ART Of Survival - Chapter 23

Mal shouted at the huge crowd in front of him, “A New Life Here I Come!!”

*Pffftt* People around him started laughing with scorn and pity in their eyes. “It looks like it’s the first time this kid has leveled up.” A man said laughingly while looking at Mal.

“Fuck! I planned to attract as little attention to myself as possible. Now, look at me shouting like an idiot. ” Mal’s face turned red and he put his head down.

Without wasting any more time, Mal started walking towards the registration desk, which was now empty as, at this point in time, everyone had already registered. After reaching the counter, Mal saw a girl sitting on the chair. She had aqua blue hair and fiery red eyes. She was so beautiful that even Mal was not able to look away from her. (Auth:- Heh! So much for a strong will -_-)

“What do you want?” A seductive yet cute voice woke Mal from his daze.

“I… I am here to register myself as an Elementalist Hunter,” Mal stuttered as he replied to the girl.

“Oh! Isn’t it very late to register now? ” The girl laughed sweetly.

Mal’s eyes turned cold as he looked at the girl and said, “I don’t think you have any authority to tell me what I should do and what I shouldn’t. Just focus on your damn work and do what I am telling you to. ”

“Do you know whom you are talking to?! How dare you talk to me like that? ” The girl’s smile froze and she replied in a trembling voice.”

“I don’t care who the fuck you are, be quick, I don’t have a whole day,” Mal said indifferently.

“I… I was trying to help.” The girl burst out crying. (Auth:-How dare you make her cry? Now see what I am going to do with you in the future!!)

“… ” Mal froze, unsure of what to do. This was the first time something like this had happened to Mal. Why is she crying? Did I do something? How should I make her stop?’ a thousand thoughts were going through Mal’s head.

“Stop Crying!” Mal tried to comfort her, but what came from his mouth was a stiff and cold voice that made her cry worse.

“Uwaaa!!”

“I shouldn’t have come here. This is a dangerous place for a noob like me. ” Mal was contemplating his decision to come here, but now what’s done is done.

*huffff* Mal took a deep breath and said in a defeated voice, “Pweasee stop clying beautiful sishter”

“…”

“…”

*Pffftt* “Hahahaha! What was that?!! Were you trying to look cute or pitiful? ” The girl started laughing rambunctiously.

Mal’s face turned bright red as he moved away from her. “Laugh all you want, but isn’t it because of you that I did that?” Mal said in a flustered voice.

“Hahaha, you are unexpectedly cute.” The girl smiled sweetly as she moved to face Mal.

“My name is Aislinn Augustus and I am an Elementalist.” Aislinn introduced herself with pride in her voice.

Mal looked at her amber eyes for a moment as he raised his hand and said, “My name is Mal-Chin and I too am an Elementalist.”

Aislinn shook Mal’s hands as she said, “You are not aware of who I am, are you?”

“I am sorry, but am I supposed to know you?” Mal replied in a confused voice.

“Ah… no! You aren’t. My apologies for being forceful and rude.” Aislinn replied as she bowed her head down.

“No-No! Don’t worry about it, I was just being an asshole before. ” Mal hurriedly pulled her up as he shook his head. (Auth:- Bruh! He changed in like 5 minutes.)

“Let’s forget about the past, now tell me are you here to register yourself?” Aislinn asked.

“Yes,” Mal replied without hesitation.

“Are you sure? I am asking this because I sense a very small amount of mana in your body. ” Aislinn asked in a worried tone.

“I don’t have any other choice. I don’t want to go to the hell planet and trying hard now is the only option I have. ” Mal sighed.

Aislinn looked at Mal’s handsome face and, after a bit of hesitation, she said, “You can come with me to the upper planets. I have been told that we can take 2 people with us and I coincidently had one spot empty.” Aislinn’s face turned red after she said this and she lowered her head.

Mal was stunned for a moment. After coming back to reality, he smiled as he looked at the lovely and beautiful girl in front of him.’So there are still good people in this world?’ Mal smiled charmingly as he patted Aislinn’s head softly, which made the girl smile shyly.

“Thank you for the offer, but I have to do things on my own,” Mal said softly as he removed his hands from her head.

*Pooff* Steam started coming out of the girl’s head and she nodded.

“I… I will se… nd someone to assist you with the registration process.” Aislinn said without looking at Mal, and she escaped like a rabbit. (Auth:- I wish I was talented enough to make an illustration of her *Sigh* life is tough.)

