𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐀 𝟏𝟎 | 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓'𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃

𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐀

I grinned while packing things as the most handsome merchant in the Empire leaned closer to the counter. Ilang pulgada ang layo ng mukha nito sa akin. I stopped what I was doing and found myself staring at his almond-shaped eyes and perfect eyebrows. Napatitig na rin ako sa kulay berde niyang mga mata.

"I hope you don't find it weird... but I love your unique hair." My gaze shifted to his sultry pink lips. Hinablot ko ang vial sa harap niya at kinuha ang container na puno ng pink salt.

"You already told me that sentence fifteen times this week, Seisu. Quit it. Hindi ko na uli sasaluhin ang trabaho mo." I grinned at him. Humalakhak siya sa sinabi ko. He placed his chin on top of the counter. Lalo niya akong pinagmasdan kaya naman ay pinikit ko ang noo niya.

''That hurts!'' Hinimas niya ang pinitik ko ngunit hindi ko na siya pinansin pa. He glances at me while facing the counter full of skins and leather. Siningkitan ko siya ng mga mata dahil baka nakakalimutan niya na nasa trabaho kami.

In the past few weeks, I realized that I should give Ginger a new life. Since I already named her, it makes sense to give her a different hobby and personality. As a result, I joined the Merchant Guild in the Empire. Sa katunayan ay hindi madali ang makapasok sa Merchant's Guild.

Merchants are mostly male and they are individuals who travel to different towns or empires just to buy or sell goods or services. I heard from Seisu that I'm the first woman Merchant in their guild. Hindi ko alam kung binobola niya lang ako o ano. I shrugged my shoulders at him as I stared at the shelves.

''Looked like this purse is made of a snake's skin.'' Tinuro ko ang pitakang naka-display sa isang shelf. Isang malawak na ngisi naman ang binigay sa akin ni Seisu. He gave me a thumbs up.

''Woah. You can tell?'' Tila namangha pa siya. ''Are you sure that this is your first time as a merchant? You have keen eyes!'' I rolled my eyes. He chuckled because he simply loved teasing me. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako nasasanay sa papuri niyang jologs.

Since I joined a Merchant Guild, Seisu sticked around me like a dog. Hindi lang naman kami ang nasa Merchant Guild na ito. Abala nga lang ang iba sa pag-hunt ng mga wild animals sa mga masukal na kagubatan sa Empire. Merchant Guilds are divided into two groups called hunters and crafters.

Mabuti na lang ay may option akong hindi maging hunter dahil panigurado'y mababagot lang ako. If you're a hunter, you won't just be dealing with wild animals; you'll also be dealing with your fellow hunters. Ayaw kong makisama sa ibang tao. I despise other people. I'm just like Morgana. We are both introverted people who enjoy our own company.

''This is a common sense, Seisu. Look at the scales.'' I observed the scales on the purse and continued walking, scanning other products.

''I bet you can make a better purse than that, Ginger.'' Tinaas niya ang hawak niyang container. It's full of excited shells. Tinitigan ko ang mga shell sa loob ng tila tupperware niyang lagayan.

''Marco brought another group of shells?'' Ito lamang ang naging komento ko. Isang thumbs up naman ang binigay sa akin ni Seisu.

I guess Marco brought those because he said he loves to explore oceans. Out of all the men in this Guild, Marco loved exploring the ocean. Perhaps the reason why Marco had naturally tan skin and chestnut brown hair. Madalas tuwing bumabalik nga si Marco ay puno ng tan lines ang katawan niya. Thank God, Marco isn't here. Isa rin siyang sakit sa ulo dahil hilig niyang kulitin at daldalin ako.

''And what will we do about those? Some silly necklaces again?'' Humalakhak si Seisu dahil sa komento ko. Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay dahil wala namang nakakatawa sa naging komento ko.

