“Thank you,” I said as she placed the tray next to me.
“Jess? Do you need help?” the petite woman asked.
“Yes, please. I’ll tell you what to pick out.”
I watched the two gather clothes that were mostly dark in color and tone, mostly black or very dark blue. I poured some of the sweet white liquid into the coffee and stirred, then pressed it to my lips. It was still hot, but it didn’t bother me. The strong taste of coffee was mixed in with sweet milk. This was the first time I had such a brew, which begged the question: did Melina have any of this stuff back at the ryokan?
“Can you feel the group?”
“Yeah, they’re still at the villa. Why?”
“Nothing really, just checking up. You can’t trust people nowadays, can you?”
“No, you really can’t. You die for them, and then they piss all over you as if you’re a joke.”
“Hey, wait! I didn’t piss on you! I can’t remember a damn thing! Well, other than how you died. I blew us up.”
“Oh, I remember. I also remember everything else. How he told you about… Lana and the newborn.”
“I’d rather not talk about that now. It’s best to do it in the privacy of our new home, what do you think?”
“Whatever you say. I’m going to rest a bit now. I’m tired.”
It took the girls some fifteen more minutes to gather everything and put the clothes into bags. All in all, I was satisfied with this world’s craftsmanship, but the question of yukatas still remained. I’d literally kill for several sets.
“Is that all, sir?”
I shook my head. “No, sorry. Do you have any traditional clothing? Like this thing I’m wearing?”
“Hmm, we have a few in the back. Would you like to come and see them?”
I nodded and got up, leaving what little coffee remained in the cup on the small table. The store was much larger than I thought at first glance. We walked into a spacious room that was three times as large as the one I sat in first, then moved down a corridor for about a minute before we got there. I had to give it to them, there was something in here for anyone’s taste, but damn, what would Melina like?
I winced and looked around. The young women noticed and pointed at the part with the traditional wear. There weren’t many to choose from, only about ten long yukatas for men, ten for women, and five shorter versions.
“Pack all five shorter yukatas and the red, the rose, and the white ones,” I said, pointing at them one by one. “And pack the three black ones for me, and that gray one as well.”
The two rushed to get what I asked for as I stood there and looked around some more. I wanted to buy her more things but didn’t want to overdo it as well. She might just think of me as being too aggressive.
“Scar?”
“What? I thought I told you I needed to rest. Your Enma flow is irregular, and it’s hard to stay up.”
“Can you help me with this—problem?”
“Hah! No way. I enjoy watching you suffer. You have no idea how entertaining it is!”
I gritted my teeth but looked away so the two wouldn’t see me, or they might get weird ideas about me talking to myself.
“I don’t want to feel anything. Can you make it happen?”
Scar remained silent for several seconds before he replied.
“Are you serious?”
“I am.”
“Well, I still can’t do anything. I’m just along for the ride, don’t you remember?”
I groaned inwardly and pushed the thought aside for now.
“Ladies? Can you hurry up, please? I need to get moving.”
“Yes, one minute, please.”
In the end, I ended up spending most of the stack of money, but at least I had twenty bags filled with clothing in two hands. I sighed, as I had a feeling I would never have done this in my previous life, but it still felt slightly satisfying.
“I see you’ve made up your mind?”
“Yeah, Scar. Don’t pester me, alright? It’s just that—you know. At least you know what I think and feel.”
“I do, and that’s why I said I couldn’t do anything about it. Let it happen. Lana would have wanted for you to be happy, you idiot. Why did you think I died for you? You deserve happiness. Even during your previous life, all you’d been doing was taking care of others.”
“Isn’t that a man’s job and duty? To take care of others? To make sure they have everything they need?”
Scar went silent again as I stood there in the middle of the street.
“Do you remember how much I despised you back then for hurting my pack?”
“I don’t, but even then I’m sorry about it.”
“Well, the one thing I regretted was not being able to protect them. I was too weak and set up by that Omega bastard. I mean, if I’d been in your situation, I’d have acted the same, so.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You really don’t remember anything?”
“No, I don’t. I just told you that.”
“Well, the Omega killed your spirit dog and dragged him over to my cave when I was out. So when you came searching for me, you killed most of my pack instead.”
“Oh, I did, huh?”
“You did, but I don’t wish you harm over it. I’ll tell you more when we get some time alone.”
“I’m sorry, Scar. I’m sorry for ruining your life no matter what.”
“Hey, you didn’t kill the ones closest to me when you could have.” Scar laughed. “It hurt to lose my pack, but you spared my mate and offspring.”
“Thanks for trying to cheer me up. I’ll do my best to give you a body or a way to project yourself in the physical realm. I promise.”
Chapter Eleven
I avoided the crowds as I moved down the street. People were still fighting the kobolds’ endless numbers. It had become child’s play once everyone knew how to go about it without getting killed, which was good. The more people died, the worse it would be for the city and the economy. Where would we get our food from? Clothes? Basic necessities? Everything would collapse in time, I was sure of it.
The ryokan still stood where we left it, along with the shimmering dome. I had no idea why it was the only place with a dome, but I wasn’t going to bitch about it. The same group of youngsters was busy killing the creatures when I walked by.
