Chapter Text
Dromarch hit the chest a times, which caused it to vibrate a bit. A few seconds later, the chest vibrated again. With a sigh, Dromarch turned his head towards Rex with an unsurprised look in his eyes. Rex groaned and rolled his eyes.
“There’s a monster in this one. It’s most likely a dud.” With that, Dromarch walked back towards where Nia sat up and stretched a bit with a yawn before reaching over and petting him. Meanwhile, Rex stood up with a crowbar and began walking towards the chest.
“Did you have a nice nap, my lady?” Nia stared at Dromarch blankly with exhaustion clouding her eyes before her ears perked up a bit.
“Yeah… I’m still tired, though… this is the worst part of-“ Just before Nia could start ranting, the chest that Rex was prying open exploded in pieces. Azurda’s head swiveled around worriedly.
“Rex! What’s going on back there!?” All three of them looked over to see a giant crab just around as tall as Rex, who lowered his arms and stared at the crab in awe.
“Wow, big guy! You’ve been living in this thing!?” Nia sighed in relief before lying back down. Dromarch had an exasperated expression on his face as he pawed at her arm. She immediately rolled to the other side before he could say anything and kept her eyes closed with a frown.
“No, Dromarch. I’m too tired because of the pregnancy. Wake me up when food is done.” She immediately curled into a ball and fell asleep. Meanwhile, the battle between Rex and the giant crab was underway. He smacked the thing’s leg hard enough for to go off balance, then immediately used his grappling hook to slam it into the ground before stabbing it in the head. He smiled as the creature convulsed in it’s death throes.
“Ah yeah! Those extra years back at home really helped, Gramps!” Azurda’s head turned towards him so fast everyone could hear his neck pop. He glared at Rex with a livid expression that made him startle in fear and confusion.
“Those weren’t just ‘extra years’, Rex! Did you seriously just call getting married and having kids ‘EXTRA YEARS’!?” Rex’s face immediately lit up in horrified realization and his mouth gaped. His mouth flapped a bit before he collapsed onto his knees as tears silently tracked down his face.
“I-I didn’t mean it like that! I was just happy seeing how our training paid off… None of that would have happened if Nia didn’t stumble onto Auntie Corrine’s doorstep with those injuries.” Rex glanced over at Nia’s arms for a split second before looking back at Azurda, who’s expression softened a bit.
“Rex, Nia is nowhere near as confident as she puts herself out to be in front of you. She is confident, now more than I’ve ever seen her, but there was a long time where she would always come crying to me because you said something in a rude way. It was even worse the first time she was pregnant. She was crying because a child asked her ‘Why are you fat now?’ when she in her third trimester.
You’re supposed to be that person she runs to, not me. You’re TWENTY YEARS OLD NOW. Even so, you have a lot of growing up you have to do. One day, I won’t be there for you two anymore since I have to defend Fonsett.” He looked back towards the Argentum Trade Guild. “Don’t make me regret offering my help to you two.”
Rex didn’t respond and absentmindedly began setting up the portable stove from his hut. As he set down the crab meat into the stove, he felt Dromarch put his paw onto his hand, which nearly made him fall over.
“Master Rex, when will food be ready? I’m hungry.” Rex frowned at Dromarch’s snarky behavior. Then he put on a smile.
“I don’t know, Dromarch. But what I do know is that it’ll be ready… when it’s ready. Besides, blades don’t get hungry unless they’re pregnant. You, my dear tiger, cannot get pregnant.” Dromarch nodded, satisfied with this answer, and walked away. He looked over at Nia like he was contemplating something, which made Rex sigh. “Dromarch, do not annoy Nia.” At that, Dromarch immediately plopped onto the ground and just rolled onto his back.
Rex walked over to Dromarch and started scratching his belly, much to his apparent happiness. As Rex continued distracting the big cat-tiger, a siren-like sound went off. They both turned to look at the creature that seemed to have a core blinking in and out. As the light completely blinked out, the creature that could only be described as a titan sank below the Cloud Sea. Rex frowned at the sight.
“Man, Titans have been sinking a lot lately, haven’t they?” Dromarch and Azurda both looked Rex through the corners of their eyes. The dragonlike Titan sighed as the subject was brought up.
“Yes, more Titans have been dying recently.” Rex picked up a pebble and threw it off of Azurda’s back.
“I hope no one was living on that one.” Rex looked a little put off by the thought. Azurda turned his head towards Rex.
“I doubt it. You can tell when a Titan is on their last legs.” Rex’s face filled with color a bit, but he kept a thoughtful frown on his face.
