Swordsmaster Fox-girl

“Ughhhh…. Kill me….”

Violent headaches always followed heat cycles. I clutched my head in pain and groaned as the three days of heat finally ended.

The room I was in was tight enough to be called claustrophobic. Yet, it was the only thing my budget could afford. Let’s just be grateful that I can’t use my full power while in heat….

Ignoring the obvious moans and grunts coming from beyond the thin walls trapping me, I approached the wooden door and knocked on it. “Hey, I’m done.”

-”Right away!”

The door clinked open. Outside, a girl with cat ears and tail stood there and smiled politely. She handed me a towel and a bathrobe. “The bathroom is down the hall and to the left. I hope you enjoyed your stay!”

…

After a bath and a change of clothes, I finally exited the building aptly named “Heat Shelter.” Apparently this wasn’t a new thing and Gilbert wasn’t some kind of genius that invented the term.

While sitting on a nearby bench to wait for my headache to subside, I grafted my prosthetic left arm back on. Its silver surface reflected the sun back into my eyes, making me spew out a curse.

Shit! What a fucking waste….

While the prosthesis could be slotted with weapons of nearly all kinds, Requiem didn’t allow me to do so. It was like an obsessive lover that shrieked in my ears every time I so much as touched another weapon.

And here I thought Nira was jealous enough….

My eyes sharpened as I stared at the black blade on my waist. “You hear that, you little shit? I’m gonna find a way to break you soon.”

But the sword remained unresponsive and unmoving. Another reason why I preferred Aerin and Nira more.

Anyways, my headache was over. I left the bench and made my way toward the port. The whole reason I was here. Now, I only had a few dozen silvers to my name. But hopefully, that was enough to buy a ticket to the other continent.

…

“D-Did I hear it right?”

“Aye lass. Three-thousand gols for fare. Ain’t gonna reduce it since hirin’ dis bad boy ‘ere cost too much.” The captain slapped the muscled arm of a man standing cross-armed right next to him.

Even I could tell not to mess with that guy, for his strength was peak 7-star.

Yes, I knew the price was reasonable considering the dangers of monsters while crossing the sea. That was why there wasn’t much trade between the continents.

And I could kiss goodbye to sneaking on the ship. Stowaway would be immediately turned into slaves as soon as they were caught. And I wasn’t trying my chances with a fucking 7-star.

My only other alternative was to board an “Airship.” The fare was only one thousand Golds. Much chapter. But the problem was that only Nobles and their servants could board them.

“How long have you been in business?”

The Captain laughed. “Since mewas a youngling like yer. Don’tchya worry. Even if lil’ ol’ me dies, me son gonn’ take over. And Andrew ‘ere-” he slapped the man’s arm again. “-won’t let dat brat raise the fare.”

“I…. I see.”

So, I could only leave the port with a dejected expression on my face. Three thousand Golds….

I could probably get that much in four years.

Heh, as if. It’d only be the case if I was still a Noble. 

“Well, earn money first, think later. Let’s go….”

To the only Mercenary Guild of this port town.

The town was somewhere in the South-Eastern tip of the Beastman kingdom. I actually never had the chance to explore it since I rushed for the Heat Shelter as soon as I arrived.

But before I entered the Guild, I found a secluded place and put on my Armor of Fear. The black, imposing armor would do me wonders since a beauty like me being in this kind of place was a recipe for annoyance.

Dunno if it’s my natural beauty. I smirked. Or that weird Skill, but everyone’s falling heads over heels for me. Hehe~

After putting on my armor, I entered the Guild. No one paid attention to me at first, but when I entered a line at the counter, the people in front of me shivered. They, one by one, looked back and unanimously agreed to stand aside and make way for me.

Oh, it would be rude to refuse….

I took up on the Mercenaries’ “goodwill” and arrived at the counter in no time.

The receptionist was a pretty girl, like always. She looked at me with narrowed eyes before sighing. It seemed that she was too used to, uh, this kind of thing happening, I guessed.

