each process over and over again. Father and the other helpers helped me occasionally by giving me advices on how to work. Classes lasted four hours a day; together with my combat training, group maneuvers with Naku and Arachne, and studies of magic and medicine, I barely had time to have dates Naku and Fortuna every time she came to the village.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. This year, I gave each one a gift for for their birthdays. For Naku, a lipstick I personally made; and for Fortuna, a pencil with a tip of charcoal. Both gifts were thought of in their personal tastes. However, Fortuna''s surprise was bigger (as a merchant) when Naku showed her the lipstick. My two gifts ended up becoming two new products of the company Dewell. ... When I reached a year of work with the leather treatment, my next step was the design and manufacture of armor. My artistic skills were not so good, several of my designs were very basic and some were similar to those that came out on some television shows I saw on Earth. These last ones annoyed my teacher, who said they looked like costumes and were useless in combat, so in the end I only did the basic designs It was not until three months later, that I would finally begin to handle metal. "This is the mace that the Naga usually use to hunt Gums, do you know what it is made of?" (Fas Nesel) "Of Gum¡¯s bones covered with bronze." (Aruh) "Correct, and do you know why it''s built like this?" (Fas Nesel) "Yes, the Gum¡¯s bones are soft but very flexible, while the bronze is hard but rigid, if the mace were made of pure bronze, it would easily break with the force of a Naga¡¯s attack." (Aruh) ¡°As you have said, the Naga have such a monstrous strength that even with ''craftsmanship of hetros'', weapons could not resist bending or breaking regardless if they are made of bronze, light metal or lead. That''s why the Naga are given the title of sword-benders." (Fas Nesel) Light metal is a metal that does not exist at Earth, it is in a native form and is so light that a piece the size of a basketball ball weighed just 60 grams, but is harder than bronze. However, it is the first time I hear the term ''craftsmanship of the hetros''. "Excuse me, master, but what does ¡®craftsmanship of hetros'' mean?" (Aruh) "Metals can infuse themselves with hetros while they are being forged to improve their properties, but unlike the magic wands that magicians are so proud of, metal only lose these properties when it rots. Is as simple as it sounds but it takes effort and good technique to obtain a favorable result... So, the better the blacksmith, the better the metal becomes. " (Fas Nesel) "Thank you for the explanation, but now I have another question ... Why is iron ignored?" (Aruh) This is one of my biggest questions in the world, Maltras ignored the iron and got stuck at bronze age¡­ No, it¡¯s more like it¡¯s at ¡®Light metal age¡¯. ¡°Iron? That junk? Dwarfs tried to forge it thousands of years ago, but it was too soft and did not accept the hetros as other metals, so it was replaced by bronze. " (Fas Nesel) So that''s due to finding better metals than iron was rejected and ended up being called ¡®poor metal¡¯. That means they did not realize the hidden potential of iron... About what happens if you add carbon to it. "Those eyes tell me you have something in mind, so you got an idea from our conversation... Interesting! There''s always a lot of talk about you in the village and I''d like to see a feat of you with my own eyes." (Fas Nesel) It will be an honor, teacher. "But whatever you try to do, will have to wait until you know how to handle the hammer. Now, let''s continue with the lessons." (Fas Nesel) Yes! SS 4 SS 4: Transforming old ideas. *Third person''s POV* This happened during the stage when Aruh was studying with Fas Nesel, learning how to work with animal skins. Fortuna had not been able to visit the Tulser Mountains because her father had opened the plant to produce soap, so Naku''s birthday was celebrated only between her and Aruh, and also, Arachne. The gift for her was a pink lipstick, which she loved. When Fortuna again visited the village with a gift for her friend, she was surprised to see her lips painted of pink. "Aruh gave you a cosmetic lip cream? That shine... It must have crushed gems. Amazing! You look so cute." (Fortune) Fortuna began to make calculations in her head about the cost of the gift, not for bad feelings like envy, but as a habit as a merchant. "I do not know what he made it with, but being a gift from Aruh, it''s more than enough for me to love it." (Naku)The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "The mix is simple, so at first I was worried if it was an appropriate gift. I''m glad you liked it, it looks great on you." (Aruh) "What I like the most is that I can leave you the marks of my love." (Naku) Naku kissed Aruh on the cheek, leaving a pink mark of her lips. "You made the recipe, Aruh? Well, it was to be expected.You know, makeup has a high demand and is sold at a good price, would you be interested in selling your recipe?" (Fortuna) "It seems like a good idea to me, Aruh. If it''s in Fortuna''s hands, it could become popular and so many women would look beautiful to the men they love." (Naku) "You make me blush with those words, Naku, but you are right in trusting me to distribute it all over Eralgia. What do you say, Aruh?" (Fortuna) "Yes, I do not see any problem." (Aruh) The recipe consisted of wax (from red giant bees), forest