It has been a month since we finished the quest. We still got paid and I was was glad that it was over. The reason it took so long was that the fort was surrounded by mountains and a large group like us took a while to get up there. Even though we finished the quest, the quest we got from the pop up showed up as failure, so we didn't get jack from up which still kind of upsets me to this day. Another noticeable event is that since I been doing quest for a month straight, I am somehow ban from taking any quest for a while until further notice

------
Flashback

"Another goblin quest with wolves again Zack" Miya asked again in a disappointed tone. "How about something simpler and less chance of getting hurt?"

"No can do them green abominations need to go DOWN"

"Then why not just relax for a bit and leave it to new adventures" Miya asked which sounded more of a demand

"Not my problem, they should have been faster getting out of bed and getting them quest." I said while inspecting my bow I got from the fort. A simple design with a bit of a blood stain mark on it which made it look cooler. I know I could enchant it to add elemental damage to it but refrain myself to do it since it sounds cool yet a hassle to lie around it. When I look up to Miya, her face darkens a bit and have this scowl.

Before long, the guild master appears on the second floor and began shouting. "Zack, have you been killing more than the usual number again?"

"I plead the fifth." I said while I have bow hand where my heart was, and another hand raise next to my head.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?!?" If he wasn't mad then, he is furious now

"Not my fault that they were everywhere."

"There were monster litter throughout the ENTIRE FOREST. "

"They stab themselves on my sword, I swear."

"They were found near the dungeon entrance." Almost like a slap to the face, the words that came out of his mouth click in his brain. "That's it no more quest until further notice. Miya do not accept anything from him."

"With pleasure." Miya responded with a smile on her face that almost radiant a twinkle of a star.

"This is bull shit"

-------
Present

Well now I'm stuck here by the training grounds watching a few new adventures fighting with each other. Every once in a while, one of them try to pick a fight with me before a few others older members adventures step in and 'defend me' which in actuality cause a few more to start spreading rumors about a weird rusted statue silently judging people which was true. A weird thing is that new adventures learn their place by others with more experience which only enforce them to stay away from not only my but Lisa and Marcus as well when they hear the story of '150 gold pieces' incident. Guild master have his employees watching our every move since.

Getting tired of reading books, I got up and walk over to the weapon rack and grab a wooden sword and walk over to one of the dummies and gave a few quick strike, with each strike to the dummy, I can see a little dent on them which means I should add even less force on my strikes on them. What I find funny is that I can wield most weapons and suddenly I know how to use them with ease only problem is that it feels foreign to me since I never wield any medieval weapons before in my past life except an blunt two-handed ax for the medieval boxing match which I lost bad... It was not my finest moment.

Not before long, I hear someone approaching me from behind.

"Hey kid your name Broken, Right?"

I turned around to find a kid who looks around my age like 10 or 11 years old with a messy red hair alongside wearing leather paddings as 'armor' over his causal clothing. Looking down at his hands, he is holding a bronze sword that clearly have a few scratches on it and upon closer inspection, the blade needs to be sharpened. No arm guards, leg paddings that only cover the thighs, armor covering the chest but leave the stomach area exposed, no chain mail under the armor.

Looking at this kid I don't know why, but I absolutely hate him. Was it the smirk of confidence he has on his face, or was it the lack of resolve to live as he clearly only has the bare minimum of protection and lack experience? I know there are other adventures here with little to no armor, but I know that their roll and experience more than make up for it. Yet I feel insulted looking at him. I snap out of my judgement talk when he was talking again.

"Well, are you?"

"Yeah I'm Broken, that's what the adventures call me anyway."

"Oh, cool I hear some rumors about you yet strange I don't feel like those are true just by talking to you."

"Oh really~ and what those might be?" I can guess what they are, but I want to hear how ridiculous they are.

"Well one they talk about you nearly torturing someone to death. Another one is how you hate that elf guild receptionist. And how you took out an exiled member bandit head."

When I turn too few of the guild members, the just turn their heads yet I can still tell that they are listening to the conversation. "Yes, I nearly gave someone a slow and painful death. As of a matter of fact, just a few feet over there is the exact spot that happen. Yes, I hate one of the guild receptionist because I despised elves. Dark elves are ok in my book, but Wood elves or high elves or whatever they like to be called are a bunch of prideful tree hugging hippy, and finally I did take out a bandit leader head. That is how I claim my reward and also nearly toucher someone to death. He thought I was an easy target, and no one wanted to stop them so that whole ordeal could've been avoided if someone had speak up yet they didn't and honestly I don't blame them. In spite of that, the guild master added new rules to 'help' new adventures, yet the real goal of it was to make sure that something like that never happens again."

