Peter paused in his steps then slightly raised his head.
He read the writing on the signboard under the roof of a simple wooden tavern.
How did he know it was a tavern? It's simple. What was written on the signboard above was the very word, 'TAVERN'. What's mysterious though was the characters used was foreign to him and yet he can understand it just fine.
"Sir!" the farmer called out to the spacing out Peter.
The focus on his eyes returned. His gaze first fell on the the father-son duo but they didn't last on them long enough. The line of his eyesight went past them. On the back of the duo was a wooden door. He sure was familiar with this type of door. He saw them a lot in old Western movies about cowboys and gunfights.
"Come on! Come in, sir." the farmer wave his hand to invite Peter to come closer.
Peter accepted the invitation and moved towards the chocolate-colored tavern.
The leading farmer pushed open both sides of the wooden door before letting the two Peter's go in first. After the two entered, he let go of the tavern's door and followed suit.
"You have a customer, old John. Guess, what? It's a MERCHANT! A merchant has come to our lowly village. He's from the far east and here he is. He's starving so I brought him to your tavern." the farmer excited voice echoed in the four corners of the tavern as he announced their arrival.
Meanwhile, the subject of their conversation, Peter, was busy observing inside the tavern. He walked slowly as he looked around. Unknown to Peter, his curiosity was so intense that he didn't even notice or care about the strange looks the other three people in the tavern were giving him.
Currently, Peter had a wide grin plastered in his face as he surveyed his surroundings. The four corners of the wall were all made of woods like the ones outside. In each corner, there were two candle lights attached to the walls. He also noticed that the tavern had a very simple design. How would he describe it? Right! It was as big as a small cafeteria in the modern era. It has four corners. Rectangular in shape. There was no exaggerated furniture hanging in any corner. Everything is made of wood and no plastic in sight. It should be around eight to ten metre long and the width should be five meter wide. Peter attention went in front. His eyes lit up. He finally noticed the tables and the chairs. The tables are neatly arranged into two rows. Then there were two chairs per table. Although these furniture looked old at first glance, it's also very clear that they were made sturdy for them to be used for a very long period of time. Very practical. Peter wondered how much would they sell in the modern era. They are antique furniture.
Like in modern bars, there was a bartender and a counter; a long table blocking anyone from entering the kitchen area. The only difference was that this one was also made of wood.
""What do you want to order, lad?" the old man working at the tavern counter asked Peter.
Peter's gaze focused on the old tavern's owner. He looked him in the eye. The surveillance he was conducting was interrupted of being called out. Ignoring others is not a good thing to do. It's rudeness. So Peter have to acknowledge the old man's querying gaze. He ordered some.
"Just give me whatever dish you have for lunch. And if possible, a drink too." Peter ordered politely. "That's all," he said while looking at the old man a bright smile.
"Wait here," said old John as he turned around to open a small door located at the back of that wooden counter. The old man vanished in Peter's sight as the guy entered that narrow door.
Peter sat down on one of the tavern's rectangular chair. The father and son followed his action and sat down as well.
Less than ten minutes later, old John reappeared inside the wooden counter of his tavern.
"Here's your food." Old John called Peter's attention with a reserved smile.
Old John used his hip to open a small door to exit his wooden counter. As he exited, he was seen carrying something in both of his hands.
Young Peter's father quickly approached the old man. The farmer wanted to help the old man carry the wooden tray, but the old man refused the help he was offering.
As soon as the old man arrived in front of their table, Peter could smell the pleasant aroma of food. The aroma of the natural oil of the cooked meat was overwhelming. Peter had already smelled the aroma of whatever was being grilled behind the old man's hidden kitchen.
He could also sense a familiar scent hidden behind the wooden goblet on top of that wooden tray. If he wasn't mistaken, that strong, bitter smell was that of a type of liquor, a beer.
Peter realized that his suspicion was indeed correct when old John's wooden tray carrying the plate and goblet were placed on the table.
"A roasted pork and a glass of beer for you, gentleman." The owner smiled as he stood in front of their table.
