Meanwhile in the market district.

  Clutching her belly while we go back into the market streets, Rayla laughs whole heartedly, “Hahaha, they kicked us out, huh?”

  “Well…You were running around showing everyone your underwear.”

  A bit embarrassed, she answers, “That was an accident! I forgot that dresses here aren’t tailored for people with tails!!!”

  “Uhuh, was it really necessary though to keep telling the clerk that ‘you know what you’re doing’ when she was trying to tell you about it though?”

  “I-I-Look! It’s important to be confident when you want to pretend to be rich! How was I supposed to know that’s what she was trying to tell me!?”

  “Pfft, look at you! You’re all red in the face, haha.”

  “N-N-No I’m not! Anyways! Let’s go to a gentlemen’s clothing store next so you can try out stuff.”

  “Nah, I’m good. Let’s keep going to more boutique’s. Maybe some with tail holes this time, haha.”

  Sulking at me, her tail starts to slow down a little, “Oh come on, you can’t just make fun of me and then not expect me to dress you up a little as well!”

  Trying to avoid her sad puppy dog eyes, I scratch the back of my head and say, “I dunno…I don’t really like men’s fashion. Also I doubt anyone will let me try on things because of my smell. Also fancy clothes won’t look good on me.”

  “Why wouldn’t they?”

  “Because I’m ugly.”

  Looking me up and down, Rayla puts her hand on her chin, “Hmm…I mean it’s definitely a bit more challenging to make you look good but it’s not like you look hideous. You just look a little below average and your shabby clothes aren’t helping that either. Also, once that training is starting to pay off you’ll look a lot more handsome. You have a good personality too, that already makes you look a lot better. Honestly the least attractive part about you is that smell…Yeah! You know what, let’s find some soap stores and some stores that sell cologne. They ought to have something that will make you smell good!”

  About two hours later.

  Sitting down on a bench, with her head in her hands, Rayla lets out a huge sigh of frustration, “I don’t believe it…We went to five soap stores and eight places that sell cologne. We even tried perfume but nothing worked! Gaaaah! How can a person smell so bad that nothing helps!?”

  “Eh, it’s fine I’m kinda used to smelling bad at this point…”

  “You shouldn’t resign yourself like this! There has to be a way.”

  “Uhm, excuse me young man.” A deep voice says from behind me.

  Turning around it’s coming from a well dressed man in his late forties. He seems rich but not necessarily like a noble. He's wearing a purple suit with a top hat but strangely enough I have never seen attire like that before. I have seen similar clothes but nothing like that. Perhaps he's a foreigner?

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “I couldn’t help but notice that you have been desperately running around trying to block out your smell. I know a way to get rid of it.”

  Jumping up from the bench in excitement, I hold his hands, “Wait, really!?”

  Pushing me away from him, Rayla positions herself between me and him with a protective look, “Woah, woah, hold up Thoma. That guy is probably just trying to sell you something. Don’t be too trusting. So, what are you peddling that everyone else is not?”

  “Ohohoho, please young lady, I understand your suspicions but I’m no huckster. I actually happen to suffer from the same kind of smell that your friend does. I was going to give him a magical item that neutralizes it.”

  “Really!? That sounds amazing! But…I don’t think I have the money for a magical item…”

  “That is fine, I didn’t expect you to. I do have more than enough money though, so I’d be willing to part with mine for free.”

  Fletching her teeth, Rayla interjects, “No one just gives around magical items for free! What’s the catch?”

  “Ohoho, there is no catch, young lady. I’m just trying to be sympathetic towards the less fortunate. Here…”

  He takes off a necklace and a stench similar to mine emanates from him, causing Rayla to start gagging. He then puts it back on and says,

  “See, I’m suffering from the same ailment. I understand how hard it can be, I’m just trying to help.”

  A lot more unsure of herself, Rayla replies, “I guess you really do smell like Thoma…So you’re just going to give him yours?”

  With a friendly smile, he points his walking stick to a different direction, “Not quite. I have a spare in my carriage, if you follow me there I’ll give it to him and explain how it works. I will just have to ask that you stay outside Miss. An older man like myself being seen going into the same carriage as a young lady could…Cause issues. If you understand what I mean?”

  “Yeah, I get it. You seem trustworthy, so I’ll let you go with him but I’ll be waiting outside making sure nothing weird is going on. I’ll have you know until recently I was an E-Rank adventurer.”

  “Oh? I better be careful of your prowesses then, ohoho. Now then, shall we?”

  We then accompany him to his carriage at a less populated side alley of the market district. There seems to be a butler waiting outside of it who giving me the side eye as I enter. Once we're inside, the butler closes the door behind us and the top hat man pulls out another necklace, his kind facial expression changing to to a slightly more sinister one as he does.

  Losing his chipper tone, he says, “Hehehe, I can’t tell whether you’re brave or just stupid.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “No need to play dumb here, boy. I’m a fellow practitioner. But to think that at such a young age you’re already this drenched in his magnificently xxx rot. You must be truly loved by him.”

  “I…I have no idea what you’re talking about, Sir.”

  Positively surprised, he asks, “Wait…Don’t tell me…You managed to conduct the dark one’s rituals without any guidance?”

  “I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about, Sir. I’ve been smelling like this ever since I lost my memories.”

  “Lost your memories…Huh? Do you have any markings on your body, boy?”

  “Yeah, on my back.”

  “Please show them to me.”

  I then take off my shirt and after a short period of silence he starts laughing.

  “Hehehehehe! Truly I have been a devout follower but to think that I would be the one to discover your lost body, my Lord, shortly after your mind had been recovered…It truly is a blessing.”

  “Uhm…Sir, I don’t feel very comfortable right now, so can I please leave the carri-”

  He throws a black powder in my face and just says, “Shush, don’t worry we will reunite you soon my Lord.”

  I then watch him open the door and yell, “Jasper, we have to go. Now!” while I fall unconscious.

  —------------------------------------------------------------------

  Outside the wagon, Rayla becomes panicked.

  “What do you mean? Where are you taking Thoma!?”

  “Grand putrid one, cloud our bodies in your sweet stench so that we too may be close to you. Gas Cloud!”

  A giant green cloud then surrounds the carriage and most of the street around it causing Rayla to be pushed back as she gags and gasps for air. The sound of a horse is heard as the carriage starts to run into the distance.