“We will meet again!!” Mal shouted in her direction and a rare expression of longing and happiness appeared on his face.

“Aislinn… I will remember you.” Mal said as she disappeared into the distance.

“Mr. Mal, Ms. Augustus has sent me to help you with the hunter registration process.” A bespected girl called out to Mal.

“Ah!… Yes! Thankyou! ” Mal replied and he filled in the registration form. Mal, luckily, was not required to fill in his details like power level and element, so he quickly filled in the form and, after asking about things, he left the EASP building.

On the top floor of the building, a girl was looking at the walking back of Mal with unwillingness.

“Don’t worry dear! He will come back for sure. ” A middle-aged lady who was standing behind Aislinn said as she patted her head with affection. She had a staright and proud figure with two huge mounds on her chest and a slim waist. Standing beside Aislinn, she looked like her sister.

“Are you sure mom?” Aislinn asked.

“I am sure, my dear.” The middle aged lady replied.

“It’s very rare for my daughter to talk to someone, let alone be this obsessed. Ara! Is my little Aislinn finally grown up? ” Aislinn’s mother teased her. (Auth:- MILF fans, I have got you covered ;))

“Mooom!!” Aislinn screamed in a flustered voice as she stomped her leg on the ground and ran away.

“Fufu, it’s good to be young” Aislinn’s mother smiled meaningfully.

-Outside The Hunter’s Market-

Mal was walking towards Natalia’s shop absent-mindedly. He was still thinking about his meeting with Aislinn.

*Tring* [Sound of the doorbell ringing]

“Welcome Mal! Huh?!” Natalia jumped to greet Mal, but she stopped in between sensing something off about him.

“Mal?”

“Maaaaaalllll Chiiiiiiiin!!!” After not hearing a reply from Mal, she was not able to take it anymore and she screamed.

“Huh?! What? ” Mal woke up from his daze and finally replied.

“You are asking what? I called out your name twice and also tried to greet you happily, but look at you lost in your own world. ” Natalia pouted as she said sulkily.

“Nothing… I was just thinking about something. ” Mal replied.

“Thinking about something or someone?” Natalia smirked as she looked at Mal.

“It’s none of your business! Oh yeah… I am here to buy a few things and also I wanted to ask about something. ” Mal said as he started taking out his katana and other tools he received from his parents, along with some herbs that he collected before going out.

“Oh! Show me show me!!! ” Natalia jumped as she snatched the tools from the hands of Mal.

“This…”

“Whh… where the hell did you get this katana from?!!” Natalia’s hands started shaking and she was looking at the katana as if she had gotten her favourite candy.

“It was from my ancestors.” I don’t know how they received such a valuable thing. Mal paused for a moment and then continued. “This is even stronger than the grade three ether spear that you gave me!!”

“You fucking moron!!” Natalia shouted.

“Hey! Why are you cursing? ” Mal retorted.

“I will curse your mum! How the hell can you compare a roadside pebble to a diamond?!! The world has gone crazy! You are crazy! ” Natalia had lost all her calm and she was just spouting whatever was coming out of her mouth.

“…”

*Haaahh* *Phhhewww* Natalia stopped talking and started taking deep breaths. “This katana is made from Admantanium. Adamantium is the strongest metal available in the entire human planetary cluster. Its mana conductivity is only below Mithril. In short, this katana can cut through diamonds as if it were slicing through tofu. Do you understand how strong and insane this thing is!!!!”

“What about the other tools?” Mal asked excitedly.

“No…” Natalia’s words were like a bucket of cold water that was thrown at Mal’s hope and desires.

“Oh… ” Mal replied in a low tone.

“Yup and what are things you wanted to sell? Obviously not this katana right?” Natalia asked in a longing voice.

“If I sell this katana, for how much would it sell for?” Mal asked curiously.

“Enough money to last you till you are level 50,” Natalia replied flatly. “But it is not worth it.”

“…”

“Hearing Natalia’s reply, Mal thought of selling the katana but, he held himself back.

“Here are the herbs I want to sell.” Mal took out huge stacks of precious herbs from his bag and stacked them on the counter.

“Aren’t you being too hasty?” Natalia asked while checking the herbs.

“I don’t have time to be at ease, So please help me in being efficient enough to pass the challenge I am about to face. This is the only thing I ask of you.” Mal replied softly as he looked at Natalia’s eyes.

“I have to get stronger before the promised time,” Mal said solemnly.