Moonlight Blue

My name was Oliver and I didn’t have a last name. Since I was just a lowly commoner, how could I even dare to wish for a last name? I was born in the Esteria kingdom in the worst place that can be imagined, the slums. Life in the slums wasn’t great at all. We were basically trash that had been thrown aside in one place.

The kingdom seemed to have abandoned us so a lot of crime happened there. Murder, rape, and even slavery and human trafficking could be found in the slums. The kingdom’s knights didn’t even patrol in the slums so these crimes went unpunished. There were a lot of gangs that controlled the slums but only four of them reigned supreme.

There was the Brooks who dealt in petty crimes. The Crusaders who were master thieves. The Ravagers who dealt in human trafficking and slavery. And finally, there was the most dangerous gang of them all occupying over half of the slums, The Reapers.

They dealt in all matters of crime. Unlike the other gangs, they were also known for killing just for fun. To survive in the slums, you either had to have a talent to become an adventurer or join a gang. Of course, there were other ways to survive. A person like me who possessed neither the talent to become an adventurer nor the ruthlessness and strength to join a gang, decided to become a porter.

A porter’s job was to carry the mercenaries’ or adventurers’ luggage. You basically just accompanied them as they raid dungeons or ruins and carried their stuff. Most adventurers though, were equipped with storage bags in which they stored their luggage so finding a party that would hire you to be their porter was rare.

This is how I was able to survive in that shitty place. Due to me carrying luggage for people, I had somewhat become stronger. Even though it was tough at first, I’m different now. I lived alone in the slums and I was not acquainted with anybody. The reason was that I had a plan to one day leave the slums, so I didn’t want any unnecessary attachments.

There was an orphanage a few meters from where I lived. Since the kingdom didn’t support them in the slums, the caretakers of the orphanage had to become self-sufficient. I would sometimes see the kids at the entrance gate that connected the slums to the capital begging for food or money.

Sometimes I would visit the orphanage and share what I had with them. I wouldn’t stay for long even though Maria kept insisting I should.

I’m only helping because I pity you not because I want to be friends or anything. I would always say that to myself.

Today, I received a job at the guild. It was from a party of adventurers who, by their equipment, looked wealthy. They were offering a lot of money too.

Twenty copper coins. It doesn’t sound like much but if you live in the slums then it’ll be your lucky day to receive such a fee. I don’t know though why they need a porter? Surely people like them should have storage bags. Better yet, they should have storage rings. I hope they didn’t hire me to be cannon fodder. I thought.

I walked up to them as my shabby leather armour kept tightening up with every step I took.

“Uhm, hello there. My name is Oliver. I’ll be your porter for this evening.”

I said that whilst raising my hand to greet them. But I fucked up. Judging from their appearance alone, I should have discerned their origin- or at least, his origin.

“Eww, gross. Why would you expect the young master to shake that filthy hand of yours? Do you know who this is?”

A woman stopped me in disgust. She was wearing a robe and had a wooden wand on her waist. She had black hair and had a lot of makeup on her. I guess she’s a mage.

“Don’t worry Gloria. It’s clearly the first time for this peasant to meet a noble. That’s not how you greet this great me. Get on your knees and kiss my shoes, filthy pig.” The man in clad armour responded.

His armour was sparkling silver and he had a long sword on his waist. His blonde hair glowed like the rising sun. His skin was smooth as a baby’s cheeks.

This guy is definitely loaded. It wouldn’t be good for me to get on his bad side.

I kneeled as requested and went in to kiss his shoes. This sight wasn’t uncommon in this place. Commoners were always treated rudely by the nobles. You just had to swallow your pride and do whatever they asked of you. Luckily for me, pride wasn’t in my dictionary.

“Young master Kel. It looks like you have a roach on your shoes, hahaha!”

A man standing by the noble Kel Langston, laughed. He was also wearing some good armour and held a bow. Kel then responded by kicking me while I was about to kiss his shoe.

“You’re right Thomas. There is a roach. Disgusting! How can you even dream of kissing my shoes? I bet a quarter of this single shoe you just tried to kiss would cost ten years of your savings, ha-ha-ha.”

Pretentious rich kids. They definitely have showy armour I’ll give them that but I’ve seen people like them. People who only use their family’s influence to become adventurers and attain a higher rank.

They were a party of four with a rank of C. C-rank adventurers were classified as veteran adventurers who had experience and knowledge when it came to dungeons and monsters. I definitely didn’t see it from those guys.

The fourth member was a rather quiet healer. She didn’t wear much in terms of armour since healers only wear light fabric and her attire was rather humble.

I guess she recently joined them, huh?

“Get up peasant. We have a dungeon to conquer. Gloria, give this peasant the luggage, and let’s get going. I need to prove myself to father.” Said Kel as he clenched his fist.

“Yes, young master.” Said Gloria to Kel as she blushed. She then turned my way with a look of disgust, “Here you go roach,” and threw the luggage at me.

I took the luggage with a calm and nonchalant face. There was no reason to be angry. After all, as long as I got paid, I would even let them beat me half to death. For a bonus, of course.

“You’re quite well built for a peasant. I guess you’ll do. Follow me, everyone.” Said Kel as he paved the way.

We left the guild as a pair of eyes watched us leave.

I just need to endure until the end of this raid then I’ll receive my pay and never get to see these guys ever again.