Translator: Yang_Wenli
Norland. The Alchemic Marketplace.
Joshua was searching for the main character in ‘Hachiko.’
Fortunately, with the help of the frost elf Tylene, Joshua soon managed to find a shop that sells hunting dogs in the chaotic Alchemic Marketplace. From the shop, he found a hunting dog that fitted the role of young ‘Hachiko.’
“It... seemed to not be very happy.”
Tylene picked up the yellow puppy. The dog turned its head around, seemingly ignoring Tylene. That deeply hurted Tylene.
No matter what, the elves were a race close with nature. When Tylene was living in the forest, even though she could not tame certain animals, she would be able to easily approach them.
“It... seemed to not like you.”
Ruthlessly, Joshua stabbed a knife into Tylene. The expression of the yellow puppy, that slanted eye look it had on its face, was truly suited to be added onto the Mage Forum as a meme.
“I... do animals truly dislike me that much?” Tylene attempted to communicate with the puppy. But, the dog merely smacked its lips and turned back around to ignore Tylene.
“Dear customers, this here is a field hunting dog from the Eastern Kingdom. It is said that their masters are determined from their birth.” The shopkeeper began to offer explanations.
“This puppy does possess a special sort of aura. But, it’s not magic power.”
Joshua took a glance at the other caged puppies. They were all born from the same mother. But, that yellow puppy was the only one that caught Joshua’s attention right away.
There was something... different about it. Perhaps it was the expressions this puppy made, a major talent to become a visual meme...
“How much is this hunting dog?” asked Joshua.
Even though the puppy seemed to dislike Tylene, it was, at the very least, obedient. It doesn’t growl or barks. To film movies, that was something very important.
When Hachiko was young, he was a very quiet dog. The other dogs in the cage seemed to be much more energetic than that dog.
“Ten gold coins. Mister, these puppies were brought back by my servant from the distant Eastern Kingdom. Because of that, they were slightly more expensive than local hunting dogs. Of course, if this price is too expensive, you can also offer other goods as an exchange,” said the shopkeeper.
This was the special characteristic of Norland’s Alchemic Marketplace. This chaotic market sells everything. Mages were allowed to set up stalls on the street. Furthermore, compared to transactions using gold coins, the vendors here were more fond of goods exchanges.
The shop Joshua visited was located at the edge of the market. This was a shop that sold eggs of unknown creatures. Selling hunting dogs was merely a side hustle of theirs.
“Goods? Like those?”
Joshua did not immediately settle things using gold coins. The reason for that was because he saw two mages conducting exchanges using black originium crystals. That originium crystals were none other than Hearthstone ‘card storages.’
“I’m currently in need of Bloodsword Grass. That said, Mister, do you play ‘Hearthstone?’ It’s a special game of the tavern located at the edge of the business district.”
“Of course...”
Joshua did not expect for this human merchant to also be a Hearthstone player. The number of customers coming to the tavern has been increasing recently. Back then, he knew all the customers. But now, it was very difficult for him to know every one of them.
“That’s truly great!”
After hearing Joshua say that he’s a Hearthstone player, the merchant became much more intimate.
“I wish to obtain a copy of the Warrior’s Epic Weapon Bloodhowl. Mister, do you by chance... have that?” asked the shopkeeper.
The Hearthstone Tavern has been open for business in Norland for three months now. Card exchange was gradually taking shape among the mages of Norland.
All the cards had even received market prices in secret too.
“My apologies, I did not bring my card storage with me today.” Joshua took out ten gold coins to give to the shopkeeper. “Besides, I remember that the tavern buys Bloodhowl for twenty-seven gold coins a copy.”
“This...”
The shopkeeper was slightly embarrassed to be seen through by Joshua. But, he still gifted Joshua a wooden basket and some jerky to feed the dog after the purchase.
Joshua and Tylene left the shop and returned to the carriage arranged by Sir Weissenasche.
“Mister Joshua... why do I feel that this puppy’s barks resembled... that of a bear?”
Tylene caressed the puppy’s forehead with her hand. She hoped that this simple action would be able to gain a favorable impression from the puppy.
Unfortunately, the puppy was still showing contempt toward Tylene. Even when Tylene placed some jerky before it, the puppy remained indifferent.
“Perhaps it’s your misperception. But, from today on, this puppy’s name will be Hachi.”
Joshua ordered for the carriage driver to proceed toward the Squirrel Street. As they’ve chosen the ‘actor’ for the young Hachiko, the only thing that remains would be to make preparations for filming.
The puppy seemed to have some sort of reaction to the name ‘Hachi.’ It raised its head and looked around. But, in the end, it laid back down in the wooden basket in a disappointed manner.
At this moment, a message popped out from Joshua’s magic network interface. Joshua glanced at the message and saw that the sender was Gallolei.
When Joshua opened the message and read the contents, his heart grew heavy.
‘The Holy Church’s Heresy Tribunal attacked the Blackwood Forest. The entire forest was reduced to a sea of flames...’
Sure enough... the catastrophe arrived?
Joshua took a glance at the frost elf Tylene who sat across from him. So far, he had encountered two elves with their races wiped out by the inquisitors. One was Tylene and the other was the dark elf Thousand Faces.
This time, the Heresy Tribunal’s operation seemed to be instant. Joshua was still discussing with Gallolei about the new movie at morning time. But now, in the afternoon, he received news that the Blackwood Forest had fallen.
He didn’t even have enough time to provide any assistance...
‘Are you safe? Is there anything that I can help with?’
Gallolei was a talented actress. Joshua does not wish for ‘Léon: The Demon’ to become her only posthumous work. Besides, she was also his friend and ally. As such, he cannot do nothing and allow her to be killed by the inquisitors.
‘I’m safe. It’s just that I do not know if my mother and Flay are also safe...’
From her reply, Joshua could sense that the situation was extremely bad for her. She not only lost her bodyguard in this catastrophe, her close relatives are also not with her.
But, this strong-willed girl did not need his comfort...
‘Mister Joshua, the Heresy Tribunal not only destroyed the Blackwood Forest, they’ve also pinned all of the crimes onto the demons... There must be missionaries spreading those rumors in Farucci now. I have evidence of their invasion to the Blackwood Forest with me... Should I post the pictures onto my camp or the Mage Forum?’
Reading the first half of her message, Joshua felt things would be slightly problematic.
If the Holy Church decided to pin the crimes of burning the Blackwood Forest and slaughtering the Blackwood Elves onto the demons, the demons would have no way to refute things...
After all, the humans of this world were more willing to believe in their fellow human missionaries than in demons. This was even more so when there’s ‘witnesses,’ the survivors from the catastrophe.
Worst of all, this will incite hatred between humans and demons... At that time, the Nation of Frost and the Nation of the Holy Church would no longer be the only countries in war against the demon realm.
Fortunately, there was a war photographer. Remarkably, Gallolei took the pictures of all the crimes committed by the inquisitors in the Blackwood Forest.
‘Upload them to the Mage Forum. I will sticky your post... Gallolei, do you need any help with anything else?’
‘Help... I wish to see Mister Joshua’s new movie.’
Joshua grew silent after reading that message. Then, he immediately started typing back to her.
‘We’re currently filming the new movie. You’re welmcomed to come to Norland and watch it at any time.’