When I finished my say, he gave a small chuckle while scratching the back of his head. "Wow can't believe those rumors are true. I guessing it means you're pretty strong as well."

Underneath my mask, I narrow my eyes at him while trying to guess what game is, he playing. I could use my scan to see his stats and titles to help me better understand what he wants, yet I refrain myself to be overlying it in combat. I only used it to see the stats of the comparators before I place my bets. "...yes...I guess."

"Then you want to have a sparring match it will let me know how much I improved." Said the kid with pride before he slouches down his shoulders a bit. "I-I mean...you know...if you're not b-busy~"

I honestly couldn't tell what he will gain from talking to me he knew the rumors about me, yet he willingly wants to duel me? I wonder if the church have something to do about this. "Ok" Was all I said as we head to one of the empty pits. Unsurprisingly, I saw one of the guild employee walk away from the training area. I better get ready for a judgment talk later. I set my sword up against the wall and grab a new wooden short sword. I gave it a few swings to check it's balanced and walk to the pit to see him do some stretches.

"You ready friend?"

"yea I guess." As I grip the sword in my hand, I see him copying my stance. I didn't think much of it, but it was still weird.

"OK ready...321GO!!!"

After his quick count down, he started to rush me. Luckily for me, he has his sword to the side pointing behind him leaving him fully exposed with no way of blocking any attacks. Thinking of a way to make the battle quick as possible without injuring him too badly, I decided to throw my weapon at him. To my surprised, instead of dodging to the side like a normal person, he decided to risk it all and slide under it. What he didn't expect form me was me charging him and tackling the both of us to the ground. Once on the ground, he tried to swing the sword at me which I grab his wrist and gave it a twist which force him to drop his weapon. What I didn't expect was for him to swing his other arm which actually connected to my mask. Unluckily for him, before he could swing for a second time, I grab his arm while letting go the other hand and punch his elbow which turn in an unnatural 90 degrees angle. I could have sworn that I hear some spectator cringe at both the sight and the noise it made.

Feeling that the battle was already over, I got off of him and walk over to my training sword which looking at it was impale into the wall...next to Justino...and Ohin.

"ZACK!!!" Looking at the both of them, they were clearly pissed and ready to murder me.

"Hey look this is not what it looks like this guy and I were sparing and having a little fun loo-" I looked over to the kid who was crying on the ground while clucking over his broken arm while a few guild members huddle around him. I walk over to him while pushing people away I can hear both Justino and Ohin yelling at me. I just knew I was going to get a lot of crap later today.

As I reach the crying kid, I got down on my knee and l turn his head and look at him in the eyes.

"Hey, look at me...you trust me?"

I didn't know what his mind was going through but after a few moment he hesitantly shock his head in agreement and I quickly grab his arm and snap it back in place which he let out a scream in pain that could rival a banshee. I was then grab from the back of my armor and was meet face to face with Ohin and gave a look that was mixed with anger and disappointment. He then began to carry me out the training arena and head up the stairs. I honestly feel like I didn't do anything wrong.

After the whole fiasco, I walk back to the inn while feeling somewhat irritated that the entire event was my fault. When I enter the front door, I saw Grandmama sitting by the campfire, the guild master wife cleaning some mead cups while her kids were helping her and both Lisa and Marcus sitting down at one of the corner table with stacks of books. Marcus saw me and began weaving at me signaling to come over. I pull up a chair and look over the books they have.

"Hello Zack, what happen?"

"Nothing much happen just the same boring old day. Trying to sneak some quest to complete, fail, then decided to pass the time." I said while using my hand on my cheek while my elbow rested on the table. The helmet with the face plate didn't cause much discomfort

"That's not what I heard." Lisa said which cause me to raise my eyebrow on the blind bandage girl

"Girl~ what you on about" I gave my sassy response to Lisa which cause her to smile a bit.

"We all saw what happen between your fight with that kid. Got to say it was a bit brutal." Lisa said with a hint of joy in her tone of voice.

" It wasn't THAT bad. " I try to refute in this losing battle.

"The sword you threw was impale to the wall...deep"

"You took a punch to the face."

"And broke that guys arm"

"An-"

"Ok ok I get it. That fight happen he punch my 'face' I broke his arm...I fixed it tho." I put my head down in shame for a bit then raise my head back to the side of my face while wearing my helmet. "Anyway, how do you guys know?"

