Wood Hunting (3)
She pouted but the corners of her lips curled up in a pleased smile anyway. Cloud helped her slip into the clothes he’d just given her and fastened every button. He himself wore only a tight-sleeved undergarment that clung to his body, and he set off the shop together with Lucy. The moment they stepped outside, a deep sigh escaped him. “Six thousand five hundred jeons for a single load of wood….” “Lord Torres must be loaded with money.” “Yeah, right. He probably emptied his own purse just to beat us.” “How are we supposed to afford that?” “If I knew, do you think I’d still be standing here?” At Cloud’s irritable reply, Lucy made a face of pure displeasure. “I stripped naked, sang, and danced my heart out, and still I got nothing! Damn it!” She kicked a pebble that had rolled onto the roadside. The stone bounced off the wall a few times before landing squarely on Cloud’s forehead. “Ouch!” Cloud clutched his throbbing forehead with both hands and glared at her. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you!” “No, I didn’t!” Lucy waved her hands in panic. “It’s really weird. Why did it drop right there? Ahahaha! I must’ve been cursed for ordering something weird from you.” She, too, laughed until her belly hurt, hands clasped over it. Just as the two of them were about to climb into the carriage, a voice called out from behind. “There’s one more place besides the sawmill and the guild where you might find wood.” They turned around. An old man had appeared, shoulders hunched under his burden. “Maybe that spot still has some left.” Cloud’s face lit up as if he’d struck a vein of treasure. “Where exactly is it?” “Head for the magic district. Look for the Magic Guild. They own a paper mill that cuts their own mana-scroll costs. Every year they buy dozens of tons of wood and stack it in their warehouse.” “Thank you so much, sir!” Cloud seized the old man’s two hands and shook them vigorously. “Don’t thank me. Thank the lady here.” “Lucy?” The old man nodded and gave her a warm smile. “It’s because of the young lady. Her dancing and singing were so impressive, I wanted to give her something extra.” “Y-you’re too kind.” Lucy looked down, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Cloud stole a quick thumbs-up from behind. *** The Magic Guild building looked nothing like its name suggested. It was a modest one-story stone structure with a door no larger than a normal home’s. Too shabby to bear the sign “Valua Magic Guild” above the entrance, anyone passing by might have walked straight on. Knock, knock. A moment later a woman in a somber dark-blue robe appeared. “May I help you?” Her voice was enchanting yet somehow languid. Her face was hidden by the hood, but crimson lips and a smooth white forehead remained visible. “I am Centurion Cloud of the 300-man company. I’ve come to see the guild master about something.” “I am the guild master.” “Excuse me? You greeted the guests yourself?” “This place is my private residence.” “Oh, I see….” Something felt off, so Cloud scratched his temple. “If it won’t be rude, may I come inside and explain?” “What kind of story a soldier might have.” She answered without hesitation. A faint smile, she stepped back and gestured for them to enter. The moment Cloud stepped inside, his eyes widened in surprise. The interior was far larger and more luxurious than the outside suggested. Soft carpets covered the floors, furniture too extravagant to tread upon. And besides the guild master, two others stood there. Two men, their bodies almost naked, stood side by side with their lower halves completely exposed, heads bowed in perfect deference like maids. “They aren’t human. Sculptures I created to my own taste for household chores.” Cloud stared at their exposed genitals and felt a quiet spark of rivalry. “Is there any other way I could use them?” “For example?” “Like… when I have trouble sleeping alone at night…” The guild master let out a soft “Hmph.” “I use them all the time. Does that answer your question?” “Y-yes.” Cloud nodded, feeling his ears burn. The guild master turned out to be shockingly frank. She glanced at Lucy, who had been staring at the men’s genitals with fascination. “If you’d like, I can make one for you. As long as you supply mana on time, you’ll have company for at least a year. During the day they’ll help with chores, at night they’ll be your devoted lover.” “N-no thanks!” Lucy waved her hands frantically in panic. “Bring us tea.” The guild master ordered the men. They bowed lightly, then swayed their muscular hips as they headed toward the kitchen. Seeing men bring tea in the middle of the day felt like a bizarre scene only possible in a male-dominated society. “Follow me.” Cloud and Lucy followed the guild master into the reception room. They sat around a table topped with a vase of white roses. “I expected a bustling lobby, guides, and offices because it’s called the Magic Guild, but this feels more like a home.” Cloud looked around in wonder. “It is a home. Magic users dislike noise and bustle. They prefer to live alone and focus on research. Because this guild was built by people who share that mindset, the atmosphere matches. People who hate crowds and prefer simplicity.” The guild master continued with a smile. “So, why have you two come here today?” “I want to buy wood.” Cloud spoke from the heart. “Wood?” “Yes. I heard the Magic Guild’s paper mill warehouse holds plenty of it. I’d like to buy it all.” His confident tone did not match the guild master’s frown. She regarded him with pity. Cloud felt an ominous premonition. “A short while ago the vice-master came and bought everything.” “Everything? Not leaving a single scroll’s worth?” “Exactly. Recently, very cheap scrolls from other kingdoms have flooded the market, so the mill was already on the brink of bankruptcy and preparing to sell. Then the vice-master visited today and insisted on buying every last piece regardless of quality. We had no choice but to sell it all.” Cloud let out a heavy sigh. “Does that vice-master happen to be connected to Lord Torres of Valua?” “I’m afraid I don’t know. Either way, you wasted your time. I’m sorry.” “Wasted? No. You did well. For the Magic Guild, this was a good thing….” After the hollow words, Cloud stood up almost at once. With the reason for their visit gone, the two left the guild without looking back. “What now?” “We’ll have to check every corner of the city by carriage. Go as far as we can, try as hard as we can.” “This is a battle between giants and humans. Torres has both money and connections mobilized. The odds are hopeless.” Lucy grumbled as she climbed into the carriage. While she boarded, Cloud waiting in the shadows behind them chuckled. “Slaying a powerful giant that a powerless human could never defeat is one of life’s greatest pleasures.” Despite his optimistic mindset, Cloud scoured the city positively for the rest of the day, but by sunset they still hadn’t found a single piece of wood. Torres, with his vast wealth and influence, had already beaten them to every possible site. Cloud’s search had turned up empty again and again. “I’m heading back to the city.” As night deepened, the coachman told him he needed to go home, so Cloud called it a day. After the coachman left, he walked the rest of the way to the inn where Lucy was staying, without a carriage. “Sleep well. You worked hard today.” The pair stood close, hands still clasped, eyes full of reluctance to part. “Be careful when you enter, Lord. Don’t end up in a tavern just because you’re careless.” “Do I look like that kind of guy?” “Anyone who knows your usual character knows the answer.” “What do you mean by my usual character?” “Trash.” “What…?” “You trash!” The words came from a drunk woman slumped on the roadside. Her friends tried to help her up while she ignored them, shouting in fury. “Cloud, you bastard! Back when you were chasing after me, now you don’t even look at me! You rotten kid! Hic!” Upon closer inspection, it was Vivian. A few days ago she’d mentioned a priest-training reunion; she must have gone to drink with her classmates tonight. “I changed my entire life because of you! You can’t even say sorry for that! If you’re sorry, at least treat me to a meal, you rude bastard!” Her friends around her felt embarrassed, aware of the passing crowds. “Vivian! People are staring. Sit up already!” “You’re insulting Lord Cloud. What are you trying to do? Stop it!” “What the hell did you do with Lord Cloud anyway?”