Groups of hunting parties all formed, searching for Alto. They would check the streets, alleyways, and any other places within the town. Some even went outside of the town. Thinking that he may be on the surface.
It's been hard to evade them. Alto found new clothes. He also painted his hair white with some dye he found. Even so it was only a matter of time. Sitting in an alleyway Alto threw some random thing on the ground.
'Damnit! This is just what he wanted!'
He originally asked Alto to kill people in order to make a distraction.
'What the hell does he even want anyway!'
Trying to calm down, Alto continued to think.
'All people want something, no one would go through this amount of trouble for nothing. What could it be? I'm going to take it by force from the bloody hands, then kill him! Calm down!'
Someone wanting nothing was unfathomable to someone like Alto, in fact it was impossible. Even if what you wanted was small. Knowing what someone wanted could tell you what they would do next. Also the type of person they were.
'Everyone wants something, whether it's power, money, recognition, fulfillment, or anything really. Even if he just wants to kill some people then he still wants that… but he doesn't. He wanted me to go around killing people. Meaning that it wasn't his goal. It was just something he had to do to achieve it. The man has an ability which makes him stealthy. He had the ability to also steal that ancient book. Meaning that there isn't much out of his reach.'
Alto suddenly came to a realization. Whatever, the man was after it wasn't a single item. No, it was more than that.
'I want you to kill people, in order to survive. Is this what the bastard meant? He wanted me to join him. That's wrong. He wanted to use me for something. He couldn't do whatever his goal was without me. Let's see… What has he accomplished?'
That's simply, he made him into the scapegoat. Now everyone believes that there is a murderer on the loose and that he is that murderer.
'Now why exactly would someone like you need a murderer on the loose. Who do you intend to kill that you otherwise couldn't?'
Maybe someone, like the village chief for example? What could someone want instead of power? To be the ruler of this village, it makes sense.
Alto began to laugh.
"Oh, I see you now… little dog wanting to lead his little pack."
A man gave him a strange look then continued walking.
"Well, who would this, despicable murderous monster be… if he let that happen?"
A gnarly smile appeared on the young man's face. As he began to laugh in the back alleyway.
—
Alto also ended up losing some of his possessions. Such as the clothes that he used to wear in his old world. He also managed to forget his pouch of coins. Which were both left in his hotel room.
Not only that, but he also had to discard his leather armor. Since people could recognize him if he wore it. Plus, it had Glaive's blood on it. He didn't want to keep it. Looking at the stains made him feel like puking. Just recalling the memory at all did so.
It was a shame. Though, Alto didn't really care. He had two goals right now. To exact his revenge and to return home. The money could surely help. But, he didn't directly need it. If anything the only thing it did was satiate his own greed. He had always wanted money, ever since he was a kid. You could get anything you want with it after all.
Only the things he wanted now, money couldn't buy.
He put as much dye in his hair as he could. In fact, calling it dye would have been blatantly wrong. Instead, it was discarded colors one used to paint. Which may be considered dye?
Either way, a few white balls of it would fall out of his hair every once in a while. It was not the hair itself but rather the thing he used to change its color.
He had blue eyes as well. Luckily there were few people in the village who had such a trait. Allowing him to not draw needless attention.
With all of that, he was able to wander in the open. After all, no one expected a wanted murderer to be simply walking right beside them. Alto continued walking. All the way to the center of the village. Where the chieftain resided with his guards.
Alto also learned more about him. He was in charge of all of the village's important decisions. It was a mix of authority and respect. People would often go out of their way to ask him questions. Trivial things, like I want to marry this person, or my child keeps acting up, or what should I do when I am in love with someone.
He was an important figure for the villagers and someone wanted to take that role away from him. It may have been out of jealousy. Or it may have been as simple as power.
There was an issue as well that Alto faced. The villagers were strong. They had been hunting the creatures here for nearly their whole lives. Alto stood no chance against a majority of them in a fight.
Or a fair fight at least. The dark figure is one of those villagers who wouldn't have too much trouble killing him. Or at least Alto thought as much. The man would make his move soon.
This time, Alto knew where he would strike.
Continuing on the village road. He arrived at a large circular house. At the center of the village.
The world began to shift.