''I thought you should love making silly necklaces and bracelets because you're a woman?'' Tinagilid niya ang kaniyang ulo. Abala ang mga daliri niya sa paghimay ng silk na kaniyang hawak. I scoffed because of Seisu's remarks.

"Thank you for subtly informing me that you love to stereotype." I let out a sarcastic chuckle.

Napahawak siya sa dibdib na para bang nasaktan sa sinabi ko. Seisu pouted like a child. Naniningkit ang mga mata niyang nagtago sa mga malalaking container. Akala mo naman maitatago niya ang sarili niya sa tangkad niya. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay dahil mukha siyang dambuhalang golliria.

"I'm not stereotyping! That's the only thing we knew about women. I heard the last woman in the Vheeliagher has a disease." Tila nalulungkot niyang sabi.

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya dahil muntik kong makalimutan na halos 3% lang pala ng populasyon sa mundong ito ang mga babae. Since women serve as maids and some are nobles, men often rely on weighty books that provide information about them. Nakipagtigasan ako ng tingin kay Seisu.

"It doesn't change the fact that you think women only love crafting bracelets." I looked away. Sinalin ko na ang mga nahiwalay kong pink salt sa container. Before going to such a Guild, I did my research first.

I began with the basics, like learning about different types of salts. In the novel, there was a brief mention of salts in a paragraph when Morgana used a yellow salt as a substitute for her soup. Yellow salts are used in the kitchen, pink salts are good for mixing with sweets, and blue salts are used for decoration purposes. Ang dami nilang arte rito samantalang sa atin ay Iodized salt lang ang alam ko.

''Ginger. May isang butil ng blue salt sa pink salt mo.'' Seisu pointed to my vial container. Nalukot ang noo ko't tinitigan ang hawak kong vial. The vial I was holding was as tiny as my pinky finger yet Seisu could see a grain of blue salt from afar.

''Cool. I really loved your eyesight.'' Napangisi naman siya't napahawak sa dibdib na feeling mo pinana ni kupido. Mukha siyang tanga kaya naman ay ginulungan ko na lang siya ng mga mata.
Seisu has the sharpest eye among them. He said it wasn't his power but rather a perfect vision and perception that runs in his family's blood.

Ultimo kahit bulbol sa floor ay makikita ni Seisu. Sana all. What if pabilang ko sa kaniya kung ilan bulbol ko?

Merchant Guilds have their display sections. Some guilds engage in the hunting of wild animals like crocodiles and boars. After that, a Merchant Guild will always make agreements with butchers in the Empire to sell the meat. However merchants will keep the animal's scales and skins of the animals. Ang gawain ng Guild na napasukan ko'y gawing panibagong produkto ang mga nakukuha na resources at ibenta.

''Ginger.'' Sei called me. Nagpalting ang mga tenga ko dahil malambing uli ang tono niya.

''Ginger. Ginger. Ginger. Ginger.'' I rolled my eyes without glancing at him. Abala ako sa mga paghimay ng pink salt. I need to separate pink from blue salt using tiny silver tweezers. Mabuti na lang ay hindi malabo ang mata ni Morgana kamo.

''Oh?'' Hindi ko siya tinapunan ng tingin.

''Wala lang. I miss your voice. Sakit ng ulo ko dahil kagabi. Napuyat kami kakabantay ng metal lizards.'' Napangiwi ako't nilingon siya.

Sei groaned, rubbing his head. No wonder they're tired. Metal Lizards are huge creatures with large scales found in the black forest of this empire. Ayaw ko ring mapagod at ma-stress kaya hindi na ako sumama bilang hunter ng Guild na ito. 'Wag silang mag-reklamo na pagod sila dahil ginusto nila 'yan.

"Masakit pa rin ulo mo? Tanggalin mo na para wala kang problema." Humalakhak ako nang dumaan sa harap ni Seisu. Napanguso siya dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya nasasanay sa mga pambabara ko.