“Hey, old man!” the youngster called out. “We’ve got twelve crystals for you!”
I waved for him to come over. He moved with a different speed and grace than the first time we met. His body looked slightly different as well, almost as if he’d gained muscle mass.
“Put them in my bag and take out four bills. I’m in a good mood, so go enjoy yourselves.”
“What? You sure?”
I nodded. “I am, but share with the others, and I’ll keep buying your stuff, alright?”
He smiled and did as I said. “We’ve been really lucky farming three spots like this for the stones, so we sold the lady ten earlier as well.”
I flashed him a smile and nodded as he pulled the bills out, took four hundred slek, and put the rest back. He waved one last time and ran off as I walked over to the entrance. The faintly familiar feeling of walking through the dome startled me as I was held there for two seconds. A mass of Enma tugged at me from both sides, keeping me in place, but then it just disappeared, and I managed to get through.
“Shit, what the hell was that?” I murmured.
Melina sat there near the fountain, her legs tucked under her arms and chin. Her eyes went wide when she saw me appear.
“You’re back!” she yelled and got up, started to run toward me, but then stopped and changed to a steady walk. Her face flushed slightly pink, which she tried to hide. It was rather cute. Was that the right word?
I stopped and dropped all the bags, put my arms around the woman, and pulled her in for an embrace.
“I’m sorry, Melina, but I don’t think I can hold back i
f I stay around.”
“Hold back? What do you mean?”
“Don’t act so innocent with me. You’re old and smart enough to know.”
“Yeah, I am, and I just wanted you to sweat a little.” She chuckled. “And damn it all to hell! Why did you have to show up? I thought I’d be able to lead a normal life, but with you around… and since we drank together… and you helping me get dressed… you can’t go anywhere! No one has seen me naked for years, so don’t you dare run after seeing my scars!”
I frowned. “What are you talking about? I’m not going anywhere unless you want me to.”
She bit her lower lip and glanced over at the bags. “You got yourself some clothes to wear?”
I nodded. “Quite a few. Want to help me move in?”
Her eyes sparkled and her breathing turned uneven. She opened her mouth to reply but didn’t speak for several long seconds.
“Do you want to move in with me? Into my room?”
I wasn’t quite ready for that question. It caught me off guard, and I struggled to reply for a single heartbeat, but then nodded slowly. “Only if I get the right side of the bed.”
“Hah! You wish!”
She grabbed half of the bags and started running toward the ryokan. The yukata she wore was all white with a pink sakura pattern painted on it. It looked as lovely as she did. And then the same bun atop her head with the two hair sticks.
“Why are you wearing such a long dress today?”
“I haven’t been drinking yet, but I see that changing until the evening,” she shot over her shoulder.
I chuckled and picked the rest of the bags up, then walked after her. Melina was already waiting inside her room and cleaning out a part of the closet when I caught up. Well, the right part was already mostly empty, but it made me feel good she was so excited about it. The way she moved and glanced my way whenever she looked over.
“I bought a couple of things for you as well,” I said after I sat down on the small sofa. “I didn’t want to buy you any underwear and insult you by my choices, so I got you a couple of those dresses.”
She stopped rummaging through a bag she was holding and looked up at me. “You did?”
I nodded. “Several shorter ones and some like you’re wearing right now.”
“I don’t think that’s quite appropriate, kind sir. You’re a guest here, after all.”
“Oh? A guest who is about to move in with the hostess?”
“Well, maybe more of a permanent type of guest?”
I flashed her a smile and stared at her from head to toe. Hell, she was beautiful. I couldn’t stop staring no matter how hard I tried, and this dumb piece-of-shit heart kept fluttering in my chest. It called out to her, but she couldn’t hear it. Not yet. Even though a century had already passed since my death and the death of my wife, it almost felt like cheating. Or was I trying to drum up excuses? There was a reason I was sent here and not somewhere else. Melina and this ryokan. They were supposed to be my second home until I got to where I was aiming for.
“What?” she asked weakly. “Is there something on my face or dress?”
I shook my head weakly. “No. I just can’t stop staring at you. It hurts so deep inside,” I said, pointing at my heart. “It hurts so bad I want it to stop, as you remind me of someone I used to love. The next best thing is someone similar, isn’t it? Is that the reason why I’m so infatuated with you?”
Melina walked over and sat opposite me on a recliner and crossed her legs. “Isn’t that normal? Especially after we humans find love for the second time? Even more so if someone broke our hearts a long time ago?”
“You think?”
She nodded and smiled. Her pearly white teeth almost glimmered in the lantern light. It was midday, but the rooms were quite dark due to the shutters being down most of the time.
“I’d like to think so. See, there’s nothing to be jealous of is what I believe. They’re already gone, aren’t they? So why hold on to something that used to be? And besides, if I could get over my lost love, then anyone else can as well.”
I was about to say something stupid, but I managed to keep quiet. It was way too early for me to tell her anything. Maybe in a month, or in a year, but not today.