“Gramps… Will Fonsett fall one day?” Azurda’s expression crumpled immediately.
“All Titans will die one day. Including me. And the rest of humanity will fall along with us. Oh, Rex! Your food!” Rex looked at the stove and immediately sprinted over to the sizzling meat with a big smile.
“Ah yeah! This looks great! Dromarch, go wake up- No wait, I’ll do it.” Rex set everything on plates and looked right into Dromarch’s eyes. “Don’t eat anything.” Dromarch tilted head with a confused look in his eyes.
“Why would I do that? I’ve never eaten food before. That was just the wind!” Rex stared at him with a disappointed expression. They had a staring contest for a good few seconds before Dromarch backed off and walked away, sulking the entire time. Rex went to go wake up Nia. Being a bit mindful of her arms, he decided to scratch her her large ears a bit. She licked his face with her long tongue in response which made Rex look at her with a worried look.
“Nia, how long have you been awake?” Nia whined and looked at him with puppy dog eyes. Rex took a deep breath and held eye contact with her… for two seconds. Nia’s eyes widened and she grabbed his face in her hands.
“Oh man, I didn’t mean to do that! Uhhh… I never fell asleep. I’m fine now, though.” She let go on her face and went to go grab her food. Rex sat down next to her and they proceeded to talk about random things. Her face turned blank as she watched him do dishes in the hut. She looked down at her arms which had started shaking, and her face fell into a resigned acceptance as she sat back down.
Rex watched her out of the corner of his eyes with a sad expression. Eventually, he walked back out and they started talking about random things again while playing card games. Azurda turned towards Rex.
“Rex, we’re here.” Rex startled a bit before he picked up the scraps left behind by the giant crab. He turned back and waved at Nia before walking off of Azurda’s back. He ignored the guy at the dock trying to scam him and walked into the trade center. He went up to the Central Exchange, which was run by two Nopons who just happened to be an estranged mother and son.
Rex walked up to the stand with sweat pouring down his face. Everyone stopped to watch, some in anticipation, and some in excitement. Rex ignored them and made it to the stand, where a heavily bruised and scuffed fur ball stood. Surprisingly, despite her beat up appearance and the sweat matting up her fur, Melolo was just as energetic and cheerful as always.
“Rex Rex! You come to trade for money?” Rex laughed nervously while looking around.
“Yep! Here you go!” He dumped all of the trinkets and stuff from the chest onto her table. She looked it all over before frowning.
“Only 1000. Take or leave!” Rex slumped a tiny bit before looking over at the men in military uniforms.
“I should have expected that. Now that the trade guilds are used mostly to supply the Mor Ardainian and Urayan soldiers, doing anything else nets you nothing. Damn it… I don’t want to even touch those things.” Melolo looked at him with a disappointed face.
“Bah! Is shame! Rex good salvager, could be good way to earn pretty penny for family! Doesn’t Rex Rex have littlepons at home? Do it for them!” Rex looked down with a painfully longing expression before he looked up at Melolo with a fire in his eyes.
“No. I just told you! I don’t touch that stuff with a one hundred foot pole!” Melolo let out a sad smile.
“Rex Rex, idealism won’t get money for littlepons and family. Well, no matter what, at least you better than deadbeat littlepon!” Rex backed up immediately as everyone else’s excitement reached it’s peak. “Why you no send money to littlepons, BRAT!?” The ‘littlepon’ turned around and towered over his mother, covered in similar bruises.
“ME TRY HARD TO SUPPORT LITTLEPONS, EX IS BITCH WHO THROW MONEY AWAY OR USE IT FOR HERSELF!” They both stared at each other with such utter hatred that everyone could tell what was about to happen.
“*%#!” Melolo shouted many curse words that should never be said before they both leaped and started wailing on each other hard enough to cause wind pressure. Rex just sped-walked away after another Nopon, Pupunin, who was walking towards him with his many guards. Rex and Pupunin put on worried smiles as they glanced back at the fight before beginning a conversation.
“Pupunin! How are you doing?” Rex ducked under a flying wrench that Pupunin caught with a practiced ease.
“Pupunin fine. Rex look… uh… Peppy! That the word!” Pupunin smiled at his ability to speak, which made Rex laugh uncomfortably.
“I’ve been worse before! So… what gives?” Rex looked at his boss nervously. Pupunin completely ignored Rex’s behavior.
“I have job for you. But first… Rex come from Fonsett Village in Leftherian Archipelago, yes?” Rex’s eyes widened a bit and he nodded his head. “Well then, hurry to Bana’s office! Pretty lady called you by name! Even listed where you grew up!” Rex’s mouth immediately when wide.
