Chapter 4

15 8 / 2018

Chapter 4 : My First Time to The Market & The Shocking Truth!

A/N : They went to the market and Ren was surprised! *Boom*

“Ren are you awake? Come now, rise and s.h.i.+ne.”

Malik-san knocks the door as he calls out to me. I was surprised that I almost fell to the floor. I look around the surrounding room, my head is a little hazy because I suddenly woke up in an unfamiliar room.

“Ah, right. This is not my house.”

I murmurs as I recall what happened yesterday. I was transported to Alsar and met Malik-san, that’s right.

“Wait, I’m awake now! Wait a minute!”

I walk to the door to greet Malik-san.

“It’s okay, no need to rush.”

As I thought, I really am in another world right now. At first I thought maybe if I go to sleep, I would wake up and everything would go back to normal.

Ugh. Thinking about my current situation makes my head hurts.

Well, first thing first. I better pull myself together. Time to start another day in Alsar!

“Good morning, I’m sorry I slept in. I’m going to wash my face first.”

I see Malik-san is sitting on the sofa. He hands me a bundle of clothes.

“Yesterday when Ren was sleeping, I just realized I can use [Small] magic on my old clothes to fit your body. Sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.”

Ah that’s right, yesterday Malik-san said he doesn’t have clothes in my size.

“Thank you very much! I didn’t know magic can be used in such convenient way.”

“Shrinking clothes using [Small] magic is easy. [Big] magic to enlarge clothes is harder. Because if we want to increase the size of clothes, that means we have to produce more clothes from nothing, right? [Small] magic only decrease the existing things, but [Big] magic can produce something out of nothing. Well, a proper magician can use [Big] magic easily.”

I guess magic is not that easy to use despite being convenient.

“I see. Well, once again thank you for the clothes. I’m going to wash my face now.”

I hold the bundle Malik-san gave me and head to the sink. I wash my face and when I’m done, I spread the bundle of clothes.

I have one long sleeved white s.h.i.+rt, a black vest, a long dark brown pants with suspender attached to it.

“Wow, it fits me better than I thought and so comfortable too. It’s easy to move, not restricting at all.”

It’s simple but when I put it on, I look amazingly good. The size fits me perfectly too. Malik-san really have a good sense of fas.h.i.+on.

Back in j.a.pan, Golden Week was almost over so it’s March in j.a.pan right now. Since both Alsar and Earth have the same rotation, I guess right now it’s spring? Either way the clothes suits the season so it’s fine.

I walk back to the living room to show the clothes to Malik-san.

“Malik-san, does the clothes suits me?”

“Wow, you look good! Now we only need shoes for you. In the meantime, you can use this sandal. When we get to the market, let’s visit the shoemaker and get shoes in your size.”

“Umm.. Malik-san.. Right now.. I don’t have any money with me. I will just borrow your sandal.”

Since right now I’m penniless, I have to restrain myself from borrowing too much money from other people otherwise I will be in trouble when it’s time for me to pay my debt!

“What are you saying? In the first place, if you don’t even have a pair of shoes, it’s going to be hard to get a job.”

“Ugh when you say it like that….. Fine! Please lend me money, I will be sure to pay you back when I get a job!”

I have to work extra hard so I can repay Malik-san!

“Ren you’re such a good kid! Okay, I understand but leave the food expenses to me, alright? Even though right now because of an injury, I already retired. But I still have some savings from back when I was an adventurer.”

Malik-san says as he pats my head gently.

Wwait! Injury? What?!

“Ehh? Are you injured? Is it painful? Are you fine now?”

“Ah it’s okay now. It was 10 years ago, I was fighting a monster and it got my left leg. I managed to kill it and returned to the town. As time pa.s.s by, I’ve recovered my leg but I’ve decided to quit being an adventurer and choose to manage the guild instead. Ah right, I need to show you around the guild too!”

Malik-san replies, he is still stroking my head.

That’s right, this is fantasy world after all. Of course monster exists here. Because the situation somehow turned gloomy, Malik-san immediately perks up and changed the topic.

