Return of the Woodcutter
Chapter 42 - Ramen (part 1)

A few minutes later.

"This is…" Ainar said, his gaze turning serious.

Seeing his friend's expression, Roan imitated the minerian's seriousness.

"An indestructible metal from which a divine weapon could be created to slay any living being that ever existed…" He said, purposely leaving a dramatic pause. "Even a god."

Ainar looked at him, unamused. "That's not funny, Roan. Don't mislead the boy."

'Boy…' Aito repeated in his mind. The nickname slightly hurt his pride. After all, he ceased to be a boy a long time ago. How old was that piece of moving rock to treat him as if he was a child? Was Ainar even past 40?

"Aight. Aight. No offense meant." Roan said, regaining his nonchalant attitude.

Ainar sighed, then, with a more neutral face, turned towards Aito. The minerian had seen much during the course of his long life. Judging from his personal experience, the boy's equipment, physical fatigue, and lack of knowledge, Ainar deducted he could indeed be the Black Challenger.

It was just an assumption. However, there was no need to verify it, since the truth would eventually reach his flat ears in two days at the latest. News traveled fast in such a confined environment. Especially in a 'temporary community' composed only of thousands of people that, during their spare time, had nothing better to do than talk.

Since the kid standing in front of him could be the Black Challenger, then it might be worth it to remember his name. Although, he was also human and could certainly die in the Tower, just like the others.

Especially if he was foolish enough to challenge the two last floors. But that was none of his concern. As long as Ainar could do business with the kid, he would be content. After all, who would be stupid enough to spit on money?

"Boy," Ainar said, "What's your name?"

Even though Aito disliked the nickname, he had no reason to remain silent or keep his thought to himself.

"Aito Walker," he said, "Pleased to me you, Rock."

"Trying to play the smart kid, hun?" Ainar snorted. He had dealt with many disrespectful fellows and was past the point to care about insults. Moreover, he didn't even consider 'Rock' to be much of one. After all, objectively speaking, it wasn't wrong nor was it the entire truth.

"Well, Aito," Ainar said, emphasizing the boy's name before pointing at the Ancient Shard on the counter. "You've got quite the interesting piece of shiny rock."

"I suppose you could say that," Aito replied, his tone more neutral now that the minerian was calling him by his name. "Do you know what it is?"

"Of course he does. That's a Roan guaran—" Roan exclaimed.

"Shut up." Aito and Ainar both said, pissed to be interrupted by the ginger man's nonsense.

The Guide lifted both hands in the air, remained silent, and took a step back to leave his client and friend some breathing room.

Ainar sighed and resumed his explanation. "Actually, I do not know what it is. In almost a thousand years of experience as an inventor, I have never seen something like this."

"In almost a thousand years?" Aito asked, more intrigued by Ainar's years of experience than by the item.

"Focus, boy. My age has nothing to do with the topic." The Minerian replied.

Aito turned towards Roan, who nodded as if to confirm Ainar's age. The shock chased away his fatigue, hitting him harder than a car at full speed.

He had already interacted with gods, fought with monkeys, been revived, killed zombies, slew a Paineater, and even befriended a monkey that had tried to kill him at first.

If he were told before that a thousand-year-old being stood in front of him, Aito wouldn't have believed it. But with all he's been through until now, he could only accept that surprises after surprises awaited him.

He had to keep an open mind if he wanted to adapt to this new world. Of course, doubts were necessary. After all, his father, quoting Rene Descart, used to say: "Doubt is the origin of wisdom."

However, doubt could also cloud his mind to the truth that sometimes was just a step away from him. Therefore, a certain balance was required to even things out.

So even if it felt unreal, he decided to trust the part of him saying that it was possible, if not the truth.

Realizing that fact, he no longer felt insulted by the nickname Ainar had given him and thus felt a bit guilty about calling the Minerian a rock.

"Good," Ainar said, "Most of your fellow kiddos outright denied it. Open-mindedness is necessary to survive out there. Don't forget that."

"I…" Aito replied. "Thank you for the advice."

"You don't have to be respectful towards me, boy." Ainar snorted, misunderstanding Aito's reply for respect. "I'm just old, not one of those so-called gods."

"Gods…" He said, with a tone bearing hatred. Those divine bastards did not deserve his respect, even if they were supposedly older than Ainar. After having a taste of a god's power, Aito knew they should be feared, that much was certain.

But should they be respected? From a common point of view, probably. No matter the culture or religious belief he had seen and experienced on Earth, there was one single universal point they all shared without exception—which didn't necessarily stem from fear.

Respect towards a higher power.

Even animes, books, webcomics, and movies sometimes showed such beings that ought to be respected for their virtues and, or to be feared. After all, power brings fear, and fear naturally commands respect. Every tyrant in humanity's History knew it and applied it to reign supreme.

However, in his mind, true respect doesn't involve fear, but trust, be it for a god, a human, or a minerian. It should be earned. And did the Iris gods earn his trust, his respect?

His answer was no, they didn't. Yes, they had revived him, and it could be considered being given a second chance. However, did they ever ask him beforehand or give him a choice?

No.

Have they considered the other challengers' opinions?

No.

Did they revive him because they cared for him?

No.

That much was certain.

He had learned in life that nothing was free. There was always a price to pay. Sometimes small, sometimes reasonable, and sometimes high. Be it material cost, emotional cost, physical cost, and others.

The three gods he had already met confirmed it.

Filona had asked him and other challengers to wage a war that originally wasn't their own in exchange for their forced revival.

Valinar had asked him to replace her inheritance in exchange for a dubious means for Aito to travel home.

Belmand had asked him to accomplish a task, which Aito knew would be difficult, in exchange for preventing the apparition of evol monkeys on the island for two months.

Nothing was free.

That applied even more now than it did on Earth. Even Belmand, the so-called god of sloth, said it before they had signed the oath pact. Furthermore, dealing with gods was dangerous because of their powers and unpredictability. His head would hurt just at the thought of it.

And after what they had made him go through….

The dangers he had to face just to clear a trial, to survive, because he had been asked, no, forced to. Would he really be willing to trust and respect such beings?

'Fuck them. The other challengers can give their loyalty and freedom to them, but.....' He thought, 'I will do things my way.'