"This is what the people of the kingdom of Terragon normally eat." said old man. He appreciated that the old man voluntarily provided him an insight in one of the customary of their kingdom.
"Can I sit here?" asked the old man.
"I don't mind sir." politely answered Peter.
Old John sat next to the father and son duo. On the other hand, Peter was all alone on the other side of the table.
Peter started to appreciate the meat. It's that famous meat skewered on a bone. He began to chew down on his food. He was enjoying the softness of the still hotly grilled pork. Because of its savoriness, he couldn't help but make a sound. He end up blowing soft air with each bite taken.
Whenever his mouth became empty, he immediately fills it with the meat on the bone.
Peter sweated profusely as he eat his meat.
While Peter was enjoying his food, old man John and the farmer were casually chatting.
Peter wiped his sweaty forehead with the handkerchief he had found in his pocket a moment ago.
What he was eating wasn't as tasty as the roasted pork if you compared it to that of the modern times, but for someone with such a hungry stomach like Peter, the meat that he was eating which lacked a lot of seasoning ended up as the most delicious food there is.
Peter was tempted to listen in secretly. He had no intention of missing the interesting conversation between these people of another world. He was sure that whatever he will hear from the two of them would be useful for him in the future.
"How are your crops, Richard?" old John asked the farmer whose name he just found out to be Richard.
"Thanks to the Goddess of Goodwill, everything is going well. She has blessed us with a good weather. It seems that my family as well as the tens of our villagers, will not go hungry this year," was the optimistic response of the farmer father, Richard.
"That's good to hear. We have a lot to thank the goddess for," said old man John while looking up with two outstretched hands.
"The only problems are the birds and wild weeds. Other than that, it's the normal occurrence, and it looks like the village's harvest will be bountiful," Richard added enthusiastically.
"Then, I'll just congratulate you on your bountiful harvest in mid-autumn a few months from now." said old man John.
"Autumn harvest?" Peter said, his eyes wide.
"Yes, that's right. I forgot you were from the east." Old John paused for a moment.
"If I am right, in the east there are only two types of weather, summer and rainy season, right?" asked old John to Peter.
"Yes." Peter politely affirmed.
"In our kingdom, there were four types of seasons, the spring, the summer, the autumn and the winter," the old man continued.
Peter nodded, showing that he was listening.
Old John was satisfied seeing Peter's attentiveness.
"In the past, during the harsh winters, many farmers and their families died of starvation. That is why farmers throughout the kingdom learned a farming system. It's a repetitive process. In the twelve months of the year, the farmers divided the type of work they systematically did each month." again, the old man paused.
He went to his wooden bar. He picked a goblet, poured beer into it, and drunk everything in one go. Old John then wiped his lips with satisfaction, looking as if his thirst had been quenched.
When he returned to Peter's table, he continued telling his story.
"For example, every January, at the beginning of each year, farmers repair the damage caused by the subsequent winters. Next, they plant seedlings. Hmm? Let's not go any further. Like this April, as Richard have said, they just have to get rid of the invading birds and they also needed to remove the wild weeds that have been causing damage to the growing wheat and barley crops if not controlled." He looked at Peter, who was now sitting in front of the old man.
"Is there anything else you wanted to learn?" asked old man John.
"I have none." Peter replied, taking a sip of his goblet of beer.
The time old John's story ended is also the time the meal Peter was having ended.
"How much do I owe you, manong?" tanong ni Peter.
The old man's head tilted slightly to the side.
"Manong?" the old man asked, puzzled with the word he was hearing for the first time.
"What I meant to ask is how much did I eat, sir." Peter corrected the words used when he realized the mistake he made. It seemed that that slang term were not used here.
"I only need thirty pieces of Terragon bronze coins for the roasted pig while the beer is me. Beer is a product that you can often find in every corner of Terragon. Every household in the countryside in Terragon makes their own beer for personal consumption. I will give you that glass of beer as a gift for welcoming you to our humble village." explained old man John with an out-of-character cheerful look. From the way he was interacting with him up to his aura, old John seems to be the stern person type, that's why Peter was slightly taken aback.
This time it was Peter's time to be surprised by the foreign word used.
