9 The Second Odyssey(3)

One day later.

With his eyes on the ground, Hammond was walking along an alleyway jammed between two houses. His hands were in his pockets, and for warmth, he pulled the jacket even closer and decided to buy a thicker one as soon as the odyssey was over.

'After turning in the reward, I'll have more than enough…'

Thinking of swaggering into the shop as if he owned it, he smiled and sped up. A day ago, when he had heard the villain's voice echo all over the town, he had cursed the man and wondered whether this would be the first odyssey he would lose. Yet, over the past day, all the man had done was tour the rest of the town while not doing anything significant.

'It was probably just a fluke…everyone has good ideas, now and then. But I'm special! I've been trained by a Hero Academy! This guy came out of nowhere… he's definitely just some poor schmuck who was unlucky enough to be paired with me!'

Reassuring himself with such thoughts, he looked up and saw that he was only a few feet away from the meeting place. His excitement getting the better of him, he skipped over the last few puddles on the road.

It had rained an hour ago, and the entire town had been engulfed in a wave of humidity and torpor. After all, it was hard to work when just the task of walking five minutes would drench one in sweat, so the majority of Bellview had decided to stay at home.

He couldn't have asked for a more perfect opportunity for one of the plans he had been taught at the Hero Academy. Using every second perfectly, he had set in motion a scheme to bring about the downfall of the villain in one stroke, and now, it was time to bring it all together and push it over the edge.

He paused at the door and threw back his hood. Adjusting his hair, he checked himself in a puddle nearby that was illuminated by the lantern that hung from a wooden pole to his left.

'Remember… grace, and confidence.'

Reciting this mantra a few times, he smiled. Watching the reflection, he turned it down a bit, remembering how his master had scolded him multiple times as the corners of his lips stretched out a bit too much, almost like the grin of someone ready to carry out a diabolical plan.

The one that he was looking at now was just perfect. He proceeded to loosen the jacket so that his muscles would show. Even though many in his class called it a cheap trick, he had seen it work too many times.

Finally, as he raised his hand to knock on the door, a sound made him stop. It was vital that his presence here would go unnoticed by all except the residents of the town he had chosen, so quickly, he walked back a few steps and ducked into a dark corner.

When a small figure appeared at the end of the muddy road, he heaved a sigh of relief. Humming a tune to himself, the little kid who looked like he was heading home from a day out playing only had eyes for the puddles that he was repeatedly jumping into. His clothes were simple, and he was muddy from head to toe. Judging him to be the son of some poor family in the town, Hammond initially decided to wait for him to walk away…but suddenly, an idea struck him.

Bending down, he picked up a stone and hefted it in his hands. It wasn't very heavy, so it would do.

As soon as the kid passed the corner he was hiding in… he jumped out, and struck his head from behind.

A few moments later, he was standing in front of a crowd of people who had just opened the door. They seemed to have come running due to the way he had banged on it incessantly, and as they saw the bleeding child in his hands, they gasped and stepped forward to help.

Handing over the kid to a woman who said she would bandage his head, he forcefully brought down his hand on a wooden table nearby. The sound made almost everyone turn towards him, and as soon as he ensured that he had all of their attention, he roared, "Damn that Mayor and his cronies! They're cruel bastards. All of them! This cute, innocent kid was just minding his own business…but one of them made a bet with his colleague that he would be able to hit him with a rock! When the kid collapsed, they laughed and went their way! Such evilness has to be eradicated!"

Many of the townspeople tightened their fists and nodded, their faces set with disgust and anger and frustration that he knew had been festering within for a long time. Yet, one of them asked, "If there were just two of them… why didn't you stop them by doing anything, or take them down secretly? Didn't you say that you were strong?"

A flash of annoyance passed his face, but he hid it quickly.

"Butcher… If I had done that, I would have risked being captured by those dogs. We must keep our eyes on the future! And that is exactly why we are meeting now. Everyone, come. It is time to begin planning our revolution!"

The butcher wasn't satisfied, but thankfully, the rest were still caught up in the emotions that had been kindled in them due to the sight of the bleeding child. When no one was looking, he glanced at the man who had spoken against him with narrow eyes, deciding that one way or another, he wouldn't be present in the next meeting.

The others were much more satisfactory. Painstakingly, he had picked only those who had the most grievances with the mayor. These were the only individuals still willing to discuss going against the villain despite his threat before, and knowing that they would be the flint he could strike to ignite the fire he needed, he had decided to meet with them all and begin his machinations.

After sitting down on wooden chairs that were placed atop a wooden floor slowly being eaten away by mould, they first discussed the actions of the mayor.

Hammond knew that there was a time to talk, and a time to listen. He listened, now, as the others cursed the villain. In odysseys, there was always a clear route that could be followed by heroes and villains to achieve victory, and his master was fond of saying that those with true talent first acted to erase the route of their opponent.

In this odyssey, he could tell that the pathway for the villain was to use the fear that many townsfolk were already gripped by to maintain his position. So, Hammond had decided that he would erase that fear, and standing up, he decided that it was his time to talk.

"Hear me, good people of Bellview. I returned to save you all, and I will succeed or die trying! The main problem is that many are still scared of that rogue. We need to target that fear! Three days from now, I will-"

It was all going perfectly. The people were hanging on his every word, and slowly, in their eyes, he had even begun to see that he was inspiring courage and fearlessness.

Yet… that was when it all changed. The loud sound of someone banging on the door reached him, making him stop, and as everyone turned around, the door burst open as the one who had closed it before had not done so properly.

In jumped a tall man with ruddy cheeks and glowing eyes. Behind him, others could be seen running and banging on the other doors of the townsfolk.

He didn't seem surprised that so many people were meeting secretively. He raised his hand and staggered as if drunk, and with a hiccup, he shouted, "Everyone! The mayor's made an announcement! For a month, all wine will be free! And hear this…all the whorehouses won't be charging a penny, either! HAHA! We gotta get going before all the stores go empty! Come on!"

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, as the sound of people scrambling to their feet reached his ears, he blinked and staggered back.

'Cheating. THIS IS CHEATING!'

As his mind fell into turmoil, the room emptied out, and in a few seconds…all that was left of his revolution was a bleeding child, and a pile of overturned chairs.