“Before you ask, my name is Claire. And no, I’m not interested in going out.”

…But I didn’t ask.

Whatever. I could somewhat understand her stance. Without a word, I pointed at a Request stuck on the board behind her.

“Clearing a Leghugger nest inside the newly-discovered ruins? Very well. Show me your License.”

I flashed her the card Gilbert gave me.

Her eyes widened as she alternated her gaze between the carving on the card and me, before eventually, she pushed her glasses on her head and rubbed her eyes.

“...I’m not even gonna ask. Go now. Report back when you’re done. If you don’t return in three days, we’ll consider you dead and send a search party after your corpse.”

Silently and intimidatingly, I left the Guild as the loud clanking of my armor echoed the building.

…

This is far enough.

Actually, it was far enough even a few hours back. But I was just too lazy to remove my armor. Now that I was starting to feel annoyed, though, I removed it and sat down on a nearby log.

My stomach growled.

“Yep, time to eat.”

The ruins were only a few trees away, but I couldn’t go fighting with an empty stomach, could I? 

I skinned the few rabbits I caught along the way and removed the organs. Then, I chop them up into pieces.

“Hmmm…. I’m feeling like stew today.”

And stew it was. After letting the water heat up a bit, I threw some spices in and in no time, a sweet and tasty fragrance was filling the air.

That was when the bushes behind me rustled.

Keeping in a sigh, I placed my hand on the handle of Requiem and turned around.

“Come out.”

The bushes rustled again before a bald man in ragged leather armor stepped out. He raised both of his hands up, as if to signify peace.

I also relaxed my hands but not my guard. “What are you doing here?”

“Pretty lady, I’ve been lost in this jungle for days! Believe me! I was just trying to explore the ruins for a Request!”

“So you’re a Mercenary?”

“Yes….?”

“Sit over here, then.” I patted the log right beside me.

The man smiled. He sat down and made himself comfortable.

“You want some?” I scooped some stew, put it into a bowl, and handed it to him.

Too happy to answer, he snatched it and started slurping.

“That’ll be five Silvers.”

Perhaps too hungry, he dug through his pockets and threw me exactly five Silvers. The moment I finished putting the Silvers away was when he finished the meal.

“Thank you so very much!”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I ate the stew straight from the pot. No reason to make my future self suffer by adding another dirty bowl. 

As soon as I finished, the man stood up and did an exaggerated bow.

“Oh jolly good, I forgot to introduce myself! The name’s Pate.”

“...Esther.”

“Ah, a fitting name for a fair lady! Mrs. Esther, may I ask, what are you doing here?”

“I’m on a Request to slay Leghuggers.”

“Ah! Those little cretins! They’re the reason why my progress was stumped!” Pate huffed angrily. “Mrs. Esther, would you like to accompany me through the ruins? I promise, you will be paid for your part.”

Well, why not? “Alright.”

I put away all of my stuff and followed Pate to the entrance of the ruins. Well, rather than ruins, I’d be more inclined to describe it as a destroyed city that somehow looked… familiar?

Huh? Where have I seen this before?

But I had no time to think as Pate had led me to a narrow hallway leading down.

“The nest of those little cretins are down below. Take the lead, Mrs. Esther.”

I looked back at him in disbelief. Wow, how manly. Still, I only let out a grumble before heading in.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

On the fourth step, I heard the ground rumbling. I quickly turned around, only to find Pate standing there, pulling a lever hidden inside the wall next to him.

“You—!”

An evil smirk crept up his face. “Well well, my good woman, you’re too trusting for your own good.”

I already began rushing toward him. But it was too late. The stairs retracted into the wall, dropping me down to the bottomless abyss below.

“Bye bye.” I could see the fucker waving. “And don’t damage your stuff too much! I’ll be prying them from your corpse later!”

“I’LL FUCKING RIP YOU APARTTTTTTTT!”