Wildness and Masks

I am a fish.

A Lightning Eel. From the moment I was born, I've been outsmarting and outmaneuvering those scale shrimp and small fish every day.

I chase them down.

If I catch them, I feast. If not, I go hungry.

Until one day, I encountered a colossal creature.

I was caught by something.

After that, I ended up in a very narrow place—it was the first time I saw so many of my kind.

Though it was cramped and hard to move around, the feeling of getting food without much effort every day wasn't so bad.

Until I met that thing that caught me again, this time I wouldn't let it catch me so easily!

I exerted all my strength, trying to resist with my invincible electricity, but...

I ended up electrocuting myself.

Why...

How could I, a Lightning Eel, end up shocking myself unconscious...

I haven't even reached adulthood, haven't left any offspring...

I haven't even... turned male yet.

(Note: Fun fact, electric eels are born female and become male upon maturity, but it's not fixed. They can change gender based on environmental factors—when population density is high and food is scarce, they turn female, and vice versa.)

...

"Phew... This time, digesting the memory was indeed much easier."

Ogre wiped his forehead, realizing that this time, the 'memory digestion' didn't even make him break a sweat.

It seemed his previous assumptions were correct.

As long as the subject being digested had a shorter lifespan than his own, the impact on him would be significantly reduced.

"Continuous discharge does consume a lot of energy. I ended up meditating until I fell asleep..."

Ogre clenched his fists, then threw a few punches into the air.

The sound of his fists cutting through the air made Ogre realize.

The strength he had lost before had returned, and upon closer inspection, it seemed he had even improved slightly.

And this was just the result of his initial training.

"I've gotten a bit stronger again. I really look forward to the next meal." Ogre retracted his fists and opened his palm, a streak of blue electricity flickering between his fingertips.

After absorbing the memories of the Lightning Eel.

Ogre's control over electricity had slightly improved, becoming more precise.

After a bit of joint movement, Ogre began a more detailed organization of the room and his own equipment.

Yesterday's clothes and inner armor had become trash.

So Ogre changed into a new outfit, still low-key, with a color scheme leaning towards gray—giving it a washed-out look.

After equipping his Sleeve Sword and donning the black robe commonly worn by the ascetics and followers of the Church of Dawn, he did have a bit of a Professional's aura.

Except for that excessively beautiful face, which didn't seem threatening at all.

"It's time to meet that wealthy young master I encountered yesterday..." Ogre muttered to himself in front of the metal mirror, then tied his loose hair into a ponytail.

He then opened a hidden compartment in the drawer under the counter and took out a jar of gel-like substance—his skin wax for disguises, which worked even better than his homemade Human Skin Mask, though it didn't last as long.

Soon, with skilled application of the disguise.

The 'stunning maiden' in the mirror gradually transformed into an unremarkable young man.

After making a few expressions in front of the mirror to test it out, Ogre was satisfied.

Taking the rest of his equipment and putting everything back in place, Ogre set off; before leaving, he didn't forget to bring some Gold Coins.

...

"Gourmet, what strange equipment are you planning to make this time?" The dwarf blacksmith from the Arena knew from the sight of that mask that today's work wouldn't be light.

"I need a strong enough fine iron chain." Ogre said, taking out the small hammer he had previously made at the blacksmith's: "Make it with the same standard material, and I want the end of the chain to have a buckle, to secure the end of the hammer."

Ogre then removed the arm guard on his right hand, which, unlike the Sleeve Sword on his left, concealed a device with a rope.

It was used for hammering techniques—for example, when throwing a tethered rope.

"I want to replace this device with a chain." Ogre also took out the strong liquor he had just bought today from his bag and handed it over along with the arm guard.

"Oh, by Odin's beard, how did you come up with such a strange idea? This rope is made from the tendons of a hybrid Drake, you know. Chains aren't easy to retract, and they aren't as flexible..."

The dwarf blacksmith thought he understood the Gourmet's preferences well, but he was still caught off guard.

"What if I insist on using metal?" Ogre wasn't very good at handling chains.

But his hammer-throwing skills were decent.

So he brought up the idea of using the chain to conduct electricity again.

"Are you planning to use it as a whip or just to enhance its strength with metal?" the dwarf blacksmith asked.

"Well, a bit of both, I suppose." Ogre thought for a moment and felt it was about right.

"Then it shouldn't be in chain form, and refined iron isn't a good choice. Directly infusing soft silver into the dragon tendon and soaking it in potion would be better. The strength would be sufficient, but the flexibility would be significantly reduced." The dwarf blacksmith suggested.

"Infusing it... Can it conduct electricity?" Ogre asked the crucial question.

"Conduct electricity? It can be done by mixing in some Mithril powder, but why do you need that effect?" the dwarf blacksmith asked curiously.

"I want to use it to conduct and counter lightning magic attacks." Ogre casually made up an excuse.

Dwarf blacksmith: "..."

