Fantasy System

Chapter 174: Cheese

Ed and Garu returned as the sun started shining in the sky. They had managed to clear out all the posts they had intended to destroy. Ed also spent most of his time preparing for the second assault of the night. Once they returned, Ed created a dimension where both of them slept until they had their fill. Arthur made sure no one would bother Ed in his room, as he was the only one who knew what he was doing in the night. He also knew how tired he would be when he returned.

Once Ed and Garu woke up, they had to take a bath. The slaughter they caused made them full of blood from head to toe. They didn't bother to clean up as they slept straight away, but when Ed woke up he felt disgusted by yesterday's him. He also cleaned off the two disguise sets, as the white one was no longer white. Garu transformed back into his Lycan form, which suited him best. Ed left to search for Dorothy in the kitchen to ask for something.

"Dorothy, do we have any cheese?" He spoke while entering the kitchen, where he caught the presence of someone that couldn't be seen. Even without using the Map, he was able to tell who it was.

"We should have some left, let me get it." She went into another room as Ed followed her. The presence he felt followed them as well. The room was very cool, and many things were preserved inside of it. It was like a large fridge.

"We only have these two left." Dorothy brought out two wheels of cheese. Ed frowned as he looked at them. They weren't enough for what he was planning.

"Don't use them up. I need them. I'll also be leaving to get some more." Ed planned to leave the country for the day in order to buy some more cheese if he didn't find it in the market.

Right before Ed left, he turned around and said, "By the way Dorothy. Do you ever feel like something goes missing in the kitchen? All of a sudden, it's gone?" Once Ed finished speaking, he noticed that the presence was getting closer and closer to the door as if trying to leave.

"I do! In fact so much that I'm starting to doubt my sanity!" Dorothy looked happy that Ed pointed it out. She was worried that she was going senile too early.

"Well, you don't have to worry. This one is the culprit!" Ed quickly thrust his hand and caught something.

"Eeep! I won't do it again Edward forgive me!" A pair of wings appeared and then followed by a body. Ed had a blank look on his face after looking at Merry. She started using her new invisibility powers to steal dishes from the kitchen, which driving Dorothy mad.

"So it was you?!" Dorothy caught a rolling pin and started running after Merry who was released by Ed. Ed stood there with that same blank look for a while before leaving.

Ed made his way to Arthur's office to let him know of his plans for the day. He got his permission after Arthur asked him if he would be doing anything dangerous. But, since Ed was simply looking for some ingredients, Arthur was relieved and let him go.

"By the way, I don't see the rowdy bunch today. Where are they?" The rowdy bunch was referring to Ellie, Gobuta, and Bella. They were the ones that caused the most ruckus around the palace.

"They're all training. Bella and Becky asked Gobuta and Goburou to train them. Ellie and Emilia are sparring together.

Ed was surprised that Bella and Becky took the initiative to ask for training. He was planning to ask Gobuta and Goburou to train them afterward, but it seems like everything worked out fine. He also remembered that he had yet to fix Emilia's rapier. It wasn't that he wasn't capable of doing it, but he wanted to make it even better. He was waiting to get some materials first.

Ed turned up at the marker near the old man's shop.

"Hey!" He greeted the old man who was stunned. He figured out Ed's identity last time he visited, so his attitude towards him changed slightly.

"Maste-" Before the old man could finish Ed stopped him.

"I'm just a customer trying to become a regular. And now, I want to ask you something."

"Certainly! Anything!" The old man seemed eager to help Ed.

"I want to know where I can buy cheese. Good quality one." Ed figured that the best way to get cheese is to ask someone managing a food store. What better choice than one he was acquainted with?

"Certainly! Follow me I know just the guy. Although he doesn't usually sell cheese, he won't say no to me." The old man closed the shop much to Ed's objection.

Both of them walked a while until they reached one of the houses in the commoners' district. The old man knocked hard on the door, scaring Ed next to him.

"Audun! It's me, Bard, come out!" Ed finally found out about the name of the old man. The names were not familiar in Avalon, which meant that both of them came from another region.

Footstep could be heard getting closer to the door. The door opened and an old man, as old as Bard came out. They were both very similar with blue eyes and golden hair that didn't turn grey. Although their faces were wrinkly, they both seemed very full of energy.

"What do you want? And who are you?" Audun looked at both of them in succession while asking his question.

"Don't talk like that. We're both comrades that shed blood together, so be a little more hospitable." Bard told him while making his way inside. "Come, Edward, we'll take the cheese." He looked at Ed and beckoned him to follow him. Both Ed and Audun looked stunned at the shamelessness of Bard.

"So you're after my cheese" Audun now knew about the reason of the sudden visit of Bard and Ed. He liked cheese, so he made a lot of it. All three of them headed into a cellar that was full of the smell of cheese. Audun 'really' liked cheese.

"Take all you want!" Bard acted as if it was his cheese. Audun looked at him in anger and spoke, "What do you mean 'take all you want'?! That's my cheese you're talking about!"

"Don't be a cheapskate! This cheese will probably become moldy before you can eat all! Just consider it the monthly quota that I take!" Bard seemed like he took the cheese on a regular basis.

"I won't give it to a kid who would waste it!" Audun looked at Ed as if asking what he was going to do with his prized cheese. Ed understood his intention and started explaining.

"If you want to know where your cheese will be going, you can come at dawn to the castle. I need help anyway, and you two seem to be just what I need."

Audun registered what Ed said about the castle, and it dawned upon him that he was talking to the prince. Still, his attitude didn't change much. "I'll be sure to wake up at dawn!"

Ed got five wheels from Audun, who still seemed reluctant. Bard asked him if he was sure about them coming to the castle, but Ed assured him that there would be no problem.