“Anyhow, it’s all in the past now! I’m perfectly fine now and there’s no monster inside the city so you’re safe! Let’s hurry up and go to the market! First, we need to go get breakfast, we can get some from a food stall in the market. Then, shoes and clothing for Ren. After that, lunch at another restaurant and then.. We need to purchase ingredient for tonight’s dinner. I will put it inside my magic bag and then we can head to the guild!”

I already heard about the magic bag yesterday. It seems like you can put a lot of things inside despite the size of the bag. I also want one if possible..

“Sounds exciting! I wonder what the market and the guild looks like! There’s bound to be bunch of food I never see before too! Interesting!”

“Is that so? Well let’s go!”

I follow Malik-san as he goes outside. It takes about 5 minutes of walking before we reached the market. I think right now it’s around 7 am? But the market is already packed with people!

I didn’t get to take a good look yesterday so I didn’t realize but turns out in the city, there’s a bunch of race living here. There’s elves with pointy ear and beastman with animal ears. Amazing!

The sight of rabbit ears on that bald uncle though, that sight is too traumatizing.

“Even though it’s early in the morning, the market is already crowded!”

“That’s right. The market is always crowded. We have to be careful not to get separated. We will go get breakfast at my usual place.”

“Right!”

Malik-san increases his pace. If I lose the sight of him, it’s the end for me. I desperately run up to him, the length of our leg is too different!

In fact, almost everyone in the market is a lot taller than me. Even the woman is super tall here. No matter how you look at it, I look like a small child compared to them.

If I were to permanently live in Alsar.. Would I be able to even have a girlfriend here? Do they even consider me as love interest??

I was too depressed that I didn’t realize we’ve arrived at our destination. Almost immediately, I smell a really delicious aroma coming from the stall.

“You see, that stall sells delicious roasted pig meat with bunch of spices and ritas bread.”

“Ritas? I don’t know what it is but it smells amazing!”

“Is the name of ingredients in your world is different? Anyway you should try it first, I’m sure you will get hooked.”

I’ve never heard of it before, it must be the kind of food that only exist in Alsar. But it sure smells delicious!

Malik-san then orders for us and hands me my portion.

Is this vegetable ‘ritas’?

I gather my courage and take the first bite.

*chomps*

Wow! The pig meat is so full of flavour! The juice and herbs from the pig absorbed by the ritas bread is extra delicious as well! Wow!

Apparently ‘ritas’ is like some sort of lettuce in Earth and pig is well.. pork meat.

‘Ritas’ and lettuce has similar sounds so I guess it’s kinda easy to remember.

“Malik-san! This is so delicious! The pig is so juicy and the ritas is so crispy! Amazing!”

“I’m glad you like it! Let’s take a seat so we can take our time eating.”

Malik-san pulls me to sit on the nearest bench and then we chomped on our meal delightfully. At first I was worried whether it would be safe for me to eat different world food but it was surprisingly delicious that I finished eating in a beat.

While I finish my first bread, Malik-san already eating his second and he takes a water bottle from his magic bag and pa.s.s it to me.

“Here, take this. It’s tea.”

“Thanks! *gulp gulp* Ah, I’m full.”

“Ren you eat so little. You should try to eat more. Ah but, you shouldn’t force yourself to eat too much either.”

Because the different in our physique is too great, I guess the amount of food I eat might seem too little to Malik-san?

Malik-san takes the bottle from me and put the bottle back into his magic bag.

“Well then, shall we go look for clothes? I have quite a lot of money so need to hold back!”

“Eeeeh? Then it will be hard for me to repay you back. I will just buy the basic necessities. “

“Hahahaha! Ren you’re already like my son, so it’s okay to see me as your father”

Son..?

Father..?

My parents divorced when I was 3 years old and my mother raised me alone. I’ve never met my father ever since then.

Even though I have new father thanks to my mother remarrying, I didn’t meet him often because I’m busy with my study and they also live so far away. We’ve met a few times but I’m not that close to him yet.

“I actually never had a father figure in my life before but I guess it’s nice to have such cool looking father like you.”