walnut oil, Tiho¡¯s seed extract (a very common plant of the forests) and dry powder of its flowers to give it the color. Fortuna''s face brightened on hearing the ingredients, except for beeswax, the others were easy to obtain and throughout Eralgia; in addition, the wax could be replaced by other from less dangerous animals according to Aruh . However, when Naku showed her the lipstick, Fortuna''s surprise went over the top. All the makeup had the form of creams or powders, but this one had the form of a bar encapsulated in a tube of wood. It was transcendental! Convenient to use and bring everywhere! Fortuna immediately contacted her father and told him about the new product Aruh had invented. In the end, the success of the lipstick was as great, or even more so, than that of soap. But the surprises that Aruh kept for Fortuna did not end... Chapter 19 Chapter 19: Developed Body. A silence that reassures me, only the occasional sound of drops of water falling can be heard. A presence in the pond in front of me ... A presence, becoming bigger ... Many small presences... Too many! I leave my concentration state in which I was, my breathing became agitated and my head starts to hurt again. "Kuuuuhhh" (Aruh) I must concentrate again. ... I''m in the middle of a special training, Naku watches me from a distance in the middle of the darkness. After I reached puberty at the 10 years of age, and when my body began to grow, so did my abilities. My height reached 1.89 meters and my muscles increased, as well as my physical strength, if before I had enough strength to lift large stones from the ground, now I could do it even if they were buried. Also, as far as my physical appearance is concerned, ''Not bad!¡¯ ''is the only expression I can think without sounding conceited. I inherit my father''s slightly curly hair and my face looks like one of a supermodel¡­ Again, I¡¯m not being conceited. However, not everything was good, the reason for this training is to correct one of the problems that arose after my puberty. "Take a deep breath and start again, Aruh." (Naku) "Yes." (Aruh) Following Naku''s orders, I took a deep breath and concentrated on the silence and darkness that surrounds me. Again, I feel tranquility. Shortly after my body developed, my ''Extra-Perception'' (as I named my ability to feel presences) became uncontrolled and I began to perceive even the presences of insects and other small animals around me. Naku came to my aid and brought me to this cave to learn to keep my skill under control again. It''s been a week now, and I''ve made good progress, but I have yet to keep it under total control. "..." (Naku) Naku keeps absolute silence while taking care of me. Since the training began, I have not been able to continue my blacksmith study with Mr. Fas Nesel, I hope he is not angry at my absence. Fortuna must have reached the village again and she must be worried, so are my parents and friends.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. But according to Naku, I can not accelerate this process. Apparently, this is the first time that it happens even with other Naga that have awakened extra-perception before me. That is why Naku guides me with this training since she has a connection with Nagur. The good thing about this ability of mine, is that being something unique and unprecedented like Naku is, I feel more connected to her. ... "A swimming presence, will turn to my right in 2 seconds ... Three small presences ... Zero presences again..." (Aruh) It''s been a month since I''ve been doing Naku''s special training; Finally, I regained control. "The headaches are gone ... And I can control my ability again as before. The result was a success, Naku!" (Aruh) "Congratulations, Aruh! It''s a good thing the training worked, as it was unprecedented, I was so worried about you. Ah! Fortuna and the rest of the village, too." (Naku) "I imagine it, I''ll have to apologize for worrying them as well. Thank you, Naku." (Aruh) "You do not have to thank me, that you''re fine is enough for me ... But if you insist, I''d like a kiss." (Naku) Naku closed her eyes and put her lips in a lovably and a little funny way. Seriously, lately I feel that her libido is waking up little by little. My lips meet Naku''s in a kiss, and she put her hands behind me and began to caress me. After a minute or two, our lips parted but I put them together again for a second kiss. "Why was that one?" (Naku) "To apologize for worrying you." (Aruh) "So, are you also going to kiss Fortuna to apologize?" (Naku) "Maybe." (Aruh) "Ku, ku, ku ... As gallant as usual, Aruh!" (Naku) For a moment imagine me kissing Fortune with my current appearance... Well, at Earth that would bring problems, serious problems. But even though I look as an adult, Fortuna is older than me... Which means I''m not doing something wrong ... Right? "Aruh!" (Fortuna) As soon as I came out of the cave, Fortuna was waiting for me and threw herself into my arms. It was not even one month since the last time she came... Her concern must have been rather big. "I''m sorry for making you worry, Fortuna." (Aruh) "Yes, I was worried. Everyone told me that something had happened to you and that you would have to stay inside this cave... I even fought with Naku because she would not let me in!" (Fortuna) "I see, I did something terrible..." (Aruh) I got on my knees to look at Fortuna at the height of her eyes, which were full of tears, so I wiped them with my fingers. "Forgive