“What!? Does that mean… Did something happen back at Fonsett!? Sorry Pupuin, I gotta-“ Rex was knocked to the ground face first hard by a familiar ball of fluff. Melolo face twisted even further into absolute rage before looking into Rex’s fearful eyes.
“Rex Rex, Melolo very sorry.” She turned to her son. “YOU &$*%#! MOMMYPON GONNA CLOBBER YOU TODAY!” Rex got up and sped-walked to Bana’s office while Pupunin stared at the fight. He sighed and shook his head.
“This why Pupunin dislike Nopon culture… so violent.” He and his various guards walked past the fight as quickly as they could.
Rex entered Bana’s office with a nervous expression as he held onto his broken nose. A small hand removed his own while another one grabbed his nose. Rex looked over at the person covered by a cloak. She gave him a smile before yanking his nose hard enough to make a loud gunshot-like crack sound out. As she let go, Rex felt along his his now perfectly aligned nose and winced at the pain.
As she walked towards a wall and leaned against it, a green, large Nopon cleared his throat. He looked down at Rex from his large table, his red monocle on his right eye gleaming ominously due to the lighting.
“Thank you for accepting summons! I Bana, Chairman of Argentum Trade Guild.” The Nopon smiled a bit, which made Rex visibly less nervous.
“P-Pleased to make your acquaintance.” As Rex rubbed the back of his head. He winced when he accidentally rubbed the growing bump from when Melolo crashed into him. He purposely ignored the women trying to play up their attractiveness. Bana kept eye contact with Rex.
“Me hear from Pupunin that friend is salvager of high renown! Battle skills especially are unheard of from even average Driver and Blade! That being case, I have teensy weensy thing to ask of Rex!” The young man looked nervous, but he was clearly excited now.
“A request straight from the Chairman!?” Rex’s naivety shined bright in his eyes as he stared at Bana. The Nopon let out a small smirk.
“Reward is 1,000,000 Gold.” Rex involuntarily stomped one of his feet down in utter excitement.
“One million Gold!? I must be dreaming! This is just what me and Nia need to last a few months…” As Rex cheered at his apparent jackpot, the hooded woman’s smile sharpened a bit. Then her eyes widened as her smile turned into a frown. She stood up from the wall as she plastered on a smile.
“I’ll explain the details. So, there’s something that me and my group need hauled up. There were some current shifts, and it showed up in an uncharted area.” She frowned and looked down a her feet. “The only issue is… it’s a long way down.” She looked up at him with a pleading expression in her red eyes, tears filling them. “Will you help us?” Rex awkwardly smiled at the obvious attempt to seduce him.
“Well, while I don’t appreciate the flirting, I like a challenge!” Rex frowned when the woman seemed to put on an angry face at his deflection of her flirting. He sighed a bit and rolled his eyes. Bana loudly cleared his throat. Rex startled a bit and he and the woman turned towards the Nopon.
“Bana offered to assemble team of veterans for this job. But this person very picky. She only want small elite team, and only from Letheria.” Bana smirked as he continued. “That when Bana have stroke of genius! Should hire Rex, who shows high level of skill!” Rex smiled at the praise before seeing the woman pull a red sword out of nowhere.
“‘High level of skill’? I might as well put that to the test.” As her arm moved faster than the eye could see, Rex jumped back and immediately took out his sword and just happened to catch her blade with it. Sparks flew as he pushed back, only for her to absentmindedly put her foot foward, which immediately pushed his sword back. He stared at the red blade that looked like the middle could split open at any time with fear as he continued to push with all of his might to no avail.
Almost immediately, sweat began pouring down Rex’s face as he quickly lost energy. Just as quickly as the encounter started, the girl sent his blade back. He almost went tumbling down with it, but he caught himself and looked up at the woman in front of him. He glared at her nonchalant expression with everything he had as he panted from over exerting himself.
“What’re you playing at!?” She shrugged, clearly not seeing the issue with what she did.
“I just wanted to see if you could handle the job. I think you can. Anyways… Where did you learn those Arts? You’re not a driver.” Rex looked at her with a deadpan expression.
“That question goes doubly for you! How’d you get so inhumanely strong!?” She smirked at Rex before putting an index finger to his lip.
“That isn’t important.” She walked to the door before stopping and turning around. “Oh, and just for courtesy’s sake, my name is Inferna. Don’t you dare forget it, Rex.” And then, she walked out the door, slamming it hard enough to shake the entire office.