"Sniff." Mellon wrinkled her nose and took a step back. "You stink. You are not going like this."
She reached for the turtle shell on Alex's back, struggling to remove it. The moment she got it off—BAM!—it crashed to the floor with a loud thud.
"Whoa! This thing is so heavy! How can you even walk with it?" She looked at Alex, wide-eyed. "No wonder you're so strong!"
Alex just smirked.
"Now go take a shower," Mellon demanded, pushing him toward the bathroom. "You're not going to the feast smelling like that." She shoved him inside and closed the door behind him. "And don't wear that orange Gi! I'll bring your change of clothes, so take your time."
Alex sighed but complied. Meanwhile, Mellon fetched the clothes Bora had prepared for him—a simple pair of brown trousers, a headband, and shoes.
When Alex stepped out, she gave him an approving nod. "Now you look the part. Let's go. The feast is about to begin!"
---
They joined Bora and the rest of the tribe at the grand feast. The villagers sat around a massive fire, where a whole dinosaur roasted on a spit. The air was filled with laughter, music, and the rich aroma of food.
As the night deepened, Alex was handed a wooden cup filled with an unfamiliar liquid. He sniffed it cautiously. "What's this? Smells… weird."
"Don't be silly, Alex," Mellon said, leaning her head against his shoulder, her arm hooked around his. "It's a good drink. It might have a little alcohol in it too."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Mellon, are you alright? Are you sure you can handle liquor?"
Mellon scoffed. "When I was at home, my grandpa used to take me to parties with rich people. Drinking isn't new to me." She took a sip from her glass and sighed. "In fact, I feel a bit calmer whenever I'm drunk."
Alex took a sip of his soup. "Your grandfather must be pretty influential. What kind of business does he run?"
Mellon perked up. "Oh, didn't I tell you? My grandpa mostly deals with tech businesses. We have some side businesses too, but I don't know much about them."
Alex nodded. "Sounds successful. What about your mom? What does she do?"
Mellon's cheerful expression faltered. "...She gambles." She hesitated, then continued. "After my father passed away, she got depressed and turned to gambling. Grandpa didn't try to stop her—he thought she'd recover in a few days, but..." She trailed off, staring into her drink.
Alex scratched the back of his head. "Well… that's depressing." He set his empty bowl aside. "I lost my memories about a year ago, so I don't remember anything before that."
Mellon looked up at him. "But what about your parents? I'm sure they're still searching for you."
Alex shrugged. "Don't know about that. But honestly? The best thing about losing my memories is that I don't have to worry about anyone." He stretched and stood up. "Anyway, it's about time. Let's go."
Mellon blinked. "About time for what? Alex, wait!"
---
Alex approached Bora. "Hey, Bora, I was thinking—how about I take some food and drink to Korin?"
Bora's eyes widened in excitement. "Can you really do that? If you could bring food to Korin-sama, it would be our greatest honor!"
Bora quickly prepared a large pot of food and a jug of liquor, handing them to Alex. Alex took them effortlessly, balancing the pot in one hand and the jug in the other.
He looked at Mellon. "I think you'll have to stay here. I'll be back in a minute."
Mellon scoffed. "No way! I'm coming with you! I have to see this Korin guy." She climbed onto Alex's back and raised a fist. "Let's go!"
Alex smirked. "Hold tight. Don't blame me if you fall."
With that, he took off, soaring into the night sky.
---
Minutes later, they landed inside Korin's temple. To their surprise, Korin was already waiting for them.
"Oh, hey, Korin. Were you expecting us?" Alex asked.
Korin stroked his mustache. "Of course! Why do you think I'm standing here in the middle of the night?" He eyed the pot and jug. "So, what brings you here at this hour?"
Before Alex could answer, Mellon stepped forward, staring at Korin with wide eyes. "Wait… this is Korin? The great master you kept talking about? I thought he'd be some kind of old geezer, but… he's just a cat!"
Alex sighed. "C'mon, Mellon, don't be rude. Korin may look like a cat, but he's a deity. Show some respect."
He set down the pot and jug. "Here, Korin. There was a feast going on, so I brought you some food."
Korin grinned. "That's great! It's been a while since I had a proper meal."
The smell of the food woke Yajirobe, who groggily sat up. The second he spotted the meal, he reached for it—only for Korin to snatch a piece first. They bickered briefly before digging in.
Alex waited until Korin finished eating before speaking again. "Korin, I wanted to ask… is there a way for me to meet Kami?"
Korin leaned back, picking his teeth with a toothpick. "Impossible. You can't meet Kami. Not unless he wants to meet you."
Alex frowned. "Why not?"
"As strong as you are, you're not worthy yet," Korin said simply. "Only a chosen few get to meet him."
Alex crossed his arms. "Worthy? How do I become worthy?"
Korin smirked. "Well… the last person to meet Kami had to defeat King Piccolo."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "You're talking about Goku, aren't you?" He leaned against a pillar, arms folded.
Korin nodded.
Mellon, however, rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Alex. You're not actually buying this whole 'Kami' thing, are you? He sounds like a made-up legend."
Korin chuckled. "Believe what you want, young lady. But Kami is real." He turned back to Alex. "What do you even want with him? You're not after his position, are you?"
Alex laughed. "Hell no. Why would I wanna be cooped up in one place? I just heard that Kami teaches martial arts, that's all." He sighed. "Anyway, if I can't meet him, then there's no reason to stick around. Let's go, Mellon."
Before he left, Alex turned back. "By the way, Korin… do you have any senzu beans? They could be lifesavers."
Korin rummaged through a pouch. "I've only got three left," he said, tossing them to Alex.
"Three is enough. Thanks, Master Korin. See you later."
Alex took Mellon in his arms and flew back down the tower.
As they descended, Mellon bombarded him with questions. Alex answered them—not because he wanted to, but because it was the only way to get her to stop pestering him.
Soon, they reached the Capsule House, where they finally went to sleep.
to be continue