I held the silver tweezers while trying to find the blue salt. Saglit akong napaisip dahil hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano ba'ng dapat kong gawin. It isn't easy to survive in this world without power. Demanding someone to kiss me while I'm Morgana isn't easy. Only Kleio had the guts to beg to be kissed by the Villainess Morgana.

I refused to join the hunting group controlled by Marco because I couldn't admit that I didn't possess any special power. I haven't french kissed someone until now. Hindi ko rin magawang lapitan ang mga Gold Knights dahil hindi maalis ang tingin sa akin ni Niccolo tuwing ako si Ginger.

''Tulungan na kita baka abutin ka pa ng isang taon.'' Natatawang sambit ni Seisu at nilapitan ako.

''Thank you. I love your eyes, can I pluck them out?'' Sarkastiko kong sambit kay Seisu.

I glanced back and saw him standing behind me while towering over me. Natigilan ako dahil kailangan ko pang tumingala para lang pagmasdan siya. Our height difference is huge. Hindi pa nga ako umaabot ng balikat niya.

''Grabe ka na, Ginger. Ang hilig mo talaga akong barahin.'' Nilihis ko agad ang tingin ko sa kaniya't nagulat ako dahil hinawakan niya ang mga daliri ko.

I froze. I saw how big and veiny his hand was. Hinawakan niya na ako't wala namang kaso 'yon sa akin dahil tinutulungan niya lang naman ako. I watched as his index and thumb fingers guided mine to find the blue salt amidst the wave of pink salt. Hindi ako kumurap habang pinagmamasdan ito hanggang sa mahila namin palabas ng vial.

His hand is so big and veiny. Nag-crave ako bigla ng ti... nola.

''By the way, I loved the shampoo that you gave me. Why did you even join a Merchant Guild? Siguro akong mas malaki ang kita mo kung mag-isa mong ibebenta ang mga produkto mo.'' Saglit kong tinapunan ng tingin si Seisu at tinawanan ang sinabi niya.

"Do solo merchants survive here? I doubt it. Merchant Guilds wouldn't be formed if being a solo merchant were effective after all." Natahimik siya at humiwalay sa akin kaya naman ay tama ang kutob ko.

The truth is I cheated my way into joining this Merchant Guild. I found a magical item that could summon essential things, such as shampoo and soap, inside Morgana's cabinet. I summoned different shampoo products from my world and transferred them into a container. Utakan lang 'yan.

Nagpalusot na lang ako na nakuha ko ang mga produkto na ito dahil mahilig akong mag-travel bilang Merchant. Naniwala naman agad sila sa akin. At the end, I teamed up with Sei to create products from what hunters hunt.

''Let's take a break. Nagugutom na ako, Ginger! Lutuan mo ako ng sopas!'' He tried hugging me again. Hinampas ko ang braso niya gamit ang makapal na aklat sa gilid kaya naman ay napadaing siya sa sakit.

''Ako dapat ang paglutuan mo dahil halos ako ang gumawa ng mga trabaho mo.'' I removed my gloves and placed them on the container. Pinagpag ko na rin ang suot ko't tinali ang buhok ko.

This is Seisu's nature. Nature niyang maging malandi. I don't mind because I always see him hugging other members of this Guild. Narinig ko kasing siya rin ang tinuturing na bunso kaya nama'y mahilig siya magpalambing. Ang problema nga lang ay dahil ako ang madalas niyang kasama ay ako ang lagi niyang kinukulit.

Can you imagine that? Only the two of us are the crafters of this Guild. Buong araw kong pinapakisamahan ang pagiging makulit niya. Seisu should be thankful that I have to maintain Ginger's reputation for a reason.

Sa paglabas namin ay bumungad sa amin ang cooking area. The cooking area is similar to a large, dirty kitchen located beside the forest. My attention was shifted to the pile of bags in the corner. Nagtitigan kaming dalawa ni Seisu. I hissed at him before he covered my eyes. Namimihasa na siyang hawakan ako ng basta-basta.