"Oh, by Odin's beard, I really can't understand you young folks' ideas. Fine, leave your equipment here, and come pick it up tomorrow. I'll have a friend from the Church of Truth modify it. It'll cost seventeen Gold Coins and forty-six Silver Coins. Pay now or sign a contract to deduct it from your wages?"

The dwarf blacksmith knew the Gourmet was making an excuse, but since the other party didn't want to say, he naturally couldn't ask.

"Is it that expensive? My current equipment wasn't that pricey. Soft silver isn't expensive, right? I didn't study much, so don't try to trick me."

Due to a significant financial loss last night, Ogre wanted to save some money.

"I swear by Odin's name, I'm not tricking you. This is a fair price, considering the liquor you brought. It's just that Mithril powder is a bit pricey. If you don't care about that so-called conductivity effect, it could be cheaper..."

"No, no, it's fine. I'll pay." Seeing the dwarf blacksmith's anxious expression, Ogre understood he wasn't being ripped off.

'Failed to haggle... Seems I'm not cut out for this.' Fortunately, Ogre had brought enough money before leaving: "I'll pay now. I don't like being in debt."

Seeing Ogre take out the money, the dwarf blacksmith's expression instantly turned fawning: "I knew it, you have the means. You must have earned quite a bit recently—preparing for a breakthrough to Professional, right?"

Seeing the dwarf's expression change, Ogre almost mistook him for a gnome, if not for the distinctive orange-red beard.

"Don't mention it. I got scammed by a black market dealer yesterday. Fewer people are challenging me lately, so I need to find some side jobs."

Ogre's job at the Arena was to defend the ring, occasionally participating in exhibition matches—like fighting Demon Beasts.

He usually worked in the mornings, and if he didn't have a task like today, he would leave directly.

After all, Ogre was a free man, not a sold slave.

When Ogre first entered the city, some people did try to sell him into slavery, seeing he was alone, but those guys all ended up dead.

"Wish you a speedy promotion then." The dwarf blacksmith picked up the strong liquor Ogre had brought.

"Hopefully." Ogre adjusted the arm guard on his hand, pulled up his sleeve, put on his hood, and left the equipment area of the Arena.

...

"Wait, Gourmet!" Just as Ogre was about to leave the Arena, the chubby manager came panting after him.

"What's up? Is there something you need?" Ogre asked in a low voice.

"The higher-ups intend to send you to the vast Meteor City. The Apprentice-level Arena is no longer suitable for you..."

"I don't want to go."

Ogre refused without a second thought. What a joke, he still needed to stay here until the Priest taught him the mysteries of the Imagist.

Even if he left, he wouldn't go to Meteor City. Ogre still needed to go to Ceres to obtain the forbidden potion.

"Don't be so quick to refuse. The organization just wants to better nurture you. If you agree, they'll arrange for a seasoned Martial Artist to help you harmonize the Three Qis..."

The chubby manager's words would have been tempting to Ogre in the past.

But things were different now. Ogre had given up on the Martial Artist profession.

He knew that his Three Qis couldn't be harmonized through simple means.

"Are you saying I won't have to fight here anymore?" Ogre asked in return.

"Well, sort of. After all, you're about to go..."

Before the chubby manager could finish, Ogre interrupted him: "Let me think about it. I still have some matters to settle here."

What a joke, Ogre would never agree to such a condition.

He could work, but selling himself was out of the question!

Contracts for this level of promotion would definitely require signing an agreement, and breaking it would mean losing protection under city law.

"How long?" the chubby manager asked instinctively.

"At most a little over a month." Ogre adjusted his spotted mask and said.

"No way, that's too long. You need to sign quickly..." The chubby manager's voice was anxious because this was a task assigned by his superiors...

"Then I'll give you an answer within a week, but I definitely need to stay here for a bit over a month." Ogre's voice, hidden under the mask, remained as calm as ever.

"Alright... Fine then."

The chubby manager understood that he couldn't push Ogre—this kid was a hot commodity, and if he pushed too hard, he wasn't sure if Ogre would retaliate, but he knew he wouldn't fare well.

"I'll come back in a few days then, since my equipment is still here."

Ogre turned and walked straight out of the Arena.

In his heart, he already had a plan.

'It seems my identity here, and this face, can't be used anymore.'

Ogre had been using a fake face to be able to disappear at any moment. The people at the Arena could definitely trace Ogre's identity in the town and his connection with Yard.

But they probably wouldn't expect.

That a guy wearing a mask would have another mask underneath.

Ogre could disappear easily, either by slipping into the Demon Beast Forest or using a Black Market teleportation array to escape. If necessary, Ogre could abandon everything he had here.

But now wasn't the time.

As for what to do now.

That's simple—make money.

Whether it's to buy the forbidden potion or prepare for future career advancements, it all requires money.

Thinking of this, Ogre looked towards the direction of the Professional Association, a rare smile appearing under his mask.

"It's time to meet that wealthy noble young master from another city."