Before I knew what was going on, Melina got up and unwrapped the sash around her waist, then proceeded to pull the yukata down her shoulders and back. She sat back again with only a bandage wrapped around her chest and a thin black thong between her legs. I stared at her as my heart started thumping in my throat.
“You shouldn’t… I don’t know if I can hold back,” I whispered.
“Should you?”
“I don’t know, but I’m quite enticed by your offer, hostess.”
Melina moved to stand, but a ruckus downstairs drew our attention.
“Boss? Melina?”
It was Sandro.
“Fucking bastard! Why can’t he have better timing when to show up?” she hissed and stood. “Let me put the robe back on, and we’ll go down together, alright? Don’t go without me.”
I nodded and remained sitting as she struggled to get dressed under my watchful gaze.
“Do you want me to turn around?”
She giggled and stopped struggling with the left side of the yukata. “You’ve seen every inch of me, and it’s only now that you ask if you should look away?”
I shrugged. “Hey, it’s common courtesy, you know?”
She put her hands on her hips and stared at me. “Did you look away when your wife was getting dressed? Or having a bath?”
“No, I didn’t, but she was my wife. You’re my… hostess?”
“Hostess, huh? That’s very romantic of you, Viktor.”
I didn’t rise to the bait. She would chew me out then and there if I said anything else, so I remained silent.
“At least you know when to shut up, which is more than most men do.”
“Hey, do you want me to help you with that last part?” I asked, nodding at the yukata.
She winked and quickly tied the string to the fabric and slid the sash around her waist. “Maybe you can help me put one of the new ones on tonight?”
“If you don’t mind cold and rough hands sliding up and down your body, sure.”
Footsteps resounded out in the hallway and became louder with every second.
“Oh, here you are.” Sandro laughed as he walked in on us.
“Why the fuck are you inside my room?” Melina snapped. “I already told you I don’t want you in here! Never come in without me telling you to!”
My right eyebrow rose in surprise, but I wasn’t going to say anything. This shit was theirs to deal with, so let them have it.
“Sorry, I’m searching for the boss. We need to… if he’s free, I’d like for him to join us downstairs.”
“Yeah, I am. Sorry, I was busy talking to Melina, and I didn’t hear you.”
He nodded, but then his eyes landed on all the bags full of clothing and her empty closet. “I’ll be waiting down in the yard.”
He turned about and stormed through the hallway and down the stairs.
“Why are you so harsh on him?”
“Long story, please don’t ask for now,” she whispered and rubbed her temple.
I got up and offered her my hand. “Want to join us downstairs, then?”
Melina took my offered hand and followed me down the creaking hallway and steps, one at a time. We drew it out far longer than was necessary, but it was more a show of who was in charge. They needed to know that it was me and not them.
Sandro, Mark, Kang, and all the cousins stood around the fountain. To the right was a pile of weapons, while on the left another with bags of money, jewelry, gold, and precious gems. The bags were all partially open.
“Good to see you all here,” I said in greeting as we walked up to them.
Melina didn’t seem so sure if I still wanted to hold her hand or let go, so I decided for her when I put my arm around her waist. It raised m
ore than a few eyebrows, but I didn’t care. They needed to know that Melina and I were a thing, and if they owed me respect, they would owe it to her as well.
“Boss,” Kang said in greeting and nodded slightly, “we’ve done as you ordered. Do you want us to carry this for you… wherever you want them?”
“Melina, is there a storage room they could store all this for later?”
She nodded and pointed at the right building. “The whole floor is basically empty in there.”
“You heard the lady!” Kang yelled. “Get to it!”
“No, hold on,” I said, stopping them. “Once you’re done, go home, take a shower, and talk to your families. Everyone here proved their worth today, so you’re all invited to live with us but on the premise that everyone is expected to pull their own weight, even your wives. You’ll have to clean this place up before you can sleep and eat here. Make sure you’re alright with everything before you come back, as I’m not having Melina feed thirty or forty people.”
No one said anything, but they didn’t need to. There were so many things we didn’t know anything about. The quests, the powers, if anything else was going to happen tonight.
“Boss, I’ll see you tonight around eight if that’s alright,” Kang said first and bowed slightly.
I nodded. “Good to hear, Kang. To everyone else, you can go after taking all of this inside.”
The group scattered hurriedly. All but Mark and Sandro.
“Viktor, right? Is it alright if I call you by your name?” Mark asked.
“Speak what’s on your mind, Mark.”
“What if I can’t leave my boss behind?”
“Then you’ll have to live with the knowledge that you’ll need to fend for yourself. It’s as easy as that.”
He sighed and shook his head. “You’re putting me in a really bad situation here. Sure, I need to think of my family first, but you gotta understand that there wouldn’t be any family if it weren’t for him.”
He was right, but there were things that one shouldn’t take back, especially if it was an order. One’s word had to be the law if you wanted to be respected.
I leaned in and whispered so just he could hear. “If he’s already at death’s door, do him a favor and relieve him of the pain. I certainly would want to be delivered by someone I cared for over waiting for a lonely and painful death.”
Beginner Quest: A LitRPG Cultivation Series (Towers & Rifts Book 1) Page 12