"Do you plan on living here? Ba't hindi mo na lang idala buong aparador mo?" I scoffed at him. Tumingkayad ako't silip ang niluluto niyang curry soup. Mukhang kulang ang mga patatas kaya naman ay naghiwa na ako ng ilan.

"Kulang pa mga 'yan." Seisu clicked his tongue.

Napailing ako sa kaniya dahil pinapanood niya lang ako maghiwa ng patatas. He placed his chin on the kichen's table. Sinuway ko siya dahil madumi.

"How about you? Where do you live?" Bakas ang kuryosidad sa mga mata niya. I smirked. Binalik ko ang klase ng patitig niya sa akin at nilagay ang mga patatas sa curry.

"I already told you that I live in a forest. Mahirap bang intindihin ang tagalog?" I rolled my eyes.

"You live alone?" I can tell that Seisu is curious. Napabuntong hininga ako dahil alam kong uulan nanaman ang tanong. Naghintay kami ng ilang minuto bago maluto ang patatas.

"Yeah, I live alone. I work alone to finance myself." Seisu's gaze soften. Nalukot na lamang ang noo ko dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang dapat ikalungkot sa sinabi ko. Kahit kailan ay hindi naging malungkot ang mapag-isa.

Being alone is perhaps amazing because it means you have freedom. You won't care about what other people think. Kapag mag-isa ka ay hindi mo na kailangang isipin pa ang mararamdaman ng iba. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.

"Are you okay?" Napangiwi na lang ako dahil kung titigan niya ako ay para akong isang kaawa-awang nilalang.

"I am perfectly fine. You think that I'm sad because I'm alone? Hindi mo ba alam na mas maganda kapag mag-isa ka't sarili mo lang ang papakainin mo sa bahay?" Natatawa kong sambit.

"I'm alone too before you came." Seisu cleared his throat.

Hinayaan ko na lang siya gawin kung ano man ang gusto niyang gawin. I picked up the wooden tray filled with wooden bowls. Isa-isa kong nilagyan ng curry ang bowls ng iba pa naming mga kasama.

Imagine Morgana cooking and serving you her curry. Lucky you.

"I'll just fix my things." Pagpapaalam sa akin ni Seisu kaya naman ay tinitigan ko ang mga gamit sa gilid. He said everything belonged to him.

I nodded in response as I fixed everyone's bowls. Marco's hunting group will come back later. Naging tahimik kami bigla kaya nama'y kung saan-saan na rin lumipad ang utak ko. Pumasok bigla sa isip ko ang pagtatalo namin ni Niccolo sa tent. I can't help but to scoff as I prepare our lunch.

"You're going to act like this because of a commoner? Ginger is her name? She's nothing—"

"Don't say that. She isn't nothing to me." My eyebrows furrowed in response to his quick reply. Napailing na lang ako't tinawanan ang mukha niyang halos magsilabasan na ang mga ugat dahil sa inis.

The confrontation between Morgana and Niccolo is entertaining. Niccolo never acted this way before. Nakipagtigasan kami ng tingin sa isa't-isa at walang nagsalita. In the end, I gave up this petty staring contest with him and scoffed.

Did he just cut me off? I know him well because I'm an avid reader. He usually maintains his composure. However, witnessing his current behavior towards Ginger is something new. Kahit kailan ay never kong nabasa na umakto siya ng ganoon. He's so protective for no reason.

I was taken aback when I saw Seisu snapping his fingers. Hula ko ay kanina niya pa ako tinatawag at sadyang lutang lang talaga ako. I server him the wooden bowl full of curry along with the large flat bread. You're supposed to dip the bread into the curry to savor the flavor. Walang pangalan ang dish na ito dahil imbento lang naming dalawa ni Seisu.

"May iniisip ka ba? Are you fine?" Tinitigan niya ako't umupo ako sa bench para kumain. I dipped the flat bread to the curry.

"Yeah. Sorry. I was just hungry."