“I see.. Well, I’ve been living alone too all these years. I bought that huge house thinking I might settle down and build a family one day but years pa.s.s by and here I am, still alone. But now I have Ren so I’m very happy!”

I knew it, that house is too huge for one person. But is this alright? I mean we were practically strangers, I’ve only know Malik-san for about 2 days but.. From the bottom of my heart, I feel safe with him.

“I don’t have a wife too, I’m still single but.. In the future I also want to have a family, I might get a wife someday, though I don’t know whether the woman in Alsar would even consider me as love interest because of how short I am. But as right now I’m still single, please let me live with you.”

I practically look like a minor if I were to compare myself to the average height in Alsar. It’s probably almost impossible for me to get a wife and somehow, everyone in here is so physically fit. It’s not like all of them have such big muscle like extreme bodybuilder but they seem to be physically fit, the muscle in them are pretty defined and the woman has nice bodyline as well.

Rather than a love interest, the woman in here might see me as little brother or something.

“Rather than a wife, I think it’d be better for Ren to search for a husband, maybe around 2 or 3 husbands to protect you. Since the other female looks manly compared to Ren, they might feel inferior if they were to become your wife. Hahaa!”

“Eeh? Wh-whaat?!”

Husband?! What?!

What’s more, 2 to 3 husbands??

What does he mean??

“Ren? What’s wrong? You have strange expression on your face. Hmm, though I told you to search for a husband, I would only approve if you marry the man that I acknowledge. They better earn my respect first before trying to marry you. I can’t let a jerk sullied you!”

I’m so surprised,so my face look really weird right now. But that’s not something a father would say to his son! It’s something that a father should say to his daughter!

“Umm.. Malik-san, I’m a man you know, is it okay if I marry a man? What’s more, multiple man instead just one??”

“So what if you’re a man? Is it forbidden in your world? h.o.m.os.e.xual marriage is normal here in Alsar and marriage here is not limited to one couple. You can have more than one partners. Although I say it’s not limited to one, usually people only have about.. 5 partners at most?”

W-what?!?!

This is the biggest culture shock I’ve ever experienced in Alsar!

Well back in Earth same-s.e.x marriage is already approved in some country, I even have some gay couple friends back in university. Even in j.a.pan, having a concubine or more than 1 wife is quite common especially during the war era.

Now that I think about it.. It’s not that different huh? I guess it’s alright.

But to imagine myself actually marries more than one man…

“Well it’s not that common in the place where I lived, in j.a.pan especially. Because if there’s a lot of same-s.e.x couple that means the population will decrease, right? Because no procreation will happen. Especially j.a.pan already experienced the decrease in population, it would be bad if there’s less heteros.e.xuals couple in j.a.pan.”

“Well that may be right, having more children would help the population more but why would the population decrease ? Same-s.e.x couple can also have children anyway.”

Whaaaaat?!?!

Did I hear it right?!

Same-s.e.x couple can have children together?! Not adopting but like, give birth to children together?!

I don’t understand.

“Eh? But how? Even though both are guys??”

“Hmm.. I see. So it’s not like that in your previous world,huh? I will explain more after we finish picking up clothes for you, okay? I don’t want you to get overwhelmed.”

“Ah..Yeah, you’re right.”

We then start to walk to the clothing store, we didn’t walk too far away from the ritas bread stall but the amount of people decrease considerably.

“Ren, let me confirm once again. So in your previous world, same-s.e.x marriage and monogamy is not that common ? And same-s.e.x couple could not give birth to child together?”

“Yes. In j.a.pan, my country haven’t acknowledged same-s.e.x marriage and monogamous marriage yet. I think in some country they already accepted it but not j.a.pan. And same-s.e.x couple could not have child together although there are other way to have a child like through adoption or through surrogate mother. But there’s no way a procreation can happen between h.o.m.os.e.xual couple.”

Yup, I’m sure that’s the condition in Earth.

“I see. No wonder Ren was so surprised. Well as you heard before, same-s.e.x couple can have children together here in Alsar.”