"A bronze Terragon coin? What is that?" Peter asked himself in confusion.
Peter reached into his pocket as he remembered something. Apart from the handkerchief he found earlier, his pockets contained other things.
"Is this it?" Peter held out his hand to old John. In his palm were three pieces of silver coin. On it, there was a drawing of a dragon with five horns pointing to the sky.
"That's it." despite the surprise on the faces of the farmer-son duo, old John's happily took a single piece of silver coin from Peter's palm.
"But I only need one silver coin. It's more than enough. Just wait for your change here," instructed old man John, who went back to his wooden tavern to get his change.
When old John returned, he asked Peter to open his hand. When Peter do so the old man dropped a piece of cloth filled with coins.
"There are nine hundred and seventy pieces of bronze Terragon coins inside." informed old John to Peter.
Despite the surprise of the father and son, old John seem not to care one bit about Peter's apparent ignorance when it comes to money.
"Thank you. Is there any lodging available for rent in this area?" Peter asked tentatively to those in the tavern room.
"There's none." the two men of advanced age simultaneously replied to him.
"But if you're not that picky, you can sleep on the floor of my tavern. I don't really have any spare room for you to use." offered old John, which Richard immediately protested.
"Never mind, old John. I'll take care of the merchant. Although my home is very simple it's still better than sleeping on your tavern's floor," Richard retorted.
The old man shrugged.
"Is that okay? Wouldn't that be bothersome for your family?" Peter asked, worried.
"It's really fine, young sir. I'm the one who should be ashamed for the behavior of my son Peter have shown you," Richard added.
"If it's really okay then I'll be imposing on you guys." Peter said with a shy smile.
"I know it's been a bit late but I'd still like to formally introduce myself. My name is Peter," Peter introduced himself to them.
"Peter Bulalakaw." he gave them his full name. He had no other choice but to give them his last name because he have the same name as Richard's son. He have done so to avoid confusion.
Peter was a little nervous about giving his last name. On Earth, his last name was made fun of.
"Bulalakaw?" the three of them said in surprise at his last name. It felt like their hearts were being squeezed with nervousness.
"It seems like there's no difference between people in any era or world." Peter said to himself, disappointed.
"You're a nobleman?" Richard said to Peter in surprise.
Peter was surprised when Richard suddenly knelt down in front of him, and pressed his forehead hard against the ground.
"Forgive our impudence." he pleaded.
"Please stand up, manong Richard." requested Peter's in an uneasy tone that was obediently followed by Richard. The farmer was visibly tense.
"I'm not a nobleman. Back at my place, having a surname is common," Peter corrected Richard's assumption.
"Is that so?" Richard sighed a deep sigh. It seemed as if a large thorn had been pulled out of his throat when he heard Peter's statement.
While Richard and our protagonist are talking, old man John was quietly observing the latter. He was concentrating so hard, his eyes narrowing as he observed Peter, as if he was trying to think of some things. After a while, he nodded to himself, as if he had realized something.
Peter was very happy when he realized that his assumption was wrong. He realized that people in ancient times were different from modern people who make fun of even the smallest things.
Peter also noticed something worrying. Richard's reaction was too exaggerated when he thought he was a nobleman.
Peter Bulalakaw's shoulders jumped slightly in shock.
Suddenly, his status window appeared on its own without his permission.
...
Name : Peter Bulalakaw (Updated)
...
"That's everything, old man John. We'll need go first," Richard said, informing the tavern owner their intention to leave.
The old man nodded in acknowledgement.
After a few minutes of walking, they reached the house of Richard and his son Peter.
Richard's house is small. It only has one floor.
...
The sun is about to set, and every member of Richard's family is inside his home.
Aside from Richard and the younger Peter, there's another person living in their house. That was Peter's mother and Richard's wife, aling Matilda.
He had been inside the home of the family of three for a while now, but he still couldn't get used to what he saw.
Peter felt that old John's tavern was small because it was only the size of a small modern cafeteria but not anymore. It is huge compared to Richard's house. Richard's felt extremely cramped. It was really small for a family to live in, especially since they had their animals inside.