Just then a screen appears between the three of us. The screen showed the three of us sitting around the table and soon, the screen began to move around the room and stop in front of the wife for a few seconds then began to move in between us. When I saw us sitting at the table again, I began to look where it was coming from and realized there was nothing until I realized that Marcus was still in his drone master class. I turn my head towards him, and he nodded slowly, and I received a message from him in the group chat

There are some things that only we can see. For an example the other day, the guild quest that appear in front of the three of us. While we can see the bright blue screen with prompt on them, others just walk pass it like it was not there. My camera screen is also another example. I found that out while I was sp-watching you Zack. The youngest kid snuck up on me while I was watching the feed. He keeps asking me what book I was reading while the screen appear in front of him as if it wasn't there. If by chance he did see it, I'll just used the 'magic' lie.

I look at him for an explanation but just received a shrug instead which worried me a bit since he only does that when he has no explanation I looked over to Lisa and she also gave a shrug which was normal for her. I looked at what she was reading and to my horror, it was a cookbook. She sees me staring at her book with horror then she just sighs in disappointment.

"I'm not cooking any time soon if that's what you're worrying."

Oh, thank the beautiful planet we live in to hear those simple words. She then tosses me her cook book and I just gave a title a quick read

Easy and fast survival meals

By

Chef Cayenne Pepper

Chef Cayenne Pepper... people name in this world is weird I was about to give her book back but she holds her hand up.

"Fun fact about that book, it was made a few years after The Great War between The Demon King and The World."

"Yea ok, and?"

"Would you believe me when I say Chef Pepper was part of a unit that deliver supplies to the front line and with his cooking knowledge, he was able to feed soldiers in the harshest of environments."

Not going to lie, that sounds pretty cool.

"He also wore pots and pans as armor." Lisa follow up with her comment

Marcus look up from his book and looked at Lisa. Even with the bird mask covering his face, you can still tell what he is trying to express. After a short pause, he return to his book about plants and basic alchemy.

"...Why are people so weird." Was all I said before Lisa smiled again and continued talking.

"He didn't have much money to buy proper armor, so he filled an empty pack with his favorite pots and pans while tying a cooking stone slab around his belly and one pot to his head as a helmet. Hey if it works, it works. His cookbook is filled with recipes he perfected during the time of The Great War."

"I mean sure, I guess. He sounds like a chill dude. Also, the great war?"

"To simplify it, the great war is the entire World vs The Demon King. The demon king was gathering resources to cast a spell to wipe all life on this planet and rebuild it in his image along with his follower. The church along with the gods cast a spell that summon heroes to help fight in the front lines and became the turning point of the war. They breach The Demon King fortress and slay him before he was able to cast armageddon and that's that." Lisa said while rambling about.

To say I wasn't interested was a fat lie. The history of what she was telling me was straight out of a fantasy book and I was feeling a bit giddy on the inside. When Lisa was done giving me a history lesson, she pick up a book called Final days while I decided to read the cook book by Mr. Pepper. Before I was about to read one of his recipes, Lisa send me a message through the group chat.

FYI: The church hates black hair because one of the hero's with black hair despised killing and the church condemned him and to cover it up, they claim that people with black hair is destined to become an embodiment of great evil. If I were to say this in public, then most likely I will be executed by fire or the wheel.

I looked up from my book and see both Lisa and Marcus just reading their book yet the screen did appear in front of them I keep receiving messages between the both of them but I was more interested in what the cook in that time made during the war.

In this book I, Mr. Pepper will show you weary traveler how to cook and prepare meals that can prevent starvation and feed many people with only a few ingredients. Remember you don't have to sacrifice the flavor of food to survive with these easy and filling recipes.

Winter Mountain Forest survival meal

With this easy fast and simple recipe, you can easily feed an army of 80 humans not just to the bare minimum, they will have a full and satisfied belly.

Tools
You will at least need some tools to prepare this.
1 knife
1 large pot
1 big stirring stick

Ingredients
And you cannot forget the main ingredients they are the star to prepare this fabulous meal

6 pounds of saw dust
This will help add flavor and make it significantly more filling

14 gallons of water
Or 22 pounds of ice

1 big timber Wolf or 2 foxes

3 big handful of pine needles

A few ounces of maple bark shavings

A 4 pounds cattails stems

And whole 2 winter moon peppers

3 ounces of salts and pepper (Optional)

When butchering the timbers wolf the make sure you don't throw way any bones or guts add all the meats and bones to the soup, but when adding the wolf bones make sure to crack the bones to expose the bone marrow.

Many people think me adding the pine needles to the stew is only a filler but no it does have a purpose of course it adds a lot more servings to the meal, but it adds a nice calm smooth flavor to the stew.

Remember like my father Mr. Paprika pepper said, 'Just throw them in there!'

When adding the maple bark shavings to the stew make sure to add them towards the end of the cooking process so they won't get mushy this will add a delicious delectable mellow sweetness to the stew that will raise the morale of a weary traveler.