“Yes, I understand but..how..?”

Yup, that’s the big question!

From what I’ve learned from s.e.xual education cla.s.s, there’s no way same-s.e.x couple can give birth together!

“Well in Alsar both h.o.m.os.e.xual or heteros.e.xual couple need to go to the church and pick up the fruits from Yamu tree growing on the church’s ground.”

“Yamu tree?”

“Yes, if you eat it while you’re still unmarried, nothing will happen though. But if you go pick up the fruits and eat it together as a married couple, a child will be born. After eating it, the effect of that fruit will last for a week so you better have s.e.x together soon before the effect disappear.”

So that’s how h.o.m.os.e.xual couple have child together.. What a mysterious fruit..

But the condition for the effect to appear is to be married? So that’s mean there’s no such thing as shotgun wedding in Alsar then. All children born will be between marriage life.

“Then if someone were to have multiple spouses, that means everyone has to eat it together?”

“No. Not everyone has to. Let’s say if you have three husbands. A, B and ,C. If you want the father of your child to be A then only you and A need to eat the Yamu fruits together. B and C don’t have to eat it. The effect will still appear but only A will be able to impregnate you. Most people are pretty particular with the parent of their child so this kind of thing happens quite a lot.”

I see. So if I don’t care who is the father is then I can eat it together with A, B and C.

So with this system it’s impossible to have a children if you were cheating. Like if there’s person D. A cheats with D so because A is not married to D, even though A already eats the Yamu fruits with B and C, A won’t have a children with D.

Oh and if A, B and C eat the fruit together, if somehow the children looks like B in 3 consecutive rows, it’d be sad for C then. That means for C to properly continue his bloodline, it’d be better for A and C to eat the fruits together without including B.

The Yamu fruit is so convenient but what about the people who live far away from the church? That means they cannot have children??

“Malik-san, what if someone lives far away from the church? What to do then?”

“Oh the church is not the only place Yamu tree can grow. Yamu tree can grow in other place than the church but since there’s no one to properly take care of the tree, it will be hard for the tree to bear fruits.”

“I see, ah there’s a lot of new things to absorb…”

This world, is really the fantasy world.. Even obscure thing like pregnancy-inducing-fruit exists in here.

“Though now I know that pregnancy is not limited to heteros.e.xual couple, I still think that I don’t think I will ever have a husband because I’ve never consider a man to be love interest at all. I’ve only likes girl.”

“Ren, it’s not like that I oppose of you to have a wife but I really think it’s going to be difficult for you.”

“Eh? Why is that?’

“Well to be honest, Ren’s appearance is more attractive to the men here. Ren is really beautiful, I think even woman might admit that Ren is beautiful but I don’t think they might be interested in having you as their husband.”

I knew it.

I already knew it but hearing the truth from Malik-san really convinced me that I was right.

“And because Ren never practice sword and magic before, I really think it’s better for you to have a more than one husbands to protect you.”

“But I’m also a man! I can’t stand being protected! I want to be able to stand on my own too!”

Though swordsmans.h.i.+p seems impossible for me but my pride as a man won’t allow me to just let myself be protected and do nothing!

“I know but the current you.. Let alone female adventurer, I don’t think you can even win against normal female villagers here.”

“W-well that might be right..”

I guess, having a loving wife and protect her like the proper man is impossible for me huh.

Nah, rather than that I think the most possible outcome for me is to be protected by my wife instead. “I will protect, Ren-kun!” like that maybe.

Ugh! My pride as a man…

Ah,I can’t keep lamenting! I better move forward instead!

That’s right! First, I need clothing!

“Malik-san! Let’s go to the clothing shop! Let’s stop talking about my love life and look at clothes instead.”

I stand up abruptly and pull Malik-san hand.

“Hahhaa, okay okay. I know a good shop here, if the size doesn’t suit you, I can use [Small] magic to adjust it to your size. So you can pick the design you like, the size can be adjusted later.”

“Okay!”

Malik-san finally stands up and guide me to the clothing shop.

Chapter 5 (not yet hehe)

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