Above all, it looked like it would be destroyed by a strong storm. When Peter inspected the house in secret, he discovered that it was made of a mixture of wood, straw, mud, and other light materials.
The smell of their home is not that pleasant. Peter by no means is a dramatic and stuck-up person. On Earth, Peter Bulalakaw is also the son of farmers. He is used to wading through mud and being a slob, even the smell of mud and carabao's dung doesn't bother him much. But living under the same roof with their livestock is a different story. It's unhygienic.
Peter couldn't help but ask Richard a question.
"Yes." Richard replied.
"Please don't take my question the wrong. Aren't you making them a separate home? Aren't you afraid of getting sick?" Peter Bulalakaw asked seriously.
"No. Is there a problem? Every family that farms in our village brings their livestock with them to earn a living." Richard asked Peter incredulously.
Peter was stunned. He had never expected the situation to be this bad in the middle age. He realized that the stories he had read about the medieval period were all just fantasy. They mostly show only the good parts and hide the negative aspects of the medieval period. He was only now beginning to understand the true state of the world he was about to enter.
"Nothing," Peter replied with a forced smile. It was pointless to argue with him since he already knew and accepted that this was common sense in this world.
Richard's family went to bed early. There was nothing else to do at night but sleep. There was no electricity at that time. Only a few candles served as light in the dreary night.
While the family of three was sleeping, Peter struggled to adapt to the situation. His mind was wide awake. He's tossing and turning. He can't sleep because the farm animals that sleep next to him are constantly making noises. If it's not the chicken, the pigs were making those noises. If it's neither their chickens nor the pigs, it's either their sheep or the cows that are making noises.
Peter got up and stumbled upon the darkness. He took advantage of everyone being fast asleep. Since it looked like it will be a long night for him, he choose to inspect his dungeon instead.
After going outside, Peter walked slowly. It's a bit scary for him. Feared the silence of the dark surroundings. He was afraid that a wild animal or a monster might attack him. That's why Peter immediately entered the Livelihood Dungeon just a few meters away from Richard's home.
...
Peter looked serious as he entered his dungeon.
Night.
Dark.
He thought of something else.
"Is it possible that the time here follows what's on the outside?" that was the question playing in Peter's mind right now. Regardless of the truth he chose not to dwell on it anymore. He had more important things to do at the moment.
In the distance, he saw a very bright light. That was the destination he have in mind.
He step a put forward.
Soon moved deeper into the vast and dark dungeon.
Peter didn't know how long he walked before reaching his destination. He knew one thing for sure though. He had traveled a good distance.
It's evident how much effort it took him to reach his desired destination with the state of his tired legs. In fact, Peter was holding his knees. But Peter didn't care. His chest was pounding with excitement. In front of him was a house, a modern house.
How can he say it's modern? There are four light bulbs in the four corners. And mind you, the light are white in color, not yellow. That means there is electricity in the house.
Peter is very happy. The small and simple house is fine as long as it has electricity.
He knocked on the door.
"Anybody home?" he called out loudly.
After knocking and calling several times, no one answered. So Peter decided to just open the door. Fortunately, the door opened when he turned the doorknob.
"Welcome, master." Peter was surprised by the person who stopped him at the house entrance.
"Who are you? And who is your master?" Peter asked the individual in front of him in confusion.
"I don't have a name yet, master. I would be grateful if you would bless me with a name, teehee!"
Peter's face turned completely red. He covered his mouth.
"Kawaii!" he couldn't help but to comment, even with a hand covering his mouth.
"Wait! Wait? I'm confused. Before I give you a name, I want to clarify what you are." Peter said with emphasis after recovering.
Peter looked closely at the person he was talking to.
It is only three feet tall. It has two pairs of slender hands and feet. It has innocent and large eyes. It has long golden hair. It has plump and cute cheeks.
He wanted to pinched those cheeks.
You could compare her to a normal girl, but she has two unique characteristics different from a human.
First, she has sharp ears.
Second, her feet float several feet off the ground.
"I am your dungeon guide, master!" the cute, fairy-like creature replied with a laugh.