The Record of Unusual Creature

For a country, the cost of creating a hero is never too high, especially when the hero is a real thing. The contribution of the hero and the raise in morale outweighs any cost. King Mhoren had obviously gave this due considerations, and the moment he found that Becky was in Holletta he immediately set out on a plan of action, and first, was to reward her handsomely.

Becky had finally obtained the lavish manor and knighthood of her dreams, and it was located on the west wing of the royal city where all the nobles congregate. Now everything was real, the manor was refurbished upon received the royal command and was delivered to Becky in its most glorious state. The mercenary lass happily invited Hao Ren and his group to her new place as guests. General Ophra too was invited. The general came as a ‘comrade in arms’ to congratulate Becky on her new found fame and wealth.

Before the splendid Holletta-styled manor , Becky excitedly pointed towards the fountain and the gardens around here. “Look at that! And THAT…. I always dreamt of staying at a house with a garden! And all of this are MINEEE!!”

Hao Ren knew that it was impossible to calm Becky down in her current state, and just simply smiled as the watch her spazzing out, nodding as he congratulated her. “So congrats! Now fame and wealth are all yours, any plans?”

“Didn’t His Majesty said it? I’m the legendary mercenary from now on!” Becky raised her head in glee. “Eat sleep and repeat, then dress up nice to brag to a group of people. This is my speciality. There was this time when I bragged about my exploits and gotten myself a night’s stay by just buying half a mug of malt beer! Even if it’s all hogwash I can still spin a convincing story….”

Hao Ren was dumbstruck, while Nangong Wuyue pinches her forehead and sighed. “Why do I feel that Becky is going to the dogs…”

Hao Ren thought for a while and felt that the possibility of Becky could totally go to the dogs with the endless banquets and typical decadence of the nobility was very real. He quickly reminded her. “Don’t take it too easy that you end up being a basket case. That aside, don’t let anyone sell you out. The royal court is using you as a propaganda material, so you need to be sure of your own standing. If you ever get bullied let me know.”

General Ophra looked back at Hao Ren. “Is it right for you to say that in front of me? I’m here in the name of the King to guide you.”

“It IS because you’re here in the name of the King.” Hao Ren laughed. “We are more than acquaintance now and you know how Becky is. You also know quite a lot about us so I’m hoping that you’ll help out. This dumb lass over here is about the same as the husky there aside from her ability to earn money, if she were to….”

Lily howled and pounced on Hao Ren before he could finish his sentence. The husky gnawed at Hao Ren’s arm and sparks shot out of his Steel Membrane Shield. Becky wanted to add a punch or two for good measure but soon decided that it was probably futile and just left it as it is. Vivian looking on, hugged her arms and mumbled. “That mouth of his will be his death some day.”

The dumb husky gnawed on Hao Ren’s arm for a good half of a minute before she was satisfied. After releasing her bite she held her jaw that was hurting. Gnashing her teeth as if she held the advantage, “Mr Landlord I’ll really get mad if you do this a…AHHH that hurts….”

Vivian rolled her eyes. “Not only you failed to get a bite, you even chipped your fang doing it and you’re now trying to talk big? Do you even know shame?”

“Actually I was shocked to hear that we were paraded as martyrs.” Becky chuckled as she looked at the beautiful garden and the three storey manor not too far away. “I was afraid that His Majesty had already planned everything out, and turned my manor into a scenic tomb that was built in the north facing south*…. Thank goodness he had not finalise anything or I’ll need to claim the deed to a tomb…”

General Ophra was confused by the foreign terminologies that were used but she still managed to get the gist of things. “It’s because none of you had left any ‘bodies’ that the royal court decided to build a cenotaph for you. Oh, it’s just north of your manor too. There were visitors bringing flowers everyday for the past two months.”

Becky’s face immediately turned green, and Hao Ren and the rest were no better too…

“Of course Becky you can ‘resurrect’ soon enough.” General Ophra did not notice the change in their expression and continued. “The narrative had already been sent. You survived the massive explosion at Beinz and was recovering in a small sanctuary by the Dragonspine Ridge. Three days ago you had returned to the capital and was summoned by the king. You will be given the title of the Legendary Mercenary that is both recognised by the royal court and the church. Your title of ‘Martyr’ will be revoked, and the church will come up with another holy name for you… probably something along the lines of The Blessed Warrior or the Bastion of the Church…. if going by past traditions you probably can choose one out of the two.”

Everyone understood what that meant. It was to calm the nerves of the rattled populace because of the First Born incident (It was publicized as an attack by a evil god). Becky demurred for a while, “So… that means my tomb will be removed soon as well?”

Hao Ren facepalmed. “And ours are already completed….”

“Well, you guys wouldn’t show your faces.” Becky snickered as she patted Hao Ren’s shoulder. “No worries my buddies, I will remember to visit your graves often. Say… you like malt beer or honey liqour better? We usually use honey liquor for paying our respects, but mercenaries usually use malt beer…”

Hao Ren and the rest all rolled their eyes at Becky, and the thoroughly confused Nangong Sanba, who had witnessed everything finally sighed. “It only take a few days for my world view to be thoroughly demolished… do you guys live on day to day like this?”

“Which dimension traveller nowadays have an intact world view anyway? Plus I’m licensed for interdimensional travel.” Hao Ren patted his chest as he sniggered. “I’m known as Aran-Anor, the Sun King in another planet and they had sculpted me a statue that looked like I was ordering an assault. My statue was alright by any standards, Lily is depicted as a guardian beast over there, and her wolf visage is used as a protective ward on each and every house.”

“Awooo?”

Nangong Sanba was swimming in cold sweat now. What he saw in the past two days were enough to totally ruin his world view, and after learning even more of the truth he started doubting his decision to join the group was a good idea. But he did not had time to speak his part because his sister had dragged the rest to see the cenotaph that the Holletaen royal court had built for them…

There are very few people who could pay respects to their own graves… Uh alright, such a scenario is improbable normally, but Hao Ren had managed to pull it off, his entourage had managed to pull that off.

The newly built war memorial and cemetary for the martyrs at Beinz was on the north side of the capital. It was solemn yet grand, and the obsidian plaques and cenotaph stood in neat rows across the memorial. On it were the engravings of the dead’s brief biography and their greatest accomplishment, fighting an evil god. And like how General Ophra had assured them, Hao Ren and his party’s cenotaph and statues were at the front row… That was the first thing Hao Ren and the rest saw when they arrived at the cemetery was that. Oh how mixed their feelings were…

Becky also quickly found her own cenotaph and happily patted the thick obsidian stele. “Look, look! Built in the north facing south, a scenic grave. Heh!”

Hao Ren could not even look straight. “You could still laugh at this… Right, your tomb will be removed soon. F*ck me, why do I always encounter such bloody weird things.”

Vivian was rather nonchalant about it though. “Actually, once you had lived long enough you’d be immune to this. I slept in coffins all the time, and even slept in a crypt before.”

Lily circled her own cenotaph and was mumbling incoherently. She suddenly squatted down to dig a hole. Wuyue was curious, “What are you doing?”

“Digging a hole. Burn some joss money. To keep me from being poor.”

Vivian whispered softly in Hao Ren’s ear,” That’s why I never tried to understand Doggie’s thought process.”

Barely a few seconds later though, something seems to struck Vivian and she went to towards the husky. “Eh, burn some for me as well. It may actually work!”

“….”

Hao Ren sighed. “That’s why I never tried to understand the thought process of anyone around me.”