me, Fortuna. I''m already fine, but it must have been hard for you all this time... Thank you for being patient, and thank you for loving me so much." (Aruh) More tears streamed down her flushed cheeks and this time she lunged at my chest. "Okay, I forgive you... Naku and I reconciled immediately to tell you the truth." (Fortuna) I hugged Fortuna and began to delicately caress her hair. When I saw Naku, she was looking at us with a little of envy. "I also want to... Embrace Aruh and Fortuna." (Naku) She must be really want to as she emitted a very strong aura of desire... But someone did not resist and hugged us. "Guriiii!" (Arachne) Ok, Arachne! How can I resist caressing the head of such a cute entity as you are? "I am very happy for you, Miss Fortuna" (Blair) I feel the presence of Blair, who was hidden behind some trees. She did not even bother to speak in a low voice, I could hear perfectly what she said. Besides Blair I can also feel the presence of my parents. I know where you are, you know? Chapter 20: The birth of a legend Chapter 20: The birth of a legend The days continued moving forward, which turned into months and then into years. Under the tutelage of Mr. Fas Nesel, I have learned to identify and forge a large quantity of metals and other materials. The vast majority of metals are the same as those on Earth, but there are many others that would make scientists going mad with their properties. However, such metals are rare to obtain or difficult to process; in fact, the most used due to their abundance and practicality are the copper and the light metal. Iron, although abundant, is used only in the production of coins, or so it is in Eralgia. Things have changed a lot, the war has spread and two other countries have joined the enemy side, in addition, it is suspected that the Eastern empire is involved, there have been some incursions into the mountains of Tulser, but all were frustrated by the monsters and the Naga sentries. However, in the words of the chief of the village, it is the first time that the invaders entered far into Tulser, it must be because the mountains are increasingly safe thanks to the Naga. But thanks to supply and strategic aid from the kingdom, the incursions have been repelled. Unfortunately, Captain Almond and his men were sent to the front at Timancera. His eldest son was appointed as a surrogate to care for this part of Tulser and he looks as dependable as his father. However, all this is nothing compared to the worst catastrophe of all: the absence of Fortuna. Due to the great success of his company, Mr. Allan decided to open a second branch in a more distant region and took his family with him. Success brought more work, and therefore, less time to travel here. Naku and I have not seen her for almost a year and we miss her a lot; last time we saw her, Fortuna was reaching puberty and was becoming very beautiful, I am sure that by now, she must be even more so... I would not be surprised that there were parasites trying to woo her. "CALM YOURSELF, BRAT! WHAT''S WITH THAT BLOODTHIRST?!" (Fas Nesel) Eh? Bloodthirst? Again? "Do not tell me that you were thinking about your other girlfriend? Despite being a great blacksmith, your personality is very problematic, you should worry first about taking care of the one that stays close to you." (Fas Nesel) Mr. Fas Nesel scolded me. Despite being working, my thoughts rambled and made me release a deep thirst for blood to my surroundings, how many times have been with this one? "I''m sorry, Teacher! It''s just that I miss her." (Aruh) The good thing is that Master haven¡¯t got near Naku, her thirst for blood is even higher than mine, and she usually gets angry with the same worries I have... If there is a Naga close to her, the pressure makes them fall to the ground and pray. "And I thought that humans were the only race to have more than one wife. I never understood that custom, as if one were not enough troubles." (Fas Nesel) "At first I refused to have Fortuna as my wife, but now I feel I need to have her close to me..." (Aruh) "Well, it''s your life and you decide how to live it..." (Fas Nesel) True, it could be my second life, but I am responsible for it. I do not know what new things this destiny is bringing me, but I must be ready for whatever is presented to me. "Now go back to your work, when you finish that piece you can leave and go with the elf doctor to continue with your other studies." (Tes Nesel) ... "So this is the machine you made, Aruh... You mean you can produce ink with this?" (Spencer) "Just one of the ingredients of it, Professor." (Aruh) "Enough with ¡®Professor¡¯, please. You''re already much better at alchemy than I am, and it feels strange to be called so by a superior." (Spencer)Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Sorry, it''s the habit." (Aruh) "Well, I''d like you to correct it... So, how does the machine work?" (Spencer) The machine we were talking about is for extracting the smoke by burning wood in order to create a black pigment that will be used to create ink. The method is unknown because there are monsters from which the ink is extracted, such as the ¡®terrestrial octopus¡¯, so there has not been a development in is this type of techniques. However, animal inks are difficult to get and its price is expensive, so it is not accessible to a large amount of the population. While this might pose some problems initially for traders who specialize in ink, an increase in production would allow them to