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Volume 2, Chapter 7
Although Merlin is broke and has an urge to rob the missionary.
But he’s already in enough trouble as is. If he were to rob the missionary, then he would have to deal not only with those good-for-nothing adventurers, but also the regular imperial army.
If it really came to this, he would have nowhere to stay in Great Britain.
Merlin shook his head and gazed at the bunch of uncultured villagers as they paid one gold coin for a copy of the hardcover bible that should go for a few copper coins, his heart bleeding! He would really like to have a share of that money!
He is helpless regarding this. If he knew beforehand, he would have ransacked a treasury of the Church when he was still a Demon Lord.
As Merlin daydreamed, he arrived at a strip. He wants something to eat, he’s starving.
He took out his cowhide pouch, opened it, turned it upside down, and shook it above his hand.
Not a single copper…
Merlin put on a long face and secretly cursed the evil capitalism for robbing him of his last two copper coins.
“Shit, where can I get some money?”
If possible, Merlin doesn’t want to dine and dash, or else he will never be able to pay his debt.
After contemplated for a while, Merlin looked at the buskers across the market and thought — can’t I make some coppers as a street performer?
Merlin, who never hesitates, acted without delay.
He took out a bowl, which coupled with the shabby stick and the disheveled appearance scream — begging for food!
Merlin breathed in and began to shout in the downtown area —
“Don’t miss this! This humble one just arrived at this noble place and is penniless! This humble one wants to earn his keep with his unique skills! Otakus [1] and fujoshis [2], spare some coins if you can! Cheer on if you can’t spare any money! If you can’t do neither, you can give monthly tickets [3]!”
After Merlin yelled a few sentences, a crowd slowly gathered around him. With looks of curiosity on their faces, the people are wondering what unique skills the beggar in front of them has.
More and more onlookers gathered, forming a noisy wall of people.
When Merlin deemed that there are enough people, he decided to start the performance. He must make those villagers drop their jaw and obediently fork out some money.
“Let’s start~!”
The crowd focused on the stooped Merlin, who looks like he’s gathering strength. They couldn’t help but look forward to it.
“Secret technique: Repetition Side Step [4]!”
Merlin blurred and left behind an afterimage, moving between two points at an amazing speed along with gusts of wind, which stunned the onlookers.
The eyes of the onlookers couldn’t keep up with his speed, and they released cries of surprise, feeling that Merlin’s movement is amazing. They reckon that he must be a warrior.
“How is it? Isn’t it incredible?”
Merlin usually uses Repetition Side Step to exercise his body. When he’s at home and doesn’t want to go out to exercise, he jumps around in his room and “trains”.
A sparkling tear welled up at the corner of Merlin’s eye, and he sighed inwardly — muscle cramps at night are really a bitch. Otherwise, what sick bastard would exercise using Repetition Side Step?
Seeing the enthusiasm of the audience, he accelerated his pace and pushed the atmosphere to a climax.
“Take a look at my acceleration!”
“Ninjutsu [5]: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!”
Merlin suddenly accelerated, and his figure flashed by, leaving hundreds of afterimages behind in midair. It really looks like he performed a clone technique. However, those are just afterimages produced by his astonishing movement speed.
If there was a cognizant warrior present, they may have knelt on the ground on the spot! It is impossible for a Saint tier to achieve such a speed! To form hundreds of afterimages, this speed is unimaginable!
The ignorant onlookers only felt that the clone technique is amazing. The cold gusts of wind it produces is really exciting. As a result, an enthusiastic applause rose and lasted for a long time.
Feeling that the audience is in the right mood, Merlin picked up the bowl and asked for money.
“Friends, please spare me some money. No matter how…”
When the crowd saw that the performance ended, it began to disperse.
Since the villagers can just leave, why should they pay?
It’s great to watch. But when it comes to paying, that’s a resounding no!
The crowd dispersed, leaving the site in a mess, painting a shabby and bleak scene.
Standing in place, Merlin has an awkward expression on his face.
He diligently put up a show, yet he didn’t receive a single tip! This is outrageous! He worked hard for so long, what for?
However, there is a single audience member left, a little boy dressed quite well with a runny nose. While chewing on a lollipop, he is blankly staring at Merlin.
Perhaps bored, the brat turned around, ready to leave.
The sole audience member that stayed, how could Merlin let him go so easily?
What if it’s a minor? Minors also have to pay for tickets!
Merlin clasped the brat by the head and said with a gloomy smile —
“Hey there, little friend, don’t go…”
“Give me two copper coins for dinner, and I’ll teach you how to become a champion.”
(ー`´ー)
[1] – otaku
[2] – fujoshi
[3] – monthly tickets — this is the author asking for people to vote for his story
[4] – Repetitions Side Step — a reference to Sakamoto Desu Ga?
[5] – ninjutsu
Xaio Mo Ge 