When harvesting the cattails make sure to remove the heads and the roots these parts of the plant that are not edible and if you need more cattails look in pounds and streams they tends to grow there.

The cattail has the flavor of a very planty celery.

And to the best most fabulous ingredients of them all, that grows in very cold, high altitude environments is the amazing winter moon peppers these huge peppers are like the paint to a delectable canvas of flavor. The flavor of these pepper is like a God's blessing to your soul. These peppers have a slight magical property to them they'll keep you warm in the harshest of cold and keep you cool in the hottest of environments. And the best part of these peppers are they grow everywhere in the mountains you can Harvest all that you want and there will always be more for you to pick. And now to prepare these magical peppers for the stew you need to chop them up into small pieces and then add them to the stew and you can optionally add the seeds of the pepper to add a little kick.

The saw dust will thicken up the stew and adding the Maple bark shaving will also add a sweet and mellow flavor to the stew, with the pine needles it will add a fantastic greenery flavor and the cattails will release it beautiful flavor and absorbs the juices of the meat. All the ingredients combined will make a nice and delectable stew that is very filling and delicious I Mr. C. Pepper firmly recommend anyone to cook this when food runs short.

This has been Chef Pepper

Damn this guy have been cooking wood and feeding the army during the war...I wonder if I should really replicate some of his dishes when I have the time.

New message received

A new message from Marcus...what the hell does he want?

When I open my messages up, I came across a weird file.

New world Data

· History

· Magic

· Church

· Region

· Names

· Misc

What is this? I message in the group chat feeling very confused yet intrigue

Information data I been working on since I learn how to read. It took a while and I rather not force myself to relearn things again. Just open one of the tabs and it should have the information on what I wrote on there. You guys can add information on the Misc. tab and I should sort it out later when I have the time. If you're looking for key words, there should be a search bar on there to make things easier.

Oh cool, wished I had this during my early years it would have made my life so much easier. Lisa typed with a smile that anyone could pass of as a smile of happy bliss, but I know her for too long to know that it was a smile of mischievousness.

Girl you would have it filled with cheat sheets and no no books. I typed. When she read the message, she gave me the finger and kick me under the table. Why are you mad? You know I'm right. I hear a very quiet snort coming from Marcus which Lisa glared at him under her bandages. He quickly retreats back deeper into his book.

Anyway, I made a tab just for you guys in the Misc. section so you can have whatever you want on there. I do hope it turns out well. Marcus mentally typed while flipping another page in his plant book.

I got up and stretch my body a bit while sending them a message. Anyway, I'm going to bed. Justino and Ohin is kind of mad at me for the sparing match and I don't want to deal with their talk.

Its not a sparing match when you broke somebody arm. Marcus responded in a way that I imagine that he has a grin on his stupid face right now.

Ok, roughhousing then.

Roughhousing doesn't involve a wooden sword impale into the wall. Lisa then responded that I also imagine she has a stupid grin on her face.

GOODNIGHT. I mentally typed in the chat while heading up the stairs to our room.

Our room still haven't change after all this time just some books near Marcus bed and Lisa art canvas next to the window with some art pieces already painted leaning on the wall. I seen some of her work...I wasn't the best. One of them is just a blue canvas with a very thin black line across the canvas. Her excuses was that 'If this shit can be sold for millions, why can I do it here?' If I know one thing about her, is that she is determined. Wasting to time, I pulled out another Binks Brew from my inventory and drank it. I put the empty bottle away, lay down on my bed, and wait for the countdown timer.

------------------

"Broken I challenge you."

"Oh, it's you again...hello" It's the same kid from yesterday

"Enough talk, let us duel while the day still shine bright."

I could refuse this time, but he is still wearing the same 'armor' from yesterday. Maybe if I win, then he might realized what he needs "Ok. Let's go to the same spot." Almost on que, A guild employee walk out the doors probably to warn Ohin.

When we both enter the pit, we both have our training swords and again, he counted down really quick. We both swing our swords at each other for a bit. One key thing I notice was that every time our sword clash, he always staggers back a bit but regain composure quickly. When our sword clash one final time, I sweep his feet which lead him to fall flat on his back with me pointing my sword towards his neck. It didn't take a genius to know who won.

"ZACK!!!" I turn my head towards Ohin by the door along with Justino who has his arm cross. "OFFICE NOW!!!"

"I didn't break his bones this time I swear." Looking at their expression, I relent and walk back up the stairs.

--------------

"Broken you may have bested me but this time I will claim this victory."

"Ok challenge accepted. To the pits."