expand new frontiers for Eralgia. This method is a continuation of the charcoal pencil that gives Fortuna, I am sure she will be able to take advantage of it. "You are no longer surprised by my experiments as before." (Aruh) "After all this time I have become accustomed... I reached than point with your method to increase the duration of the oil for lamps..." (Spencer) It seems that several of my implementations ended up changing the teacher''s way of thinking. I''m sorry. ... One day, I decided to start with my main project, the reason I decided to learn to become a blacksmith. Mr. Fas Nesel told me that every blacksmith has some secrets they do not share and are saved for his descendants or successors, so I decided to get mine. To do this, I entered a clearing of the forest that only I, Naku and Arachne use to visit. Since Naku claimed that place as a base, the other Naga took as an order to not get close. "Okay, time to start." (Aruh) My goal was to produce and forge steel. After building the furnace and getting the two key materials, iron and coal, I started with my experiments. My first goal would be to obtain it, and then I would dedicate myself to work it. There is a difference in having knowledge in how something is produced and in putting that knowledge into practice. There were many my mistakes, even with the teachings of Mr. Fas Nesel. The time went by and with good progress, after much experimentation I have managed to create several pieces of steel that are of good quality. Unlike pure iron, steel accepts the craftsmanship of the hetros like no other known material, although I am not as good as my master and the other dwarves, my technique was praised by him as superior among the other races; yet, it depresses me a little to know that if it were a dwarf the one doing this work, it would be far superior. The only two witnesses of my work are Naku and Arachne, to the latter I asked it to serve as a watch so that no one else could see my work. I may sound paranoid, but I can not allow this knowledge to leak, as it would be one of the advantages during my trip with my two wives. "So beautiful!" (Naku) Naku admires a small dagger I made for her, it''s my best work to date. "It''s my first job done, it''s small, but I did it thinking in a versatile and fast weapon." (Aruh) "Haa! Haa! Haa! Haaa!... It''s lighter than one made of bronze..." (Naku) Her movements while testing the dagger were fast and precise, with almost no sound. Then, Naku grabbed a dry branch from the ground and threw it into the air. "Haaaaaa!" (Naku) The branch was cut into minuscule pieces, Naku¡¯s speed was such that it seemed like she did a single cut, but in fact, they were several. After finishing the attack, she checked the blade. "It has a cutting edge and power like I''ve never seen before. This is the capacity of the metal you''ve been working on ... Amazing!" (Naku) The one surprised is me! Those movements were spectacular! Although the dagger was to Naku''s taste, I still have to work harder on improving the steel until it is to my liking. Trying to remember my old world, I remember the history of when the civilization was not different from those of Maltras, and I remember that there was a very famous and feared steel: the steel of Damascus. A type of crucible steel, feared by the Crusaders and worthy of legends, its technique was lost with the passage of time. It may be impossible for me to recreate it, but I will try to make a steel as close to the original as possible. The technique begins by crushing and melting the iron together with the carbon at high temperature to produce a wootz. I decided to use white coal from a very rare wood that I got from teacher Fas and that is used to melt an equally rare metal called Orihalcon. With a process of forging and tempering very meticulous, trying to follow the concentration of my teacher when working metals, my intentions were to create two swords, one for me, and one for Naku. There is only one weapon that I imagine could exploit the full potential of Naku, a sword used by an ancient empire that reigned in Earth''s antiquity, one of the most deadly and versatile weapons in combat: the gladius. It is a short sword ideal for stabbing but also good for cutting, its short size makes it very maneuverable and easy to use along with a shield. In my case, I decided to use its successor, the spatha, since my style requires a greater range of attack, and therefore, a longer blade. Thanks to the craftsmanship of the hetros, the steel is likely to be strong enough to withstand the strength of a Naga, but I would like to be absolutely sure that it will withstand even with a long blade. Although such a concern will not be necessary after leaving the mountains, I would like to have a sturdy weapon; which is why I decided to use the method of using a heart made of softer and more flexible metal covered by two steel plates. It was a laborious process, full of errors and repetitions, but in the end I managed to create the two swords that met my expectations. The blades did not have the characteristic pattern of the Damascus steel, but had a brilliant silver-white color. By adding the handles, guards and knobs, made of wood and fur, the swords were finished. Two beautiful weapons, my best works as a blacksmith, I can not help but admire them. For the dangers we face, for the enemies who come for our lives, Naku and I will depend on these two swords. With those thoughts in mind, I put them in their sheaths.