Lumakbay ang paningin ko sa mga buhat niya. My eyebrows furrowed as I noticed an armor among his things. My eyebrow raised when he quickly covered it. Malas niya nga lang dahil nakita ko pa rin kahit itago niya.

"Why do you have an armor?" Intriga kong sambit. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa akin na para bang nag-iisip ng sasabihin. I chewed my food.

"That's nothing. Someone sold it to me, and it's only for collection purposes—" Humalakhak ako kaya naman ay naputol ang sasabihin niya.

"Liar. It's only for collection but the armor has a badge?" I grinned at him. Minsan talaga ang mga lalaki kahit nahuli na ay nagpapalusot pa.

I shrugged my shoulders and he proceeded to fix his things. Nanahimik lang siya habang inaayos kung ano man ang dapat niyang ayusin. Seisu's things are mostly faux leather bags or pouches full of coins. Sa isang tingin pa lang ay halatang mamahalin ang mga ito.

"You loved collecting expensive pouches too? Aren't those are made of a wild boar's skin? Hindi ba isang kubo ang katumbas ng presyo nito?" I knew I had caught him off guard when he stopped what he was doing.

"Ginger naman. 'Wag mo namang ipahalata na tinititigan mo ako. Kinikilig betlog ko niyan." I chuckled because of what he said.

"Defensive?" I raises my eyebrow. Hindi siya nagsalita nang matapos siya mag-ayos at bumalik sa akin upang tikman ang hinanda kong curry at flat bread.

Tinaas ko ang isang kilay ko dahil napaghahalataan kong hindi naman talaga kapos-palad itong si Seisu. He even bought a guitar and played it. Minsan ko na ring narinig kumanta itong si Seisu.

Seisu had finished fixing his things. Tumabi siya sa akin habang hawak ang wooden bowl. Sa isa niya namang kamay ay hawak niya ang flat bread. Since I joined this Merchant Guild, I need to balance my time between Morgana and Ginger.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Ngumuya si Seisu at natigilan naman ako sa naging tanong niya. Kung ano man ang ganap bukas ay parang nakalimutan ko na. A lot of things happened when I was Morgana.

"Ano'ng meron?" I asked.

"We will deliver important crafts to someone. Marco said that someone is a big shot." Napatango na lang ako sa sinabi niya dahil nasanay naman na ako sa mga gawain namin dito kaysa mabagot ako mag-isa sa palasyo.

"Who?" I asked.

"They said his name is Magnus." Muntik na akong maibalukan dahil sa sinabi niya. Did I hear it right?

Seisu panicked for a second. Inabutan niya ako ng tubig habang ako'y hindi pa nakakabuwelo sa sinabi niya. Sana ay mali ako ng rinig. Do I seriously need to face Magnus? I know I was looking for him. But it's a different situation because I'm not Morgana right now! I'm Ginger!

I'm Ginger for straight two weeks and I survived hiding to Niccolo. Now you're telling me to face Magnus this time? Give me a break!

"What's wrong? Kilala mo ba?" Inubos ko ng isang lunok ang inabot niyang tubig. Abala naman isa niyang kamay sa paghagod ng likod ko.

"Yeah... just the name." I looked away. Nagulat na lang ako nang hinablot ni Seisu ang panyo niya't pinunasan ang gilid ng mga labi ko.

I stared at him because it was the first time I had seen his face up close. Now I realized why he was given the name as the most handsome merchant in the Empire. The moonlight complements his emerald eyes and tan skin. Dagdag appeal din ang pangangatawan nito't tangkad.

"Are you good now?" He checked upon me. I nodded as response. Tinulak ko siya pagkatapos.

"Yeah. Masyado kang malapit by the way. Back off. Ang baho mo." I joked around. Natawa siya't tinapos ang pagsakmal sa flat bread. Naubos ko naman na ang akin.

"Kilig ka naman." Seisu raises his eyebrows up and down. He smiled widely, displaying his perfect set of white teeth.

"Asa ka." I chuckled back.

