“All this is amazing… and the greatest thing is that all these people have seen you! You’re going to be famous in no time, my friend! Here, look! Your first fans are already approaching!” Enatsu smirked, smiling and pretending nothing, pointing to Yoichi a group of people walking in their direction.

“Hello, hello, Yoichi! I’m, I’m, I’m Kondo, the globetrotter bard!” a strange old gentleman stuttered, overtaking the others and bowing before Yoichi as if he was a member of the imperial family. ​​

“Er… hello!” he replied, pausing and listening to what he had to say, noting that behind his back was tied a biwa, a stringed instrument.

Old Kondo was a weird man, of average height, very thin and with his face dug out of age and wrinkles. His few snow-white hair fluttered in the wind, as did his long bushy, messy beard.

A deep scar totally covered his left eye, giving his sympathetic face a melancholy and sad air, despite the big smile printed on his mouth and marked by the yellow and worn teeth.

His tunic of the classic sand color typical of the cheapest fabrics was dirty with mud and earth at the bottom and highlighted the fact that that old bard did not wear shoes.

“My greatest passion is travelling and, and, in my travels, I narrate the story of singular people, of, of, of mythical beasts and sovereign tyrants! You, Yoichi! You will be the, the, the new protagonist of my stories! I will take your name north and sing about how a, a, a young blond-haired farmer managed to bring an experienced warrior to his knees!” old Kondo exclaimed, with his head bent forward as a mark of respect, explaining to Yoichi what kind of gift he had in mind for him.

“Thank you very much, Kondo! I… I don’t know how to thank you, this is great!” Yoichi answered enthusiastically, who had never imagined he could be the subject of a bard’s songs in a world populated by bizarre demons.

“I, I, I hope that your journey may continue smoothly! And remember! Only warriors without Guild can accomplish great things! I, I, I saw something in your eyes! You, you, you can…”

“All right, old Kondo… I think this is enough. I’m sure young Yoichi understood perfectly!” a lady in her fifties interrupted, grabbing the bard from behind and inviting him back to Ambershire. “I apologize on behalf of my father… lately, his mind is not very stable, but he liked you very much and insisted on getting to know you!” the woman smiled, bowing her head and congratulating Yoichi.

“Oh, of course! No problem, Kondo was incredibly kind, thank you again!” Yoichi repeated, greeting both of them with a hand gesture when Enatsu approached the woman and her elderly father.

“Kondo Senpai! When you sing the songs of the brave Yoichi, remember to add the name of his formidable helper! Enatsu! Enatsu, the trader! Remember this name!” the merchant affirmed, taking advantage of Yoichi’s temporary popularity to emphasize his presence as well.

“Hahah! What a nice merchant! Come on, Dad! Goodbye, Yoichi!” the woman continued, keeping on smiling and walking away, while Yoichi couldn’t stop laughing while looking at his clumsy friend.

“Hahaha! You’re my helper now? I thought you were just a merchant bound for Goldhaven!” he joked, referring to Enatsu, who shrugged his shoulders.

Other people rushed to Yoichi to shake his hand and get a closer look. Between them, the gentleman with the mustache who had lent him the dagger, came forward, approaching the two adventurers.

His big face and double chin showed off his nutritional well-being. Even his light armor, consisting of a light leather jacket and tight-fitting cloth trousers, definitely not suitable for such a corpulent man, was excellent workmanship, probably made of fine materials.

It only took one moment for Enatsu, who had merchant eyes, to realize that the man, albeit looking not so much threatening, was wealthy and decidedly more cultured than the peasants who roamed around Ambershire.

“So your name is Yoichi!” he exclaimed, looking at the young farmer with his arms crossed.

“Oh, hello! Yes, my name is Yoichi. Nice to meet you! Here, this belongs to you! Thank you very much!” he replied, handing over the dagger to its rightful owner.

“Yoichi… and? Only Yoichi?” the moustached man inquired, without shaking his hand.

“Er, yes. Just Yoichi.”

“Well. You can keep the dagger. I’ve never seen anyone use it so masterfully. You have defeated one of the most promising tamers in the capital against all expectations and, even if it is not much, you deserve a prize”, the man explained, maintaining a serious expression, as if he was merely reporting the reality of the facts without adding any personal consideration. “However, it seems very strange to me that someone like you has never fought before. Your Nakage… is it your Oracle?”

After that question, Yoichi looked at Enatsu out of the corner of his eye. The young merchant nodded his head, trying to communicate with him and telling him that the man was probably rich and, judging by his equipment, had all the cover and the chops to be a tamer.

“Yes, Kenji is my Oracle. Why this question? Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?” Yoichi inquired, continuing to tighten the dagger in his right hand.

“My name is Sada Takamori, the last member of the Takamori dynasty and head of the Nightblades of Goldhaven. Pleased to meet you!” the moustached man stated, extending his hand towards him to officially show up.

Enatsu’s expression failed to mask his thoughts, and with a single glance, he managed to convey to Yoichi his euphoria as he shook hands with one of the most important men he could know in a place like that.

“The pleasure is mine and… thank you for the dagger,” Yoichi added, sticking the weapon in his belt and accepting the gift without thinking twice, knowing that he needed a weapon, albeit a small one, that would allow him to defend himself.