Again, he lost I did notice that he has been dodging my sword this time around and watching my footwork. Thinking as if I was about to sweep his legs again. Sadly, for him, he couldn't keep dodging and I connected a lethal blow.

"ZACK OFFICE NOW"

-----------------

"Broken I challenge you"

"Ok to the pit again"

Once again we clash and this time, he seems to favor offence over defense this time around. Did I underestimate this guy? Dose he actually learns after every battle? Not too long after, I parry one of his attacks and landed another lethal blow.

"ZACK!!!"

"Well...time for another scolding."

--------

"Broken"

"OK"

I took another victory again when I punch him in the chest which he drops like a sack of potato

"ZACK"

"I know...I know"

"How come the guild master always get mad at you every time we spare?" The red hair kid asked as I was walking to Ohin.

"He keeps telling me to not fight anyone as I tend to leave serious injuries on my opponent." I said while moving my hand nonchalantly. "Also, every time I fight someone or cause trouble, my suspension gets extended."

"That's stupid. We spar for the two weeks and I'm still walking."

Before I could say anything, I got grab by the back of my armor and proceeded to be drag out of the pit and into my second home in the office.

--------------

After the whole fiasco, I went back to the inn where I meet the same two Lisa and Marcus sitting at the same table playing chess this time. When I pull up a chair to sit down, I was curious on who's winning. Looking at the board and the position of the pieces, Lisa is winning. Next to the board was a notebook which show tally marks with the letters M and L on there. There was a few tallies on L but there was SO much on M where I'm pretty sure that one-half is a black page. They finally acknowledge me by waving their hand in a 'hello' motion.

"How long has this been going?" I ask out of curiosity since one-half is nearly a black page.

Marcus place his hand on his queen's piece and tap is index finger on it before answering my question. "9 hours 23 minutes 19 seconds"

"..." Lisa seems to be really focus on which pieces to move.

"Lisa don't overload your brain, those two been through enough." It didn't take long for Lisa to shoot a death glare at me and cast a small electricity spell and shock me. I could feel my body tighten for a bit then began to relax for a bit. "Still doesn't change anything."

"Want to be set on fire?"

"Ok ok relax Ill shut up now." What she said was no threat that was a promise.

"So that where you hang out Broken." I turn my head towards that voice, and it was the red hair kid I been giving a one side beatdown. "I always wonder where you go when you leave his office."

"Zack, who is that?" Lisa ask while trying to figure out where to move her piece.

"He is the kid that I broke his arm on our first match and got chew out by Justino and Ohin."

"I have a name you know." He said

"So, do I, yet you keep calling me Broken so I called you kid."

"Sounds about right my name is Ava and trust me when I become a sword saint, everyone will know who I am."

"Cool and my name is Zack and no offence but Ava sounds like a girl's name"

"It because I AM A GIRL"

"..."

"..."

"..."

There was a silent pause between the three of us then Ava widen her eyes in realization. "You just found out I'm a girl?"

"...Yeah...is that a bad thing?" Why should I lie about not knowing shit?

"You're going to stop sparing me because of it?" She asked in a dejected tone

"I don't give a hair on a goblin ass if you're a woman. I'll fight anybody."

"I didn't know Zack is a women beater" Lisa said which cause both Ava and Marcus to laugh and after a few moment I started to laugh.

The four of us sat around the table and talk about random thing like rumors about the apple stand women been cheating on her husband with the bank bookkeeper or dungeons raid and how to conquer it as quickly as possible. Not long after, the inn was starting to get full and the sun was beginning to set. Ava had to go back to the orphanage before they begin to search for her. Then I realize that her 'armor' were a mixture of hand me downs and dumpster diving. She should find better armor and sharpen her sword before killing those green skins. I decided to retire back to bed to start a new day again.

------------

It has been four months since we return from our quest from the fort. My schedule hasn't change too much. I go to the guild and read a random book, have Ava challenge me to a duel, beat her, go to the inn rest and repeat.

Strangely enough, Ohin or Justino have been watching our duel from time to time. I think it was because they were bored or watching me not murder someone in broad daylight. The church came back and try to convince Marcus Lisa and I to join them back at the capital. They try to 'convince' Guild Master Ohin and Justino to give them custody. It fails of course so they shifted their plans and ask us directly. Whenever that happens, I just told them to 'piss off' and leave. Lisa on some occasion would scream 'he touch me, he touch me' Which cause a lot of eyes to be look onto them. It gets even funnier too when it causes them get arrested.

What even more strange enough was an announcement that happen recently which hit everybody harder than a slap of a giant.

"We're getting married"

"We're getting married"

Unsurprisingly, it came from both Miya and Justino.