CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59 "TRAIL OF MANOBAN (1)"

Ray ended up considering the two skills that he felt would be best.

Modification, which could help him alter key things in his favor, and Search, which would have a similar effect but might not be lucky enough to find things. The limit on the search would also hinder his progress.

[You have chosen the skill: Modification]

[You can enter]

He didn’t waste any time and entered the portal. Once inside, his vision was blurred, and when he woke up, he found himself as Astban.

He found himself in a compromised condition, lying in a dry grass shack with Manoban in his arms. Both were just waking up after an intense session of something that Ray didn’t want to remember, when Manoban spoke.

"Asta... My parents were called by the city lord. I have no clue why he needs to talk to them, but I have a bad feeling."

Astban, or Ray, couldn’t answer for a moment as he was still going through Astban’s memories. Ray found out that Astban was a herder who worked as a horse raiser, while Manoban was the daughter of farmers.

Then the passionate hour of their love made his face red. "I...I also thinks that something might happen, we should be careful."

He couldn’t tell her that he knows the ending. He’ll die; she will be forced and then take her own life. He cannot tell her that, he was here to make things, right and to do this, he has to make up plans.

"What should we do then?" She asked.

Ray thought for a while, then answered. "I’ll think what we can do, but for now we’ll wait to see why city lord has called your parents."

Then, memories of the passionate hour of their love made his face red. "I... I also think that something might happen, so we should be careful."

He couldn’t tell her that he knew the ending: that he would die, she would be forced into something, and then she would take her own life. He couldn’t tell her that. He was here to make things right, and to do this, he had to make a plan.

"What should we do then?" she asked.

Ray thought for a while, then answered, "I’ll think about what we can do, but for now, we’ll wait to see why the city lord has called your parents."

She agreed with him and then woke up from the shack while he still lay there. "They’ll be back soon. I should go back before they start speculating," Ray nodded. Manoban leaned in for a kiss. Ray hesitated but still went for the kiss. "I’ll come at night," she said, then turned and left.

Manoban used to sneak out in the middle of the night to meet Astban, and they would share passionate love every night without letting her parents know. But was Ray ready for the night? He didn’t know.

He wasn’t a virgin, but since his breakup with his ex, he hadn’t even spoken to a woman, let alone touched one. Pushing all of this to the back of his mind, he tried to remember all the details about Astban, the city where he lived, their relationship, and the city lord.

This was a Western medieval world with no magic or powers. The people here still used swords, bows, and spears as their weapons. The city was a mid-tier city, famous for its agricultural products.

"First, I need protection from the city lord’s assassins. I have no clue when they’ll show up, but before that, I need things for my safety."

Ray finally got to his feet. He saw horses, and the smell of the stable and manure filled his nose. "Shit, this is too strong," he thought.

He decided to leave and roam the village to become accustomed to the surroundings. "Wait."

Realizing he only had a few copper coins, he thought, "I don’t think this is going to help."

His original idea was to buy tools and modify them into something useful, which was why he had chosen this skill. But now he realized he didn’t have much to work with.

"Before visiting the city, let’s see if there’s anything useful in my room."

He headed to his tiny room at the back of the stable. He opened the door and entered, only to find an empty space with nothing but a mattress on the ground, a few clay utensils, some clothes, and nothing else.

His eyes landed on a piece of iron. "This is it!" Realizing something, he chuckled, "Maybe I can visit that place." In a hurry, he left for somewhere he thought would be useful.

Meanwhile, inside the city lord’s house, Manoban’s parents stood in front of the city lord, who had a serious expression. "You are saying that wild animals have once again ruined half of your grains?" he asked.

"Yes, my lord. They have ruined it. Only you can help us now," her father replied.

"I want to help, but this isn’t the first time such a thing has happened. I also have to send all of this to the feudal lords, and this time they’ll come for me first," the city lord said, and Manoban’s father sighed.

With a smirk on his face, the city lord said, "There is a way, but it will be costly. I can fill the gap from my personal storage, but this will be my loss."

"Do you have a way then, my lord? We’ll pay double the amount next year if you can help us this time."

The city lord shook his head. "No, no. What if next year you once again lose some of your grains for the same or another reason? Won’t that be my loss in the end?"

Both of her parents went silent. They had nothing they could do, and if they didn’t fill the gap before the deadline, the feudal lords would not be pleased.

"However, there is another way, but I don’t know if you’ll agree to it," the city lord said, finally starting to play his cards after cornering them.