I never encountered Seisu's name in the novel. I assumed he's just a side character but because of my choice joining the Merchant Guild, he became a side character.

Nang matahimik uli kaming dalawa ay napaisip ako kung si Magnus ba ang dahilan kung bakit bugbog kaming dalawa ni Seisu sa mga trabaho. That's right. This week, we received nearly ten orders for leather bags made from crocodile skin.

Minsan talaga ay inuubos ng Magnus na 'yon ang pasensya ko. Pati na naman ngayo'y si Ginger ako ay paiinitan niya rin ang ulo ko? Hindi ko ba alam kung bakit ba ako sinusundan ng malas sa mundong ito.

"I was thinking if Magnus is a kid. Did you hear about the rumor in this Empire? Ang sabi nila ay kahit sino ay hindi nakita ang mukha ni Magnus." Napunta ang buong atensyon ko kay Seisu dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Really?" Walang gana kong sambit dahil alam ko naman na ang tungkol doon. "Why do you think Magnus is a child?" Tinago ko ang gigil sa boses ko.

"Do you remember the kid's purses and bags that we crafted for six hours every day? Those were Magnus' orders! Now we need to deliver them." Napakamot sa batok si Seisu at ako naman ay napaisip. Kahit na puro pang bata ang orders ni Magnus ay duda pa rin ako na bata siya.

"As in bukas na agad dadalhin?" I narrowed my eyes. I rolled my eyes when Seisu nodded. Bugbog uli ang katawan namin sa trabaho bukas. Trip na trip kaming bugbugin ni Magnus sa trabaho.

Is Magnus really a kid? There's no way a child would act and talk like that. Or am I just overthinking?

Nagpaalam saglit si Seisu dahil may kailangan daw siyang tapusin sa loob. I watched his back as he walked away. Hinilot ko ang sentido ko't saglit na nagpahinga. I never thought that being a merchant would be this tiring. It drained my energy crafting leathers and various things.

"What a tiring day," I whispered.

Sinandal ko ang ulo ko sa pader at hinilot naman ang aking mga kamay. I massage both of my wrists for a second. Kahit na nakakairita si Seisu ay may kuwenta rin naman siya kahit papano. Kailangan ko lang talaga sila pakisamahan lahat dahil alam kong mas makulit si Marco. Ang hirap magtiis sa kanila. Those motherfuckers are insane.

"Sei?" Tumayo ako nang mapagtanto kong halos ilang minuto na siya sa storage room.

I shrugged my shoulders. Mas mabuti pang puntahan ko na lang kaysa magsayang ako ng laway kakatawag sa kaniya. I entered the room, but I was surprised to see two Seisu inside. My jaw dropped when I realized that he could clone himself!

"You can make clones of yourself?" Salitan kong tinitigan ang clone niya. It looked exactly like him. Mula ulo hanggang paa ay kuhang-kuha kahit na ang suot nilang damit.

"Yeah—"

"What do your clones do?" I stared at him.

My question was genuine, but the moment I saw him sweating, I knew what was on Seisu's mind. Lumagkit ang tingin ko sa kaniya at bumawi sa pang-aasar niya sa akin this week.

He stopped. I gave him a grinned when he swallowed. Kinuha ko ang baon kong meryenda't inabot sa kaniya. To tease him more, I walked in his direction and leaned closer.

"I'm asking you what does your clone do?" Sinadya kong palambingin ang boses ko.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at tila hindi alam kung saan siya kakapit. My gaze shifted to his clone. Nakanganga ito't habang nakatitig sa amin. I grabbed Seisu's clone's arm and pressed my body against them.

"I want a sandwich tonight, Sei."

I demand that you obey and give me a wild night, Sei. . . Give it to me, Daddy.

𝙏𝙊 𝘽𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙐𝙀𝘿...

OH MY!👀 LAM NA NEXT CHAPTER! WANT A DEDICATION? JUST DROP A COMMENT!